Author: Zach Hodges | Major: Accounting and Finance | Semester: Summer 2024

Standing in front of the Trevi Fountain

During the last two weeks of May, I studied abroad as a part of the iMACC Global Immersion program. The two-week program took part in Rome and Milan, Italy as me and ten other students studied accounting at an international level, as well as sustainability reporting and venture capitalism. I was drawn to this unique study abroad opportunity because we did not spend much time in the classroom, but instead got hands on experience with various Italian businesses by learning about their day-to-day, and in turn presenting to them about the business climate in the United States.

Since this study abroad experience was very hands on, there was very limited time spent in the classrooms at the Rome Center. For the short time we were there, we had the privilege to meet with a representative from the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Italy to learn about their post covid economic recovery strategy, as well as their push towards green energy. After that, the group met with two different venture capital groups to learn about the venture capital environment in Italy compared to the United States, as well as the investing process and type of companies that investors look for. On top of that, we met with Ernst & Young to learn about sustainability reporting, as well as a sustainability startup to learn more about how recycling can eliminate both wastes and costs.

Outside of the business visits, we went on several tours of the cities of Rome and Milan to better understand the cultural differences, as well as learn about the rich history of Italy. In Rome, we spent a day walking around seeing various sites such as the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Pantheon, and did in depth tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican Museum. One moment from the tours that stood out to me was seeing the immaculate artwork in the Sistine Chapel, especially the ceiling that was painted by Michelangelo in the 1500s. The amount of detail that was put into the mural is unreal, something that cannot be replicated today. After exploring most of Rome, the group did similar tours in Milan. After a walking tour of the more modern city, the group and I went to the Duomo, the third largest church in the world. The church took over 500 years to complete, and has a very gothic architecture style to it, making it unique compared to other churches in Italy.

Hiking at Cinque Terre

Towards the end of the trip, we had a free day, so a few other students and I decided to go to the Cinque Terre on the northwest coast of Italy. Cinque Terre is roughly translated to “Five Lands” and consists of five different small cities on the Ligurian Sea. The small towns were once fisherman villages and consist of colorful buildings that create a vibrant look that attracts tourists from all over the world. To go between cities, there is a 7.2-mile coastal hiking trail that is largely uphill and quite challenging, taking around 6 hours to complete. The hike was very difficult and ended up being one of the most physically challenging things I have ever down. However, the view from the trails consisted of unreal views of the sea, the beautiful cities, and the mountains of Italy, making the difficult hike very worth it.

Studying abroad is much different than anything else that the University of Arkansas offers. While abroad, you connect with fellow students on a much deeper level than you would in a traditional classroom setting. Since you are staying in the same apartment or dorm as your peers, you spend a lot of time together and can create friendships that you cannot get many other ways on campus with people that you may not normally become friends with. On top of that, you get to immerse yourself into a different culture for an extended period and understand how people from around the world live, and how that differs from the United States. However, it can be challenging adjusting to these cultural differences, but if you keep an open mind and reassure yourself of how valuable and uncommon of an experience you are gaining, you can have a wonderful time abroad.