As we turn the corner to the final push of the semester, the stress creeps up on us. The end of semester grind is filled with non-stop work and assignments.
What are the first things that come to mind when you think of Latin America? One of the first observations I made when I was back on campus after my semester abroad was about students’ perceptions of Latin America, which I use to refer to both Central and South America.
The more time that passes after my semester in Salvador, Brazil, the more I realize the impact of my experiences there have had on me and the way in which I interact with the world around me.
Sofia Stafford With spring break just two weeks away and the halfway point of the semester in front of us, as much as we try and resist the urge, we start thinking about what comes next in our Duke careers.
My host mom tugs at my conga, telling me for the third time since we got there to take it off.
One of the most challenging and equally rewarding aspects of studying abroad is that it challenged me to truly understand, and not just imagine, what it would be like to live in someone else’s shoes.
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.
