Hello! My name is Laura Huston, and I just began my time abroad in London through Pitt’s Global Business Institute for the spring semester! I am a junior majoring in marketing with a certificate in sports management. Outside of the classroom, I am involved in the Sports Business Association at Pitt, and I am a social media intern with Pitt Athletics. I am an avid fan of exploring new places and living spontaneously, which is a part of the reason I am writing this in Europe!
Entering college, I wasn’t convinced that I would pursue a study abroad program; however, now, more than ever, I am elated that I did. Last spring, I had a handful of friends who participated in a GBI program, and that piqued my initial interest to go and experience it for myself. Once I learned about the array of courses offered, which even allows me to complete my marketing electives while abroad, and the simplicity of the transition to London, I was eager to book my ticket across the sea!
For the next three months, I am hoping to be more present and live in the moment, while building lasting connections with people from all over the world. I tend to spend my time reminiscing about the past or planning for the future, so I want to appreciate every minute I have in this lovely city. Also, I already met a plethora of wonderful people, so I am eager to create memories with them during this once in a lifetime experience.
While in London, I am taking classes through CEA CAPA in conjunction with Pitt. I have only completed my first week of courses, but there are a few differences I have quickly picked up on. Fortunately, my schedule has aligned to where I have classes only twice a week. I am extremely appreciative of this as it allows me the opportunity to take weekend trips and further explore what London has to offer. However, classes only meet once a week for three hours, which differs from the setup at Pitt. The class sizes here are also much smaller and my courses tend to be more project and paper-based, rather than numerous exams. I am looking forward to the field aspects of the courses offered here and can’t wait for the hands-on learning environment!
The neighborhood I am staying in is Maida Vale, or “Little Venice”. It is a residential part of London, and the streets are lined with beautiful Victorian architecture. My flat consists of three rooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, and four girls. My direct roommate and I have a spacious room with high ceilings and a pretty view! We are a 15-minute walk from the Abbey Road Crosswalk made famous by the Beatles and in walking distance of all our essentials. Everything else is easily accessible by public transportation, whether that be by bus or the tube. I have adapted quite well so far, and I am excited for what this program has in store!
