The Duomo in Milan

Author: Taylor Brinkmann | Major: Supply Chain Management and Economics

While searching for the perfect study abroad program, I stumbled upon CIMBA, and I’m glad that I did. During my time in Paderno del Grappa, I was able to advance my academic and professional goals, experience a new culture, and achieve a new level of independence. Additionally, through this program, I made new friends that I know I will have for a lifetime.

One of the reasons that I chose CIMBA was that the program offered business courses that would help advance my completion of my two majors: Supply Chain Management and Economics. Besides adding two courses to my transcript, I also learned about the business world from an international perspective while touring local Italian companies. I was enrolled in Introduction to Finance and Global Economics or International Trade. While learning about concepts such as the international inflation crisis and foreign exchange, I was able to witness and experience firsthand such concepts in Italy. I toured two companies while staying in Paderno: Montegrappa and Scotton. I visited Montegrappa, a luxury pen manufacturer, in my Economics course, where I was educated on not only the business but also the international trade that the company experiences and the various processes of constructing Montegrappa’s luxury pens. Scotton SPA is a company that I toured in my Finance Course, and they manufacture gift boxes. The company tours gave me an insight into Italy’s business world, and I was able to apply the topics I was learning to my experience in Italy. I’m very thankful for the courses I took because I think they were very applicable to my study abroad experience. My instructors shaped my experience as well because I gained knowledge from professors outside of the University of Arkansas, specifically the University of Kansas and University of Tulsa. My professors had different teaching styles, and I was able to hear about business in other areas of the country, areas where Walmart is not as prominent. My Finance professor also brought in a guest speaker to share her Finance career experience in Italy, and she touched on topics such as foreign exchange, capital structure, managing inventory, leverage, and more. It was interesting to hear about these concepts from someone who does business in Italy, not the United States. These subjects are applied throughout the world, and sometimes, that is hard to appreciate until you see it yourself.

Outside of the classroom, I had the chance to gain exposure to the Italian culture. CIMBA offered several field trips to areas around Paderno. One of these excursions brought me to Asolo where I learned how to make homemade pizza. That pizza was one of the best that I have ever had. Another one of these activities was pasta making, where again, I was in awe as I watched the chef of a local restaurant combine ingredients and mold the pasta noodles into a masterpiece. That night, we had gnocchi and a pasta that resembles fettuccine. I also visited a small town named Marostica, which is most famous for the human chess game that it carries out every other year. I had the opportunity to see the chess board and hike up to the main castle, as well as just take in the beautiful ancient architecture and visit the small ceramic shops. Off campus, on the weekends, I experienced more of the Italian culture in cities—such as Milan, Naples, Pompeii, Venice, and Rome—where I continued to gain an understanding of the history, architecture, art, transportation, and society. For example, I visited the Vatican, where I learned about the several different architects that helped to construct the city, and I learned about the constant rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica. On top of that, CIMBA introduced me to the best people to go to these places with, and I know that I will be friends with them for a long time.

If I had to give advice about the CIMBA program, I would recommend doing your research. Talk to past CIMBA students so that you truly know what you are walking into. I would also recommend learning a little Italian so that you can understand and communicate. Although most people in the country know some English, not everyone does. With that being said, do not hesitate to utilize the translator app. Also, do not bring too many items with you (such as clothes). Everyone did quite a bit of shopping while studying in Paderno. Furthermore, I wish I would have known going into the program that the train system is not as straightforward as one would think. Just like airlines, there were delays, and, unlike airlines, there were several labor strikes in Italy while we were there, which affected our travel back to Paderno. However, despite all the challenges I faced during my stay, I truly enjoyed my experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. But the first thing I am doing when I arrive home is eating American food: a month of only eating pasta and pizza is a dream and yet a nightmare.