The Semester of a Lifetime! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The CAPA Center is small in size but by no means does it lack the resources you need to strive in your academics. The CAPA team gives you everything you need to learn in a classroom environment but also encourages you to use London as your classroom and take what you learn and apply to your everyday life. Participating in an internship is the best way to experience the culture and workforce of a different country as well as expand your network and make new social connections. Living in London is a learning experience in itself but being part of a program like CAPA only enhanced my time abroad and allowed me to new things that I never thought possible.

On-site administration of your program

I found the CAPA staff to be extremely helpful both before and during the program and I never felt alone throughout my time abroad. Whether it was questions about the tube or trying to contact home during a family emergency the CAPA team was always willing and able to help. They fully prepared us for any kind of situation that we might encounter and made sure we had everything we needed to be successful during our time abroad.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Unfortunately I moved into my flat while it was still in the process of being refurbished and renovated. Although the flast looked brand new,beautiful, and very clean we encountered many problems throughout the semester including a burst pipe, many power outages, lock changes and broken furniture. We were compensated by CAPA for our living conditions at the end of the semester but it did cause quite a bit of stress over the course of the months. But in terms of location our housing was very convenient. We had two tube stations within a mile of our house (including one which was right outside our front door) and we were located right in the heart of London. We also had very easy access to grocery stores, restaurants and one of Europes largest malls.

In terms of food, living in London is like living in 10 different countries. London is a huge culture melting pot where you can find just about any kind of food you could ever imagine. Living with girls from different countries also contributes to the food diversity that I experienced while abroad and not only did I learn about different foods but I also got to learn how to cook them. But sometimes when I was missing home and the American culture a hamburger and fries were never too far away.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

At the end of my program I felt like I had a full grasp on the British culture. I feel like my internship really immersed me in the British workforce as well the culture and I was able to expand my social network to include locals. I got to experience what it was like to not only work in London but also how people live and interact there. My coworkers quickly became friends and they were just as fascinated by me as I was by them which made for a lot of culture sharing.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was very lucky that I did not need to utilize London's healthcare system but I knew a few people who weren't as lucky. Fortunately our program covered us under their health insurance so people who did need medical attention did not have to pay out of pocket for it. London's healthcare system is much different than ours here in the United States in the sense that they offer universal healthcare to any UK citizen which means that they do not need to purchase health insurance. I interned at King's College Hospital so I got a very good idea of how the health care system works there and was able to compare and contrast it to ours here in the United States.

London is one of the safest cities in the world. The gun control laws prohibit anyone (even police offers) to bear arms which instantly decreases the amount of crime within the city. Never at any point did I feel unsafe or in danger during my time in London and I don't know anyone who did. The biggest thing to watch out for is pick pocketers on the busy streets and on the tube but aside from that London is an all around great, safe city to live in.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

5= food shopping in London was very cheap if you know how to do it right. Shopping at Morrisons instead of Sainsburys will save you tons of money each week while still getting the same quality of food. CAPA took care of our commuting fees and offered many free MyEducation events that allowed us to visit places that ordinarily cost money. Also most museums in London are free which provide endless entertainment.

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• International Students

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• International Students

• My internship
• The MyEducation Events
• The people I met

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The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer