What inspired you to travel abroad?
I always knew I wanted to study abroad, even before I began college. Traveling abroad was something that was really important to me and I knew that I would do whatever it took to be able to fit studying abroad into my college career.
Bascule Bridge
Why did you choose CAPA London: Intern Abroad?
After seeing that there was an option to study abroad as well as intern at the same time, I was set on this program. The ability to get both experiences in one semester was a dream come true for me, as getting an internship was also very important to me. I chose London because it seemed like an easy place to live in since they speak English (which meant there wouldn't be a language barrier). I also wanted to intern in fashion, and London is a great hub for fashion companies.
What was your favorite part about London?
I absolutely loved EVERYTHING about London. I couldn't find things I didn't like about it even if I tried. It was very nice that they spoke English, and it was easy to assimilate into the culture because there wasn't a language barrier. Also, the people are extremely friendly and nice to Americans! The transit system also makes it extremely easy to get around and go wherever you want very easily and efficiently.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I was nervous about my internship and what it would be like, if I would fit in, etc. I was SO pleasantly surprised with my placement! It was exactly what I had hoped for and the people at my internship were lovely. They welcomed me with open arms and were so helpful in helping me assimilate into living in London and working in a new environment. I would tell anyone that is nervous about this to know that THEY want you to be there just as much as you want to be there! So be excited that you are wanted and confident that you will do a good job because they believe the same.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
CAPA, my program provider, as well as my university, assisted me throughout the entire process. Of course, there is work to be done and forms you have to fill out yourself but they were there for me if I needed support on any of the processes. They helped with preparing us for departure and what to pack, etc. They were also there to help us with visa applications and logistics like that. Along the way, they were there to help with anything I needed. They took care of our living arrangements and they also transported us from the airport to our housing once we arrived in London.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I would have been able to travel more on the weekends, but given the amount of time you have there and the time you spend interning, it gets busy! I wouldn't have changed my experience at all, but if I had more free time to travel to more countries, I would've liked that.
Buckingham Palace
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Below is what an average day and week looked like for me on this program:
Regular day: Wake up, get ready for work/class. Get on the tube and travel to work/class. Leave work or class and grab dinner or groceries on the way home. Hangout with roommates and then go to bed to be ready for the next day.
Monday: Intern for a full day (9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
Tuesday: Intern for a half day (9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), go to class for second half of day (2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., but end of class depended on the day)
Wednesday: Intern for a full day (9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
Thursday: Class from 1:30pm-4:30pm, but end of class depended on the day
Friday-Sunday: Time off to travel wherever we wanted!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Aside from traveling to other countries, we loved exploring markets in London during our free time! There are so many amazing markets to explore that offer a variety of news foods to try. Being abroad is the best opportunity to try new foods, so we loved doing just that!
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in a flat with three other girls. It was great location and the neighborhood was very upscale—we were living next to million-dollar places (but ours wasn’t that nice of course, haha)! It was a cute little area and felt very safe. There were two rooms in the flat, so we had two girls in each room; we had twin beds, one bathroom that we all shared, and then the upstairs had a living room with a TV, couches, dining table, sink, fridge, stove, oven, and dish washer. The location of our flat was my favorite part. It was very central and close to everything, but also was a quiet neighborhood and a nice place to escape the hustle and bustle of London after a long day.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Have an open mind—you never know what you will learn or who you will meet!
Would you recommend CAPA London: Intern Abroad to others? Why?
YES! I was immediately impressed with CAPA from the day that I had my Skype interview, to the day that I arrived at my apartment in London, and continued to be impressed as the program went on. I couldn't be more thrilled with the choice I made to study abroad with CAPA. The structure and resources that CAPA provided me with were essential to my success and enjoyment of the program. I absolutely loved the way my classes were structured and I genuinely enjoyed going to class each week. My CAPA instructor (Richard Mcguire) was incredible and so insightful. I learned so much during his class and on our field trips.
I would make sure to highlight with prospective students that CAPA does an amazing job of making sure you get the most out of your experience. The classes weren't a chore at all, and instead they provided a ton of useful knowledge about the city you are studying in. I would also encourage the internship program because it was truly the best decision I ever made to go with this CAPA internship program as opposed to other programs. I got so much out of my four months abroad that I wouldn't have gotten if I didn't intern.
Aside from the incredible program itself, I was also very impressed with the housing and how safe I felt. I never once felt unsafe in my apartment or walking to it and I felt very safe in my neighborhood. I was located in Clifton Gardens/Maida Vale. I would also talk to the students about all of the resources that CAPA has available to the students in their program. I was very sick for the first month of my time abroad and I was very easily able to find walk-in clinics using the CAPA Guardian App. There is truly nothing I would change about the CAPA program, and everything went so smoothly during my time abroad so I would definitely highlight that to the students.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
This will be an absolute highlight of your life and something you will never forget!! It is a life-changing experience that will shape the rest of your life. Your outlook of the world and people will change and you will open your mind to so many new ideas and experiences! I will forever look back on my time abroad and how much I learned and grew as a person. It's so much more than just studying and traveling. You will grow and learn so much as a PERSON!
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my time abroad or speak to someone about it. The experiences you have abroad will absolutely translate into your life afterwards. Having the internship set me up to get another internship the following summer and employers are always impressed with my experiences.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is worth more than anything else money can buy! The experiences and memories I made while traveling are the most cherished memories I have in my life and that I will continue to have for the rest of my life.
