DEPARTURE
What to expect
during your travels
This trip will be a great fit whether you are a seasoned traveler or this your first time abroad. Kefalonia will offer you an abundance of occasions for education, growth, and immersion into a new culture. Your five-week stay on this island will provide ample opportunities, from guest lectures by distinguished professors, to local cuisine shared among like-minded artists and designers.
A bulk of your adventure begins before you even arrive to the airport. Local culture may be different than what you’ve experienced at home or in past travels, so good preparation from lift off to touchdown, and everywhere in between, will set your study abroad journey off right.
What should I pack?
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There are a few essentials you want to make sure you bring. Kefalonia from May to June is between seasons, so bringing clothes for a variety of weather is probably your best bet. The nights and mornings can be brisk, while the day is usually dry, warm, and sunny. Walking will probably be your main form of transportation, so bring a pair of comfy sneakers or sandals. The most flexible item of clothing you can pack would be a good sweater or cardigan. The beach will become your best friend, so bring 2-3 swimsuits, a beach towel, and sunscreen. A bathing towel and a washcloth are provided by the center as well as bedding items. It would be good to bring standard toiletries with you, as the Center is a far walks away from any shops. As you may be documenting ancient sites that could be overgrown, at least one pair of closed-toe shoes and long pants are imperative. Bring at least one nicer outfit: jumpsuits, collared shirts, dresses, etc. for potential stakeholder presentations and exhibitions in the Center. As stated previously, laundry is done for free at the Center by your request. The rest is up to you, but it is recommended you bring mostly comfy, casual clothes for working and relaxing.
How do I get to the Center?
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The island of Kefalonia is small and off the west coast of Greece, so you will probably have a layover in Athens. Make sure you double check your baggage limits because foreign airlines, especially in Greece, may have stricter rules. The airport in Kefalonia is probably much smaller than what you may be used to. Once you land in Kefalonia, you will travel to the Center (address: Ionion Center for Arts and Culture, Metaxata 281 00) by taxi, which is around 20 euros. There are people and signs outside the airport to guide you to where you can find taxis. Also, try to fly with someone! Use this as an opportunity to meet a new pal with an added benefit of splitting the taxi fare. Most of the travel you will do on the island will be by foot or taxi. Uber is not available in Kefalonia. Because the Center is in a semi-rural area, “walking distance” is considered to be about 2 miles. Included on the map below are some of our favorite places to explore.
​Star - Ionion Center; where you will be living and working
1. Marina’s Café
15-minute walk from the Center, a place with good Wi-Fi, great snacks, and beautiful views.
2. Avithos Beach
About a two-mile walk, this beach has become our favorite spot! There are two restaurants on the water, which has been great for grabbing a bite to eat!
3. Sarris Winery
This winery is just up the hill from the beach, and the owner also owns one of the restaurants on the water! We did a wine tasting as a class for only ~12 euros each, and it was a highlight of our trip!
4. Argostoli – Spathis
Argostoli is a 15-minute taxi ride away, and one spot you can’t miss is the Spathis bakery. It’s right on the water, has delicious pastries, gelato, and crepes.
5. Sagittarius Market
On the walk to the Ai Helios beach, there is a little convenience store with probably everything you could need including stamps, snacks, sunscreen. You name it, it’s probably at the market!
6. Makris Gialos Beach
If you're looking to go to a beach a little further from the Center, Makris Gialos is a short taxi ride away but worth it for the fantastic views, food, and activities.
"Traveling with friends was definitely the way to-go when coming to Greece. Although I hadn’t met my travel companions until we arrived to the airport— multiple flights, layovers, and taxis as a group made the process easier (and cheaper). For being in a different major and knowing no one coming into the program, I was comforted by the warm atmosphere that the Center provided to make new friends."
Abigail Gillin
ARCHITECTURE SENIOR
What else should I know?
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Money
Make sure to take out some Euros before you leave the States. Somewhere between 400-500 euros will be plenty of cash to have on hand for the five weeks. Sofie (your host), prepares breakfast, a light lunch, and dinner every day, so meals aren’t too much of a burden on your bank account. There are a couple great restaurants on the beach for a late afternoon snack, and a coffee shop and grill down the road, so it would be nice to have some money.
