Katie Banks Bio
I am currently a junior at Duke University where I am the Sports Director of Cable13, our student cable station. I am a Political Science Major and I am obtaining a certificate in Policy Journalism and Media Studies. I interned in the Studio Production Department of MTV Networks in New York City this summer and am now studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain.
myProfile
- Home Town:
- Banner Elk, North Carolina
- Favorite Sport:
- Basketball
- Favorite Band:
- The Starting Line
- Major:
- Political Science
recentPosts
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The Most Romantic City in the World (Minus the Romance)
2008-11-12 08:29:31
Bonjour from Paris!
Well, this past weekend I traveled from Barcelona to Paris, the so-called "most romantic city in the world." However, there was no romance present in my weekend trip with two of my close girlfriends. Instead, we enjoyed a four-hour walking tour of the city, witnessed the Eiffel Tower light up under the stars, admired the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and ate in a quaint French cafe. Oh, and there might have been a little karaoke-style singing to Ozzy Osbourne at the Hard Rock Cafe...
Despite the fact that I cannot speak a single word of French (I totally googled "Bonjour" for the purpose of this blog), I did find myself utilizing some of my Spanish. Two families from Spain asked me to take their photograph in front of Notre Dame and I was able to converse with them for several minutes. I felt accomplished.
After galavanting through the streets of Paris, I also traveled to see the Palace of Versailles. Although it has housed French kings (most notably Napoleon), it is now utilized as a museum. Jeff Koons' work is currently on display, along with the original artwork that has hung on the walls of the palace since the kings lived there.
Tomorrow I am jet-setting again, but this time to the warmer weather in Athens, Greece. Don't worry, I will have my camera in-hand and update you when I return.
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Oktoberfest 2008!
2008-10-05 11:32:20
Life in Spain is going well and I have finally began traveling to other parts of Europe. This past weekend I visited Munich, Germany to attend the festivities at Oktoberfest 2008. The weather was freezing, but that didn't stop the enormous crowds from enjoying chips, beer and roasted chicken. The tents were much larger than I anticipated. Each had a main floor and an overlooking balcony with hundreds of wooden picnic tables scattered around. The beer mugs were huge and cost around 8.25 euro each, which was definitely an issue for many broke college students studying abroad this semester. However, many looked at the situation as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and enjoyed themselves to the fullest. One interesting thing I discovered while in Munich was how early the city shuts down when the fairgrounds close. Oktoberfest tents call it quits at 11 p.m. and many of the bars and restaurants only stay open till about 12:30 or 1 a.m. This was a big change from the early morning closing times in Barcelona. Many of the night life locations here close with the sunrise. I am traveling to Florence, Italy this upcoming weekend and will hopefully have some amazing pictures to post on the site. Until then, have a great week!
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Hola from Barcelona, Spain!
2008-09-19 09:56:42
The saying, "I'll sleep when I'm dead" is definitely my life in a nutshell. After a whirlwind summer working in the Studio Production Department at MTV Networks in NYC, I am studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain for the semester. I have only been here for three weeks, but it feels like months have passed since I left the states. Fortunately, I did not have to deal with culture shock, but I do miss my Goldfish and drying machines.
While abroad I plan on traveling to other destinations in Europe, including Athens, Florence and Munich. I'm taking tons of pictures so hopefully I will be able to post some on my blog in the future.
Well, it's time for siesta, but I will keep you updated on my Spanish adventures. Stay tuned :)
Katie's last-5
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Experience Barcelona's Mount Juic
Duke student reporter Katie Banks is studying abroad in Barcelona this semester. In this report, she shows us the picturesque views you can catch atop Mount Juic.
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The Historical Side Of NYC
Palestra.net's Duke reporter, Katie Banks, is on internship in New York City, and she got to see a side of the Big Apple that has nothing to do with shopping, night life or Broadway.
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Hiking Grandfather Mountain
Palestra.net's Katie Banks takes in the beautiful landscape and hikes the trails of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, North Carolina
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Is The "Card Swipe" The Best Method For Duke?
The biggest safety concern for Duke students is walking on campus at night. But if they need to get into a dorm for an emergency after 2 am, their ID will only allow them access to their own building. ThePalestra.com's Katie Banks talked to students about whether this current system needs to be changed.
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Duke Looks To Revise Student Safety Plan
The past year has been filled with numerous tragedies at college campus such as Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois and North Carolina, and student safety has become an even greater concern. ThePalestra.com's Katie Banks talked to students about what can be done to improve safety at Duke.
