Hi, my name is Mrunal Bhalerao and I am a junior studying Finance and Business Analytics with a minor in Economics. I am originally from New Jersey, near the Philadelphia area. On campus, I am also involved in Smart Women Securities, in which I love being a sector head. Since starting college, I have been interested in investing, financial markets, and the global economy. I have also always been fascinated by the rich history of the United Kingdom. Therefore, studying in London, one of the world’s major financial hubs, captured my interest. Through Pitt’s Global Business Institute, I hope to learn more about England’s financial system and the world’s markets in my classes and journeys around the city.
I am most excited to be in a thriving city where there is always something to do! Exploring the street markets such as Portobello Road Market and Borough Market this past week has been one of my favorite ways to learn more about London and what it has to offer. Throughout this semester, I hope to try out foods from all over the world because of London’s multicultural environment.
The past few days in London have been a lot of observing the culture and the environment around me. The weather is similar between the two cities, so I feel comfortable in the cloudy, chilly weather. My housing is in the neighborhood of Islington in north London, which is over half an hour away from the CEA CAPA center. This commute to my classes has taken some getting used to, since at Pitt I only need to walk a short distance to my classes. Even though we have to commute to our classes, I am enjoying the neighborhood I’m living in since there are a lot of restaurants, pubs, and grocery stores within walking distance. Another thing that is hard to get used to is the frequent grocery shopping. In my experience, the fresh food in London goes bad quicker than at home, so we are having to go shopping every few days. While walking to the grocery store, or anywhere, I also keep mixing up the sides of the road that people drive on. The signs indicating which direction to look before crossing the street really help.
I am in an apartment with three other roommates, and I share a room with one of them. This living arrangement is something I am already used to since I live with three other people at Pitt, and I am really enjoying getting to know my new roommates. This semester has just started and I am looking forward to the rest of my travels and experiences!
Exploring Notting Hill