Cultural Immersion

A scenic train ride took us away to the coastal town of Sorrento. The views looked like something out of a movie- the serene blue of the Mediterranean against the vibrant lemon grove left me in awe. As we arrived, the scent of the seas mingled with the fragrance of lemon groves, setting the stage for a memorable weekend ahead.

Before traveling to Italy, I did some research on the ways American and European cultures vary. For example, I knew that we generally talked louder, ate faster, and dressed differently. I also knew that the food portion sizes would be smaller yet more nutrient dense. In fact, I wrote a research paper for my college English class, detailing the contrasting food policies of both nations. However, there were still many aspects unknown to me before my arrival. This blog will explain the things I found shocking and now do not take for granted being back home in the US.

As I concluded my journey at CIMBA, I was and am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and reflection. Studying abroad in Paderno del Grappa, Italy, has been a transformative experience that extended beyond academics and travel. It has been a journey of self-discovery and personal growth that has fundamentally reshaped my perspective on life. In this article, I want to delve into the internal changes, the lessons learned, and the newfound appreciation for the world around me that I gained through my time at CIMBA.

I stood teetering over the waterfall’s edge, petrified by the enormous distance between me and the water below. After a long time confronting my fear of heights, I suddenly had a surge of bravery and took the plunge into the freezing water. As the current rushed over my face, I realized this was where I was supposed to be. I almost didn’t go abroad; the U.S. provided a sense of familiarity that I was anxious to give up. I clung to this fear for the first few days in Italy, struggling to adjust to the new normal. It wasn’t until this moment of achievement that I recognized how much I had already grown. Flash forward, and it’s been about a week since the conclusion of the CIMBA summer program. Although it felt like only days, my time in Italy has proven to be one of the most profound experiences of my life. It has reshaped my outlook on life and led to significant academic, cultural, and personal growth.

Participating in the CIMBA summer study abroad program in Italy was an enriching and life-changing experience. This reflection captures the essence of my journey, highlighting the academic, cultural, and personal growth that I experienced during my time abroad.

While spending a month in Europe eating loads of pasta, pizza, and other carb-heavy foods, you may be wondering why you don’t feel extremely full or bloated after every meal. How can we dine out several times a day on our travel weekends and not grow sick of it? For me, I can feel full for several hours after going to a restaurant simply because the dishes are dense and of a large portion size. In reference to the dining hall food, we were served pasta twice a day accompanied by bread and sometimes even pizza. In American diet culture, that many carbohydrates is a big no simply because of how unhealthy it is. To rephrase, in America, the food is seen as unhealthy. Yet these same dishes are very prevalent in Italian culture and pose very few problems for digestive health. The following paragraphs will detail why Italian cuisine affects us differently.

Venice is just as gorgeous as portrayed in the movies! With its winding alleyways dividing the rows of shops and restaurants, you can get lost for hours on the island. The city is also accompanied by neighboring islands, such as Murano and Burano, accessible by a water taxi. Venice was my favorite trip, even compared to my stay in Rome and Florence! This blog will detail how I got to Venice, where I stayed, and what I did.

Nestled in the foothills of the Venetian Prealps, Bassano del Grappa is a charming town in the Veneto region of Italy. Bassano del Grappa roughly translates to “base of Mount Grappa.” The old town is located roughly thirty minutes away from the CIMBA campus by bus. The CIMBA program offers multiple dates throughout the summer to visit Bassano by night. Renowned for its historic architecture, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, Bassano del Grappa offers multiple unique experiences that cater to all interests.

Today marks the final week of my journey at CIMBA. I chose to study abroad to step outside my comfort zone, and CIMBA offered an incredible balance of academic rigor and travel opportunities that I couldn't resist. As I look back on my time in Italy, it feels like it flew by, yet it has profoundly shaped who I am. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything and am deeply grateful for everything I’ve encountered here. In this article, I want to reflect on my experience and break it down into three key areas: Academics, Culture, and Personal Growth. Let's dive in.

Ciao! As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in my semi-roomy train seat, gazing out of the giant window to my left as fields of grapevines pass by. Noah Kahan is playing in my freshly charged earbuds, and the excitement of arriving at our weekend destination, Cinque Terre, fills my mind. Time here in Italy has flown by as fast as the fields outside my window are passing by. How is it that we are already embarking on our last travel weekend at Cimba?! Venice, Florence, and Vienna feel like months ago with all that has been packed into these past three weeks, and yet the memories are as fresh in my mind as if I had just experienced them yesterday. And what better way to keep them fresh than to write about them and share them with you!

