CEA CAPA Education Abroad in London, England

I am so glad I chose CAPA London; it was my first time in Europe, and it was a great time for me to learn and discover myself independently. With the exception of the nighttime bus routes, (those maps are very confusing) I had no trouble navigating around the city. (Safe community, and no language difficulties). Flexibility in scheduling allows for external travel and discoveries, in a culture rich city. However, one must keep in mind that a study abroad experience is what you personally make of it. I've had friends who have done the same exact thing, and said that it was nothing special.

In the beginning, you are introduced to the city via tourist route; that is, we took a bussed tour around the city, where a tour guide gleefully introduced us to the major land marks, and well known historic areas. We also visited Stone Henge, which, for me was the highlight of the tour- I'm not one for tours, because I find them, well, rather bland, but I'm not sure how I'd have gone to Stone Henge otherwise.

I would say this program is more about personal learning and exploring rather than pure academics. It all depends on your university, but mine did not take our final grades, only the credits as long as we reached a certain grade. This is not to say that I didn't try- as long as you complete the assignments, and listen during lectures, doing well in your courses is not an insurmountable task. Classes simply consist of lectures, assigned reading, a few presentations, and a final exam at the end. If you have any questions, the professors are always more than willing to help, and are very chatty and friendly as well. I will say it is a more American style of learning, as we have assignments throughout the course, and our final mark is not contingent on just one exam.

However, I do wish the program as a whole was a bit more organised- sometimes I felt like all the components of our responsibilities- housing, assignments, travelling, etc. lacked in proper cohesion. Often times, we were confused as to what we needed to do, where we needed to go (such as finding our flat, assignment due dates, etc.) This was more of a problem for my classmates, though I just found that a bit more communication would have solved the issues. Sometimes, for example, a professor would be expected to adhere to the CAPA curriculum instead of their own, and they weren't aware that they were to present certain presentations- and embarrassingly found themselves fumbling with the content. However, the content is what matters- all the other issues are easily solvable by asking questions if you need additional instructions.

Travelling is so easy in London that it would be a crime to take a taxi. CAPA gives each student a prepaid Oyster card that can be utilised on all public transportation for the duration of the program. Take advantage of the free museums and cultural attractions- London is one of the world's most diverse cities, and places like Borough Market and Camden market has food stalls in rows with food from all over the world.

I would also advise to take advantage of the student union at Imperial College, a partnership that is unique to CAPA. There, you can make friends with British University students, join clubs and sports, and utilise facilities. Imperial is one of the top universities in the UK- and you can easily be a part of the community- it is there that I've made some of my best friends, and also discovered London through a local's point of view.

Travelling is also a must- though you are not on the mainland of Europe- any country is within a few hours away. I suggest planning ahead to find the cheapest rates.

Quick tips for making the most of your experience:

1. Don't just do what tourists do- by doing the "typical" things, you don't experience London as a local; just what all foreigners see- anyone can see Big Ben- but going on a street art walk in Shoreditch is something I wouldn't want to miss

2. Get to know the locals- you'll have friends with different view points, who can introduce you to their city- too many of my friends say they didn't know any British people by the end of our program- that's because they just stuck to each other. You're not in a foreign country to get to know more Americans.

3. Utilise your Oyster card as much as you can- it's prepaid- anyone who's stayed after the program knows that those fees really add up.

4. If you're going to travel- plan ahead of time. Airline flights are ALWAYS more expensive the closer you get to your departure date. And hostels are a marvellous alternative to expensive hotels.

5. Document your discoveries with photos and maybe even a journal- you'll look back on it in the future and be glad you could relive those memories.

6. Go out of your comfort zone and try something new- you never know what you're going to discover. You have time to sleep and rest when you get home- these several months should be filled with discoveries and new things. So get out there and enjoy yourself!

As a CAPA alumnus, I cannot begin to describe how incredible my time was in London. I think that CAPA has a large part in making my experience unforgettable. The students, staff and professors inspired me every day, and I have remained in contact with most of them.

The internship program was an incredible experience. The internship team was there to talk all the time if I felt overwhelmed or that I could not handle my job. They did an incredible job of placing me in an environment in which I could excel and felt safe every single day.

The classes were inspiring and fascinating, and allowed us to explore London and see the hidden parts that some walk by without truly understanding. I highly recommend this program because of the people, the city, and the relationships that you can open yourself too.

My study abroad experience was one of the best semesters of my college life. It helped me mature as a person and learn a lot about myself as well as it nurtured my desire to someday live in London after college. The staff at CAPA International Education were always there for you whether to help you if you're homesick or tell you the best places to explore in London or travel to in Europe. London is such a vibrant and diverse city, that I can safely say you will never get bored in it because there is always something to do and some place to visit any day at any time. Though I wasn't able to intern because I wasn't eligible to meet the Visa requirements, my roommates had great internships that they were placed in. Our living arrangements were great, as we were centrally located and in a very nice and safe neighborhood within walking distance of great spots in London such as Covent Garden or Oxford Street.

