Duke University Office of Study Abroad

Dear Office of Study Abroad:

The night before my trip to Madrid, I was very anxious about the new experience before me and the new people that I would meet, but at the same time I was very excited about the next 6 weeks of my life. When I arrived to Spain, I realized that I would be able to have a wonderful and memorable experience. A highlight of my trip to Madrid was our excursion to Sevilla in Andalucia, the southern region of Spain. The people were so nice and the weather was great! I absolutely fell in love with Flamenco, a signature dance style of Spain. In Sevilla, I found the perfect display of convivencia, a mix of Arabic, Jewish, and Christian cultural influences, in its truest form.

I was able to apply this experience upon returning to Duke by my interactions with people in my volunteer and research experiences. I was able to realize that many different people of different backgrounds can work together peacefully and effectively. This influenced my ability to be understanding while working with many different people. My future plans of study and research will definitely incorporate my gained knowledge and fluency of the Spanish language and culture. My only advice for students considering study abroad is to go and not look back. I had a great experience studying abroad and hope to have many more.

- Brittany Young