Coming into a summer session at CIMBA out of a very busy semester, I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to delve into the culture and the language that I would be experiencing in Italy. Fortunately for me, when I sent in my list of preferred classes, I put down Italy Live. And I am so, so glad that I did. Even barely a week in, I feel that I’m among the luckiest on campus to be a part of this class- here are my top 5 reasons why:

Nestled on the Istrian Peninsula, Pula, Croatia, is a hidden gem with ancient history, a beautiful coastline, and vibrant culture. Whether you love history, are a nature enthusiast, or are a beach lover, Pula offers an array of unique experiences and day trips that cater to everyone.

“If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?” This is one of my favorite ice-breaker questions because it not only opens the door for endless conversations, as it did a few nights ago around the dinner table in Florence, but also gives me an excuse to talk about three of my passions in life: food, travel, and writing. If I could have any job in the world, I would want to be a food and travel blogger, so it’s exciting that I’m living out that dream during my time at CIMBA.

As my first-weekend trip has come to a close, I look back with thoughts of amazement and happiness. With a 3-hour train ride to the heart of Tuscany, Florence awaited with open arms for us 8 girls. Amidst the cobblestone streets and the Renaissance architecture, we indulged in the quintessential Italian experience. Each day was a new adventure, from scouring the local boutiques, to walking through the leather markets and twirling forks into the flavorful pasta that is the soul of Italian cuisine. We wandered through the streets where modern beats met ancient heartbeats, and every corner whispered its unique tale. We were followed by laughter, smiles, and eyes the size of our stomachs.

Last week, my friends and I went to Bassano a couple of days ago and asked for a table at a restaurant. “We can get you a table,” the hostess responded. “But only for three hours. Is that okay?”

I am going to miss so many things about Europe when I leave to go back to the States. I will be reminiscing on the memories I have made here for years to come, constantly picturing the sights, the cities, the art, and the nature I have gotten to experience.

Traveling to four countries in ten days may sound crazy but I made it work and loved every second of it. Where did I go? What did I do? What was my favorite place? All are great questions, and I am delighted to let you know about my amazing experience from spring break!

When I was little, I was a bit of a hoarder. I took great pride in my button and quarter collections and would quickly grow quite attached to birthday cards, bracelets I had overgrown, and Happy Meal toys.

I think there are likely a lot of people out there who have once dreamed of one day getting to visit one of Italy’s most famous cities. Of walking by the Colosseum and wandering through the Roman Forum. Of sitting by the Trevi Fountain in the morning when the air is warm and the sun is shining.

Time flies when you’re having fun! This statement is truer than it seems, and I cannot believe I have been in Italy for half the semester already. Needless to say, as we reach the height of the semester, these recent weeks have been very fun for everyone with spring break planning and new friendships developed during the Open Minds Project.

The first travel weekend has come and gone here at CIMBA, and I spent my four-day break in Austria. After a one-hour plane ride with magnificent views over the Swiss Alps (at least, that’s what my friends claim…I unfortunately slept through the entire flight), a group of us landed in Vienna, Austria.

This weekend is our first travel weekend, and we have four days to go wherever we desire! Some friends and I chose to split our days evenly between Rome and Florence, which turned out to be a great decision.

Ciao! The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. Thankfully, all my luggage arrived in Venice safe and sound. The hour-long ride from the airport to campus was surreal. It felt like I was back in the Texas hill country for a few minutes. Then we drove by vineyards, through some quaint villages, and the Italian countryside until we arrived at CIMBA. It is simply beautiful here!

Arriving in Paderno Del Grappa two weeks ago a lot was going through my mind. I was excited to meet new people, exhausted from the plane ride over, and in awe of the world around me.

Being a Formula 1 fan in Italy is extra special because of the rich history of racing here. Being able to go to iconic tracks and experience them is extremely exciting. Having gotten into Formula 1 just a couple of months before coming to CIMBA was great, as while I watched the races, I got to see places that I could potentially visit in my time abroad.

A saying you will hear a lot after traveling is “all good things must come to an end” or “nothing great lasts forever”. The trip is over, and I will never see the CIMBA campus and its staff again. I will never eat in the cafeteria (with the amazing rolls and local made butter), drink the vending machine coffee, or dance with my friends after the formal dinner with multiple courses. While I agree with this statement to an extent, I am also here to refute it.

As sad as I am to write this final blog post, I am even more grateful to be able to share my CIMBA experience with my friends, family, and anyone that has been reading these blogs. Although my current writing location, in Iowa, is not as captivating as a café in Paderno del Grappa or on the train coming home from Rome, I am still enjoying the opportunity to reminisce on the four weeks I spent in the program.

