Travel & Adventures

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.

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.

“We’ll take chicken and fries, please!” Sometimes familiarity and simplicity are needed amidst so much change.

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!

I am not a well-traveled person. My family or school planned, booked, and paid for all the trips I've been on. And, growing up, my family mostly opted to travel by car so I can count how many times I’ve been on a plane with my hands. It’s safe to say that planning for the weekend trips during CIMBA was way out of my comfort zone.

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.

Even in my hometown, I sometimes still get lost. Seriously, friends and family have a running joke about my lack of direction. Understandably, many were worried when I confidently told them I would be traveling solo on my way to Italy. With little experience in airports and three flights to manage, I was also feeling a sense of anxiety. However, I soon realized that navigating the airport solo, while intimidating, isn’t as scary as many think. Following these preparation tips, it can be a seamless transition to your CIMBA adventure.

I’ve never cared for the saying “All good things must come to an end”. While it may be entirely true, I have always had difficulty accepting that amazing experiences must end. This is exactly how I feel now that my semester abroad has been officially over for an entire month.

Finishing off this semester has been a whirlwind of emotions from stress about final exams to the sadness of leaving my new friends and Europe. This experience through the CIMBA program has been worthwhile and I am really dreading leaving Europe.

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!

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.

The past three weeks here in Italy have been a whirlwind of excitement, stress, and a whole lot of chaos. These three words can accurately describe studying abroad as a whole, but they are particularly precise when it comes to describing midterms and spring break.

Ciao! I am pleased to say that my first big travel weekend was a success. I went to London, and I can confidently say I loved the city. Everything was breathtaking from the food to the history and architecture. As much as I loved traveling to London, it was not all smooth sailing and needless to say I learned a few important lessons.

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!

It has been nearly two weeks since I arrived in Italy, and it is still sometimes hard to believe that I am actually here. Every morning, I wake up to the breathtaking views of the mountains right outside my window and am still in awe of this place. With two weeks under my belt, here is what I can tell you: travel is as challenging as it is spectacular.

Howdy! My name is Jayne Claire Vincent. I’m one of the CIMBA blog ambassadors for the Spring 2024 semester! I’m super excited to be able to document all that this upcoming semester has to offer, but first things first, a little intro to start us off. I am a junior at Berry College studying International Business with a focus in Management. I have been passionate about learning about different cultures since I was little. Houston, Texas is where I call home. Known for being a melting pot of diverse cultures, I feel as though Houston has ignited a passion for exploring new and exciting things.

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.

Having your parents visit you during your study abroad is an interesting experience. As a student, it’s highly recommended not to rent a motor vehicle during your stay in Europe. After navigating the winding roads and high speeds on narrow mountain roads in places like Bassano Del Grappa and Padova, I can attest to this.

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.

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! Bonjour! Hello! My name is Kelsey Harper and I am from the University of Arkansas and have made the quaint, Paderno del Grappa, Italy my new home for the last week. After finishing my last final, I closed my laptop, and rushed off a few hours later to a new start of a life changing experience that would change my perspective in all areas of my life.

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.

Destinations don’t always align with others’ desires. Therefore you must explore them yourself. Here’s how to make the most of traveling alone.

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.

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.

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!

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.

During the first week of CIMBA, one of the hardest tasks was planning a last-minute trip for the weekend. Unfortunately, when planning a trip last minute, there are always a few things that can go wrong for first-time travelers. When these obstacles happen, there is always something to learn from the experience.

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.

Students here aren’t known for their planning or time management abilities. That’s why I’d like to inform you on what not to do as well how you can be a better traveler than the Spring 2022 CIMBA group. Don’t get me wrong, we know how to have a good time. It’s just getting to our destination in first place that is the problem.

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.

Not only have I been traveling around the United States these past two weeks, but I will be flying to Italy in four days to gain cultural experience while pursuing my college degree. Traveling consists of many factors: weather, political and social culture, destination’s customs and beliefs, but currently, the most significant factor is the pandemic.

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 another blog to talk to you guys about travel planning! Out of all the students in my program this semester, I have traveled to the most countries. Whoo! By the end of the semester, I will have been to 10 countries!