CAPA London become the foundation of my future Past Review
By Katie T (International Relations and Affairs., Walsh University) - abroad from 05/21/2014 to 07/05/2014 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England
This experience was extremely worthwhile. I was extremely worried about graduating this year and having to find and maintain a job while living alone. This program really helped with that. My internship gave me experience in my job field and I feel so much more confident about joining the workforce soon. I also interned for a political party so I gained a lot of knowledge on how different yet similar the US and England are politically. The British Pop Culture class really helped me explore London from an insiders prospective rather than a tourist and that helped be to feel more like a global citizen. All the interaction from that class as well as the apartment living taught me a lot about living away from home and navigating a city. I don't think I would be prepared for graduation if it weren't for this program.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were extremely fun and very educational but the teachers were very vague on instructions and it became a little irritating to not understand what details were necessary to do the assignment correctly. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
CAPA's staff was amazing! I had a medical emergency while there and they were with me every step of the way figuring out the health system and offering support. They have a unique way of supplying you support without holding your hand. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The flats were more about location than quality. The location was great and I'm glad they chose to focus on that rather than luxury living but they left something to be desired. |
| * Food: |
London has every type of food imaginable right at your figure tips. Except Mexican food, which I love. Ask the staff for recommendations to find some real gems. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did an internship while I was there and by the end of the six weeks I felt very at home with the people there. I didn't feel like an outsider. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
CAPA was fantastic about assisting with health problems. I wish I could give them all the stars in the world for being so helpful and patient. However the English healthcare system was a nightmare. The wait is long and you never see the same person twice so it is hard to get comprehensive care. You don't need any vaccines or such to be in this program either. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe throughout the duration of this program. The building I lived in had a keypad to get into the courtyard, a keypad to get into the building, and a lock on the apartment door, but the neighborhood I was in with was nice and very nonthreatening to begin with so those were an added bonus. Beware of the tourist hotspots because they are easy targets for pickpockets. I didn't have anything stolen but I know it has happened in the past. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
I spent more than I would have liked. Most of it went to food. If you're looking to really budget try a homestay option rather than the apartments. You'll be farther from the city center but will save money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around 150 pounds |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Homestays save on food expenses because they provide some meals. Become familiar with the closest Tesco or Sainburys to your place of living. Don't be afraid to cook your own meals. Buy souvenirs at the Camden Markets, they were the most inexpensive and offered a great variety. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | More ways to save money and I wish we had gotten on Internship information sooner. |
