This was my first time ever leaving the United States, so arriving at CIMBA came with a mix of excitement and nerves. While the CIMBA staff does an excellent job preparing students for culture shock, everyone experiences that transition differently. This is what my first week looked like, and what you can expect when you arrive.
Arrival Day
I flew into Venice and took the school shuttle to campus with two other girls who landed around the same time. To make things a little more interesting, a giant snowstorm delayed my flight by a full day, which meant I arrived feeling behind and extra nervous about meeting people and settling in.
The drive to Paderno was absolutely beautiful. Between the mountains and the unique architecture of the homes, it finally hit me that I was in Italy. Any nerves I had started to fade once we arrived on campus. We were greeted by the most welcoming staff, who gave us our room keys, class schedules, Wi-Fi information, and other helpful materials. After a brief tour of the building, I got to see my room, which has a stunning view of Mount Grappa that I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of.
Meeting People
Without a doubt, my biggest worry was meeting new people, but looking back, I had nothing to worry about. I didn’t even have time to unpack. About an hour after arriving, I was sitting in a study room with a group of students I had just met, listening to everyone excitedly throw around travel plans for the upcoming weekend and name the main places they hoped to visit during the semester. It quickly became clear that we already had something in common: a shared desire to explore and travel.
Dinner was at 7 p.m., and it was another opportunity to sit with new people and continue conversations from earlier in the day. Around 8 p.m., a school bus took students to the mall for anyone who needed to buy supplies.
Quick tip: When shopping in Italy, all product labels are in Italian. Save yourself time by making a list of what you need before going into the store—you’ll want as much time as possible to figure out whether you’ve grabbed shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion.
Genesis
The next two days were spent in the one-credit leadership development program called Genesis, which is where I really began connecting with people in the program. The days were long, starting with breakfast at 8 a.m. and ending around 9 p.m., but it was an experience unlike anything I had done before. Genesis not only helps you build meaningful connections with your peers, but also encourages you to learn more about yourself and set effective, achievable goals through engaging instruction and a supportive environment
Community, Food, and Travel Plans
On Friday night, we had our first official dinner with all the students and staff at CIMBA. It was a five-course Italian meal that lasted well past 10 p.m., a perfect introduction to Italian dining culture.
Many students went to Bassano, while others booked trips to Florence. After some long hours planning and considering all the places we wanted to go. I booked a trip to Trieste Italy for the first weekend with 3 other girls- two of whom I had just met 3 days earlier. However, travel looked different for everyone. Some students headed down to Florence while others took the free bus on Saturday to explore the nearby town, Bassano del Grappa.
First Full Week of Classes
After the weekend, classes officially began. A full class day runs from 9 a.m. to 5:20 p.m., with a lunch break from 1–2 p.m. Each class is one hour and forty-five minutes long, with five-minute breaks in between. All of the professors I had were engaging and cared not only about the content they were teaching but about the students as well.
I highly recommend building a schedule that allows for at least one break during the day. Four back-to-back classes can be exhausting, especially compared to the way college classes are structured in the U.S.
Final Thoughts
That’s what the first week at CIMBA looked like for me. I was constantly busy, but I believe it made adapting to a new place so much easier. My biggest takeaway is to come in with an open mind. Step outside your comfort zone, introduce yourself to new people, and fully invest in the leadership and team-building opportunities Genesis offers, you truly get out of the experience what you put into it.
Ciao!
Lainy