My name is Kai Mia Benson and I will soon be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing. So of course, I had to go out with a bang! My last summer as a college student was spent exploring Europe and interning in London.
I landed in Heathrow airport in London, hanging off the edge of my seat, eager to explore my new home for the next 8 weeks. Telephone booths, cobblestone streets, and Victorian buildings came in and out of my view as I sat in the back of a black cab. In London “black cabs” are hackney carriages, so I imagined myself to be in an old black and white film. However, I snapped back to reality when my eyes went from being fixated on the streets of London to the cab pay meter, which seemed to be increasing every time I blinked. Eventually, I arrived at my flat in Kilburn park, an urban area in Northwest London. I had a little less enthusiasm after seeing the cab’s total of $80. Cleary, that was my first and last time taking a black cab!
The rest of my summer, I got around the city by public transportation. Whether it was by the Underground tube or the double decker bus, both contributed to a 50-80-minute morning commute to my internship. My internship placement was at KidsKnowBest (KKB), whose main purpose is to give kids a voice. KidsKnowBest wasn’t a typical internship, unless the average work day is filled with toys, cartoons and social media. Working at KKB allowed me to tap in with my inner child, while doing essential work. I was able to plunge into new adventures daily. From observing campaigns made for iconic franchises such as Toy Story and Batman evolve, to creating content for clients that included Disney, Nickelodeon, and many more I was allowed to indulge in creativity, immerse myself in research, and embrace my youth. My day to day tasks were pretty flexible. One day I was designing templates and the next we would be filming content in our studio. I also got the chance to write some product features for Toy Story 4 toys as well as crunch numbers to find out YouTube channel’s engagement rate. I even got to put my online stalking skills to use when I had to sift through social media platforms for research. Most of my research consisted of hunting through kid influencers to be featured in campaign videos or attend events.
Coming from the United States, I was not sure what to expect of the work culture. Across the seas, there are more opinionated discussions about controversial topics. Some topics in America are totally avoided in the workplace, because it is seen as rude or too personal for discussion, not proper water cooler conversations. However, in the British workplace, nothing is off limits. We talked about politics, race, gender, and sexuality — all things that Americans think of as “sensitive” subjects, but you can’t learn and develop while only being comfortable!
I was truly shocked at the cultural differences between the United States and England. I naïvely figured that there would not be much to adapt to since we’re both English speaking countries. However, my assumption was quickly put to shame upon my arrival. The British lingo and their strong accents made it a challenge for me to understand and participate in a conversation properly. My first day at my internship, I can recall just smiling and nodding along with anything directed towards me. Though, just as I could barely keep up, I found that many locals could not understand my accent either! Strangers I met automatically knew I was from the United States, “you’re American?’ they would ask. Some even said “I like your accent” and “your accent is so thick.” This was astonishing to hear as I had never thought of myself as having an accent of any sort, especially coming from the Midwest. I learned that Americans supposedly drag out their words, while the British only half-way finish theirs.
It is interesting that tons of people asked me about America and seemed so intrigued about things that I would have never thought twice about. On the other hand, I am smitten with the way things are done outside of America. My roommate from my New York Study Away last year, (who was also interning in London this summer) invited me to an intimate soiree where all the guests were from different countries. Mixing and mingling with peers from fascinating places that I’ve only dreamed of going to was an eye-opening experience. Interns from Morocco, Italy, Australia, Nigeria, Mexico, and even Canada filled the party with loud bursts of laughter and enticing conversations, as we talked about our lives and compared similarities and differences.
During my study abroad internship, I had the luxury to travel to other cities inside and outside of England, which may have been my favorite part of the summer. Now, I understand why people backpack around Europe! Countries are an easy access to each other and at a pretty fair price, whether you’re taking a plane, train or coach. I went the cheapest route and traveled by coach. I roamed Brighton, I explored Paris, I ventured to Amsterdam and I got lost in Germany.
I also got the chance to see a play at the Shakespeare Globe, a famous open-air theater, reconstructed where Shakespeare debuted many of his plays. Both the play and the theater were unlike any I had seen before. There was no roof, no seats, and no microphones. The musical numbers and decorations weren’t extravagant and over the top. I had to actually invest my undivided attention to understand the plot, to comprehend the words and to actually grasp the characters. I loved it! Other students left soon after the first act started, complaining about being bored. I thought to myself, ‘when is the next time you’re going to see theater in London?’I was everything but bored! Just being in the atmosphere was surreal for me.
From ball pit bars and strolls through the historical Hyde Park to getting a skull tattoo, London was nothing short of a good time! I even got the chance to tour one of the Facebook headquarters in London, thanks to an MSU alumnus. It was encouraging to hear her road to an international position at Facebook! Since she graduated with the same major as me, her advice and words of endearment definitely geared me up for graduation.
I feel as if my summer in London embodied the mission of the Citizen Scholar program. I didn’t just take myself out of my comfort zone by living in another country, but I actually immersed myself into the culture by learning customs, catching on to slang, making new friends, and meeting potential business partners. Blazing a path to success. I even got published as an editor! A new friend that I met in the program gave me the opportunity to edit her e-book of short stories — Crazy Bred, now available on Amazon.
I am proud of myself for going to London and putting my best foot forward. Not only did I discover various gems about our world, but it made me hungry to see more, to uncover more, to meet more people! I am forever grateful to the Citizen Scholar program. Not only did CS fund half of my program fee, but their values instilled my mindset for a prosperous summer that has prepared me for an even more flourishing senior year!