Amherst Adventures Abroad: Axel Agbenyegah ’26

From late-night pub traditions to a close call with some missing technology, Axel Agbenyegah ’26’s semester abroad in London featured music, food, incredible sights, and new friendships.

Agbenyegah was enthusiastic to learn about his acceptance to the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA) program, an undergraduate program that pairs Canadian and American students with partner institutions study abroad.

He’d first learned about IFSA at a study abroad fair at Amherst. Agbenyegah decided to apply to the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London through the program, intending to enroll in the school’s music department. “I primarily chose London because of the language,” Agbenyegah said. “It was English-speaking, so I felt like it would have been the easiest transition for me.”

Once he arrived, London offered Agbenyegah a glimpse into a world outside of Amherst’s — and America’s — bubble. “Before, I actually hadn’t had any kind of travel experience outside of America,” he said. Still, the city wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. “A lot of my cousins actually live in London, so I met them for the first time when I was over there.”

Agbenyegah found himself living right in the heart of King’s Cross, a North London neighborhood full of delicious ethnic food and languages from all over the world. For six months, King’s Cross was home to him and to the seven other American students in the IFSA program who shared a flat with Agbenyegah.

Coming from a range of American institutions like Tufts University and Wesleyan University, each IFSA student had their own room in a flat but shared a kitchen where they would cook meals for themselves, a difference that Agbenyegah had to get used to. His go-to meal was pasta, but during his stay, he also learned to make Korean-style dishes.

In addition to preparing meals for himself, Agbenyegah also got a taste of the local cuisine. While he wasn’t much of a fan of classic British meals like beans and toast, he was able to enjoy other traditional dishes like Sunday roasts. Additionally, he took advantage of King’s Cross’ diversity to try food from all over the world. “Indian food in London is really good. Dishoom was my favorite restaurant,” Agbenyegah said. 

When Agbenyegah was not trying different foods, he was taking the tram or bus to SOAS, where he leaned into his passion for music. “I was taking music classes. And so I took a semester off of chemistry, which was really nice,” he said.

His courses ranged from “The Music Business,” where students debated the use of AI in music production, to “Screen Cultures,” “Decolonizing K-Pop,” and even an anime film seminar. “In London, you kind of decide what you want to do early, and you only take classes in that area,” Agbenyegah said. “Everyone looked at me like I was crazy when I was like, ‘I’m a chemistry and music double major.’” The stricter educational setup deepened his gratitude for Amherst’s liberal arts curriculum and the flexibility to choose classes in departments with little to no overlap.

At Amherst, he plays bass in jazz combos, practicing two times a week and performing twice a semester. Through his courses at SOAS, he was pushed to think about music as an industry, a culture, and a form of exchange. “I definitely learned more about how music works worldwide, rather than just playing in a combo,” Agbenyegah said. “It’s learning about what music looks like within the actual industry, like live productions and how artists get to where they are. That’s something I wouldn’t have learned [at Amherst].”

Alongside the academic adjustments, Agbenyegah experienced a very different sports culture in London compared with Amherst. “The biggest thing was that they really love soccer.” He often went to soccer matches with friends from Amherst who were studying abroad in other programs in Europe.

Agbenyegah also found himself drawn into another central part of London life: the pubs. “Pubs are a big part. You could go there, and it’s so easy to meet people and talk to people,” he said. He often went with fellow IFSA or Amherst students, though he admitted he wished he had made more British friends. Still, participating in London pub life gave him an authentic sense of the city. 

Through his program, Agbenyegah was able to explore many London landmarks. “We went to the Roman baths,” he recalled. “It’s just natural spring water that’s a part of this cool architecture. You can drink the water too, which is so crazy.” And of course, what’s a London trip without Stonehenge? “It’s just a bunch of open field[s], but there are rocks that are placed very strategically, and they’ve just kind of been there for a really long time. It was really interesting to see.”

Since he only had classes Monday through Wednesday, Agbenyegah had four-day weekends where he was free to hop on planes and trains to explore the rest of Europe. Over six months, he visited Copenhagen, Rome, Barcelona, Dublin, and Edinburgh, among others, reuniting with childhood friends along the way.

Although there were some challenges — namely, a stolen phone now located in China and a broken laptop in Rome — Axel brushed them off as part of the adventure. More important than these bumps in the road were the connections he made and the new perspective he gained. As for recommendations to other students thinking about going abroad, he said, “I think I would try to make more local friends if I did it again. Don’t be shy to say hi to people.”

Reflecting on it all, Agbenyegah said, “I’ll admit I was skeptical about studying abroad at first, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I immersed myself in a new culture, enjoyed incredible food, played club basketball, and made amazing music friends. My classes pushed me to see culture in new ways, both inside and outside of London. I wouldn’t think twice about going abroad again.”