How to Balance Study & Travel
Written by Elizabeth June 15, 2015
Venice
St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
Venice
Gourmet Dinner
Cittadella
Ramparts of Cittadella
Paderno del Grappa
Paderno del Grappa
Ciao!
I have just completed my fourth and final week at CIMBA. The time really has flown by and I can’t believe that it is done. Studying during the week, traveling on the weekends, making friendships and memories along the way have consumed my time. I couldn’t have asked for a better learning experience. CIMBA definitely strengthened my experience from the class organization to the weekly trips.
Looking back on my time in Paderno del Grappa, I realize what a great learning environment it was. There were only four weeks to learn the material of two classes which would normally span a whole semester, roughly three months. This is already a great challenge but then there is the added time for traveling, adventuring, and experiencing this new world. Time is valuable and the professors and administration at CIMBA really work to make the most of your time.
Once a week, there is a three hour class for each course and every day during the week there are one and a half hour classes for both courses. The weekends are free for travel and two weekends are longer travel weekends with no Friday classes. Each class is extremely valuable as you learn so much in the limited time but the time is just enough. The classes are organized to use the time wisely and make sure the students learn and understand the material rather than just memorize it. All exams focus on the ideas and processes and require knowledge to be shown rather than a simple guess on a multiple choice exam. This testing also urges the students to study and know the material.
For my classes, I took Italy Live and Statics (Engineering Fundamentals). Both classes had a lot of material to cover and successfully did so. My Statics class had a lecture, example problem, a problem to work on in groups, and then a quiz in groups on the material we covered the day before. This organization really propelled my understanding of the material. No one got lost or missed something because if there was a problem or confusion, they would quickly be helped by the professor or other students. Example problems, practice problems, homework assignments, quizzes, and tests focused on the process of solving the different types of problems. In Italy Live, quizzes and tests were also organized to test your knowledge of listening, writing, reading, and speaking Italian. We had two oral presentations, one by yourself and the other with a partner, two trips requiring us to order food in Italian or asking directions in Italian, and one conversation with an Italian student. I had two professors in that class and they really pushed you to learn. It is hard to learn a language and it is especially hard to try to learn a first language class in four weeks, but with the seemingly challenging activities given, we realized that we were learning a lot and ready for the obstacles. Both of my classes had amazing professors that really helped you learn. They understood that you wanted to travel but also knew that this material needed to be understood. They worked hard to help us and definitely succeeded in teaching the information.
This past week, CIMBA organized a gourmet dinner for all of the students and professors. A formal five-course meal was served and thoroughly enjoyed. It was a wonderful experience to use the proper etiquette at an Italian dinner, try a variety of dishes, and celebrate the adventures we have had with the people we have met. This week, I also went to Cittadella, a small town near Paderno del Grappa that is contained by a wall or rampart. It was another beautiful city that I was able to see because of CIMBA. CIMBA really has helped me experience Italy and all that it has to offer. With these opportunities to see and explore a variety of towns, I have learned and experienced more of the Italian culture. CIMBA works to propel students in knowledge, not only in class material but also in awareness, understanding, and experience. Studying abroad is about traveling and studying and I think CIMBA has acquired an amazing balance that suits students in exploring the world around them but also taking the time to completely understand their courses.
Arrivederci!
Elizabeth
Blogger: Elizabeth, University of Iowa
