Frannie Quinn

Wow, time flies when you’re having fun, or when you just got back from four weeks in Italy. It really is hard to believe I got back to the United States two weeks ago. While I was craving ice water and chips and queso when I was in Paderno del Grappa (or ‘The Grap’ as my friends and I called it, and continue to call it), I find myself daydreaming about brie and bread for lunch and the cappuccinos from the hotel across the street (keep reading for more information on that). There could never be enough space in a Word doc for me to chronicle my experience, although I wish I could have it written down so I could keep reading it forever. I look back on my time at CIMBA with a full heart, thankful for the people, memories, and homework it gave me.

Before CIMBA, I was told, emphatically, that I should not plan any weekend trips. People said to make a list of places you want to see and then wait for your peers to go on their trips to report back. I will say this tactic leans on the anxiety-inducing, stressful side, but it is so worth it. Here is some advice on how to plan your perfect weekend trip:

People don’t tell you how hard it is to visit a country you know very little about, let alone live there for four weeks. That being said, I’ve learned to embrace the unknown. This was, admittedly, a scary lesson to learn at first. No one wants to fail the first time they try to pay someone with Euros or butcher their dinner order; however, the simple act of trying is what matters most.