Holly Nielsen | Webster University Athens Alumni Interview

Holly NielsenParticipated in 2019Study Abroad | Greece

Holly Nielsen is a junior at Webster University. She spent two semesters in 2018 and 2019 in studying abroad in Athens. She is a General Studies major with an emphasis in anthropology and photography. During her time abroad, she traveled to several cities and islands in Greece, as well as Bulgaria, Italy, Scotland, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, France, and Spain. Currently, she is working at the Office of Study Abroad at Webster University as a peer ambassador.

Why did you choose Odyssey in Athens Study Abroad Program, Webster Athens?

I am very passionate about art history and anthropology and Athens provided the perfect location for me to be a part of these subjects.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

I usually had class in the afternoons, so I had time in the mornings to go for a walk or run errands around town. I often walked through the ancient neighborhood of Plaka and hung out with the cats. In the evenings, friends and I would go get dinner or drinks together and have a night out on the town.

Describe your favorite travel experience inside and outside of Greece.

My favorite place I ever traveled in Greece has to be Cape Sounio. I have such great memories from that day trip. I went to the beach and had a great dinner at a taverna with friends. We ended the night with a view of the sunset near the Temple of Poseidon. My favorite place outside of Greece that I traveled to was probably Israel or Jordan. I can't pick just one. Both these trips were spectacular and Egypt really was too. I crossed so many places off my bucket list including the pyramids and sphinx, the old city of Jerusalem, and the treasury at Petra, Jordan. I saw the most beautiful landscapes in these countries and went to the places where civilizations started.

Tell us more about your accommodation. What were some of your favorite places that existed nearby? 

I lived in two different apartments in my time abroad. One of them was smaller and on the same street as the campus and the other was just a block away, but a little larger. The apartments had full kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, and all of them had balconies where you could hang the laundry out.

The location of the apartments were probably my favorite part. They were right in the heart of Athens. I loved to take walks through the neighborhood of Plaka or go get a drink or a bite to eat in Monastiraki Square. One of my favorite cafes was a little hole-in-the-wall place on Ipitou street for a cold chocolate. The Acropolis was always in sight and just so beautiful and I loved to walk around the area of the Roman Agora and Ancient Agora. I enjoyed taking the tram out to a neighborhood called Glyfada to see the coast and to go shopping or get some seafood. I know for sure that I also did way too much shopping on Ermou Street which was like one huge strip mall extending from Syntagma Square all the way to Monastiraki.

Provide an example that pushed you outside of your comfort zone and why it's important?

Israel was a place that pushed me out of my comfort zone. My group was questioned at the airport a few times and the number of armed, military personnel was nerve racking. The experience was good though. Being in Israel taught me about what the Palestinians are going through over there. The prejudice and violence is palpable. 

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? Would you recommend Odyssey in Athens Study Abroad Program, Webster Athens to others?

The program staff helped me if I ever had any questions about places to go or things to do. I adjusted quickly with their help. I would absolutely recommend them to others. It was life changing and the location is beautiful.

Give an example of a difficult situation you navigated?

One of the difficult situations I went through was when I was stranded in Italy. I was scared, it was dark, and the airport closed so I was outside with no accommodations and a dying phone. I tried to focus because I knew I had to get to Athens somehow. Using what was left of my battery and trying to use the Wi-Fi of the airport from the outside, I booked a new flight. I slept on the sidewalk that night and got back to Athens the next day. This experience taught me to not panic when things go wrong and it also taught me a valuable lesson in planning trips: be meticulous when it comes to flights.

In terms of confidence, I saw changes in myself. I was more willing to wear different clothes, interact with people despite language barriers, and to go out on my own in Athens and in other countries.

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

Every day, I think about my time abroad and how much I would love to go back. It has affected what I want to get a degree in and where I am going in the future. I see myself living abroad now and going back to school abroad. It has impacted my current job in the study abroad department as well and my ability to help students that are thinking about going abroad.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel goes beyond being the typical tourist. It is about exploring local places and meeting the locals that live there. Seeing the big sites are important, but getting to know a culture and a country is all about the small scale places and people.

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