Semester Reflection

After being home for a couple of weeks, I have been able to let the experience of studying abroad and being at CIMBA for three months sink in. My time in Europe definitely went faster than I expected it would, and I wish I could have stayed longer. The experiences I had abroad, and the friends I was able to make while there are indescribable. Studying at a smaller, more focused school was the perfect fit for me. It is hard to explain what it is like seeing the same 120 kids every single day. At first, I was apprehensive about where I was and what I had gotten myself into. But after the first couple of weeks at CIMBA, I was so glad to be there.

What I miss most about Italy is the friends I made. The friends I made at CIMBA are friends that I will have for the rest of my life. It is hard to explain what happens while abroad, but it is a bond that you can only share with those people who have had similar experiences and emotions. Two week later and my core group of CIMBA friends still text in our group chat every single day (literally)! After personally experiencing this, I believe the friends you will make is a great reason to be persuaded to study abroad, but there are other reasons I think every student should have the chance to do it, too. Another reason, besides the amazing and life-long friends you will make, is you get to immerse yourself in a new culture. Studying abroad in an unfamiliar country or region challenges a person to step outside their comfort zone and try new things, a lot of new things. The way people dress, act, eat, and talk is different in every single country, and it is interesting to see the uniqueness and personality of each country. This is something you can’t experience while in America, pictures may be worth a thousand words, but it still isn’t enough to give you the same experience.

Another reason I believe every student should study abroad is to expand their knowledge. From the history of the Eiffel Tower, to how pizza in Italy is made, I learned so much in Europe. I learned things that I would probably never have learned in America, unless I took a boring history class for three hours a week. Even then, I would never have learned the in-depth and amazing facts about Italy, Spain, England, France, and other countries as I do now. Having that kind of knowledge to share with others for the rest of your life is truly a gift.

A great reason to study abroad is to see all the beautiful landmarks in Europe. The Roman Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Eiffel Tower, and Big Ben are just a few of the many things I got to see and experience with my own eyes. I was able to cross so many beautiful sights of my bucket list, and in just three months! That is the great thing about studying abroad, when you need a break from studying, instead of going to your local bar on the weekends, you can take a cheap flight to an beautiful city or country! That is another great thing about Europe, for the most part, everything is pretty cheap, depending on what you do. The flights are very inexpensive, because everything is so close, and even better they have inexpensive pizza! It was a wonderful way for me to get an education, while seeing the world on a budget.

The last reason I would encourage students to study abroad is because studying in another country is an incomparable quality you will have. Being able to speak to potential employers about your experiences abroad is something that can always set you apart from any other person applying for the same job. It makes for good conversation and you can teach them things about your study abroad country too! I can definitely say that having CIMBA in my nest of college experiences helped me to land the internship I have this summer.

It is easy to tell you the simple reasons why you should study abroad, but there are many reasons beyond the ones I can put into words. If you want an incomparable, unforgettable, amazing experience that will live with you for a lifetime, studying abroad is definitely a great, affordable way to do it!