Three Months Begins in Just Three Days!

I can’t believe in just three days I will be landing in Italy, my new home for the next three months. When I first made the decision to do the CIMBA study abroad program, this day seemed so far off – but it is finally here and I am really looking forward to it!

My name is Kim and I am currently a senior finance and management major at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I have lived on a farm near a small town in Iowa my entire life, but have been fortunate to travel all across the United States on family vacations and trips for school. This past year I traveled abroad for the first time, going to Europe for a 10 day class trip. Then this summer our family hosted two exchange girls from Italy, who stayed with us for a month. Both of these experiences gave me a taste of different European cultures; however I can’t wait to be immersed in the Italian culture, getting to know the language, tasting the food, and understanding their way of life.

I chose CIMBA because of the location, but also due to the many opportunities the program gives you to experience the culture and grow as an individual. Europe has such a rich history and having the opportunity to see the sights and experience that history is one of the things I am most excited for. Along with traveling, I am looking forward to meeting the other students arriving from all around the United States who I will have the opportunity to share this amazing journey with.

When I tell people that I will be studying abroad for three months, their first question is usually, “How do you pack for that long?” I always answer with, “I have no idea.” I am bad about overpacking and everything says to pack light, but it is so much harder actually putting that into practice. Maybe that’s why my packing still consists of suitcases laying open with a big pile on top! It’s hard to know what to pack since we will be there for colder weather and traveling to places that are still undecided, but I think I’m figuring it out and I know it will all work out eventually.

While my parents may be nervous and I am still procrastinating on packing, I know that this experience will be worth it! It is still surreal to me thinking about everything that is to come and imagining the many things I will experience over the next 3 months, but I can’t wait for this journey to begin! I know there may be bumps along the way, but it’s all a part of the adventure. This will be the experience of a lifetime and I am ready to trade the cornfields in Iowa for the mountains in Italy. I will continue to blog along the way, but for now I should probably get back to packing…

See you in Italy!