My Study Away Path: Neuroscience Studies to an Internship with the Philharmonie de Paris
By Cole Jenson
This photo was taken in a small town on the south east coast of France called Cassis. I lived there for six months when I was seven years old, and this was the first time I got to go back. It was a pretty surreal experience, and I was struck by how little had changed, down to the street vendor that I had bought crêpes and ice cream from after school.
Why did you decide to do Duke in France/EDUCO for a semester?
I decided to do this program because I love France and French language and culture. Going to Paris seemed like a great way to get to know French academic life (which I hadn’t seen much of yet), as well as more about Parisian culture. It also set me up to be able to travel pretty much anywhere else in France or in Europe that I wanted to go, which was great. And as with all immersion programs, I really looked forward to improving my language skills.
This photo is looking down from one of my favorite place in Paris, Montmartre, after a lovely afternoon exploring. Photo credit: Meade Inglis
Compare how your skills or knowledge changed after doing this program.
I left with a much more profound knowledge of the French language, especially the idioms, accent, and speech patterns specific to Paris. I also left with a much deeper understanding of French musical culture and system of notation. Outside of academic life, I was lucky enough to get an internship at the Philharmonie de Paris which left me with a unique perspective into the professional music world in Paris and the production of arts and culture in Paris in general.
This photo is in Milan, Italy, in front of the Arco della Pace. My girlfriend and I were able to meet up in Italy for a weekend trip and explore the amazing food and culture and learn about one of the centers of Italian industry and modern culture. Photo credit: Meade Inglis
Thinking back to what you expected this program to be like, would you say anything surprised you or turned out differently?
I was quite pleasantly surprised by the quality and number of excursions and activities set up by the program in Paris and in other parts of the country. There were wine tastings, truffle making, baking, and cooking classes from Parisian chefs and bakers and chocolatiers, interesting panels and talks, day trips, and weekend long tours of certain parts of the country.
This photo was taken on one of the program led excursions in Normandy, at the Chateau d'Isigny. We were served a delicious lunch while the current owners told us about the history of the area.
Tell us about your greatest takeaway from this program.
I think my greatest take away from the program would be to dive in early when ever you’re in a new place, especially if you know you’ll have to leave soon. I definitely waited too long to start talking to my French classmates, and to start interacting with communities within the city. Within the last month I went to a few open mics and found some really cool communities at them that I wish I could have interacted with more. I also got to see some really cool political groups in action when I finally made the time to go to a rally one weekend, but sadly it was the last one before I left. So, my advice would be not to fall into the trap of putting things off and spending all of your time with your American friends doing things you could do back home.
This photo is of an amazing sunset down the Boulevard St. Germain on the way to get some delicious gelato. Photo credit: Cole Jenson.
How did/will this program affect your career interests or next steps after graduation?
The largest effect on my career interests came from the internship I did at the Philharmonie de Paris. Seeing how much the employees got to learn from and interact with the musicians and music was incredible, and watching how such an important institution affects the musical sphere and culture in Paris was very cool. I also got to talk to a few people about really cool positions I hadn’t even thought existed that combined other interests of mine (even neuroscience) with music.
Cole Jenson, Class of 2018
Neuroscience
Duke in France/EDUCO
My Study Abroad Path: A Year in Paris and a Summer in Haiti Inspire Senior Thesis and Plans for a PhD
By Daniel Lam
Discovering the untouched gems of the Balkans over fall break. Photo by Jasmine Tsai.
Why did you decide to do Duke in France/EDUCO?
As a travel enthusiast, during my sophomore fall, I decided that I did not want to stay in Durham for too long and that I wanted to go abroad for a year. Originally I planned to study in Paris for the spring semester and then in Copenhagen for the fall semester. Paris was an obvious choice as I really like French language and culture. Moreover, my French courses at Duke have all been really enriching and inspiring, especially a French politics course with Professor Christelle Gonthier and a cinema course with Professor Anne-Gäelle Saliot. As such, I wanted to explore what I have learnt in the country itself. After a semester there, I felt really satisfied with the experience and wanted to practice my French even further; that was why I stayed for the whole year in the City of Light.
Duke in Paris excursion to Provence. Photo by Daniella Ochoa.
How did your skills or knowledge change after doing this program?
