Daiana Temirova

Bio: Hi! My name is Daiana Temirova, and I’m from Knoxville, Tennessee, though I grew up in Kyrgyzstan. I’m currently a first-year student at AU and I’m double majoring in SIS and Public Health. I'm excited to be one of the Cornerstone Greece Ambassadors! I love to travel and explore new places, as well as spend time with my family and friends and go on new adventures! Having not been born in the US, I've always had a passion for learning about every corner of the world—one of the many reasons why I chose the Greece study abroad program. Studying abroad in Greece is an amazing opportunity to grow, learn, and experience the world through a different lens. This program allows me to broaden my horizons, gain new perspectives, and continue my lifelong journey of learning about the world! As an ambassador for this program, I'm excited to share my experiences and insights with fellow students, helping them discover the unique treasures of Greece and encouraging them to embark on their own study abroad journeys!

Blog #1: February 17

Hi everyone!  

Welcome to my first blog post. If you’re reading this, I hope you find my blog helpful and enjoyable. My name is Daiana Temirova, I’m from Knoxville, TN, and I’m majoring in SIS and Public Health.   

So much has happened during my first month here in Greece, and I can't wait to share my experiences with you! 

My journey to Thessaloniki, Greece was quite long, but thankfully I wasn’t alone as I travelled with one of the girls in the Cornerstone Greece program. We ended up running into a few more girls in the program in Turkey, which was really nice. I was feeling quite anxious traveling so far from home, so it was a relief to have familiar faces with me. Once we arrived in Thessaloniki on January 7th, our RA and shuttle were at the airport to pick us up and take us to the hotel, where we are staying. It was nice to finally get settled, but the excitement of starting this adventure had only just begun. 

The first few days were a bit of a whirlwind. There was so much to adjust to—new time zone, unfamiliar streets, different food, and, of course, managing my celiac disease in a new country. 

I feel incredibly lucky to have Kay-Kae Reynolds as my roommate, as we've been best friends since high school. Being in the Cornerstone program together has made this experience even more special. Having her here with me has made the transition much smoother and less intimidating, and it's comforting to know I have someone by my side to share all of the new experiences and challenges that come with studying abroad. 

One of my biggest challenges has been dealing with my celiac disease. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, it's an autoimmune disorder where consuming gluten—found in wheat, barley, and rye—can cause serious damage to the small intestine. This means that I have to be extra careful about what I eat, especially in a new country with a cuisine that revolves around bread, pasta, and other gluten-containing foods.  

Thankfully, the Cornerstone staff and my RAs have been amazing in making sure I feel comfortable and safe when it comes to food. They've been incredibly supportive and understanding of my celiac disease. With the meal plan we have in Greece, we are provided breakfast and dinner at the hotel. From day one, my RAs, Ilios and Eirini, helped me meet the hotel staff to inform them about my dietary restrictions. Since then, the chefs have prepared a separate plate of celiac-safe food for me every day. They also ensured gluten free meal options for me during orientation week events.  

At first, I was a little anxious about finding safe food options in Greece; however, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how accommodating restaurants and cafes have been. Many places here are very understanding about dietary restrictions, and some even have gluten-free options available. I’ve also found a few specialty bakeries and stores that sell gluten-free products, which have been lifesavers. One of my favorites is Novus: Foodie's Art Gluten Free Bakery, which is a 100% gluten free bakery that also has vegan and lactose-free baked goods.  

During orientation week, we got to visit and tour the American College of Thessaloniki, which is the school we’re attending as part of the study abroad program. I am taking 16 credits at ACT; 9 of these are required courses - Modern Greek History, Thessaloniki: A City and its Inhabitants, and Writing – and the other 7 are elective courses - Biology and Macroeconomics. These courses keep me quite busy during the weekdays, with my classes ranging from 10 am to 5 pm almost every day. During the weekends, however, I spend most of my time exploring Thessaloniki, and other parts of Europe, with my friends. We recently visited Cyprus, as well as Athens, Meteora, Ioannina, Vergina, and Delphi in Greece, with upcoming visits to Bulgaria, Turkey, France and Italy!  

Moving onto our housing arrangements, we are currently staying at a hotel that is conveniently located near the boardwalk and a newly constructed metro station in Thessaloniki, which have made exploring the city so much more convenient and fun. I have enjoyed exploring the city with my new friends. Some of our favorite spots so far have been Fregio, Moonkiz Café, and Castello, all nearby the boardwalk. 

One of my main goals for this study abroad experience was to expand my social circle and make new friends. During my first semester at AU, I didn’t have a big group of friends, and I wanted to change that while in Greece. I set a goal for myself to have at least one conversation with everyone in the program so I wouldn’t limit myself in making new friends. So far, it's been a rewarding experience; I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and form meaningful connections that will expand beyond the study abroad semester.  

I hope y’all had fun  

See you in March! 

- Daiana