Category: Short Term Programs

Submitted by Zeppelin Evans on the 2025 Winter program in Athens, Greece…

Visiting the Acropolis has been on my bucket list for a long time, so this was an absolutely amazing experience. Being able to walk where ancient people did (albeit not very often for most people) was important to me; seeing the temples that I have been studying, in person, was almost religious. On top of all of that, Iris was an amazing guide – I am so happy that she talked about the construction of the buildings, from the orders to the flutes to the slight curve of the bases. I also learned a lot about the history of the Acropolis after the ancient period, like the conversion of temples into churches, the various wars, and the excavations. Other than the academic part of it, the views of Athens were beautiful and put into perspective its place geographically (living in Pangrati it can be hard to imagine Athens as near the sea or surrounded by mountains). The Acropolis museum was also really interesting, especially the top floor with the “reconstruction” of the Parthenon. I never would have thought of that as a concept, so as a museum worker it was important and interesting to see how the architect and conservators handled it. This site will definitely be revisited if I come back to Greece.

To begin, I LOVED taking the ferry to Aegina. This was a part of the water that I had never been on before and the views were immaculate as well. As for the site, the temple of Aphaia and the archeological remains were really interesting – this was another site / part of Greece that I had not really heard of before. It was also a really cute little town to explore with amazing food. My favorite part (other than the ferry) was the temple and how it offered a clear view of the intricacies of construction with the U-shaped divots for lifting the gigantic pieces of rock. I also found the inscriptions on the wall interesting, as they were really well preserved and if they weren’t pointed out I would have walked right past them. I also liked seeing Athens from Aegina’s point of view, and talking about how the city-states would have seen each other in antiquity with both fighting to be seen as powerful and wealthy.

I think these sites were the absolute highlight of the trip for me. The tomb of Atreus was really cool to see, since most similar constructions are not preserved in that way. Seeing the Mycenaean Lion’s Gate in person was like a religious experience for me, since I have been studying it for so long. I also really enjoyed how Alice and David brought the story of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra into what we were seeing and standing on – most people do not realize that mythology and theater are steeped in reality. The grave circles were also really interesting because we saw the finds in the Archeological Museum before and then where they were found. I liked seeing the fragments of Linear B in the museum as well. Epidaurus was another really cool site – as a theater nerd seeing the best preserved ancient theater was amazing to see. The history of the site as a sanctuary of Asclepius was also interesting, especially learning about the healing practices. The stadium was beautiful as well. Epidaurus had something from every one of my interests – medical history, theater, and sport. I would come back to Greece just to see these two sites again.

Submitted by Carson McClung on the 2025 Winter program in Budapest, Hungary…

When I first arrived in Budapest, the first thing I noticed was how beautiful and historic the city was. Shops and restaurants surrounded the apartment complex I lived in. That first night, we went to Menza, a Hungarian restaurant close by. We got to try several dishes including langos with sour cream and cheese, accompanied by a delicious garlic soup, and a lava cake. I enjoyed trying the new foods, but the first few days in Hungary were more difficult because of the culture shocks–the locals were more reserved. As an introvert, going into my first study abroad experience was both exciting and nerve-wracking.

As time went on, things started to get easier for me and I noticed some personal growth. Going into the program, I was already friends with one person in the group, but I didn’t know the others. After the first week, I started branching out and talking to the other people more. I went out with them, grabbed food, and got to know them more. My social skills have improved dramatically, which is amazing considering my past struggles in group settings. Because of this trip, I feel more confident in group settings and maintaining relationships with people. We also went on some fun excursions, such as touring the Parliament and participating in a cooking class. I learned how to make local Hungarian dishes–I cooked baked meatloaf with eggs–and got to try them! I not only explored Budapest but also went on a hike and a day trip to Vienna, Austria via train. Being able to travel abroad and explore Central Europe is a privilege I’m immensely grateful for.

Towards the end of the program, I was super sad to leave. The two and a half weeks spent in Budapest were some of the most transformative experiences of my life–I am so glad I followed through! On our last night, we had an amazing dinner where we reminisced about our time abroad. I almost cried after our dinner–I didn’t want to leave and I’d do this all over again in a heartbeat! I will forever remember this experience and how it shaped me as a person. My self-growth over the break has me feeling confident enough to pursue new activities this semester, such as musical theater or acapella group auditions. I learned so much about myself and the world around me through this study abroad experience, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the winter session. Thank you to my amazing group and faculty director, Dr. Tóth, for supporting me and bringing me out of my shell.