CAPA WORLD

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger, sharing her story on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London.

In today's post, Kelly reflects on her time studying and interning abroad in London and shares encouragement and advice on how to make this your best decision yet.

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If you’re having doubts about studying abroad or it has barely crossed your mind, look no further for advice than what I’m about to tell you.

Deciding to study abroad was quite possibly the best decision I’ve ever made. When I got into the CAPA London program to study and intern abroad, my dad asked me if I really wanted to do this. I was offended at the question and honestly teared up for a second at the thought of not going. That question did make me have second thoughts for a moment, though. I suppose that if I didn’t go, I wouldn’t know what I missed. But now that I’ve spent the best months of my life studying and interning in London (yes, I know—it’s a very cliche thing to say), I wouldn’t take it back for the world.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger, sharing her story on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London.

In this week's post, Kelly talks more about the time she attended and networked at Cosmopolitan's Self-Made Summit in London and the takeaways she noted from the sessions.

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A chance to meet the Cosmopolitan UK team and chat with 400 like-minded people sounded like an event tailor-made to expanding my knowledge, accumulating advice from others, and furthering my career—all while having a good time.

While studying abroad in London, I had the opportunity to attend Cosmopolitan UK’s second Self-Made Summit. I discovered this event while reading the print version of the magazine and immediately knew it was something I had to get involved in. I’m so grateful that I was in London and had the chance to partake in the event.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger, sharing her story on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London.

In this week's post, Kelly brings her best friend from the US around her neighborhood in Camden and takes in some of the deliciousness that Camden Market has to offer.

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While studying abroad, I have had the pleasure of enjoying a visit from one of my best friends, who also happens to be my number one travel buddy. She had been to London before coming to visit me but hadn’t been to the area I was living in. Camden is arguably one of the best places in London, so she was in for a treat. I am a tad biased considering I’ve lived here for almost four months, but there’s nothing to not love in Camden.

Me and my best friend who came to visit me in London.

When my friend arrived, the first thing I did was take her to the Camden Market. With endless food options including Crosstown Doughnuts, Buzzfeed’s named #1 UK dessert to try before you die, and countless shops that you never know what you’ll find in, she was sure to have an incredible experience. We had stellar grilled cheeses for lunch. Then we wandered in and out of the shops. She bought a couple of rings, and I had to restrain myself because I’ve bought too many things from there already.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger, sharing her story on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London.

In this week's post, Kelly shares what it's like to keep in touch with friends and family in the US and the apps she uses to bridge the gap.

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No matter where you go—whether it’s a state away or a completely different time zone away—there’s a good chance you’ll want to keep in touch with someone you left behind. You could be going on vacation, leaving for college, moving for a job, or chasing an adventure. When you’re studying abroad for four months in a completely different time zone, it can be a little trickier to keep in touch with those you care about from back home. It’s definitely doable, though.

I’m not much of a homebody, so going places for extended periods of time doesn’t tend to prompt homesickness. That being said, I haven't kept in touch with my family that much, maybe once a month or so. But I do keep in contact with two of my best friends every day. I often speak to my family over the phone using it as usual or using WhatsApp’s calling feature. WhatsApp is a messaging app owned by Facebook that you can download to keep in contact with people. A lot of people use it for talking to others overseas.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger, sharing her story on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London.

In this week's post, Kelly expresses her love for magazines and recaps what London has in store for budding journalists making their way across the pond.

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As a journalist, or a writer in general, there are a few must-see and do experiences in London. Whether you’re interested in newspapers, magazines, or simply publishing, there are a few things worth checking out.

A copy of Stylist Magazine.

If you’re really into magazines as I am, it’s imperative you buy up the UK versions of the US magazines you love the most or vice versa. I snatched up British Cosmopolitan not too long after landing in the country. I also checked out Elle, Marie Claire, and Vogue. It’s quite intriguing to compare the UK and US versions of the same magazine. Cosmopolitan is one of my absolute favorite magazines, so I knew the US version well enough to notice how different it is from the UK one. Although they are two branches of the same brand, they each put a heavier focus on different verticals of the magazine. Checking out UK magazines that you can only find in the UK, like Hello! Fashion Magazine, is something worthwhile, too.

