As I sit here writing this final blog from across the ocean, I cannot help but wonder where the last two months have gone. It genuinely seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in the departure lounge of Glasgow airport waiting anxiously for a 'familiar' face to emerge from the swarms of people buzzing around.

The last few weeks have been really busy for me - both inside and out of work. I've been continually given more and more responsibility, and this has resulted in my workload ever increasing too. I can't complain though, for it's provided me with the best possible idea of what it will be like when I finally have to abandon the fortune and fame of student life and rough it in the real world - this too seems to have scarily become ever closer with job applications starting to open up back home :S

Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to visit different business units and offices of Morgan Stanley in NYC. I've spent time a day working with the equity derivatives teams in Morgan Stanley's HQ (it's an amazing building in the heart of times square - see the picture below!) getting to learn their products and systems and a day down at their Brooklyn office where I got to see the cash side of the business. This was really interesting and I got to help with a recent auction of US Treasuries by the Federal Reserve. I have also spent some time sitting with one of the trading assistants from my team who was down on the trading floor for the past two weeks. This was a great experience and really exhilarating to experience the atmosphere of a real live trading floor. Being able to spend time in so many different areas of the business has given me an invaluable insight into how a financial services firm operates and how everyone forms an integral part of the whole. However, more than this, it has allowed me to network with people from all around the business and spread the word of the SaltireFoundation and their work.

Recently I have been involved in a project for the Federal Reserve board and their upcoming audit. This has been really interesting to be a part of and I've learned a lot about the recent changes that have been taking place in the regulatory environment of the US financial sector. Unfortunately, I cannot go in to details; however, what I can say is that it's been time-consuming work, but really satisfying to know that I've helped in some way.

Outside of work, there has been a lot happening too. I have been on a tour around Madison Square Gardens, where I saw the US national basketball team take on China. I also went to see a NY Yankees baseball game, which I have to say is not for me - there's just too much standing around doing nothing (no wonder they have to warm up every half an hour or so. However, the highlight for me has to be going to the see the NY Jets take on the Washington Redskins on Friday past. As a rugby fan I was really looking forward to America’s take on a sport involving an oddly shaped ball. There were some parallels, but far more differences – it’s an entirely different game. However, it still has to have been one of my favourite experiences here in New York City and something that I’ll be following up on when I get back home.

New York City is an amazing place, and I’ve had a great time here. However, I’m definitely looking forward to returning back home to the UK. I wish you all well in your final week and look forward to meeting up with everyone when we return – from the sounds of things there seems to be something in the pipeline for our return J