Dear Office of Study Abroad:

The six weeks I spent in France this summer was definitely one of the highlights of my Duke experience. My favorite part about Paris was that there was no thing as an ordinary stroll through the city: every street, every neighborhood, every building, large and small, flourished with history and culture. There was always a monument to see, a museum to explore, a charming café to discover.

Our stay in Paris coincided with the annual Fête de la Musique, an all-night celebration where music of all genres imaginable literally rang out from every street corner. It was absolutely amazing to see all of Paris united in celebration of the vivacious spirit of the city.

This semester I am taking a course on Gothic Cathedrals of medieval Europe. Having visited several of the cathedrals we are studying, I have a unique perspective on the subject. It is so much more interesting to remember a building for the time I spent there, rather than for black-and-white still-frames taken by someone else.

For anyone considering studying abroad (even engineers like myself), I recommend it without any hesitation. The knowledge I gained from my time abroad is something no textbook could ever convey.

– Chelsea He