My time abroad in Athens, Greece was both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. I went into the program knowing very minimal Greek and not knowing any of the other participants in the program. Despite this, I had one of the best experiences of not only college, but my entire life. I remember arriving in Athens in early January for the start of my program and I met my three roommates who all happened to be friends and roommates at their home university. This made me feel like the odd one out at first, but overtime, we became super close and they made my time so special. Assimilating into Greek culture was surprisingly easy, the Greeks are very kind and hospitable people and remind me a lot of my own Egyptian culture which has some overlap. My program, AIFS Abroad, provided us with a lot of resources and experiences to help us get the most out of our time in Athens and I am so grateful for their help. On a lot of the weekends, my friends and I would take trips to other countries in Europe at a whim. It was very fun and exciting to pick a new destination and be able to make it there with such ease. Being immersed in the Greek culture and lifestyle, along with getting a taste of other countries around us made the experience so cool as we got to see life through a different lens at all points of our semester abroad. All of this was a bit overwhelming at times, but the best advice I can give anyone going abroad is to go for as many new experiences as possible and get out of your comfort zone as much as you can. Figuring out how to navigate, communicate, and live in each new destination, along with getting used to long-term life in Athens, made me grow more than I would have ever thought. Studying abroad truly is a great privilege and an opportunity of a lifetime, make it a priority to expand your perspective of the world around you through new experiences, and more importantly, new people you meet. Interacting with locals in any place you visit is the best way to understand life in a new country beyond the tourist attractions and history lessons. You get to see what their day to day life looks like and how it differs from your own. Many times, the locals of other countries are curious about what your life looks like in your home country, and you get the amazing opportunity to help widen their understanding of other people’s lives. Going into any abroad program with this growth mindset and courage to get out of your comfort zone into new experiences will make your time more than just another semester at a different school, but a life-changing and eye-opening experience of a lifetime.