Found a Hog at a leather market in Florence

Author: Jackson Walton | Majors: Finance and Political Science

After hours of delays and having my luggage lost on the flights over – I must admit that I was beat down on the way over to Italy. I had a single t-shirt and pair of pants to my name and a long weekend ahead in Venice. This gave me a grim outlook on what the rest of the experience would be like for me. What was I doing halfway across the planet from home?

I now know that those are the types of things that are some of the most important to experience when studying abroad. The truth is that is very likely that you will experience missing trains, losing your luggage, dealing with an Italian transportation strike, or not being able to find a taxi for hours. Challenges like these, though, are all what teach adaptability, quick thinking, communication, and versatility, some of the most important learning curves of any study abroad experience. There is joy in the journey. I promise you, while it might not seem like it in the moment, you will very soon laugh about and cherish these experiences like no other. You will catch the next train, your luggage will come soon enough, and you will find a taxi.

I chose CIMBA Italy for many reasons. One of the most important of these was the high caliber of education offered. CIMBA offers courses taught by top tier educators who have important and relevant experience in the global world of business. Their knowledge is tangible, and they are all immensely passionate about what they teach. This is what I wanted and expected out of a program. I got nothing less. Another reason for choosing CIMBA was the way learning was facilitated. Much of our learning was through immersion into local businesses that discussed their real challenges, methods, and practices. Lastly, I chose the program for its autonomy. Other programs often do not allow for freedom of travel, learning, or ability to make your own decisions about your program of study. CIMBA provided a great level of balance: the program was structured where it needed to be (classes, living arrangements, etc) and allowed for freedom in other areas (things like independent travel). I truly feel that the independent nature of CIMBA was one of the best elements of the entire program.

More specifically, in my classes I learned a breadth of things about the global world of business. In Dr. Molly Rapert’s Global Consumer course, I learned that we sometimes have a “western” view of the world- this makes it hard for us in the US to understand and properly analyze other national economies. Countries like China are pushing ever so hard to be at the center of the world stage and they are doing this with different methods than what we would consider to work here in the West. Through my company visits in these classes I learned just how differently Italians go about business. They are much more family and community oriented in their practices than the US seems to be.

I believe that studying abroad largely puts anyone at an advantage in any modern job interview. This world is increasingly globalized and connected. Navigating almost any career in the future will require extensive knowledge on the world, what better way to gain that knowledge than by immersing yourself into it with no choice but to adapt and learn?

The culture was, obviously, quite different than what I am used to here in Arkansas. People behave different, believe different, have different mannerisms, ethical and moral principles, and attitudes. I had to keep reminding myself that they go about things in entirely different ways – and that is not a bad thing. There are some things that you cannot take the same as you would in the US, it is their way of life and that is ok.

My advice for anyone looking at studying abroad can be summed up in three points:

Use your resources: The Honors college grant is here- USE IT! The University has a great study abroad office staffed with some of the best that is ready and willing to help. The reality is that resources are here for you to go and you should take advantage of every single one of them.

If you have the chance to go, go. Even if you are anxious, nervous, don’t really want to do it. You will most likely never be this age again with the ability to travel across the world and live while receiving a higher education. Say yes and do not look back.

Do not say no. When travelling it is easy to be tired and exhausted. This is especially hard when your friends pop in to your room after a long travel weekend wanting to get pizza and all that you want to do is lay there and rest. You will never remember that small nap, but chances are that you will remember a great memory that came from you simply saying yes.

And so, in closing, I leave Italy with an immeasurable amount of gratitude for the Honors College Study Abroad Grant, a new and strong knowledge on the global field of business, new friends, stories, memories, a love for gelato, and a true smile on my face. What a life-changing experience.