Study Abroad in Paros: Classes, Weather & Travel

We’ve been following ASA Jetsetter Journalist Aquinna Murphy’s adventures in Paros, Greece through Spring semester 2022. She first shared her pre-departure thoughts from the airport followed by her impressions from her first month living and studying on the island. We heard about her travels beyond Greece and midterm break experience. Below, she talks about tourist season being in full swing, the Paros weather, a trip to Budapest and what she’s been enjoying in her classes.

WEEK SEVEN OF THE GREEN ADVENTURE: TOURIST SEASON & GREEK GODDESS CLASS

After eleven days of traveling, it feels so good to be home. And when I say home, I mean Paros. When you study abroad, it really starts to feel like home. I was so excited to come back to my apartment room and see my professors at school.

I was gone for less than two weeks, but the island looks and feels completely different. It is tourist season now and Greek Easter is this weekend. Every restaurant and shop is now open and the island is Alive. Wednesday night, people were out walking around late, which was rare to see the past month and a half. I’ve seen many Americans and heard a lot of English. If I’m being honest, I think I liked it better when just me and my friends were the only English speaking Americans on the island. Now all the locals just think we are tourists. Oh well.

In our Greek Goddess class, we read a play. We were each assigned a character and really embodied them. Our professor was an actress back in the day and was even friends with Meryl Streep! She is the coolest woman I’ve ever met. It was really fun to do something different in class. You can learn a lot about Greek culture by reading one of their plays. We also learned all the numbers in Greek this week, so now I count to 100 in Greek!

This weekend, I am heading to Budapest. I can’t wait to swim in the baths. I am missing Greek Easter though, and our Cycladic culture professor is taking the rest of the students to a midnight mass. Easter is very important in Greece. They celebrate all weekend long. This is also why the island is so busy this week. I’m upset I’m missing it, but I know I’ll love Budapest!

WEEK 8: Sun, THE BEACH & BUDAPEST

This past week was amazing. It was the warmest it’s been since I got here. 75 degrees and sunny every day. I went to the beach twice and got very sun burnt in return. But I missed being sun burnt. That’s the great thing about studying in Paros: I’m a three minute walk from the beach. It’s never crowded so it’s very relaxing.

Last weekend, I met my friend in Budapest. Budapest was such a cool city. Definitely exceeded my expectations! There was lots of delicious food in the restaurants and fun bars. The castles were my favorite part; they overlooked the whole city.

Professors are really flexible with class and don’t give out too much homework. The biggest assignment I have is an essay due next week for Cycladic Art and Culture. I don’t count creative writing as homework because I enjoy doing it so much. All the students and teachers often meet outside of class to hang out and I love this. I really know my professors on a personal level and I know we will be friends when I return to America. It’s also great to have connections. The more people you know the better.

This Saturday, we are taking a boat to Antiparos. We will go to a clear swimming lagoon and snorkel. I’m so excited for this! Each weekend becomes more fun; there’s always something to look forward to! But you do have to watch the weather here. It can be very windy and boats won’t always run if the winds are strong. It doesn’t rain nearly as much as I thought it would. It’s sunny most days, and every day it gets warmer! My time here has gone by so fast, but I’m soaking in every second.

WEEK 9: Time Flies, WINDY DAYS & Class UPDATES

Time has gone by so fast here. Just the other day my professor said we have three weeks left and I couldn’t believe her. I feel like I just got here yesterday. Even though the Paros program is shorter than most study abroad programs (3 months instead of 4 1/2), my friends who are studying abroad in other countries also feel like the time has flown by. It’s important to make the most of your time and appreciate every opportunity you have!

Something about Paros that has surprised me is that it’s not very warm. The highest temperature it has been this week is 71 degrees. It’s also very windy. Most days, there is wind and the wind coming off the ocean can be very cold. I have only been swimming twice. Both on different islands. The ocean here is very chilly as well. I wish it would be hotter outside so I could swim more often. Studying in Paros in the fall might be a better option if you want to take advantage of the beach.

In our Greek Goddess class, we have to demonstrate a ritual for our final. It can be anything we want. I love projects like these that allow us to be creative and give us freedom. It makes doing the project so much more enjoyable! I’ve been practicing my Greek when I go into local shops and cafes and the locals love it. In creative writing, I’ve been working on a novel. My professor is so helpful and has given me the best advice. That is my favorite class.

This weekend for Cycladic Art and Culture, we are going to Santorini! I’m so excited, because we are taking a boat to hike up the volcano and then swimming in the sulfur springs. Santorini has so much shopping and night life too. I love that I get to travel to amazing places for my class. And my professor knows everything about the islands, so he can answer any questions I have.

Although time is going by way too fast, I’m learning so much about myself. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.

Thanks Aquinna!

Stay tuned for one last update from our ASA Journalist, sharing her study abroad experience from Paros, Greece.