Semester in Athens, Greece
Ellie Durr (BXA, '25) spent the spring 2024 semester studying abroad with AIFS in Athens, Greece. Ellie says:
What is your favorite memory from your time abroad?
My high school best friend and I studied abroad during the same semester, and our birthdays are in the same month, so we got to celebrate our birthdays together abroad. You never know who you'll be able to see while you're abroad. My favorite memory does change every day though, there are so many to choose from!
How has living in a different culture challenged or expanded your perspective on the world?
College in the U.S. (and especially at Carnegie Mellon) is so incredibly fast paced and intense. Going to study and interact with people whose college experiences are in another country showed me a different mindset and lifestyle that people approach education with. No place or idea is perfect, but the best parts of the Greek perspective on education have come with me and influenced the way I approach my college experience now, and will definitely influence the way I look at my work-life balance as I enter the corporate world.
What were some unexpected challenges you faced while abroad, and what strategies did you use to overcome them?
The biggest challenges were ones that you are prepared for when you start getting ready to go abroad, like homesickness, culture shock, money, time and all the things you immediately think of. What I did not expect were some of the little things, like the time my bedsheet flew off the clothes line and disappeared, and I didn't notice until 9 p.m. In the U.S. that is a problem I can easily solve, but I had no idea where in Athens to get a new XL twin bedsheet! But, these smaller challenges help put all challenges into perspective. I got closer to my roommates because of it, as we all adventured out together to find a new bedsheet the next morning. And plus, they become the funniest stories to call home about!
What personal growth have you experienced during your time abroad and how has it impacted your future goals and aspirations?
Being abroad increased my love for people tenfold. The best experiences I had abroad all involved learning to love new people for who they are, not because of the culture they were in. Greece is often viewed as a fantasy land or a paradise that is only for honeymoons, or the super-rich and their yachts, but the people who have been there have lived there for generations, and some can trace their family lines back through Greek history longer than America has been a coutnry! My love for people and their stories has expanded as my understanding of their lives has expanded.
Any advice for other students thinking of studying abroad?
If you think you want to do it, just go for it! If you want it to happen, CMU can help you make it happen, don't worry if you think there aren't classes you can take or a place you can go!