What country are you working in? London, England, U.K.
What made you choose this country?
I always knew I wanted to work and live abroad for a period of time in my lifetime. I just never thought it be in a big city at a huge firm. As I was preparing my application for the Peace Corp. and JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) I got a call from the recruiter not too long after my 21st birthday offering me a position to work for the firm in London. I had interned over the summer in London during the 2012 Olympics at this firm and had the time of my life. A full time job opportunity had presented itself and I was ecstatic but I always had a life goal of completing the Peace Corp. I remember speaking to the Diplomat-In-Residence about the opportunity and he really encouraged me to take it saying I will grow by leaps and bounds and the same skills you would develop working in the Peace Corp. you would still develop living and working abroad at the firm.
London, England, United Kingdom
What were your initial thoughts on moving there?
After I accepted the offer I was quite shy about it. I didn’t tell many people that after graduation I would be moving to London to work. Thinking back I was very naïve; I was more nervous about the job and performing well rather than the actual move to London. I had a lot of ‘what ifs’ in my mind that kept me up at night and it didn’t quite phase me yet that I did not have any friends or family in the country. This came back to bite me once I began settle in.
How did you adjust to the culture?
Anyone who says London is like America I whole-heartedly disagree with. Yes, we both speak English, and yes, we are both western developed nations, but we very different. The difference can be as obvious as driving on the left side of the road or standing on the right and walking on the left when riding the underground tube. And it can also as little and subtle such as the vernacular, way British people interact with each other, saying sorry when you bump into someone, and engaging in British banter. Adjusting is always a process and something I still work on even after living here 3 years.
Cape Town, South Africa
Have you learned anything really cool?
The coolest thing about living and working abroad is being able to support yourself financially to travel. I am not saving as much as I should but I enjoy traveling and meeting others. I have a passion for Africa and I really enjoy traveling the continent and talking to my African friends about life, politics, and economics in various countries. I enjoy attending conferences and TED talks focusing on Africa in my spare time. I have been able to travel to the north, east and south regions of Africa. The coolest thing is seeing things you learn about in history books with your own eyes and more. A few years after the Tunisian Revolution, I was in Tunis during an election season witnessing a country re-building itself. As a decedent of a west African slave, we often learn about the West Atlantic Slave trade but when touring Tanzania I learned about the history of the East African slave trade who were sold to countries in the Middle East. In South Africa, I learned in great depths what apartheid was really like and the detrimental effects it has even today.
Reykjavik, Iceland
What's the biggest lesson you've learned so far?
Trust yourself, love yourself, and know yourself. Be strategic. Be grateful. Be positive.
I had a bit of identity crisis when I moved here. Many know me as the black American from LA, who went to school in Atlanta and now works in London. I immediately began working after 2 weeks of moving to the country and after I had settled in, I had a moment of realization where I began questioning myself. “What did I just do? Who are my friends and whom I am going to hang out with? What do I do in my spare time? Do I even like what I do? Am I passionate about my job? Who do I confide in? Where do I go if I am in trouble, sick or need help? You don’t even know anyone? You don’t even know what you like? You don’t even know how to cook? Are you mad?!” I think these are feelings and questions anyone who may have recently graduated and move to a new city and started a job would have. But I had to learn to trust the process. After 3 years of living and working in London I can say I have answered most of my questions and any doubts I had.
Don’t wait on anyone or you will be waiting for a lifetime. Often times my friends would promise to visit or meet me in a country but things always come up. “Funds are low. I need the money for something else. Sallie Mae took the money I was going to use to see you.” These things happen, plans fall through, this is life and it happens. I don’t blame anyone but I have learned that if I want to do something or go somewhere then I just need to do it. I am independent and confident enough to travel by myself. I wasn’t always like this; I constantly work on it and took years to develop. When you have this unshakeable confidence and level of independence it will also help you in other areas of your life i.e. work, relationships, friendships, etc. I want to go to East Asia next year and best believe I am waiting for no one to go with me. I have the funds, independence and confidence to book a flight myself and see you when I get back.
Split, Croatia
America is the country everyone loves to talk about from our politics, economic, culture, music and style. The American international presence is strong. As the only American in my team or in social settings I have been able to look at America through a new lens as if I am someone who’s not from the country. I have been watching the political situation, the protesting, the unarmed killings, and police brutality from abroad and I have had people tell me they do not want to live in or raise a son in America and for the first time ever I said I don’t blame you. Being able to have an un-biased view of America has also been one of the greatest lessons. We aren’t the greatest nation on earth, that’s okay and we can learn so much from others.
Where can people read or see more of your travels?
You can follow my adventures on instagram and snapchat at @aliya_blanco