Hello! My name is Cole Strahle, and I’m currently a Junior at the Univerisity of Pittsburgh pursuing a double major in Finance & Marketing. Originally, I’m from the small town of Allentown, New Jersey, and I’m thrilled to be a part of Pitt’s Global Business Institute in London! This program is a huge opportunity for me to explore new parts of the world, learn new cultures, and massively improve my professional experiences with worldwide views.
At the University of Pittsburgh, I have been involved in several business clubs, such as Panther Equity and the Undergraduate Finance club, as well as revitalizing and being the Vice President of the Pitt Real Estate Association. My interest in real estate and finance has gotten me partnered for a finance internship with a Marriot hotel, giving me an incredible chance to further my knowledge in both areas. Additionally, the courses that I will be participating in at CEA CAPA will deepen my knowledge of international business strategies and views. I believe London would be a great choice for studying abroad as it is a massive business hub, as well as being a beautiful city with several of great places to travel to within a few hour train ride.
Adjusting to the city of London has been surprisingly very easy, as the hustle of the city is not far off of American cities, so I have felt almost right at home here quite quickly. There are an endless amount of experiences to discover in London, with dozens of beautiful museums, incredible architecture everywhere you go, and endless places to explore. The variety of food is also far-reaching, with authentic restaurants for almost every cuisine you could desire, and I can’t wait to continue trying new foods and meeting new people. Nightlife is also very large in London, with an endless amount of pubs and nightclubs around the city, each having its own spark and things to enjoy, some offering great student discounts as well!
I am currently living with three other housemates sharing two double bedrooms, and I have been incredibly lucky to not only get paired with great roommates that I can hang out with every night, but 2 of them also being from Pitt campuses! We live in a beautiful area right near Islington, right in the middle of two nearby train stations and several bus stops, as well as several grocery stores, pubs, super cheap street vendors with all types of ethnic foods, and a mall area with all kinds of shops. I’ve had a great time exploring the area around me, as well as meeting other CEA CAPA students and getting to explore the areas they live in. My commute to school and my internship are both around an hour, which can get tiring at times, but the commutes are sometimes the favorite part of my day, just getting to walk through the city and notice all my surroundings.
CEA CAPA has also provided us with so many great opportunities to explore London and its surrounding areas, not only giving me so many new friends to travel with but also the ability to see these places for cheap and with our own tour guides. I look forward to continuing to develop my abilities, make new friends, discover new cultures, and explore the rest of Europe in these upcoming months!