Author: Graycen Thayer | Major: Chemical Engineering | Semester: Summer 2025

Me in front of the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina Island

My name is Riley Thayer, and I am in the College of Engineering studying Chemical Engineering! This summer I spent 5 weeks in Greece with CIS Abroad. This was such an exciting experience for me because it was my first time out of the country, and I have always wanted to travel to Europe. When I was in middle school I was obsessed with mythology, specifically Greek and Roman, so being able to go to ancient sites and learn about the real history and worship practices of ancient people is an experience I will never forget. What I didn’t realize would also make this experience unforgettable was getting to experience what college is like in a different culture. It was definitely a shock at first to realize that the teaching styles and grading systems were completely different. While I was in Greece, I took two elective psychology classes for my minor- Testing and Assessment and Stress and Wellbeing. For each of these courses, our grade was only made up by the midterm and the final exam. The midterm was an essay, which was a shock to me because in the U.S. we usually take multiple choice or short answer tests. However, the final exam was the most shocking part because it was taken in an event hall with six other classes and everyone completed three essay questions. Instead of lectures which are the predominant teaching method in the U.S, all of the classes in Greece are set up as a seminar style which I found that I preferred. Even though I was there for school, I was done with classes by 3 p.m. everyday which meant that I had opportunities to go explore Athens or eat gelato in Agia Paraskevi. Our weekends were free to do whatever we wanted, which led to amazing memories from Rome, Aegina, Naxos, Kea, and Monastiraki. The last weekend with my roommates, we decided to stay on Naxos as our last hoorah, and it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. My favorite part from the entire trip was turning 20 in Rome. My roommates and I planned a trip to fly to Italy and spend the entire weekend celebrating- it was definitely my most memorable birthday to date! If I were to give advice to anyone going to study abroad it would be to just say “yes” to anything people invite you to. At least for me, my first instinct in a new country was to want to stay in the apartment because I was tired and I didn’t know anyone, but the easiest way to get comfortable in a new place is to just throw yourself into it. By putting myself out there, I was able to make friends to make all of my amazing memories with and see places I might never have chosen to go to otherwise. I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to study abroad in Greece. I met amazing people, saw amazing places, and gained a new found sense of confidence. I can’t wait to go back to Greece one day!