If I ask you what makes humans similar or different, what would your answer be? Your answer could be scientific through the use of water, shelter, and good rest. It could also be answered in a less fact-based way like how we all have our own versions of right and wrong. Through this program, I have had the privilege to experience the raw moments of joy traveling brings to newcomers.

Ciao! As I begin my last week at CIMBA, I am blown away by how quickly this experience has gone by. I have felt so much love, gratitude, and wonder during my time abroad. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some incredible people and create relationships that I will have for the rest of my life. The past 2 weeks have been some of my favorite memories I’ve made all year, so in this post, I wanted to do a little recap of my summer semester.

I cannot believe that it’s almost over. As I entered this last week, I am amazed at how quickly it has flown by. Before I came, I was so nervous and scared at what lay ahead for me. The last month has been the most surreal experience I have ever had.

I do believe that everything comes to an end but I never really think the journey is over. I do however believe all experiences come to an end and I am never good at goodbyes so this was a hard one. I spent months preparing for this trip and it just is over as quickly as it came. I had the best month of my life with experiences I will never forget. It was the best time and I can not wait to tell these stories to all that listen.

As I enter the last week of this program, I am in shock of how quickly it has gone by. I’ve been fortunate enough to make many friends on this trip that I am dreading saying goodbye to at the end of the week. However, I am extremely grateful to have everlasting memories with them that I look forward to sharing.

Ciao! It’s hard to believe that less than a week ago, I arrived at the beautiful CIMBA campus for the first time. This first week on campus has been an exciting, fun, and welcoming experience. I’ve met people from all over 18 different universities and instantly made so many new friends. My first week of classes went great and I have already learned so much about business and life around the globe.

The first week of CIMBA is officially over! Exactly a week ago today, I was arriving to the campus and locating my room to unpack. This first week was nothing short of an amazing time, as I met so many new people, tried new foods and drinks, and got to see beautiful views from weekday and weekend traveling.

A little more than halfway through the CIMBA semester, we get a week-long spring break. This was such a nice time to relax before the workload increased leading up to finals.

For our first extended travel weekend, a large group of us decided to travel to Vienna, Austria. This was our first time traveling by plane in our time at CIMBA. We were able to rent a bus to take us all to the airport which was very convenient. Our flight was in the early afternoon, but we allowed plenty of time to get to the airport and relax before our flight.

For our first weekend after LIFE, many of the CIMBA students decided to spend the weekend in Florence. Not knowing much about Florence aside from the Statue of David, I was looking forward to the unexpected. We were all able to find Airbnbs at relatively low prices; most likely because it is the off season.

When people ask me what major culture shocks I’ve experienced since coming to Europe, I struggle to come up with answers. However, one major difference between the United States and many European countries (especially Italy), is the genuine appreciation and care dedicated toward food.

On the surface, one the primary benefits of studying abroad is having the opportunity to travel the world and explore new places with similarly minded friends. However, I’ve personally received just as much, if not more, satisfaction from being able to learn international topics in a foreign setting.

If you’ve found the CIMBA Blogs, then you’ve read about the Aggiungi un Posta a Tavola (Add a Seat to the Table) program. Life and food at the Istituto Filippin are grand, but the newness wears off after a few weeks. Comfort and love in home cooked food doesn’t find its way to the spice cabinet of the cafeteria chefs.

The schedule at CIMBA allots two travel weekends and a travel week during the semester program. For the first of these travel weekends, my friends and I decided to go to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano and explore the Amalfi Coast.

This past weekend, us CIMBA students had an extended travel weekend to explore Europe and while some students headed south for exotic weather and natural beauty, I chose to spend my time in London (which is known for none of that). However, what London lacks in sunny, 80 degree days and ocean side views, it makes up for in things like international food culture, royal history, and most importantly (to me at least), a uniquely diverse sporting culture.

Ciao! It’s been just over one week since our student cohort arrived here in Paderno del Grappa and I still can’t get over how gorgeous this campus is…we’ve all stayed extremely busy, as our time’s been filled with fun teambuilding activities, interactive problem solving/decision making classes, and late-night trip planning sessions where the craziest ideas get thrown out there.

Venice. The city on the lagoon. Since its settlement in the seventh century, the city has been enthralled in countless mysteries, happenings, and strange occurrences. Millions upon millions venture to this city each year to explore the labyrinth of canals, bridges, and alleyways. I, along with six other CIMBA students, chose Venice as our first destination to visit over the first weekend.

When I first decided to study abroad, I had many questions and nerves. I remember getting on the plane to Italy, feeling like I had no idea what the next month had in store. Looking back now, I had nothing to worry about. My past month spent in Italy at CIMBA was so amazing.

