Author: Michael Ridgway | Major: Undeclared | Semester 2024

Enjoying the river in Bassano with Jack Rhodes, Ryan Mccarty, John Verkamp and Mason Krakau

Hello, I’m Michael Ridgway, an undeclared business major at Walton College, and I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Italy during the summer of 2024. I spent six weeks in the small town of Paderno del Grappa, located in the foothills of the Dolomites in northern Italy. I was part of the CIMBA program, and it was everything I hoped for and more.

So, why Italy? Well, CIMBA is a business school that offers a range of courses that caught my interest. I’m thinking about going to law school after graduation, so their law class was a big draw for me. Plus, they had a great marketing course that I needed to take. And let’s be real—the location was a major bonus! Not only is Paderno del Grappa a beautiful area, but it also made it super easy to travel around on the weekends and explore even more of Europe.

The program lasted just under four weeks, which was perfect. It was enough time to fully immerse myself in the culture without feeling rushed. The classes were smaller than what I’m used to at the U of A, which made for an interactive and engaging learning experience. We had lots of discussions and chances to speak our minds, which I loved.  One of the coolest parts was the field trips to real Italian businesses. We got to see how things work behind the scenes and ask questions directly to business owners. It was eye-opening and really brought the coursework to life in a way that lectures alone never could. We also had some awesome guest speakers who shared their insights and experiences, adding even more depth to what we were learning.

Now, let’s talk about the fun stuff! My travels, both personal and through CIMBA events, were some of the highlights of my trip. Planning weekend trips with friends was always an adventure—sometimes we were super organized, and other times we were scrambling at the last minute, which led to some hilarious situations. Missing trains, sprinting across airports, and figuring out plan B on the fly were all part of the journey.
Traveling across Europe at 19 was mind-blowing. I visited places I hadn’t even heard of before, like seeing the Roman Coliseum in Croatia and discovering World War I artifacts in Austria. These experiences taught me so much about history and culture that I never could have learned from a textbook.

Studying abroad was different from my usual experience at U of A in so many ways. The smaller classes and hands-on learning were a big change, but they helped me grow a lot. Adapting to a new culture and educational system was challenging at first, but it ended up being incredibly rewarding.
One big lesson I learned is to be open to new experiences and challenges. Studying abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me to embrace the unexpected.
For anyone thinking about studying abroad, my advice is to plan but stay flexible. Some of the best memories come from those unplanned moments, so don’t be afraid to go with the flow. Embrace the culture, make new friends, and take every opportunity to learn and explore.
Studying abroad in Italy was a life-changing experience that broadened my horizons and gave me a deeper understanding of the world. I’m so grateful for the memories and lessons, and I hope others get the chance to have their own amazing adventures