What inspired you to travel abroad?
I wanted to experience theatre and art in a different country and I have always been interested in travel. Many of my favorite plays, books, and movies are about adventure and I thought the best way to tell stories about adventures would be to have a few of my own.
CAPA friends taking a boat ride on the Seine River in Paris
Why did you choose CAPA The Global Education Network?
I am required to complete an internship for my major and CAPA was the best option that would allow me to study abroad, get work experience, and still graduate on time.
What was your favorite part about London?
The arts! London is filled with tons of art, music, theatre and history for me to learn from and continue to use in my artistic endeavors. Plus, a lot of it was free or really cheap for students, which was amazing.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
My arts admin professor. He guided me through personal projects and talked to me about his experiences as a playwright, a director, and theatre artist and really guided me into making the career decisions that I have since coming home. Having such a strong connection with the people teaching me really made my time in London incredible when it would have been really easy for them to just give me assignments and move on; however, they were all very caring and invested in my education and experience there.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
They were incredible! They supported me through doing personal projects, seeing a lot of theatre, and going to great artistic places—and even through losing my phone at a concert. I couldn't have asked for better support! I was never scared to ask for help with the staff there and they were always willing to go the extra mile.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I would have made more friends who lived in London that I could have kept in contact with, but I still adore my American friends who were a part of the program with me.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Typically I would spend my day going to classes and my internship, then getting food and exploring part of the city with my classmates or roommates. I would also often make dinner with my roommates or go out with them for food. I also found myself staying at CAPA a bit later and talking to professors, staff, and other students about what we were learning, classes, and places to go in London.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Seeing theatre, art exhibits, and going to concerts. As a theatre major it was really important for me to take in as much art as humanly possible and even though I spent every waking moment looking for things to do (and was always at some sort of show or exhibit), I was always looking for more.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in a flat with two roommates and I really loved that everyone in the building was a CAPA student. I also loved Camden Town as a whole because it was so exciting and artsy, and overall a very inspiring place to live in.
Melody explores London after classes
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
All your classmates at CAPA are American, and even though it's great to make friends with them (these people are now some of the best friends I have in the world!) I would recommend trying to get to know the people in London and making friends that already live in the city. The few that I did make really helped me find places in London that I would have never looked at otherwise, and they were often some of my favorite places.
Would you recommend CAPA The Global Education Network to others? Why?
Yes! Their internship program was amazing and my placement was wonderful. I also think CAPA really cares about their students and that's always a good feeling when you're going to be living in a foreign country.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit is learning how to adapt to other cultures and understanding how your home country is perceived by people on the outside. I knew there were going to be some stereotypes about me as an American, but I found that more than anything people in England weren't necessarily judgemental, but curious about such a huge country and what I thought about being in such a small country. I look at being American very differently now.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I really struggled with being an American in America after coming home, but now that the world feels a little smaller to me the idea of continuing my education or my career in another country is less scary and has really opened up my options for post graduation.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is more than just seeing landmarks and things like Big Ben or the London Eye. To me, it is understanding a culture that is not your own and taking away a lesson that can't be taught in a classroom.
