Author: Caroline Brickey | Major: Agriculture Business | Semester: Summer 2024

Bonjour! I got to visit the Tuileries palace during one of my my free weekends in Paris, France

I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Italy during the summer before my junior year. I studied in the town of Paderno del Grappa, outside of Venice. The decision to choose Italy was deeply rooted in my passion for travel, history, and culture. Italy, with its rich artistic heritage, was the perfect canvas for my academic and cultural exploration.

While at CIMBA, I took Italy Live and Social Media Marketing. In Italy Live, I got to learn the basics of the Italian language and practice during class field trips to local gelaterias and restaurants. In Social Media Marketing, we got to explore how social media impacts marketing in today’s society and show local businesses how to create and use their social media platforms
as additional marketing resources for their companies. My group and I were able to help a small jewelry business set up a Facebook and Instagram and help them gain a following in just a few weeks.

While living on campus, I was also able to be a part of the CIMBA team by working as a Campus Ambassador. I, along with seven other CIMBA students, got the opportunity to travel a week earlier and get to know the staff and teachers and help set up student dorms and school supplies. Our jobs while on campus included morning rounds through campus, classroom checks after school, evening rounds, and maintaining a safe and fun environment for the other students as a leadership minor, having this experience to lead and guide students in a new place to
practice decision making, communication, and conflict resolution.

On the weekends, we were given time to travel and immerse ourselves in different cultures. One of the reasons I chose CIMBA was because of how important they believed independent travel was for us just as much as our academic classes. During my three free weekends, I traveled to Florence, Paris, and Vienna. Seeing the history we had learned about in Italy Live in real life was a super cool experience. We got to explore the leather markets in Florence and try Florentine steak- an Italian special! And of course, lots of gelato! In Paris, I met up with some friends from Arkansas who were also studying abroad. We got to see the Eiffel Tower and all the new stadiums that were being built for the Olympics! My final destination was Vienna. I went with some other CIMBA CA’s and we got to take a day trip out to Hallstatt, the location that was the inspiration for the Frozen films. Traveling during my free weekends offered immersive cultural experiences and the chance to explore historical landmarks, local cuisine, and unique traditions.

Additionally, it fostered personal growth, and independence, as was able to learn how to navigate
trains and new airports. My final advice to anyone wanting to study abroad is to do it! I went to Italy not knowing many people and left with friends all over the United States. Studying abroad gave me the chance to
explore new places and see the world from a new perspective.