As my time at CIMBA comes to a close, I am thankful to have had this blog as an outlet to share, reflect, and remember all of the special moments I have had. I am going to be honest – I have been pretty busy since you last heard from me! I have travelled both out of the country and explored a few more places in Italy.

The second weekend here, my friends and I decided to travel down to Rome and little did I know it would quickly become one of my favorite memories. As soon as we landed in the Roma Termini train station, we hit the ground running. After a chaotic weekend in Lake Como the previous weekend, we had everything for Rome booked ahead of time.

Traveling on the weekends is an adventure like none other, and often the main topic of conversation. While I love exploring on the weekends, there have been so many fun activities to do during the week here in Paderno and surrounding towns. Here are some highlights of what I’ve been up to during the week!

Ciao friends! I am now a month into being abroad and two weeks into being at CIMBA! It for sure was a big adjustment going from traveling abroad on vacation to studying and traveling abroad at the same time!

Traveling to Rome has been a dream of mine for the past few years that finally came true last weekend. There is so much history and landmarks to see in Rome. After a 4-hour train ride, we finally arrived. Although we were unable to see everything, we tried our best to make the most out of our final travel weekend.

5 weeks, 4 countries, 3 suitcases, 2 missed trains, and 1 canceled flight later… I’m home. However, this time home is not my tiny, little dorm room at CIMBA; it’s Fayetteville, Arkansas. It only took a few weeks for CIMBA to begin feeling like home.

As my time here at CIMBA is coming to an end, I wanted to use this blog to share some funny moments that happened during my time abroad! You only post what you want people to see on Instagram and needless to say these fails did not make my Instagram feed…

After I turned in my last final, packed up my CIMBA dorm room, and said goodbye to all the friends I made during the past month, I was hit with the realization that I was now on my own. My flight home was set for a week after the program ended, and I had absolutely no plan on where I was going to go. All I knew is that I wanted to use this next week for travel.

This past weekend was our first official travel weekend. My friends and I decided to visit the beautiful city of Venice! Everyone told me Venice was a must-see and they could not have been more right. From the moment we stepped off the train in Venice, I was constantly in awe of all the city’s beauty.

One week in Italy and I think I have the hang of it all…almost. I arrived only seven days ago yet I feel as though I have been here for weeks based on how much I have already learned. I am so grateful to be in a place where they make every effort to aspire not only academic growth, but also personal growth as well.

Now that I have made it back home and am settled in, I would like to write my final reflections of this whole study abroad experience.

One of the biggest challenges here at CIMBA is balancing school life with fun and travel. People travel basically every weekend or if people stay in PDG (Paderno del Grappa) they travel to local towns nearby. You will not do homework on the weekends! Do not think that you will, if anything the most I have done on the weekends is during the train ride to wherever we decided to go.

Venice is a must see and should be at the top of your list. This was my first trip and the whole CIMBA group went. It’s close enough to Paderno del Grappa to feel comfortable, but at the same time a whole different world. Florence was also amazing. It had more to offer than Venice, so it was a good third trip. I also highly recommend going there.

The first weekend in Italy blew any expectations I had out of the water. As we stepped onto the bus to travel to a local town called Bassano Del Grappa, the aura of excitement in the air washed over the group departing from campus. We headed to the train station, where we were parted separate ways and would not see one another for the rest of the weekend.

I never get tired of the breathtaking mountain view. Every morning, when I open my curtains, I take in the landscape, and every single time, it still amazes me. This past weekend, I decided to wander aimlessly throughout the nearby cities, and no words can convey the level of serenity and content I felt during that time.

Three weeks into my time in Italy and there’s already so much to talk about! But first, I’d like to give an update on a few of the goals I mentioned in my previous blog. One of my personal goals had been to appreciate the outdoors more often and I must say, in Italy that was hardly a challenge.

Hello everyone, it’s Hannah and I am back with my final blog to talk to you about my CIMBA experience. The past three months have been a whirlwind of the best experiences of my life. Every single day was a new experience, a new feeling, and a new sense of understanding.

As I sit in the airport ready to board my flight home, it is finally hitting me what I’ve just accomplished. Studying abroad through CIMBA was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

As I write this, I am listening to a neighboring tenant slap their rug against their windowsill to remove the dirt and dust, watching the steam billow out of my coffee mug, and welcoming the hint of coffee in my breakfast tiramisu.

This has been my favorite CIMBA activity thus far. Since we share the campus with a local boarding school, we are able to meet students and learn some Italian. One of the events that brings us closer is Add a Seat.