Athens, Greece 08J
A WORD FROM ATHENS Pre-Departure Information for the Program in Greece The Athens Centre welcomes you as a participant in the Program in Greece. The following information will assist you in planning your travel to Greece. A detailed schedule of lectures, field trips and other events will be given to you once you arrive in Athens Before you leave 1. Baggage: Keep baggage to a minimum. It is preferable to bring one medium-size travel-backpack or suitcase, plus one overnight bag, which is essential for 3-day field trips. Most people bring about twice the amount of clothes they actually need!! 2. Prescriptions: If you need special prescription medications, fill the prescriptions in the U.S. and bring them with you to Greece. Fluid and cleanser for contact lenses and ordinary medications such as aspirin, antihistamines, antibiotics, etc. are readily available in all Greek pharmacies. 3. Passport: You must have a valid passport to travel to Greece. Visas are not required before entering the country, unless you plan to stay longer than 3 months. Inoculations are not required. 4. Clothing: The weather during June and July is generally quite hot. Students should bring light summer clothes. You can usually swim from May - October, so bring a bathing suit. Athenian life is rather casual, with little occasion for formal dress. However, bring one dressy outfit for special occasions (shirt and tie for men, skirt and sleeved shirt for women). A light jacket and a pair of sturdy shoes are essential for excursion
5. Linens: One set of sheets, one small towel and two blankets are provided for each person in the apartments in Athens, but bring your own large bath/beach towel. 6. Electrical appliances: It is recommended to leave electrical appliances in the States; converters are very unreliable. The electric current in Greece is 220/240 volts, not 110/120 as in the U.S. Hair dryers, shavers, tape recorders (better to have a battery operated music system) etc. must have built-in conversion systems to operate them. Batteries of all sizes and brands are readily available. 7. Computers: There is a computer room at the Athens Centre, with five computers and a printer that students can use. We also have wifi for the students that wish to bring their laptops with them. Students must signup to use the computer, with no more than 2 hours per day per student. If you have a Laptop PC and printer, it is very convenient to have them with you, but be sure you can use it with 220 electric current. Arrival in Athens 1. Changing money: When you arrive at the airport in Athens, make sure to change some money to euros, if you don’t already have the local currency. We suggest changing about $100, enough to last for the first few days of eating and orientation. 2. Orientation: The program orientation at the Athens Centre will take place at the very beginning of the program. You will have an opportunity at that time to meet the Centre’s staff and familiarize yourself with our facilities, and the neighborhood.
3. Mail: Have mail sent to your name at the Athens Centre, 48 Archimidous Street, 116 36 Athens, Greece. We do not recommend having friends and family send you packages while in Greece; as the process can be slow and unreliable. We also discourage students from sending packages out of the country. It is much less complicated to simply pick up an extra duffel bag to carry home any purchases or added items you pick up while overseas. 4. Telephone: There are no telephones in student apartments. Calls can be made from various telephone centers in the city, and from the many card telephones located in the neighborhood of the Athens Centre. You may want to consider doing some research on calling home before you leave the U.S. We recommend the following web-sites for further information: http://www.platform3000.com, www.att.com/traveler, www.youcallhome.com, or www.mci.com/international. You can receive calls at the Athens Centre telephone, 011-30-210-701-2611 (this is a special student line). Please remember that East Coast time is 7 earlier in the day than Athens: 3 pm in Athens, is 8 am in Delaware. Family and friends should make plans to call students at reasonable hours. It is also helpful for students to coordinate times so they are not receiving calls during class hours, as classes will not be interrupted for calls unless it is an emergency. Cell phones, which operate with pre-paid cards, can be purchased in the US (visit http://www.platform3000.com) or can be purchased for about $150 once in Greece (half of this is fully refundable, provided you return the phone and all papers to the shop before you leave). Students frequently share the cost of such a phone and have the convenience of a phone in their apartments. 5. Meals: Student apartments in Athens have simple kitchens. Cooking facilities include a three-burner stove with a small oven and a refrigerator. You can also eat in inexpensive restaurants and cafes in the area. 6. Film: Film is more expensive in Greece. Bring what you think you’ll need, plus 50% more! We suggest buying film before you arrive in Athens. Developing can be done in the city, though this is also more expensive than in the States. 7. Money: We recommend changing dollars to euros before leaving the U.S., as this will save you time and hassle later. You can also change dollars upon your arrival at the airport, although the airport does not typically have a good exchange rate. ATM/Debit cards can easily be used in ATM machines in Greece – check with your bank about using your card here. You will often get the best exchange rate this way. VISA is the most common credit card and is accepted in many shops and restaurants, but most of your expenses will have to be paid in cash. Another easy way to carry your money is in the form of travelers checks, which are readily exchangeable exchange posts/kiosks and can be replaced if lost or stolen. You might also like to have a credit card which allows you to draw money. Bank transfers can take up to a week, as they are processed through the National Bank. We definitely advise you NOT to have cash dollars sent by mail, Federal Express, or any other form of fast or slow mail. Checks sent to you in Greece take at least four weeks to process…an ATM card is the best way to get cash! 8. Laundry: There is a laundry not far from the Centre, and several dry cleaners are located nearby. The laundry is not self-service: you leave your clothes there and they are washed and dried the same day, and then you pick them up a few hours later. Students can also choose to share the cost of a washing machine within the apartment. The cost is 30€/month plus a 20€ installation fee (minimum rental period is 3 months). 9. Housing: Students will be housed in apartments near the Centre. More information will be given during the orientation in Athens. Apartments are all fully furnished with modest cooking facilities. All are within 10 minutes walking distance of the Athens Centre, located in residential areas, with a normal complement of small stores and service shops nearby. 10. Fax: You can receive faxes at the Athens Centre fax, 011-30-10-701-8603, and can send them at the telephone center or post office nearby. 11. RENTING MOTOR VEHICLES -Program participants are not permitted to rent motorcycles during the semester. Roads in Greece are not as safe as those in the U.S., nor are rental vehicles maintained as should be. This rule is for your safety. You really won't like the emergency rooms in the local hospital. One final thing that cannot be too strongly emphasized is that Greek life is different from American life, which is one of the compelling reasons for you to live and study abroad here. You must be flexible in adjusting to changes of schedules and other unanticipated events. In Greece, it is best to expect (and enjoy) the unexpected. The Athens Centre
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Last updated: April 20, 2008