WHY CAPA?:

I am so glad I chose to study abroad with CAPA. I did a lot of research on various study abroad programs, but CAPA stood out the most and definitely did not disappoint me! I wanted a program that provided a lot of in country support and activities. I was worried about doing an exchange and being by myself, but was also worried about getting involved with a program that would hand hold too much. CAPA was the perfect balance.

CAPA had lots of options so that I could really make my study abroad experience my own. There are so many choices to customize the semester. You can live in a homestay or flat, do an internship or service learning course, and/or participate in MyEducation and cultural activities.

HOMESTAY:

For me, the cultural immersion came from living in a homestay. Living with British locals was a fantastic experience. I loved getting to form a relationship with my host parents (plus their home cooking was delicious). You really can save a lot of money with the homestay because breakfast and dinner are included every day. I also got my own bedroom, which was important to me. I loved meeting my host parents' friends and family and living life with real Londoners. I'd say don't be scared to try the homestay. If you're thinking about doing it--do it!

CLASSES:

I took 12 credits/4 classes at the CAPA Centre. I really enjoyed them all and would say they were about the same rigor as I was used to at ASU. I really liked all of the incorporated field trips around London. My professors were all British and extremely knowledgable. The classes ended up being one of the best parts of my semester abroad.

Recommendations:
20th & 21st Century Art
Theatricality
Writing the City: London
Understanding Modern Britain

OVERALL:

While in London, I really grew as a person. I overcame a lot of my anxiety, which was huge for me. I gained the courage to step out of my comfort zone and leave home.I have learned that I have a passion for photography and art.I have also become a better listener, an active learner, more independent, more assertive, have learned to trust my instincts, and become more focused on my career goals and what I want to pursue in life. In 10 years, I'll probably be able to look back and find even more areas of growth that have presented themselves because of my time in London. I know that for me, though, this was just the beginning of a lifetime of growing and changing through travel abroad.

Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I could have ever done. I learned so much about London's culture, about myself, and the rest of the world. i was able to step out of my comfort zone, try new things, explore, make friends, and discover what London has to offer. CAPA did a great job in providing the necessary resources for me to learn about London and take advantage of such a diverse city. CAPA also did a great job in giving us opportunities to explore London and get a feel for what it is like to be British. I do wish we were able to interact more with local people, though. I loved where my flat was located, in Camden, which was very different from our classes in Kensington. I miss London each and every day.

In a curiously sudden break of time, I found myself being thrown around in a mass of absolutely freezing water, unable to control the movements of my own body. This break of time is indescribable and I've never discussed it with anyone so I don't know if anyone else has experienced something similar. But a pause like this has happened to me four times. I know that because I remember each moment distinctly, and am able to recall my exact thoughts, sights, and feelings without hesitation. In that moment when my body was the subject of a frigid and unfamiliar water, I realized I was meant to be scared. And I wanted to be scared again.

I was in Wales, on a weekend trip away from London, and I was coasteering. The adventure sport was distinctive to the western UK country and I'd traveled out there on a whim, leaving behind every one of my flatmates and my friends to carry on to a heated pub where a pint of cider would be waiting for them: a typical Friday evening event.

I wasn't satisfied with that repetitive event, though. And by the end of November I was quite sad, and homesick. So I hopped on a train to Fishguard and less than 24 hours later, I felt like I was drowning in that body of water.

Nearly a year to the date of that moment, I feel alive when I remember it. Because I felt so alive in that instance that I will never be able to forget it.

What was homesickness hours earlier had turned to a plain rush. A rush for more lack of control. The feeling of lacking control made me feel, ironically, a sense why I should live.

When yet another wave crashed into me, I shook back into existence and laughed at what I had just experienced. I laughed uncontrollably because I knew what a crazy moment it was, and that I would never be able to truly explain it.

London, and the opportunities that CAPA presented to me, were invaluable. And I did not fully grasp to such extent, until I was sitting on my couch at home hours after landing in Boston. What a shame that was.

CAPA was the best experience that I was able to have. While the academics of the program were not too challenging, that did mean that I had more time to explore the city. It was great how the professors would incorporate the city into the classroom because it gave you more of a chance to learn more about the city. I also loved having an internship while I was there. I was able to learn vasts amount of valuable information that I can take with me. I was also given an opportunity to organize and hold an event in parliament with 3 MPs. While I loved my internship while I was there, I was originally placed in an internship that I did not like very much. So I went to the internship team and told them it really was not the fit for me and they immediately found me another place that I loved. The staff are extremely accommodating and helpful.

I had an amazing time during my stay in London. I was able to experience the day to day life of London and explore it's incredible variety of people and cultures. Through my internship with an Independent film producer, I learned what it really takes to make it in the entertainment field. My supervisor was a great resource who I felt comfortable talking to because she ran her own company. I basically followed what she did as her shadow which included attending film team meetings in different parts of the city with local and international directors and producers. I realized that exploring by yourself is totally ok and should even be encouraged! These experiences are going to be the most unique gave me the chance to get to know the city on a personal level.