Hello! My name is Penny and I am currently a Junior studying Anthropology and Archaeology. For the Fall 2024 Semester I studied at the American College of Greece located in Agia Paraskevi, a suburb of Athens. My innate interests in material culture pushed me towards the Culture and Politics global theme, with my global challenge concerning cultural competency and communication. I took a variety of class at ACG from Figure Drawing to Archaeology, with my main course focusing on my global challenge entitled “Europe and Islam”, a historical class detailing the interactions between Byzantine, Islamic, and Western European forces during the Middle Ages. This class was incredibly interesting and challenging, directly confronting misconceptions of cultures throughout European history!

A selfie with the Parthenon on the Acropolis!

While I learned an immeasurable amount from the classes I took at ACG, my experience living abroad alone changed me in ways I could have never expected. I met and developed relationships with multitudes of people from different background, ranging from local Greek students, other American exchange students, and international students from every corner of the world. My two best friends I met at the airport are from Paris and Tokyo and the friendships we held together formed through new cultural conversations have bonded us together for life! They taught me that, no matter the independence and responsibility I hold, I still need people to lean on and laugh with.

Being able to interact with people from so many different places in the classroom, grocery store, and metro station has changed the way I view many aspects of life and conversations I have. This all-encompassing perspective takes in to account everyone’s worldviews and different experiences. I was able to learn different archaeological and artistic techniques through productive conversations with my classmates.

Lycabettus Hill, Athens, Greece

Studying abroad also provided me the opportunity to travel like I have never travelled before! In my short four months in Greece I was able to explore fourteen other European countries from Portugal to Bulgaria. I was able to go on these trips with friends I had made in Greece, meet up with other UM students, and also do some solo traveling. Each place fronted me with new challenges that I had to think quickly and trust myself to solve. I gained a strong new confidence to navigate transportation cities, different languages, and new people. This confidence built in me translates to my academic life as well as my social life. I understand my abilities and strengths and feel strong enough to apply them in helpful situations. Any mistake or misstep was just a part of the journey!

Little Venice, Mykonos, Greece

I owe so much to my study abroad experience! Incredible friends, unforgettable experiences, and a brand new perspective that could not have been gained through any other program. I will always look back on my time in Greece fondly, and sometimes enviously. I know that I will be able to utilize the new skills I gained abroad back at UM and in the GLI.