Well, the changes have been immense. My French skills went from barely conversational to a level where I felt really comfortable talking to other Francophones. The homestay experience was definitely an important factor contributing to such a drastic change. Living with French families not only helped me practice my speaking and listening skills but also allowed me to pick up cultural knowledge that is quintessential in conversations à la française. For example, the French families I’ve been with usually love to talk about politics and arts on their dinner table so I have learnt a lot of new words as well as world knowledge through those casual conversations alone. Studying at French universities also enriched both my language skills and knowledge of French culture incredibly. Very interested in linguistics, the courses I took in French linguistics have given me a more analytical view of the language, which I really appreciate. Also, making new friends with whom I was forced to converse in French was definitely nice too! The friends I have met are really nice and helpful.
A French dinner with friends of Duke in France/EDUCO. Photo by Katherine Couch.
Describe how your ideas and perceptions changed as a result of doing this program.
I did my study abroad there during a rough year of French history, flanked by two violent attacks in the capital. I was even there during the weekend of the attack in Bataclan. It was indeed a traumatic experience but through the experience I witnessed so many things that I did not normally see during the halcyon days. People hugged strangers on the street to express their solidarity. The Saturday after, I walked with my host parents for six hours along the quiet streets of Paris where I saw the resilience of the city and its people. I still remember my host dad reminding me that during hard times like this, though some people want to make religion or immigration the culprit, it is important to consider rights from wrongs and to stand together instead of to blame and divide. Although I have learned this lesson many times, it was that particular context and my amazing host family that inculcated it in me even further.
Duke in France/EDUCO castle exploration. Photo by Krista Kowalczyk.
How did/will this program affect your career interests or next steps after graduation?
A year in France taking French linguistics courses and traveling to different parts of the country and the continent reaffirmed my passion for world languages and cultures, so that I decided that I want to become a linguist to further explore the wonders of languages around the world. Some of the courses I took in Parisian universities were so cool, especially a course on the history of French language, where I actually learned Old and Medieval French. Thus, I am now really interested in French and Francophone linguistics. I went to Haiti over the summer and learned some Haitian Creole there. My senior thesis is on a comparative complexity analysis between Haitian Creole, French and some other languages. I will go on to do a PhD program in Linguistics after graduation and I am certain that my year in France is definitely a major factor contributing to my acceptances to some competitive programs. And of course, I will continue my research on French and Haitian Creole.
Enjoying the beauty of the heights of Les Baux-de-Provence. Photo by Daniella Ochoa.
What advice do you have for other students considering this program?
I’d say that firstly, do not fear the homestay experience. It is probably my favorite part of the program. You get to enjoy living in a family with a culture totally different from yours. Yes, there will be challenges at first but those challenges only help you to bond with your family further and to understand their culture better. Such an experience will help you be more comfortable integrating into foreign cultures and comprehending why people do the things they do, a skill set that I feel is really important in our troubled world nowadays. Also, consider staying for a second semester, especially if you are considering a major in French studies or a humanities discipline. First semester, you are only a visitor dabbling in the language and the culture and getting excited visiting all the tourist attractions. It is the second semester when you really feel like you are a part of the society itself and you feel more comfortable with your language skills too, and that is definitely an invaluable part of cultural exchange. And you get to eat delicious French cheeses and drink inexpensive French wine for a whole year, who doesn’t like that!
Daniel Lam, Class of 2017
French Studies / Biology
Duke in France–EDUCO (Spring 2015, Fall 2015), Duke in Paris (Summer 2015)
The summer of 2016 was the first time Duke in China participants could also participate in an internship. Of the 39 who were in the language intensive program, 4 (including me!) stayed after for three weeks, getting to know what it's like to live as an adult working woman in China.
We each had our own respective companies – I worked for a media company, and in this picture you can see my coworkers preparing for interviews we were holding that day at a tech conference with distinguished people from Google, Alibaba, Microsoft, etc.
This was my first internship ever, and to be able to do it in Beijing was definitely an experience unlike any other! Not only did it help me see Beijing in a light I'd never seen it in before, but it also opened my eyes to the opportunities and possibilities of working abroad!
“I became aware of the less obvious differences which shape culture and sense of belonging...”
