Give us a little intro!
Kaylin: I am a Musical Theatre major at the University of Tulsa. I have a deep love for iced lattes, ridiculous dancing, all kinds of music, and good art (in any form). Oh, and also traveling!
Why did you pick this program?
Kaylin: I knew I wanted to go to London, that part wasn't difficult, but I wasn't sure exactly what kind of program I wanted to participate in once I got there. IES has a large variety of programs that can fit with most majors and career paths. I eventually picked the Theatre Studies program, because it focused on classes in my major, while also giving me the chance to study aspects of British culture and allow me enough free time to explore London.
What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?
Kaylin: Do it! I know it can be difficult trying to decide whether or not you should study abroad, I definitely had a hard time. I was worried about missing opportunities at my home school. Now, I think going abroad was the best decision I could have made.
Yes, there were some experiences I missed while being in London, but I gained SO MANY wonderful experiences being abroad that I never would have gotten if I had not gone. I went through a lot of personal growth, which has been so beneficial to me in every single aspect of my life. I will be able to use what I learned from study abroad for the rest of my life.
What was the hardest part about going abroad?
Kaylin: Not knowing the area I lived in and not having a support group of friends and family with me. I live in a smaller town than London and it took me about a week or two to learn where things were in my neighborhood and how to navigate the surrounding areas. However, by the end of my time there, I felt comfortable in the city. Missing my family and friends came and went in waves.
The beginning was difficult, but I made sure to talk to new people and be open. My program was specifically designed for students from American Universities, so I was lucky in that I had at least one thing in common with the people in my program and we could build from there. Trust me, everyone is nervous in the beginning about making friends, but as long as you're open to new relationships, you can find a group of people that you can get along with.
What made this experience unique and special?
Kaylin: The sheer amount of theater I experienced. I only see a small amount of theater in my home town, because it's simply not big enough to support the amount of theater produced in cities like London and New York. I saw about 17 shows while in London, for which I am so grateful.
I saw many new plays, plays that dealt with issues about society, nationalism, and politics, plays that were intensely serious and incredibly comical at the same time. I realize that isn't everyone's cup of tea, so to speak, but I loved it. It was wonderful to watch theater behave as an art form that speaks for and about society, which it doesn't always do, especially in my town. I really grew to love theater again, by experiencing it in London.