CIMBA Italy Program : Reviews (Pieve del Grappa)
The following program review responses have been selected for publication by Study Abroad & Global Engagement
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Summer 2012 Participant
The professors were top tier. I found more enjoyment in the classroom than I have my entire college career.
Summer 2012 Participant
My favorite part of the program was being able to travel wherever we wanted. On weekends we traveled within Italy, going to Cinque Terre, Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Venice, and then after the program a group fo students and I stayed for 2.5 weeks and went to Salzburg, Munich, Prague, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Dublin. I loved being able to see so many places and experiencing so many cultures. It was one of the best experiences of my life.
Henry Bradley Foster,
Summer 2013 Participant
My favorite aspect of the study abroad experience involved the cultural exposure. In just four short weeks, I was exposed to a multitude of cultures and found myself enthralled by the Italians. The CIMBA program provided many opportunities to learn about the culture, and I especially enjoyed the "Survival Italian" class and the etiquette lecture.
Kyle Harvey,
Fall 2014 Participant
My favorite part of the CIMBA Italy program was the small town atmosphere that Paderno del Grappa gave. You were able to focus on your studies during the week and were free to travel Europe during the weekends. It was the perfect balance of studies and fun. You are not around American tourists while you explore the small town. You feel like a local when you are in Paderno. The weekends are the time to be a tourist.
Theresa R Powers,
Summer 2014 Participant
The classes were very relevant to what I am studying now and the teachers are incredibly qualified and know so much about the subjects. Also, the ability to travel is so easy that you can go anywhere you want every weekend.
Meredith Rose Wegner,
Fall 2015 Participant
I really enjoyed being in a small setting. I loved have classes with about 20 others students. Every student also lived on campus which meant more time to meet and get to know other study abroad students in my program.
Summer 2015 Participant
They organized a lot of day trips and other activities so even though the program was only for a month you still got to do a lot of exploring.
Gabrielle Marie Clynch,
Summer 2015 Participant
My favorite part of this program was the balance between school and extracurricular activities. The schoolwork was challenging and taught me a lot educationally, while the other activities gave me a lot of real-world experience.
Brittany A Koppers,
Summer 2015 Participant
My favorite part of the program was how independent I became abroad. CIMBA enabled me to explore new places and navigate my way through Europe. I learned how to communicate across language barriers and how to problem solve in challenging and time bound situations.
Timothy R Newberry,
Summer 2015 Participant
My favorite part of the CIMBA program was the traveling experience I gained from my time abroad. Being able to travel to four different cities in just four weeks while at the same time completing six credit hours towards my degree is an experience I will never forget.
Summer 2016 Participant
My favorite part of this program was getting to know all of the other students there with me. I come from a big college where all of my classes are 100-900 students, I maybe know a handful of my classmates. But at CIMBA you get to know almost everyone there and it's just a great experience making all these new friends.
Brittany R Butler,
Summer 2016 Participant
My favorite part was being able to travel during the weekends on this program. It allowed me to be able to use the knowledge I had learned during the week and apply it to my different travel experiences.
Summer 2016 Participant
My favorite part of the program was getting to experience the Italian culture within my classes. Almost every block period my class took a field trip to a town that isn't considered very "touristy". This was probably my favorite part because we got to experience an authentic Italian town and experience their culture.
Summer 2016 Participant
I had the ability to immerse myself into the culture of Italy. I was able to travel around the country and other countries in Europe. I was able to learn a lot about myself as an individual through the CIMBA program that I may have never learned otherwise. It was a truly gratifying experience that I was able to have and will never forget it.
Joseph M Hayes,
Spring 2017 Participant
The best part of the trip was being able to travel across Europe, experiencing so many different and unique cultures, while doing so in the company of great new friends from various universities.
Summer 2017 Participant
The long weekends allowed me to travel to places I never would've otherwise gone.
Summer 2017 Participant
My favorite part was meeting all of the other students and getting to travel on the weekends with them. I honestly made friends that I will have for life.
Summer 2017 Participant
My favorite part of this program was to be able to assimilate to the Italian culture by being in a small village where it was authentic Italian and not just a show for tourists.
Gabriela Christine Hewett,
Summer 2017 Participant
Traveling on the weekends was my favorite because that is when I was actually immersed in the cultures surrounding me. The professors at Cimba were great, but the curriculum and teachers are straight from the US so there was not many options to learn about the culture we were in.
Summer 2017 Participant
I loved the teachers and both of my classes.
