Educational Programmes Abroad

Working in the House of Commons was an unforgettable experience. During the spring of 2008 I worked in the office of Harriet Harman MP QC. In this placement I was able to witness the daily procedures of British government firsthand while working for a member of parliament. As an intern I worked primarily with issues faced by constituents in Ms. Harman's south London constituency. My internship included opportunities and experiences unlike any I had in America. One of these experiences was attending advice surgeries, which are meetings between constituents and their member of parliament to discuss any issue an individual may be having. In addition to an extremely beneficial and rewarding internship, life in London was spectacular in and of itself. EPA provides housing in central London, which allowed me to explore everything the city had to offer. London is busy multicultural city that takes pride in its long history. It was a perfect city for me as a student, offering dozens of free museums, parks and concerts, in addition to endless shopping, restaurants and nightlife and everything in between. Also, being in London opened the gates to the rest of Europe and allowed me to easily travel on weekends. My semester in London was certainly the most unique time of my undergraduate career. My time spent in the House of Commons has helped me broaden my understanding of the real world application of politics, contributing greatly to my experience as a Political Science major, and also encouraged me to pursue my goal of attending law school after graduation. As I continue my studies back in the States I constantly remember my time in London, all of the excellent opportunities I took advantage of, and the memories I made there.

Studying abroad was an unforgettable and extremely valuable experience. Not only was I able to see different places and people, but I given the opportunity to become immersed in it as well. My internship placement was with the Department Chair of Pharmacy in King's College London, where I participated in a medical research internship. While many can say that they have visited and seen far-off sights, few can say that they have lived and worked in a foreign setting. My experience abroad gave me a good balance between vacationing or visiting different attractions and experiencing the norms of everyday British life. During the weekdays, I rode the Tube to the King's College and worked on my project in the lab. The internship gave me much flexibility and allowed me more responsibility and independence than my previous experiences. I learned a great deal from my internship - both skill-wise and career-wise. The internship that I was given helped solidify my desire to pursue my current career interests of research in the health-related fields. While not in the lab, I had much free time to explore famous tourist attractions and local, well-loved places in the city. The area where I lived made it very convenient to go almost anywhere in London. I stayed in a quaint, Georgian flat with three other students that was a block away from the Marylebone and Baker Street Tube stations. The flat was completely furnished with a comfortable living room atmosphere, a fully furnished kitchen area, and was within close walking distance to several grocery stores. Whether I chose to walk or ride the Tube, I found everything that I needed at my disposal. With amenable accommodations and an enjoyable, insightful internship, I would highly recommend anyone to take on this unique opportunity.

I couldn't help thinking that I wanted to stay there forever.

My life was forever changed, as the challenges I met showed me new directions for the future.

An outstanding introduction to the rich theatrical history and traditions of the region & it was an extraordinary journey

The EPA London program not only set me up with a terrific internship; they also were an active part of my experience. They took us on a Thames river cruise and a tour of Greenwich, and hosted a fantastic going away dinner at a historic London pub. I really enjoyed every aspect.

Madrid and my EPA internship taught me that home is a state of mind. It is something that we can carry with us to the furthest reaches of the globe. It is a frame of mind that grounds us and allows us to truly take full advantage of our travels, for once we feel at home anywhere in the world, we can embrace everyone as neighbors.

Not only did my German language skills improve, but living and working in a foreign city gave me a new found sense of independence that I would not have been able to gain from my home institution.

This study abroad adventure has undoubtedly been more rewarding and challenging than I ever could have anticipated. I navigated my way through European freedom, completed a Communications internship with an International Organization, attended meetings in the European Parliament, traveled to at least 7 different countries, and wrote articles for an NGO's global newsletter.