Hello, I’m Aiyana Smith. I’m currently studying business, majoring in Global Management and International Business. I’m really interested in traveling abroad, if you couldn’t already tell, and I hope to eventually pursue a career that reflects that interest. Although I’m not a finance major, I’ve recently become very interested in stocks and investing, and it has been a fun topic to learn about. I’m definitely an open book when it comes to potential careers in the future, and while I can’t pinpoint anything specific yet, I like to keep an open mind.
For my Fall 2026 semester, I’m a part of the Global Business Institute in London. London has quite a number of landmarks, and I hope that by the end of my trip, I’ll be able to see most, if not all, of them. I’ve also heard about the many interesting museums here, some with free admission and others that are a bit more expensive. Either way, I’m a big fan of museums and would like to visit as many as I can. Something oddly specific that drew me to this place is a painting I saw while working at the Carnegie Museum of Art. There’s a Monet painting there called The Waterloo Bridge, and the bridge itself is located here. It’s one of my favorite paintings, and I was hoping to get some sort of recreation of it while I’m here. Recently, I found out that the bridge has gone through some reconstruction and may not look the same, but I’ve gotten this far, and you’ll definitely get a picture of my in-person findings one of these days.
I’ve got a whole list of things I’d like to accomplish here, and I may not be able to do all of them, but here are a few that I believe are realistic. Since London is so close to many other European countries, I’ve made it my mission to visit at least 1–2 other countries before I leave. I’ve found that there’s an underground train that goes under the ocean directly into France, so that’s definitely something I’d like to try. Maybe I’ll make it all the way to Paris. Additionally, the school I’m currently studying at has an abundance of work opportunities, especially for next summer. Although I don’t have a work visa for London at the moment, I’d like to apply or speak with someone who may be able to help me move forward with this process. I’m hoping I may even be able to get a position here next summer with the proper visa, of course. I’m sure there’s quite a difference between living here as a student rather than as an employee.
I’m living in North Acton, a smaller area of London. My residence is somewhere between an apartment and a hotel, although I would describe it more as a studio apartment. I have the entire room to myself, which is nice! There’s a café downstairs, as well as a gym and a cinema inside the building, although there are some downsides. There’s a busy main road directly in front of the apartment, so you have to walk down to one side of the road just to cross the street or get to the other side. However, it’s not too bad.
The university I’m studying at is called Richmond American University. It’s a smaller university in Chiswick, and the area has more of a city-like atmosphere. Although the university is surrounded by similar buildings, and we don’t technically have a traditional campus, the surrounding area is very large and tranquil. There’s even a giant chess board in the center that I’d like to use sometime.
My first impressions are quite mixed after the first two weeks I’ve spent here. There are a lot of things that are different from the U.S. The food is quite different from what I’m used to. Eating out is appealing since most restaurants have really excellent and flavorful meals. However, when going grocery shopping, I’ve found the food to be a bit bland, especially the snacks. To add to that, I’ve noticed that some grocery stores actually have a dedicated section specifically for American products.
Transportation is a bit different. Buses sometimes arrive very early or very late, although there are also times when they’re exactly on time. There are also quite a lot of people who use bicycles or motorbikes to get around. The roads are narrower, and traffic can get pretty tight at different times of the day. It’s quite different from what I’m used to, but I’m sure that after a few more weeks, I’ll get the hang of it. Maybe I’ll even develop an accent before I leave. That would definitely be something to look into! I’ll make the most of my experience here either way.