In this week's post, Kelly lists 5 ways students can live and thrive for a semester in London on a budget.

London exists as an incredible place filled with endless coffee shops, countless museums, peaceful parks, insanely gorgeous architecture, a million and one pubs, and pretty much everything you could ever really need in life. But everything has its downsides. London’s is that it’s expensive. It’s the New York City of Europe. The pound puts the U.S. dollar to shame. But fret not—it is possible to make the most of the city while living there for four months on a student budget or simply on a tight budget for that matter. Take a look at these 5 tips and London experiences to have for relatively cheap or free.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London this semester.

In this week's post, Kelly discovers God's Own Junkyard and takes a look inside this neon sign heaven.

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About a 15-minute walk off of the Victoria line’s Walthamstow Central Tube Station, a wonderland filled with neon sign exists. Unless you're looking for it, you won’t find it. A sign leading to it fittingly reads: “Heavenly junk in a hell of a location.” And it’s true. It’s an incredible treasure of a spot in a completely random location.

God’s Own Junkyard is like a gallery. It’s where old neon signs are given new life. The man behind the magic is Chris Bracey, the “Neon Man.” For 37 years, he’s been creating neon art pieces for photographers and artists including David LaChappelle and Martin Creed. He has made, installed and collected signs that have appeared behind the likes of Tom Cruise in “Eyes Wide Shut” and Johnny Depp in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” When a film is finished and neon signs are discarded like yesterday’s leftovers, the Neon Man collects them and never lets them die.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London this semester.

In this week's post, Kelly recaps her experience at the London Fashion Week Festival in February, her fashion and accessories haul, and what the entire event entailed.

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As I was greeted with a free copy of the big fashion issue of Elle magazine at the entrance of London Fashion Week Festival, I knew I had just experienced what I imagine my own personal entrance to heaven would involve. When asked if I wanted a magazine by a girl wearing an Elle T-shirt, I did a mini jump of joy and yelped "OMG, yes." These are the thrills of magazine journalism lovers.

A snap to remember from the London Fashion Week Festival.

Starting the shopping experience off right, I made my way in. My wallet had no idea what it was in for. My friend and I did a walk around before purchasing anything so as to not end up spending all of our money right away. With 150 British and international brands to explore, we had a lot to chose from and a lot to narrow down.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London this semester.

In this week's post, Kelly lists 7 coffee shops known for their beverages and instagrammable moments for you to visit and experience in London.

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The land of 10,000 coffee shops tends to be a title I took upon myself to give to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. But I have to say: London has it beat. By far. Endless coffee shops exist here. From Soho and Shoreditch to Covent Garden and Notting Hill, I’m convinced every neighborhood has at least one trendy coffee shop in it. I’d be incredibly surprised to find out that’s not the case. I’ve tried a bunch of them already and have found some must-tries if you’re a coffee fanatic in London. Take a look.

1. Saint Aymes

Unicorn lattes with edible glitter, walls blanketed in flowers and Vogue posters, and chocolate bars covered in gold flakes make up this enchanting cafe. There’s nothing like indulging in a fancy latte in a place that screams an Instagram-worthy aesthetic.

Kelly is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Journalism major at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she is studying abroad in London this semester.

In this week's post, Kelly ventures out to Shoreditch to see how art plays a big part in the area's appeal and vibrant culture.

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All throughout London, art graces the walls of buildings, fences, and even exists beneath people’s feet as they make their way through the city each day. In East London’s trendsetting Shoreditch neighborhood, there’s no shortage of it. From Banksy’s work to the work of a man who creates tiny masterpieces on people’s hardened gum, art truly remains all over.

Street art in Shoreditch.

For my Post War British Pop Culture class, we ventured out to Shoreditch to take in all of the art it has to offer. In class, we learned about the area’s street art. We also learned about how the area is transforming with gentrification. As more hipsters move into the area and bring instagrammable coffee shops with them, the area has become more desirable. Rent hikes have forced immigrants who have lived there for years to leave.