Six Weeks in Greece
Madison Clary (Junior, Agricultural Economics; Westfield, IN) spent six weeks of Summer 2025 studying at Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece. The summer program requires students to enroll in a Greek Cultural Experience course and an elective course. Madison chose Greek Wine Business for her elective.
The two courses provided students with opportunities to travel to Santorini to study the island’s wine production, visit Athens and the monasteries of Meteora, sail the Aegean Sea, and climb Mount Olympus. Madison shared, “I learned the strength of the Greek sun after flipping off boats all afternoon and forgetting to reapply sunscreen in the Aegean Sea. I felt a sense of accomplishment and gained the hiking bug after climbing Mount Olympus.”
During her weekends, Madison traveled to Corfu, crossed into Albania to see the ruins, and made a “solo” trip to Poland that taught her independence and increased her level of confidence. She stated, “Each destination brought its own lessons, not just about history and culture, but about myself and what I’m capable of.”
When thinking about her trip, Madison added, “Living in Greece also meant adapting to a daily life that was very different from home. I had to get used to details that seemed small but often felt overwhelming at first. Things like not flushing toilet paper, navigating buses in a language I didn’t speak and learning to appreciate a different culture around food and social gatherings. I learned how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. That adaptability is one of the most valuable takeaways from my experience.”
After finishing her six-week program, Madison spent two weeks exploring Scotland and Ireland. She summarized, “Looking back, my summer abroad wasn’t just about studying wine or seeing beautiful places; it was about growth. I learned how to travel smarter, connect with people from different cultures and embrace challenges with curiosity instead of hesitation. Greece gave me memories, confidence and a new perspective on the world, and I’m deeply grateful for the chance to have called it home for six weeks.”