I can’t believe it’s already been over a week since I arrived in London! It has been fantastic so far. We’ve explored many parts of the city and seen iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the London Eye, Borough Market, and Buckingham Palace. We also took a trip to Stonehenge and Bath, which was very exciting.

I’m living in Ability Towers with three roommates. Fortunately, I knew my direct roommate before coming here, which made the transition easier. Our other two roommates also go to Pitt, and it’s been great getting to know them and exploring the city together. Adjusting to the living environment has been easy, partly thanks to my experience at Pitt. The apartment is spacious, and navigating the city is easy. Using public transportation in London feels similar to using it at Pitt. The rain and street noise also remind me of Pitt. The main difference is the commute to class. At Pitt, it’s only a 10-minute walk, but here it’s about an hour by tube. London has many boroughs, similar to Pittsburgh, and Ability Towers is located in the borough of Islington. There are many shops, pubs, cafes, and restaurants in Islington. There are lots of great places within walking distance and the tube station just 10 minutes away.

Regarding my internship, I’m working for M2 Business Consulting, which specializes in project management and training. The London branch is the newest subsidiary, originating from Munich, Germany. Since the London branch is relatively new, it’s just me, another intern, and our supervisor. My role involves assisting my supervisor with tasks like project planning, scheduling, resource management, and communication. My responsibilities are within marketing, sales, and operations, but we have a lot of freedom to do what interests us most. We’re starting by building a new website for the UK branch, posting on LinkedIn and other social media, conducting marketing research on potential clients, and creating marketing materials. It’s been a great experience so far, and I’ve learned a lot. Working in consulting requires strong problem-solving skills, creativity in marketing, and excellent organizational skills to manage multiple clients’ needs. Consulting demands knowledge from almost all aspects of business.

I’m also taking two classes here at the CEA CAPA campus. One is an internship course that pairs with our actual internship, teaching us about working internationally and helping us develop the skills needed to be successful in a global work environment. The other class I am taking is international marketing, which I’m really enjoying. It’s very helpful to learn about international marketing while abroad because I can see everything firsthand. The classes are also very very small as compared to classes at Pitt. Our professors are very interactive and require a lot of participation during class.

I’ve had so much fun in London already, and I can’t wait to write about what I’ll be doing next!