Summer 2017 Participant
I liked how my classes were smaller so I was better able to get to know the students from other universities in the CIMBA program and how we got to take trips to different local businesses in Italy.
Abigail E Meyer,
Summer 2017 Participant
Being able to interact with students from universities all over the US was really fun. Being able to have teachers from different universities was something that enhanced my intellectual capabilities.
Summer 2017 Participant
My favorite part of the program academically was being exposed to professors who have been participating in the program for a long period of time. They know what they are doing and they know how to be effective in a short amount of time. The teachers were great.
Sarah J Brown,
Fall 2018 Participant
My favorite part of my study abroad program was the people. There were only 43 students during the Fall semester. Although that may seem large, this group was relatively small allowing us all to get to know one another really well. We all lived on the same floor in our dorm and I would give anything to go back to those memories because we had the absolute best time. Initially, I was extremely nervous going into this program and I was worried I wouldn't make friends. I was proved wrong. Immediately I found people I wanted to travel with and before I knew it, these people were friends I knew I would have forever. Now back at the University of Kansas, I have some friends I met on the trip from New Jersey and Indiana who are coming to visit me. I also met 8 KU students who I did not know prior to my trip who are now some of my closest friends. Thank you CIMBA!
Fall 2018 Participant
My favorite part of the CIMBA program was the full Italian immersion. Between having three formal dinners, being in a less tourist city, and having so extra travel weekends, I really felt like I got to experience true Italian culture.
Ethan Charles Toman,
Fall 2018 Participant
The people I was there with made the program the best 3 months of my life. The experience of traveling all over a new continent every weekend was the best part.
Aditya Bala,
Summer 2018 Participant
The travel weekends were the highlight of the program. There were three long weekends in which I was able to explore all the major cities in Italy!
Megan Lynn Bartlett,
Summer 2018 Participant
Honestly it is so difficult to pick my favorite part. The professors I had were phenomenal and created a unique classroom experience that helped me thoroughly enjoy my classes. We had the freedom to explore and go anywhere our hearts desired and wallets could afford on the travel weekends. I made so many new friends, and also was lucky enough to have a friend with me on the trip already. It was the experience of a lifetime!
Summer 2018 Participant
I absolutely loved how CIMBA had KU professors teaching some of the offered classes. Both of my classes were taught by KU professors and it was an incredible experience because they cared to get to know each student on a personal level. The way CIMBA set up their class schedule made it perfect for traveling on the weekends and going into town on weeknights. The campus was secluded and the locals were so excited to see CIMBA students in their shops and restaurants. Everything about the CIMBA program was incredible and I couldn't have asked for a better study abroad experience.
Fall 2019 Participant
My favorite part of CIMBA was the dinners with Italian families. This allowed me to practice my Italian and become more immersed in the culture as a whole.
Summer 2019 Participant
Paderno del Grappa gave me such a unique and authentic Italian experience. It had a small town feel that let us make genuine connections with locals, but the freedom to travel on the weekends let us see and do big things in some of the most beautiful places in the world.
Spring 2020 Participant
My favorite part about studying abroad was visiting the different countries and meeting new people. I really loved experiencing different cultures and eating different foods. It was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. It was a memorable part of my life.
Summer 2021 Participant
My favorite part of this program was experiencing a new culture with new friends.
Fall 2022 Participant
My favorite part of my study abroad experience was the people I met along the way. Whether it was my fellow study abroad friends, or locals I met in Italy, they were always there for me.
Summer 2022 Participant
The university and surrounding area are amazing. I wish I could attend school here full time. Italy is amazing. The teachers were nice. I learned a lot.
Summer 2022 Participant
My favorite part of the program was the weekends when we were allowed to travel throughout Europe. In relation to the actual learning part my favorite was visiting several different Italian companies and learning the differences between our business ways and theirs.
Summer 2022 Participant
I enjoyed getting to meet new people from across the country in this program. I got a lot closer with the individuals I came with, and met a lot of new friends along the way.
Spring 2023 Participant
I enjoyed getting to learn in a different culture and a smaller setting. Classes had less than 20 people. I enjoyed getting to meet new people studying the same thing as I am and getting to travel all around Europe with them.
Spring 2023 Participant
I loved how we were so close to all of our peers which really helped us get close with one another and made the experience even better. I also liked how we were in a small town, somewhere that I would have never visited otherwise.
Spring 2023 Participant
The people I met were beyond my expectations. That's what made CIMBA so special. I would also say that the LIFE program changed... well my life. It was one of the hardest things I had to do, but it was well worth it.
