4,500 miles from Home

Before I get started, I just want to take a few minutes to introduce myself.  My name is Rachel Nolan and I attend the University of Iowa (woo! Go HAWKS!).  I am originally from Bloomington/Normal, IL.  I am a Junior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a focus in Public Relations, and I am also working towards a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management.

I first heard about CIMBA through some older girls in my sorority who had recently gone through the program.  I had been tossing the idea of studying abroad around for awhile, but I wanted to graduate on time and I also didn’t want to be gone for an entire semester, so when they told me about CIMBA, I knew it would be a great fit.  I am currently enrolled in two Journalism classes, a Business class, and a Law class, which will all transfer back to my University.  I am also participating in the LIFE/LEAP class that is offered exclusively at CIMBA.  I don’t know much about it yet, but I have heard great things.

Packing for a three month vacation is tough.  It’s impossible to know what you’re going to need and you can make yourself go crazy with all the questions that arise.  Will the weather be in the 60s or the 30s?  Will it be warm enough to wear shorts? How many Euros should I bring with me? What if I can’t read the shampoo bottles and accidentally buy, and wash, my hair with lotion?! (Don’t worry, we found out the shampoo says “shampoo” right on the bottle.) With a lot of help from my Mom, I packed everything up all in one day.  The rolling technique actually worked out pretty well (no wrinkles) and I decided to bring about 100 Euros with me.

( it doesn’t get much closer than that )

I flew out of O’Hare around 2pm Sunday afternoon.  After a tearful goodbye to my parents and younger sister (and after receiving an embarrassing amount of sympathetic stares from people standing in the security line), I was on my way across the world- 4,500 miles in 18 hours. After a layover in Frankfurt, Germany we were on our way to Paderno del Grappa!  A bus picked a big group of us up at the Venice airport and dropped us off at the CIMBA campus.  We picked up our books and orientation packets and I took an elevator up to my room on the 4th floor (don’t judge me, it was a long day/night).  I haven’t lived in a single since high school, so it’s a little weird to be living alone, but it’s great so far.  I also have an amazing view that makes getting up at 8am for breakfast not so terrible.

( saying goodbye to my mom and dad )

( the view from my room )

Before I left for CIMBA, I was extremely nervous.  I kept thinking, I have such a great life at Iowa, why am I leaving my best friends and family for a little village in Italy to study with a bunch of people I don’t even know?  I have only been here a few days, but it is clear to me that CIMBA will be an experience I will never forget.  I have already made great friends (S/O to Furman University), walked the quiet streets of Paderno, and learned some Italian phrases, which is all anyone really needs to know, right?