Greece: Chloe Sroga
Program: Perrotis College, Summer
Major: Biological Systems Engineering
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
The most memorable experience from my program was when I collected, prepared, and ate food that came directly from the campus grounds where I lived. We went around the greenhouses to collect different vegetables to then cook Kolokithakia Gemista, which is stuffed zucchini. We ate the meal we made and tried other local food products.
What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?
Traveling around different cities in big groups was a bit difficult for me because of all of the stares we would receive from those around us. Many times, people could tell we were Americans very quickly and would say “Hello” or “America!” I worked through them by knowing I am a tourist but also attempting to immerse myself in their culture in an appreciative way.
The program understood that their students were looking to explore Greece in addition to academics.
Describe your internship, research, or fieldwork and how the experience helped advance your career or studies.
I researched edible coatings to extend the shelf life of cherries. This gave me hands-on experience in a lab and working with food. In the future, I hope to work in Research & Development or Process Engineering for a food company, so this was a great way to advance my learning.
What is your advice for someone considering your program?
I wouldn’t say the work/research internships are extremely comparable to the internships we have here in the US. If you want less of a 9-5 work experience and want to explore a new place and culture, this would be a good fit for you.