Author: Logn Parten | Major:  Accounting | Semester: Summer 2025

Riding a water taxi in Venice

I chose to study abroad in Italy because of my past experiences and the accounts I heard from other students. I visited the country in the past and was especially intrigued by the culture and people. The Italian culture differs from the US in the fact they value simplicity more than we do and choose to live slower lifestyles. The people are friendly, and the locals are easy to interact with, making it an ideal destination. Since I had begun my time at Arkansas, I had been intrigued with the idea of studying abroad because of all the opportunities it would provide to travel and do something different than typical school. The CIMBA program was well advertised and the accounts from people who had attended in the past were undeniably better than anything else I heard regarding study abroad. The structured yet free schedule made it especially appealing as well because I knew I would be set free, but it was more than just being a foreign exchange student because I was fully surrounded by other students from the US. Overall, the program was four weeks long and took place in the summer from mid-May to mid-June.

The academics while abroad were far different from those of a normal class at home. I took two classes which were International Marketing and Classical Mythology. International Marketing took a deep dive into the culture of Italy, and we studied advertising and the many brands that have importance in the country. The class compared the American culture and lifestyle to that of Italy. Our main project in the class was to take a brand from the US and implement it into the Italian market. To do this we were required to research online and through our own experiences to get the best possible gauge of the Italian market. The Classical Mythology class told the histories of Greece and Italy through the belief of mythology. The stories created throughout their long-lived history depicted the actions and hobbies of ancient cultures. While the stories are from long ago, their messages and themes still apply to life today as humans duel with ideas of love, death, glory, and many other themes. The best part of classes at CIMBA, however, were each week we took a field trip for each class. Through this we got to view the surrounding areas we may not have otherwise seen, explore Italian businesses, see museums and examine artwork. These field trips opened the door for a different kind of learning I had never really experienced before but really appreciated.

Reflecting at the end of my time abroad, I realized it was not really the things I accomplished, saw or learned about myself that were most impactful to my life, but the connections I made with people. Seeing the Coliseum or spending time on the beautiful Amalfi Coast were cool at the time but without the people I met along the way it would not have mattered at all. Being alone when I left and making connections in the airport, in classes, in the dining hall or other places showed me the kind of impact others can have on my life and the impact I can have on theirs. Before I left, I never really knew how important people were to each experience we have. Being there to lift someone up when they are stressed out or encouraging them when you miss your train makes all the difference. Even when things went wrong in travel or classes, it was never really that impactful because I was in it with the rest of the group I was with and that gave me all the confidence I needed. With good relationships, the rest of life can feel so much easier. My perspective of life has switched to something completely relationship oriented and that will be something I can carry throughout my time at U of A and into my professional life.