Students speak

NataliaRusso
Traveling with the BU Philhellenes was one of the best decisions I have made during my four years at BU. Studying in Athens supplemented my Classics major and learning Modern Greek helped me to connect with the modern culture and people. The experience exposed me to a new language and a different culture, which have provided me with another perspective on life. I am extremely grateful for the experience.

Natalia Russo (2014)


MeghanKelly
The BU Philhellenes summer study in Greece was an amazing cultural experience. I took Prof. Polychroniou’s modern Greek course, which greatly enhanced my stay. It was a unique experience to be learning the language while staying in the country where it is spoken, and it helped me learn faster. The trips throughout Athens and the rest of Greece were life changing, and I can’t wait to go back! 

Meghan Kelly (2014)


VictoriaSlater
DEREE- The American College of Greece has a wonderful campus with great classes, activities, and events to offer. There are so many things to learn from the rich history of the country, and it is filled with beautiful people who are excited to share their culture. Spending the summer in Greece is an all-around amazing experience ! 

Victoria Slater (2014)


YannisMetaxas
I never could have imagined that the seventh time I returned to Greece would be the most spectacular. But it was, and the reason is UCA and BUPh put together an outstanding program that helped personalize what I had learned in my first year of college, in addition to helping me return to my family’s country. I learned more in the five weeks I was there than any course I had ever taken, just from being there in person. Greece is an absolutely amazing and beautiful place filled with a special culture in addition to the greatest history on this planet. Thanks to BU, I felt at home in Greece, and like I never wanted to return.

Yannis Metaxas (2014)


NikiStergiou
My summer in Greece was an extremely memorable experience. Although I am not a Classics major, I enjoyed every moment of the trip from my classes with fellow BU students to the excursions we took to ancient and modern sites. Traveling has made me grown as an individual and I am thankful for the opportunity to have studied abroad in such a beautiful country. I highly recommend this program to anyone regardless of their major.

Niki Stergiou (2014)


KatriceKemble
Spending this past summer in Greece was without a doubt one of the best things I have done with my life so far. It was amazing to see all of the sites that I have been studying in my classics courses, but beyond that, I was able to experience a new culture in a beautiful country, eat some of the most delicious food in the world, and meet some of the most amazing people I have ever met. One of the best aspects of the trip was that I was studying Modern Greek while being in Greece. I was able to use what I learned in the classroom every day as I explored the city. Now, I plan to continue studying the language, and I plan to return to Greece as soon as possible so that I can keep growing and learning the way I did last summer.

Katrice Kemble (2014)


MichaelCondakes
For starters, Boston University’s Greece 2013 Summer Study Abroad program lived up to all of my expectations and then some. From an academic standpoint, both professors’ eagerness to teach provided an ideal setting to learn Greek Art History and Modern Greek. I found it fascinating to learn about Greek art and then visit the actual sites were one could view the art first-hand. Additionally, I know that we all enjoyed using the Greek that we learned during our Modern Greek class to purchase metro tickets as well as bargain with shopkeepers and order food from restaurants. The weekend excursions were especially phenomenal. My favorite was the sailing trip , but Galaxidi was especially picturesque . Apart from interactions with the water, other aspects of Greece took my breath away. One instance of this was when we visited Delphi, where the beautiful setting coincided with the ancient buildings and traditions associated with its time . However, the majority of Greece’s beauty came just from being in Greece. But of course, a trip to Greece would not be complete without a trip to the Acropolis . Overall, my trip to Greece through Boston University is one that I will remember for the rest of my life. This trip opened me up to all of the unparalleled experiences that studying abroad has to offer. As a result, I will be sending in an application to study engineering in Germany for six months. Additionally, I am very grateful for everyone who worked so hard to make this terrific trip possible as well as BU’s Department of Classical Studies, CAS Core Curriculum, BU Philhellenes, and the NEH Distinguished Teaching Professorship for the Nostos Scholarship that was presented to me. I adamantly hope that this fantastic opportunity will be offered to BU students next summer and the years to come.

Michael Condakes (2013)


BryanPurcell
The experience I had in Greece this summer was unmatched. Having the opportunity to study the Greek language in Greece made picking up the language that much more manageable. It truly was the experience of a lifetime. From the excursions from one beautiful island to another, to exploring Athens’ city streets, to simply ordering a cup of coffee at a cafe, this was a trip that I will never forget. I would like to thank you and everyone who made this unforgettable study abroad opportunity possible. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in studying abroad.

Bryan Purcell (2013)


LizHiggins
Studying in Greece this summer with Boston University was a life changing experience. I made friends not only with those who also were from BU, but also from other universities around the globe. I learned so much from my professors in the classroom, on field trips such as to the Acropolis or the Kerameikos and from my new found friends. Our professors took us on many trips allowing us to see many exquisite places including several islands, and many ancient sights including Delphi, Mycenae, and Corinth. As a classics major, I found that Athens itself is an extraordinarily beautiful city with its modern culture and ancient backdrop. I found Greece irresistible, and I hope that sometime in my future I will see Greece again.

Liz Higgins (2014)


KatieAngelica
My experience in Greece over the past few weeks is indescribable; it was an utterly unforgettable experience. The dorms were lovely, and the proximity of the rooms made it seem as though all twelve of us were living together, even though we were in three separate apartments.  Everyone that I met was interesting, dedicated to learning the language and culture, and willing to form new friendships. I truly enjoyed the fact that we were able to go somewhere every weekend, and see a lot of Greece beyond Athens. I especially enjoyed the trips organized by the RAs to sit and watch the sunset over the Acropolis, or to climb the highest hill in Athens, because they gave a unique perspective of life in Athens beyond that of the typical tourist. My favorite experience was the sailing trip on the last weekend, mostly because of the opportunity to swim at the edge of absolutely gorgeous islands, and also because it was truly a bonding experience for the entire group. It was also a unique experience to be able to go sailing and see another side of Greece. I’ve made incredibly close friendships, I’ve exponentially increased my ability to function independently in the world, and I’ve learned so much about the culture of Greece, and its way of life. It’s surreal to have returned home to the States, where hardly anyone takes the time to enjoy life. I would recommend the program to anyone who is interested in the Classics, or exploring new cultures, or just spending time with a group of like-minded BU students. It was honestly a life-changing experience for me to be able to study at Deree in the summer program, and expand my own perspective of the world”.

Katie Angelica 2013