Greek Life & Study Abroad

Going to study abroad can be quite scary if you do not know anyone. Getting on the plane, I was nervous for the experience ahead of me. I was nervous I wouldn’t make any friends, I was nervous my roommate and I wouldn’t get along, and I was nervous studying abroad in Seville wouldn’t be as magical as I imagined. I was very wrong.

I immediately connected with the people I now call my lifelong friends. It wasn’t until two weeks into our program that we found out we were all in the same sorority. I was so excited to find out three of my new best friends abroad were also people I could call my sisters. Being away from school and Greek life was hard. I missed seeing my best friends every Sunday at chapter and was having major FOMO missing all of our events throughout the semester. My chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta has given me a great support system and some of my best friends so, finding friends abroad who were also a part of Greek life and in the same sorority was very comforting.

I instantly felt connected to them because of our shared experiences. I felt that they could understand me when I was missing out on events or talking about how Greek life has positively impacted me in college. Not only that, but now I had Theta friends from across the U.S. Our chapters could connect and support each other on a deeper level knowing there was a relationship there. It was also cool to represent our sorority abroad and spread a positive light on Greek life. We made unforgettable memories together like kayaking through the Algarve in Portugal and sunset picnics along the river in Seville.

Even if we weren’t in the same sorority, they would all still be just as special and important to me. However, knowing we were all sisters made us bond a little bit closer. I now know that if I am ever in California, I have a home there and three incredible friends. I miss them and I hope that we can reunite in the near future, maybe even at a Theta event! TLAM (Theta love and mine)!

Marley Lucas is a CEA Alumni Ambassador who studied abroad in Seville, Spain, during the Fall 2019 semester. She is currently a student at the College of Charleston.