Category: Greece: CYA Athens

One aspect of American culture that I am interested in seeing play out abroad is our rigid individualism. While it is easy to create or find a community to join in the United States there is still a belief that everything is done for the greater good of the individual even if it is to…

An aspect of U.S. culture that I have noticed growing up here is an emphasis on individualism and career driven attitudes as life purpose. We are raised and socialized to strive for highly respected careers that pay a high salary and to move out of the family house at the earliest convenience. There is a…

One thing that I noticed often while living in Athens that is very different from living in the United States was that there were countless stray cats and dogs around on the street. There were certainly more cats than dogs, and dogs were only in certain areas, but this was still very strange compared to…

I think one thing that struck me as different in Greece than in America is how militarized the police are here. I have never seen police people with gas masks or bullet shields before and that was a bit shocking to me. I have been told by locals that this is a normal sighting and…

An observation/ experience that I was confused by at first, and that I had to adjust to in Athens was the unique practices of military soldiers in the city. In Greece, every male is forced to complete at least one year of compulsory military service when they turn 18. Since my study abroad program is…

Traveling to Greece with the mindset that cultural confrontation would happen has made it much easier for me to accept and appreciate different cultural and everyday practices. However, there are some moments when I still get a little overwhelmed. The most common example of cultural confrontation that I have experienced is probably grocery shopping. Each…

One of the biggest cultural differences that I have struggled with while in Greece is the normality of staring and being stared at. Having been raised in the States, I have the understanding that staring at people is considered rude or disrespectful. However, since being in Greece, I have realized what a common practice this…

A characteristic of American culture that promptly comes to mind is our fast-paced culture. We are expected and pressured to get as much done in a day as possible. Additionally, we believe that the level of success we achieve is based on how much work we are able to get done in a day. This…

The food culture in the United States is a relative piece of life. It is very common to eat quick meals, especially at fast-food and drive-thru restaurants. Being a society that moves at a very fast pace and has a large emphasis on success can often push meals aside as an afterthought. Because there are…