The Best of Paderno del Grappa

I have gotten so caught up with writing about my travels every weekend; I just came to the realization that I have not touched on my life here in Paderno del Grappa, and I am already at the halfway point this week. CIMBA has kept me so busy with so many programs, seminars and activities to do outside of class. I completed LIFE (Leadership Initiative For Excellence), which is a 3-day intense experiential leadership training that focuses on developing decision-making, communication, teamwork, focus and interpersonal skills. LIFE has helped me break through the barriers that kept me from fulfilling my leadership potential by focusing on my strengths. I am now in LEAP (Learn, Enrich, Achieve and Perform), which is designed to strengthen my leadership skills that I gained in LIFE along with enhancing my personal growth and development. All CIMBA students are enrolled in CAP (CIMBA Advantage Program) which includes a Da Vinci Challenge (a teambuilding ropes course), travel orientations, Kepner- Tregoe training and certification (decision-making and problem-solving workshop), etiquette classes, 3 formal dinners, a wine tasting seminar, field trips, company tours and much more.

I have experienced a lot outside school in Paderno as well. I have never lived in such a small community (too small to call it a town) so I have gone on many adventures with my friends trying to discover new stores and restaurants. CIMBA students love to invade the sports bar on campus to socialize, hangout and have a good time. There is also is a pizzeria that is only a 10-minute walk away. Down the hill about 20 minutes is Castelfranco, which has a gelateria and convenient stores along the way.

I could write for days about my experiences in small-town Italy, but to keep it simple I am going to narrow it down to my top 3 favorites thus far:

1. Formal Dinners

Last week was our first of 3 formal dinners. It started with a seminar that compared American etiquette to European etiquette. From there we had the most elaborate dinner I’ve ever experienced. We all took a bus to a hotel where we began with a cocktail party. There were long tables lining the hallways filled with all different appetizers. After a few cocktails and lots of antipasti, we went in the dining hall for a 4-course meal paired with wines. It was so fun enjoying the company of friends while trying new, delicious dishes.

2. Field-Trip to Asolo

Our last travel orientation was a trip to Asolo: an eclectic, high-end town nestled up in the mountains about 30 minutes away. We wandered around with friends, shopping and eating lots of gelato, gazing at the old castles and enjoying a glass of wine to top off the evening. It was fun to see what towns lie outside Paderno. I loved taking the time to enjoy the architecture, culture and character of the region.

3. Da Vinci Challenge

The Da Vinci Challenge was a low ropes course that worked on teambuilding. We were put into groups and had to do obstacles that wouldn’t be possible on our own. We all did trust falls, then had to get everyone over a 20 foot wall (made a year of high school cheerleading totally worth it). We also had to fit our group through a spider web made of ropes, making sure no one touched the ropes. It was really fun and competitive between all the groups, seeing who could do the activities the fastest.

I am really excited for our upcoming activities as well. Next week we have our company tours, where we get to visit companies such as Nardini Grappa in Bassano. We also have 2 more formal dinners coming up. The last one is at the end of our program and everyone calls it “CIMBA Prom” because we all dress up and have our “last hurrah” before we say our goodbyes. There are a lot of weeks between now and then, but I cannot believe I am already over 1/3 of my way done here.  I have already made incredible friends and memories here in PdG, and am excited to see what is to come.