In London, my neighborhood is called Tower Hamlets, though technically in London, neighborhoods are referred to as boroughs. While exploring the winding streets of Tower Hamlets, I instantly loved many of the local shops, boutiques, and vendors.

I first arrived and stayed in an AirBnb on Brick Lane, which is a narrow street lined with many unique thrift stores and small and bustling restaurants. The buildings are also covered in colorful graffiti. This long and narrow street is exactly what I envisioned London to be. In my time so far in this neighborhood, I would say Brick Lane is bustling with fun and excitement, a hotspot for nightlife.

Currently, I am living in a flat, arranged through the program at CEA CAPA. I love the space and minimalistic design, and it gives off a modern apartment feeling; if I did not know it was student housing, I would have rented this place myself. The location is only a short walk from two main train stations, which is very convenient.

In a way similar to Pitt, the apartment style housing gives lots of freedom to explore the city wherever and whenever. It is close to bars, convenient stores, and late night food. One major difference would be the size of the city, where London is massive compared to Pittsburgh, a more quaint city. The location being in London gives diversity and students more to explore!

I am currently taking the course International Marketing, and I love my professor! He is knowledgable in the subject and knows how to teach! I also work an internship while abroad. Through my internship, I have had the chance to work with amazing people who are experts in their industry and have years of experience to compliment it. Specifically, I am interning in the hair and cosmetic industry. Because I am studying marketing, it’s interesting to get outlooks in various industries such as this where it’s not as often thought about. Some key skills I think are needed to be successful in this industry is intuitiveness, decisiveness in decision making, and understanding of social media and algorithms.