Dear Office of Study Abroad:

It is impossible to pick one highlight of Duke in Madrid. The whole experience was unbelievable. I made great new friends, improved my Spanish skills 100-fold within a semester, met incredible people such as my host family and the DIM directors and professors, and learned a lot about myself.

The program is amazingly well thought out, giving a comprehensive understanding of all of Spain, not just the stereotypical representation from Andalucia. Not only does the program include trips to several cities, the directors also planned dance classes, cooking classes, a flamenco show, a theater production and tours of all kinds to help us immerse in the culture.

I am returning to Duke with a renewed and deeper love for the language and culture. I am no longer shy about speaking nor worried about applying my skills while volunteering in the pharmacy and in my future career. My best advice would be to go study abroad at some point in your college life, and in the Spring if possible because the benefits are endless. It will change your life.

– Lydia Chen