Postcard from Abroad
Dear Global Education Office:
In the summer of 2009, I had to opportunity to participate in the Duke in Rome program! I had a wonderful experience. After the four weeks were over, I felt like I had really seen everything Rome had to offer, from ruins to churches to museums.
One of the highlights of my trip was the opportunity to attend mass with Pope Benedict XVI! Our group was lucky enough to get tickets for everyone in the program to attend the celebration at St. John Lateran Church. We sat less than 50 yards from the Pope and even got to participate in a procession to another major church, St. Mary Major. There were hundreds of people at the mass, and even more lining the streets all the way along the procession. I got to experience the soul of Rome through this experience and see the passion that so many Romans have for their faith. It is one of my favorite stories to share about my experience in Rome. This experience definitely made me want to return to Rome in the future for other major celebrations, like Easter or Christmas.
If you are thinking about studying abroad, but are hesitant about going during the school year, try a summer program! It was the just the right amount of time and I could focus on simply learning as much as I could about Rome during our time there.
-Kaitlyn Sanders
Credit: Kaitlyn Sanders
Major: Religion
