CAPA WORLD

We all know a staple in the student diet is a good dose of caffeine! And while that remains constant around the world, the method of consumption can differ - especially when you're studying abroad in a different culture. Think you're ordering a cappuccino after 11 AM? Think again! Take it from CAPA vlogger Brielle as she shares with us her 5 coffee commandments for drinking coffee like an Italian. 

In this post, Molly talks about her favorite bus trip that she took while studying abroad in Dublin!

Towards the end of the semester, with my budget growing thin, I realized that I had a weekend free with no plans! My friend and I began looking at short day trips that were relatively easy to get to on a bus or the trains. In our search, we came across one of the bus tour companies that operate around Ireland. They have tours that go to most of the major sites on the island and their tours range from half-day trips to trips that last a few days!

Where in the world should you go? In her first post, Emma walks us through her study abroad dilemmas and how she eventually selected a city and program that aligned with her degree and interests. She's thrilled about making her way to Dublin and shares how her family, friends, and advisors, as well as a four-leaf clover, nudged her toward her decision!  

Where we’re going, we don’t need luck!

In the soundtrack to my life, “Should I Stay or Should I Go” sums up my fall semester perfectly, as my journey to study abroad was no walk in the park! No, no, no, not one bit! Indeed, I was very lost in the park with no compass to make clear which path I should take and no map to answer my burning question: “Where should I study abroad?!"

I was searching all over the globe for a program that would satisfy my academic requirements, financial needs, and personal desires! I met with several advisors, made spreadsheets, and had weekly conference calls with friends and family to poll opinions. For most of the semester, I had several applications started in various different programs.

In his final vlog, Dan tells us about his top 5 favorite moments he had while studying abroad in Shanghai. From city tours to walking by dog parks, Dan shares why these moments made an impact on him and how he got to have a real experience with the people and culture of China.

In this week's vlog, Kendall gives us a tour of her London student apartment, providing an idea to future students of what to expect of their living quarters with CAPA London!

“Excited.”
“Nervous.”
“Dedicated.”
“Confused.”
“Intrigued.”

A new group of students had arrived in London a few days earlier and, as part of their welcome week and three-day orientation, they shared a few words to describe the mix of emotions flooding their thoughts.

The words—all of them valid and very normal—came as no surprise to London Internships Placement Manager Katie Lander. “One of my favorite activities is for students to complete our three-word exercise,” she shared. “We ask them to pick three words to describe how they are feeling. We’ll look over these then see how we can help them settle some of these feelings. In their Global Internship Workshop class, they reflect on these words again and share three new words on how they are feeling at the end of their internship that helps them consider what has taken place during their time abroad.”

In this week's post, Kara talks to us about her student apartment, its amenities, and its central proximity to stores and restaurants, as well as her commute to classes and her internship. As she chronicles her time abroad, go through this photo tour to see where she'll be living this semester. 

It’s hard to believe, but it has been nearly a full week since I arrived in Sydney and moved into my apartment. Located less than a quarter-mile (350 meters) from the CAPA Sydney center, my apartment Urbanest provides a range of accommodations for university students. While the majority of CAPA students also live at Urbanest, others either reside at the nearby Oaks Goldsbrough Apartments or a private homestay. Read on if you’d like to learn about my experience so far living at Urbanest and commuting to my internship.

After a few weeks in London, CAPA Vlogging Duo Emma Dinnerstein and Kailey McIlwrath have tackled the challenge of learning the Tube system in London!

From Orca cards and tube etiquette, to navigating the zones and using smartphone apps like City-Mapper and Bus Times - watch for this awesome guide on how to use public transportation in London!

In this week's post, Sarah tells us how she had a smooth start in London, from passing through customs all the way to exploring her neighborhood. She also unpacks her first week in the city and what she has picked up on so far. Take a look at her helpful tips about grocery shopping, navigating the Tube, and getting a phone plan. 

(Original illustrations by Sarah Mai)

I successfully made it to London in one piece and have settled in nicely within the neighborhood in my new city—which is such a relief after a stressful pre-departure week! I’m not a terribly anxious traveler, but I found myself worrying quite a bit about how navigating the airport and Tube stops would go for me once I arrived in London with quite little sleep. Luckily, it was a very smooth travel day. The immigration line to check my passport and visa post-flight took about 45 minutes to pass through, so bringing a snack along is a good move (something easy to eat with one hand, like a granola bar). After a pleasant interaction with the immigration agent, I quickly made my way to the underground station (marked as the London Underground, not trains, which are much more expensive and won’t take you where you need to go).

In her first post, Lizzy opens up about her reasons for studying abroad and the steps she took to make it possible to accommodate her cystic fibrosis. She did her research and prepared ahead of time to be an informed traveler and find solutions that worked best for her medically. Read on to see how Lizzy traveled all the way to Sydney without a hitch!

On my list of requirements for potential colleges, amongst many others like having a smaller-sized student body and a drivable distance to home, it was a must to have the option of study abroad. One of the reasons I chose Providence College was because they offered the help and resources to make this dream of mine come true. I knew I wanted to travel to somewhere warm with easy access to the water and that was English-speaking, so Australia was the move! CAPA’s tolerating team based in Boston has answered every single of my silly questions and has made it so that when I arrive I know I will have the support system I need, from academics to doctors. They also give the opportunity to complete an internship which was important to me, as I hope to not only grow personally and as a student but in the professional setting in a foreign country.

The availability of modern healthcare and the ability to communicate how I am feeling without a language barrier is crucial for me because I have a chronic illness called cystic fibrosis. Making studying abroad in Australia become a reality is a personal achievement of mine because not only did I have to keep up academically, but I had to make sure to keep up with my health regimen to be able to stay healthy while I’m across the world.