Aviva Adams-Wilk

There’s a café just down the street from campus with a patio that feels like something out of a movie. Twisting vines hang overhead, flower boxes overflow with color, and there’s a perfect corner table draped in a pink cloth. Every Monday morning before class, that’s where you’ll find us; sipping cappuccinos, splitting croissants, and planning our next weekend adventure.

After just one week at CIMBA Italy, I can already tell this is going to be way more than just a typical study abroad program. It honestly feels like I’ve been here longer than a week, not because the days are dragging, but because so much has happened in such a short time. The vibe reminds me a bit of summer camp, in the best way possible. Everyone here is from all over the U.S., and we’ve all been tossed into this unfamiliar space together. That shared experience of not knowing what’s going on half the time makes it super easy to connect with people. It’s been nice to see how quickly friendships have formed just from all of us trying to figure things out together.