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Postcards from Abroad

Study away highlights submitted by Duke students

Immersion in Action in Alicante
Statues from Las Hogueras de San Juan, or the Bonfires of Saint John

When I got to Alicante, I didn’t know enough Spanish to ask for directions on the street, but by the end of my immersion there, I was navigating like a pro. Throughout our six weeks, we studied Spanish rapidly and put it into action immediately, both at home with our host families and during our trips to different Spanish cities each weekend, including Seville, Madrid, Toledo, and Granada. These trips helped round out my knowledge of Spanish history and culture, along with letting me practice speaking.

However, the best part of my experience was the festival of Las Hogueras de San Juan, or the Bonfires of Saint John. The people of Alicante commission dozens of enormous art pieces on street corners throughout the city, and at midnight on Saint John’s Eve, the statues are set on fire.

I really feel like I know Alicante well, and I can’t wait to go back someday. My experiences inspired me to study Spanish abroad again so I can continue learning about different Spanish-speaking cultures. I can’t recommend this program enough—study abroad is the best way to connect with a culture and to build up strong language skills.

Thalia Halloran
Class of 2022, English
Creative Writing

 

Programs Featured:

Duke in Alicante

 

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