Author: Sofia Clark | Major: Accounting | Semester: Summer 2024

Summer day on the coast of Athens

Hi, my name is Sofia Clark. I am an Accounting major at the University of Arkansas. This summer I studied abroad in Athens, Greece for 5 weeks. I chose Greece because of the beautiful landscape, oceans, culture and food. I am also part Greek, so I wanted to become immersed in my family’s culture.

While abroad I took two marketing classes at the American College of Greece. What stood out to me was the Greek grading system. We only had two grades per class- a midterm and a final. My midterms in both classes were research papers, so I learned a lot about the class topics through my own research. The classroom style was more discussion and activity based rather than notes, quizzes, and regular tests. I quickly realized the cultural differences between Greek and American students. My classes were much smaller, usually having less than 20 students. Also, my Greek classmates were very vocal during class. My professors would often call on students to explain subjects to the rest of the class. It created a very personal experience in class because during class everyone would participate.

One great experience I had was a boat tour through my program. The boat was a gorgeous old wooden boat, and we sailed during the sunset and stopped at four locations to swim. The water was crystal clear, and we brought goggles to look at the natural life in the water. We saw a tiny octopus hiding behind a shell and numerous fish. The water was chilly, perfect for cooling off. We also stopped at a small island with a church built on top that we explored. The trip was so relaxing and we ended the night off with Greek souvlaki and chips.

My other favorite memories were all the beach trips I took. We typically had a far journey, about an hour on the bus, but the water was always worth it. The Mediterranean Sea is very salty, and you can see salt crystals dry on your body when you get out of the water. The beaches in Greece are often small stretches of sand or rock with breathtaking views. Nothing beats relaxing on the beach and listening to the sound of waves crashing!

1,000 steps up the Palamidi Fortress

My advice for any students interested in studying abroad is to thoroughly research the city you chose and the part of the city you will be living in. While I loved all the traveling that I did, I personally did not like the location I lived in. The program was located in a suburb that was a bit far from the downtown area and the coast. I wish I had done more research to know exactly where in Athens I would be. Another piece of advice I have is to save up money for traveling. My favorite memories were traveling to Nafplio and Paros and seeing the scenery and history there. Traveling can be pricey, but it is definitely worth it. Traveling in larger groups is helpful because it splits up the price of a hotel or Airbnb.

Overall, my experience in Greece was lovely. It was great to see another country and enjoy the abundant natural life there! I cannot wait until the next time I can return to this beautiful place.