I am an international student from the U.S. getting my master’s in marketing, and I absolutely adore Durham. Now, I could tell you about the interesting modules I take (including Influencer Marketing!) or how much I loved matriculation. But that’s not the reason you clicked on this blog. Here are the top three hidden reasons you need to skip over the pond to Durham.
You will romanticise your life
Whenever I am out in Durham, my camera is also OUT. Maybe it’s the cathedral peeking above the skyline, the hidden footpaths that come out of nowhere, the cobblestone streets, or cosy cafes steaming with flat whites and plush pastries. Maybe it’s having a Christmas ball in a castle, the cascading river in the city centre or doing the infamous college pub crawl for all of your mate’s birthdays. I can’t quite label it. But there is something special about Durham, and you just need to experience it for yourself.
Did someone say cosmopolitan (and not the drink!)
I live in Ustinov College, Durham’s only postgraduate-only college. And let me tell you, I could fly pretty much anywhere around the globe now and have a place to stay. I now have connections in Colombia, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, China, Australia, Iran, Taiwan, Greece, Lithuania, France, the UAE, you name it. The informal interactions, like trying my flatmate’s baklava or learning how to use RedNote from my Chinese friends (when TikTok was banned), have made my experience in Durham so rich.
You will get in shape
Durham’s topography is, on paper, my worst nightmare: extremely hilly. However, these hills have gotten my normally lazy self in shape quicker than you can say Uber. Nowadays, I typically get in 12,000 steps each day and can strut up Durham’s hills without getting winded. Absolutely no leg day needed. I mean, there is a reason why the students call it the Durham bum.
You can follow my journey at www.girlgonedurham.com
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