One of the highlights of my time in Costa Rica was receiving a bird's eye view of the city of San Jose. This picture highlights the differences between my view of Costa Rica and the view out the window of my dorm at Duke.
At the beginning of the trip, I attempted to minimize the cultural differences in Costa Rica. Through my interactions with my host family, I became aware of the less obvious differences which shape culture and sense of belonging. Music, art, and food are obvious parts of culture, but so are interactions between families, moral viewpoints, and social classes.
Overall, my experience in Costa Rica has affected how I view and define other cultures, and I can't wait to return to Duke and apply my new knowledge to other classes!
‘Europe Without Europeans?’ My Experience at the WDR Europa Forum in Berlin
By Morgan Daly
Every year the WDR Europa Forum brings together leaders from countries across the European Union to openly discuss the current concerns and situations within Europe. With the pending threat of Britain exiting the EU and the every growing number of refugees fleeing to Europe, the 19th Europa Forum was unfortunately perfectly timed to discuss the new crisis mode that the European Union has found itself in.
“After living in Germany for over three months, the situation has become more real to me.”
Germany’s foreign affairs minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed the importance of Europe working together to help the large number of Syrian refugees and stated that the European nations needed to remember their strengths and accomplishments, especially in times of crisis. In contrast, Miroslav Lajacak, the foreign affairs minister for Slovakia, expressed his concerns with assisting the refugees and felt as if his country’s needs were not being appropriately considered by the EU when asked to provide aid. In terms of the Brexit, interviews with the President of the European Committee and the German representative for Great Britain emphasized the reason for the exit, the financial concerns of the Brexit, and the hopes that Britain’s decision would not affect the continued membership of other EU nations. While the Forum was moderated and conducted in a diplomatic matter, it was easy to see the differences both situations have generated between different nations as well as different parties in Germany.
“While I believe human compassion drives us to want to help these refugees, attending the Europa Forum helped me see the monetary, historical, and political difficulties involved in deciding the best way to provide aid with out losing touch with the principles a nation was founded upon.”
Our view at the forum. Chancellor Angela Merkel is in the red blazer.
The Syrian refugee crisis has been a topic of discussion in newspapers and TV broadcasts long before I began my study abroad semester in Berlin. I was aware of the war and the number of people fleeing the country, but after living in Germany for over three months, the situation has become more real to me. Roughly 2,000 refugees are currently living in the old airport terminal of Berlin and thousands of others are scattered in shelters across the city. Every day politicians debate the ways to protect them from xenophobes and how to integrate these individuals into the schools, the work force, and the culture of Germany. Many Americans believe that these Syrian refugees should be helped. While I believe human compassion drives us to want to help these refugees, attending the Europa Forum helped me see the monetary, historical, and political difficulties involved in deciding the best way to provide aid with out losing touch with the principles a nation was founded upon. It is a challenge no matter which way you look at, but based off of the influential leaders interviewed last week, I think it is a challenge that Europe can better handle as a whole.
Morgan Daly participated in Duke in Berlin, Spring 2016
On October 10, 2015, two suicide bombs tore through the crowds at a rally for peace taking place in Ankara, Turkey, killing at least 102 people and injuring over 400.
As students on the Duke in Istanbul study abroad program, our immediate reactions to the horrific bombings in Ankara included sorrow and empathy for the people of Turkey, as well as fear and concern for our own well-being.
However, after our initial shock, the overwhelming response among us was relative apathy towards this bombing.
"Why do we mourn for the people of Paris and not the people of the rest of the world? Where do we draw this line? Is there ever an appropriate spot to do so?...(These) are questions about which we are thinking every day, as we sat in classes with peers and friends whose country and people were horrifically attacked while we, as the West, stood by, apathetic.”
As I wait for the bus in Salvador, Brazil, for the final time before going back to the United States, I take my last deep inhale of acaraje (little bean patties fried in Dende oil, typical street food), feel the rays of sun mixing with the salty breeze soaking into my skin and hear the sounds of samba music blasting from a car as it whizzes by.
“At Duke, I find myself looking only forward; running from one class or meeting to the next, scheduling short coffee breaks with friends, planning work and down time; I leave no wiggle room for waiting and uncertainty. My time abroad taught me that, contrary to my initial belief, time is valued in Salvador, but it is valued in a different sense of the word.”
