Kaelen Song is a fourth year Computer Science student from Tufts University. She talks about her experience on the integrated Fine Arts: 4D studio programme at Central Saint Martins.
How was studying abroad in London? What is your favourite thing about the city?
My favourite thing about the city is the city-ness of it. There are a million-and-one things to do and the public transport system is amazing. I love all the historical nooks and crannies that you stumble upon being in such an old city.
You can wander about and find a lovely pub just about anywhere. It has also been great fun to try different pints of Guinness from different pubs and see how they all differ.
In the warmer months, or when the sun comes out, the canals are a lovely place to be. You can sit at a café or bench along the canal and enjoy people-watching and duck-watching. I also like to wander down the canals, you can just keep walking and see various slices of life. One time I was walking on Regent’s Canal and saw a man sawing branches on the canal. I asked him what he was making and he told me he was cutting firewood for his houseboat. On the canal by Central Saint Martins, I love to visit the floating book barge and say hi to the pair of old dogs that are often there.
I don’t particularly have a single favourite memory of studying abroad but think that the experience as a whole was what was really impactful.
What did you enjoy about your classes? Can you tell us about a project you were particularly excited about?
In my seminar, I really enjoyed the exposure to new artists that were relevant to my practice.
I was excited about my project where I was able to make miniatures again! This is something that I’ve been doing since I was a kid and to be able to go through the familiar motions again was so fulfilling.
For this project, I made a miniature room and then used a pepper’s ghost illusion within the miniature room to try and make it appear as though there was a little man that lived in the room. The project didn’t turn out exactly how I had wished but it was still amazing to be able to make miniatures again.
Why did you choose UAL Study Abroad?
To be quite frank, I chose UAL study abroad because it was one of the only study abroad programs in my school for art and I thought London sounded like a nice place to study abroad. I wanted to be in Europe somewhere and this program fit the bill.
How do you think your study abroad experience will help you with your future endeavours? What is the most valuable thing you learnt from the experience?
This experience has given me a sense of independence and trust in my capabilities. I solo travelled several times this semester, was faced with obstacles, both emotional and logistical and was forced to work through them completely on my own which taught me a lot about myself. As cliche as it sounds, it’s true, seeing different cultures and traveling to the various regions of Europe gave me new insights on how other people live and love.
Is there anything you want to share with future study abroad students/ future applicants?
Students coming from more restrictive and structured programs may find it challenging to adjust to the independent nature of the UAL program, but overall, I loved the experience. London is an amazing city to study and live in.
Would you recommend the experience at UAL?
It depends on the person and what they want to be doing during their semester abroad. I would recommend it if they want a free-form, extremely independent program. If they need more structure, I would say maybe a programme like the UAL Semester would be better.
