As a theater major, Nick Trafton saw the opportunity to go abroad into London as an excellent choice for not only his academic career, but also for his enrichment. The LMU in London program offers an internship as a part of the curriculum, allowing for experience-based learning while abroad, giving Trafton the chance to both further his professional experience while going abroad for the first time.
Trafton is eccentric, enjoying everything from house music to trying new restaurants to thrifting with his friends. A passionate and talented actor, you can see Trafton on stage in various productions on campus, as well as as a member of the comedy improv team on campus. Currently abroad in London, Trafton took some time to talk about his experience abroad so far.
How is your time abroad right now? What is your favorite part of the trip so far?
I am currently about three-quarters of the way through and, to echo every single other person who has ever studied abroad, it has been incredible. And since I had never left the country before this, it’s been really eye-opening for me especially. I would say my favorite part of the trip so far is definitely the people I’ve met here! It was funny to discover all of the people from LMU who I’ve literally never seen before. Aside from a handful of folks, almost everyone here has come to a consensus that we had never seen or heard from each other once in our entire time at LMU beforehand.
What makes London so unique?
London’s most unique feature is its diversity in my opinion. It’s similar to LA in that some of the time, the people you see and hear aren’t speaking your language, and you have a wide range of wholly unique restaurants to choose from. It has quite a vibrant historical aspect to it as well, which has been a definite plus for me. I have really fallen in love with just walking around and seeing a super cool modern building that shares a wall with a building that predates World War 2. Stuff like that is super cool to me, and London is chock full of cool little instances like that. It’s been really a great place to learn, inside of the classroom and out.
What’s been one of your favorite moments so far?
As a class field trip for a Shakespeare course I am taking, we got to go visit the site of his birth and childhood home in Stratford Upon Avon, as well as visit the recreated Globe Theatre across the river. That has definitely been one of my favorite memories so far.
What did you learn from being abroad that you would not have learned on campus?
I think it gave me a sense of what it is like to live somewhere with a different culture and way of life. Albeit, London is by no means the biggest change from home, but I think it is perfect for someone who, like me, has never left America until now, and has been a great way to ease myself into the change. There were a lot of smaller things to get used to for me. The left side of the road, the trains, and the way people here interact as well. I’ve had to get a little used to people looking at me when they hear me speak too!
What have you fallen in love with in London?
Definitely public transportation. Taking the tube and walking everywhere took a little bit of getting used to, but now it’s become quite an enjoyable experience. It’s also a fantastic way to explore and get to know the city, and without the hassle of driving somewhere, paying for gas, and parking. Let me tell you, I do not miss LA traffic one bit!
Where are you staying in London?
We are staying in South Kensington, in an old 19th century townhouse that has been converted into student housing and dorms. It’s a really amazing area, but there are no elevators at all, so stairs have been my best friend. The area is one of the nicer parts of London, which makes walking around a really fantastic time. We are right down the street from Hyde Park, which is basically the Central Park of London, and popping my headphones on and going for a stroll there is a top tier way to spend my day. On the rare-ish sunny day too, I can always expect to see a lot of great dogs, which in my opinion people in London have a great taste in, luckily for me!
Have there been any challenging moments for you on the trip?
I honestly was expecting to have at least one or two pretty tough moments once I arrived here, but I am happy to say that it has been nothing but smooth-sailing since I’ve been here. A few little bouts of feeling a little homesick, but a quick FaceTime with my family or friends back home does a great job of cheering me up. I’d say the worst of it was right before I was about to leave, as having the entire excursion ahead of me was a daunting thought. But anticipation is always worse than actuality, and this trip was no exception, as I’ve loved every second of it.
Do you have any advice for any potential students looking to go on this trip?
Definitely don’t pass up on exploring the city itself! I’ve seen some people get a little bit distracted trying to travel to as many places outside of London. As I said before London is a big big place and some of the most fun I’ve had is wandering around within it. Go to pubs, talk to people, duck into small alleyways and restaurants. Also don’t pack too many clothes, as you’re going to definitely want to shop out here once you arrive. Still don’t know what I’m going to do about that one.
What have been your favorite spots to go to?
I think one of things I was most looking forward to when coming here was the food, which may sound strange when referring to London. But upon living here I’ve found it to be really living up to my hype. I’ve been lucky enough to try some really amazing places, including some of the best Indian and Vietnamese I’ve ever had. Also the parks and green areas around here are super nice, and quite peaceful too. They’ve been a necessity for me to take a break from the hustle and energy of London, without keeping me cooped up inside all day.
What do you plan to do with the rest of your time in London?
Part of our program involved us being placed in an internship based on fields of our choosing. I am currently employed at a small fringe theater in upper London, and it has been a wild and wonderful experience. So I will definitely be busy with that as well as trying to squeeze in as many more fun trips and activities as I can. I also have some family that lives in the Netherlands, outside of Amsterdam, so I’m hoping to make it out there to stay with them, and see the homeland if I’m lucky!