The smaller the bills, the better. Taxis are crucial when traveling further distances on the island. When splitting taxis, having a 5- or 10-euro bill will be easier than a 50. The bigger cities around, like Argostoli, will have ATMs for you withdraw cash. Credit cards are accepted, but not frequently used.
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Lastly, make you sure inform your bank that you will be abroad.
Phone Plan
Wi-Fi isn’t fantastic at the Center, but there are many places nearby who do have great connection. It is suggested to get an international phone plan with either 1 or 2 GB of cellular data, 100-250 minutes of call time, and upwards of 500-1000 text messages.
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Electronics
Greece uses a "Type C" power outlet so an adapter is crucial. You can get a basic pack of multiple for less than $10 although other, more universal (albeit more expensive) are also fine. If you are planning to use devices like hair dryers, straighteners, curlers, electric razors, plug-in toothbrushes, etc. these will require a separate device called a converter as to not trip the electric system (devices like phone and laptop chargers do not need a converter). When shopping for these, remember: adapters change the shape of the plug while converters change the electric current.
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Apps
It is advised that you download Google Maps and Google Translate before departing. Within Google Translate, you can download the English and Greek languages for translation on the go. Within Google Maps, you can download the island of Kefalonia for navigation offline.
Frequently Asked Questions​
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Can non-graphic design students apply?
Yes! Any College of Design student can apply for this program.
Can graduate design students apply?
Yes! Graduate students are welcome to apply as well!
Do I need a visa?
No, unless you have alternate plans to travel before or after the trip. The duration of the scheduled trip does not require a visa.
I’ve been accepted, now what?
Congratulations! You are one step closer to studying in Greece! The first thing you need to do is log into your PackAbroad account and ‘commit’ to the program. On there, you will find all other steps required to complete the pre-departure paperwork.
I want to buy a plane ticket, when should I arrive in/depart from Kefalonia?
The first day listed of the program dates is your arrival date and the last date is your departure date. For example, if the dates of the program are May 15-June 14, you should book your plane ticket so you arrive and depart around those days.
How do I register for classes?
Students register for classes similarly to how they do for on-campus courses, using the Student Center in MyPack. More specific instructions will be sent to you after acceptance.
What credit requirements will this course fulfill?
GD490 is a 6 credit studio course (or a 3-credit hour GD592 for graduate students), which also fulfills a swing studio for non-Graphic Design majors.
Do I need any vaccinations?
While Greece doesn’t have any particularly unique diseases that you need to vaccinate for like some other countries, it would be a good idea to visit your doctor before departing to make sure you’re on the up-and-up.
Can I travel to other countries while participating in this program?
While you can technically travel to other countries on the weekend, you might not have time. It is advised that you wait to see what your work schedule allows you to plan.
Tracy Sewell
DESIGN STUDIES
"I wish I had packed lighter. Most of the time I’m dressing in shorts and tee shirts. If I could change anything it would be packing more versatile clothes to prepare for chilly weather at dinner and stuff for relaxing in studio."
Haylee Kobziak
ARCHITECTURE
"Coming in as an architecture student, I was excited to learn from all the graphic designers. Being on the documentation team and visiting historic sites, I was able to connect things I do in my major to graphic design."
Britney Balmer
GRAPHIC DESIGN
"I wish I had known to bring comfy shoes with me. I brought older shoes but with all the walking we do they’re falling apart! I recommend Chacos."
Sarah Horn
DESIGN STUDIES
"Knowing that Uber isn’t available on the island is huge. I know personally I hadn’t taken a taxi before this trip, so I was stressed. But it seems like the cabs in Kefalonia are safe and they've been easy to call and are reliable."
Katelyn Watkins
GRAPHIC DESIGN
"I wish I had known to download my songs on Spotify, podcasts, and Netflix before I arrived. The WiFi on the island is a little touch and go. We've been able to stop by the cafe to download movies but I wish I came prepped."