Dear Office of Study Abroad:

Merhaba! Greetings from Turkey! Let me start off by saying that one of the most valuable parts of my study abroad experience has been the course, "Thinking about God". It has forced me to tease through all the thoughts that have been floating in my head for years and figure out some of my basic spiritual beliefs. There is something about knowing where one stands on issues that is empowering.

When I get back to Duke, I hope to take another course with our professor, Guven. He is awesome and understands how important experiential learning is. By supplementing the time we spent in class and in Istanbul with a 10-day INCREDIBLE excursion through Anatolia, he sets Duke in Turkey apart from other programs. In one day, we discussed the 3 world religions during a bus ride, climbed through fairy chimneys (Google them), rode camels, and stood 15 miles from the Syrian border! I hadn't expected to choose Turkey as my study abroad destination or to learn so much during my time here. I would absolutely recommend that anyone considering studying abroad apply without reservation. Apparently, the places you know the least about may offer the most rewarding experiences!

– Virginia Rieck