SU London Program Fall '12 Past Review
By Anne B (HISTORY., Southwestern University) - abroad from 08/29/2012 to 12/15/2012 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England
In myself I've noticed a much greater tolerance for chaos, an adaptation I am reluctantly grateful to my former flat mates for. Of course, any traveling experience forces you to realize the things that are truly necessary and meaningful in life; I have developed intuitively a sense that the things that happen to people are not good or bad - they are opportunities to open your mind and learn more about yourself, and in doing so, the world around you. Being abroad is not an experience that allows you to respond simply to people who ask "how was it?". So often it was amazing, great, beautiful, exciting - but it was also challenging, terrifying, frustrating. In the long run, every single moment was necessary and good because it has made me a better, more conscious, less anxious person. Survival is a huge confidence booster that prepares you for challenges ahead because it liberates you from the fear of failure.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
CAPA facilities had a computer lab and resource library that students frequently made use of; they are open until 8 in the evening during the week, which allowed many students to study in a productive atmosphere. There were a wide variety of class options, but the classes I took were less rigorous than what I'm used to at my university. There were no readings or homework assignments, just lecture, walking tours, and two essays. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My university partners with CAPA for a customized program and they had a dedicated staff member in charge of taking care of our group. She was absolutely fantastic and was always extremely approachable if we had any issues. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in a relatively spacious apartment that covered all our basic needs and the company responsible for maintenance was easy to contact and quick to respond to any issues, which were few. |
| * Food: |
British food can be very good, and there is an amazing variety of international food available, but it can easily get very expensive to eat well. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Thanks to my internship, I had more opportunities to interact with London locals and experience more of what it's like to live and work in the city. Talking with my coworkers about news issues was always enlightening. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any health issues, but during orientation the policy was reviewed and seemed to be pretty comprehensive. CAPA staff were always very supportive about explaining the insurance policy and making sure we took care of ourselves. British healthcare is very accessible, but there are often long lines and specialized treatment is more costly. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in London. Staying alert in a crowd and not going out alone at night are just common sense. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
With experience, you definitely learn how to budget! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $120 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Research your "excursion" options thoroughly before signing up to go anywhere or planning to go to certain sites. Go to the free museums! CAPA has a travel fair at the beginning of the semester, and many providers will offer discounts through that event. Also, Tesco and Sainsbury's both have "reduced to clear" shelves of food that's about to expire. The prices are significantly reduced, and the food is perfectly good and freezable for future use. Primark and Argos are good stores for cheap clothes or homegoods. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I felt very well prepared, and the experience of learning as you go is invaluable. |
