- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
Traveling Mindfully: Five Breaths 04/25/16
One of the more emphasized, overarching lessons of the CIMBA program is learning how to be more mindful or aware of the current moment you are in. There were a great many ways to incorporate this into travel, but I chose to concentrate on a single breath in each new place I visited. Cataloging an […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
Packing For Travel As if You Actually Know What You’re Doing 04/04/16
Alright folks, let’s get down to business and the less glamorous side of traveling, specifically: cloths packing. Let me first say that I thought I had it down pat! I showed up with my one giant suitcase and had significantly less luggage than many girls and a good amount of guys. I was attempting to […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
How to Plan a Weekend When You Don’t Want to Make Any Plans 03/21/16
After spring break, I’m not gonna lie, I was dragging a little. Having prepared for this reaction, I had thought to stay the weekend in sleepy Paderno del Grappa. However, as Friday crept closer, I realized that my droopy eyelids in class were doing little to curb my appetite for adventure. The end of the […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
Don’t Panic (Or “What I Really Learned While Traveling Over Spring Break”) 03/11/16
Well, we are back at CIMBA after a fantastic spring break and wow, do I ever need a break from the break! This was one of the most inspiring and challenging trips I have ever taken and don’t regret a single moment of it. However, despite all of our tourist successes, being on a ten […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
The Study Abroad Halfway Point: Bring on the Grunge 03/08/16
I was reminded that study abroad is not all fun and games this week as midterms have arrived. 4 presentations- 2 long and 2 short – and a good old fashioned exam to finish off this Friday (and my schedule is by no means the hardest!). So what am I doing with all of my free time? Why, […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
Greener Grass: What I Learned About America By Living Somewhere Else 02/26/16
Since arriving at CIMBA, I’ve been asked one question more than any other: “So, why did you choose to study abroad?” Well, I could honestly give you about 50 different reasons beginning with “I wanted to learn about another culture” and ending with, “It sounded cool.” This is supposed to be one of the most important […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
Day Trips May Just Change Your Life 02/14/16
Want to spend the weekend in Paris? Prague? Barcelona?… Yes, of course! Those are all completely realistic goals here. It is so easy to jump on a plane, train, or bus and make it to any one of those places in a few short hours. This is, by far and wide, the craziest thing I […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
Traveling in Packs: The Pros and Cons of Traveling in Large Groups 02/09/16
This past weekend I experienced my first overnight travel away from CIMBA, and, like any other first, it was quite the learning experience. Our party of ten was one of many that chose to spend their second weekend abroad in beautiful Firenze (Florence). Together we trooped up and down the ancient cobblestone streets – tripping […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
What to Expect: Surviving the First Week Abroad 01/28/16
Ciao from Paderno del Grappa! To start with a cliché- I would say that the first week in Italy was, in summary, not what I was expecting. Most surprising was, when we first arrived, I didn’t really feel like I was in Italy. For months I had thought that the moment I stepped off the […]
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- Alicia
- Western Michigan University
- 2016 Spring
Common Sights Of Home 01/19/16
Long before I had even been accepted into the CIMBA program, I began receiving advice and testimonies from anyone and everyone who had been in, or near, Italy. I’ve been told again and again that my norm in Italy will be so completely different from my current normal. After a mid-shower revelation that in less […]
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VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
