Ciao from Paderno, Italy!
Our Fall cohort has officially completed the first two weeks of classes, and it already feels like this semester is flying by. Between settling into campus life, navigating a brand-new culture and language, and bonding with our cohort, the days have been extremely full but very exciting. I have already lost count of the cappuccinos I have consumed, learned many lessons when it comes to traveling, but most of all, each morning I am filled with gratitude looking at the breathtaking mountain views that surround the CIMBA campus. The first two weeks have left me even more excited for the semester ahead and all the adventures our cohort will experience!
Takeaway #1: Italian Time is Different
One of the first things I learned when arriving in Italy was that the time feels different. Italians operate on a later schedule, and I often find myself hungry around 5:30 pm while dinner isn’t until 7 or 8. At first, my body struggled to adjust, but I have learned that patience is a cultural experience and meals are meant to be savored here, not rushed. When I need a pick-me-up, I have really enjoyed my personal “Italian Snack Time”, trying different treats from the nearby café and convenience store.
Beyond mealtimes, life here moves at a slower, more intentional pace. People linger in cafés chatting with their friends, take strolls through town, and even CIMBA builds in breaks for coffee or a second of mindfulness. As someone who is accustomed to being always on the go, the time change is refreshing. Initially, I was extremely frustrated with the slower life and a different schedule, but now I am so grateful I get to experience and focus on the little moments for myself and with my cohort.
Takeaway #2: Campus Life is Tight Knit
One of the first things I noticed about CIMBA is how quickly you feel part of a family here. With just 23 people in our cohort, it has been easy to form close connections quickly. I came here not knowing a single person, and most were in the same position, and within the first night, everyone was comfortable talking to everyone. Within the first two weeks, we already went to Venice and Croatia all together, went on a hike, and explored Asolo with 2 of our amazing professors, celebrated a group birthday going to dinner, went through many great team building and leadership workshops, and have spent a lot of time laughing in the cafeteria during meals. The small size makes friendships form fast, which is refreshing compared to the larger atmosphere at big universities.
The professors and CIMBA staff members are also amazing additions to the tight-knit community. They take time to get to know us beyond the classroom, and CIMBA even took our whole cohort, the staff, and our professors out to a nice meal to celebrate the first week. We were given the chance to get to know each other and experience unique Italian dishes. I am grateful to have felt so much support from the people in the CIMBA environment, being so far from home.
Takeaway #3: Travel Chaos is a Part of the Adventure
Travel has already come with plenty of lessons, from mapping out routes to new cities, our scrambling to buy group train tickets, or simply figuring out the local buses. My biggest tip: download various transportation apps before you arrive. Having tickets organized on my phone has saved me more than once. The apps I have found the most useful are Trenitalia, Italo Treno,Rome2Rio, Airbnb, Ryanair, Freenow, Skyscanner, Flixbus, plus a translation and currency converter.
Of course, not everything has gone smoothly. From the start, we booked an Airbnb in Croatia without realizing there was no transportation to get us there. After a lot of stress, the CIMBA staff saved the day by helping us secure a private bus for a reasonable price. We also learned the hard way how important it is to ALWAYS have your physical passport on trips. One group member only had a copy, and when the border police stopped our FlixBus, the member had to get off and stay behind in Slovenia until he could replace it. It was a very scary situation, but it reminded us that travel chaos is just a part of the adventure, and thankfully, the staff is always there to help as well.
In just two weeks, I’ve learned so much about new cultures, myself, and the beauty of embracing the unexpected. With the semester only beginning, I know there are countless more lessons, laughs, and unforgettable moments ahead. I can’t wait to see where the journey takes me next. Thank you for reading. Ciao!