This summer, I participated in the Duke in Alicante study abroad program, and had the unique opportunity of complete immersion in Spanish language and Culture. For 6 weeks, I lived with an incredible host family from Alicante, and attended intensive Spanish classes at the University of Alicante in the heart of the city.
As a part of our program, we took several weekend trips and visited 6 major Spanish cities and towns, including Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Valencia, Guadalest, and Altea. During these trips, we bonded through group outings and meals, explored museums such as the Prado museum and the Reina Sofía, and took tours of historical sites such as Alhambra. As an art lover, especially surrealist art, I absolutely loved exploring the Reína Sofia’s vast collection of works from famous surrealist artists and seeing famous surrealist works such as Guernica. Learning about the history of Granada through visiting Alhambra and admiring Granada’s islamic art and architecture was an incredible experience.
Learning Spanish has always been a goal of mine, and I’m so grateful to have been able to take this step in my language learning process through my summer experience. I’m overjoyed to be able to share this aspect of my identity with my Spanish-speaking relatives. In addition, as I pursue a career in STEM, I know that this learning will be invaluable in translating research into a tangible impact on public health. I’m so grateful for SPIRE’s support of my summer experience, and I can’t wait to share my learning with the fellows!