Me on the top of Innsbruck Austria

Author: Eddie Ifill | Major: Supply Chain | Semester: Summer 2023

CIMBA Italy was a great experience for me this summer, especially for someone who had never been out of the country. At the beginning of the school year last year, I had no plans to study abroad, especially in Italy. Still, when I saw the enthusiasm of Molly Rapert and Kim Petron (Two Uark Professors who work at CIMBA) and the past alums who talked about the program, it changed my attitude toward Studying abroad. CIMBA is located in a small town in northern Italy called Padreno Del Grappa. I chose the program because it doesn’t hold your hand through the whole trip, but it doesn’t leave you out to dry either; it’s a great mix. I wanted the chance to experience it myself. While still having a “home base” of help.

I took Global Econ and Global Consumer Marketing. Global Econ, taught by University of Tulsa professor Eric Olson had a direct transfer, but being in Europe helped provide the real world. To see how the world economically works together, Professor Olson was hilarious and put together ideas well. After all, Europe is a lot different from the US. Global Consumer Marketing did not have direct transfer credit. It was like no other class I have taken thus far; taught by uark professor Molly Rapert it expanded my worldview almost as much as the trip itself and taught us valuable business lessons along the way. These classes help me fulfill the upper-level business electives I need to graduate. These classes were different from Uark due to the field trips we went on multiple times. Also having these real world experiences to go along with it and talk about the differences we saw on the weekends was super insightful.

Outside of class we had long weekends for 2 of the 4 weeks getting out on thursday afternoon during this I went to Switzerland, Slovenia and Croatia. The food in Switzerland was so good and had a different style then all the other places. The time in Slovienia I had was the most surprising in terms of culture, For all the other countries and cultures I had an idea of what I was getting into but with slovenia we didnt know. We where so surprised when everyone was so nice, the food was delicious and the town was beautiful it really made it a special weekend over all.

I definitely recommended CIMBA Italy for a study abroad program to anyone you really can do so much in the time you are there. The people and professors that work in Paderno Del Grappa are so helpful with every question I had and I had a lot. I will say if you plan to solo travel like I did plan for a higher expense rate for trips then I expected. Also Just know that missed trains or busses happen to everyone just stay calm and work the solutions you have. Good Luck on your travels!!