Summer 2012 Participant
The ability to plan your own trips on the weekend. It really gives you that "on your own" experience, and it puts you in a position to make big decisions and make mistakes.
Summer 2012 Participant
I found it most rewarding to meet and connect with students from all across the country. I made friends with people from K-State, Nebraska, Iowa, South Carolina, and many other places. We share an experience that will bond us forever.
Summer 2013 Participant
The classes were actually very interesting and engaging. I never thought I would enjoy class, but this program truly made me appreciate the academic side of the trip.
Spring 2014 Participant
The most rewarding part for me was the uniqueness of the program. One main focus they had was personal development. I was able to learn about myself and how I work best. Also, the academics were very different also. Instead of memorizing to past the test I retained the information I learned because of the structure of the class and test.
Summer 2014 Participant
The field trips that each class took were very rewarding. It was great to learn information that pertained to the course, outside of the classroom.
Meredith Rose Wegner,
Fall 2015 Participant
We had many outside of the classroom learning opportunities. We were able to have three formal dinners where we learned about Italian etiquette and enjoyed local Italian meals. Another opportunity came when we attended company tours. I visited one of the largest gold factories in Italy and got a tour from the owner.
Brittany R Butler,
Summer 2016 Participant
I got to experience a completely different culture, which changed my outlook on life. I can understand more different points of view and people.
Summer 2016 Participant
I think the most rewarding thing for me was the confidence I gained. Traveling by yourself gives you a new found independence and confidence that can't be found elsewhere. The friendships I made were also very rewarding.
Joseph M Hayes,
Spring 2017 Participant
I think being immersed in so many different cultures really gave me a unique perspective of the world that most people don't get the opportunity to experience, as well as a newfound appreciation for the U.S.
Summer 2017 Participant
It was awesome to get to know people from all over the US. The program understood we were abroad and geared courses towards that.
Summer 2017 Participant
Since I had never been out of the country before this program, I found it very rewarding to put myself in a place and position I wasn't totally aware about and learning from all my experiences traveling within and around Italy.
Abigail E Meyer,
Summer 2017 Participant
The business tours during the long block is just one of the many elements that I found most rewarding.
Summer 2017 Participant
Being able to travel on the weekends and experience the culture that you are being immersed in was great.
Summer 2017 Participant
The most rewarding element of the program was developing connections with many students from all over America as well as connections in other countries.
Summer 2017 Participant
Having to plan trips and sticking to a schedule and deadline within such a short period of time. This has prepared me for the real world in situations to where I am going to have to adjust to last minute changes.
Sarah J Brown,
Fall 2018 Participant
The most rewarding elements of this experience are the LIFE program, the adventure, and the activities I did through CIMBA. The Leadership Initiative for Excellence program was helpful in the sense that I was able to get closer to my peers. I also learned a lot about my self and the experience allowed me to overcome some of my natural stress and worry that is associated with public speaking and building relationships. Of course, the adventure that automatically came with the travel was beyond life-changing. I loved exploring new cities and finding new things to try in these unique places. I found myself able to step out of my comfort zone easier and I feel like I grew significantly as an individual from this cultural exploration. As far as the activities available at CIMBA, I personally enjoyed the Add-A-Seat dinner the most. This was when American students had the opportunity to sit down for a home cooked Italian meal with a local Italian family. I met some nice Italian high school students who I am now connected with on social media. This was a great way to feel connected with the locals, brush up on a little Italian, and enjoy authentic food. I also volunteered at the pre-school on campus where I helped young Italian children practice their English. I thought this experience was rewarding in every way and I loved getting to know the little ones. They were so curious about me and where I was from. I remember showing them a map of America to point out where I live at home and where I go to school. They were in awe that I lived so far from school because typically in Italy, their homes are very close by to their institutions.
Fall 2018 Participant
I thought the most rewarding part of the program was learning how to live and speak like a local. We did programs where we got to experience real formal Italian dinners, be a guest at a family dinner with people who live in Paderno del Grappa or have children who attend Institute Fillipin, and take an Italian class that allowed us to learn how to communicate effectively.
Ethan Charles Toman,
Fall 2018 Participant
The LIFE Program, the fellow students I was there with and the relationships I built with them, and the European travel experiences that blew my mind every weekend were the most rewarding.
Spring 2018 Participant
I found new experiences to be the most rewarding. There were so many new things that I tried abroad that pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me to grow as a person.
Aditya Bala,
Summer 2018 Participant
The faculty at CIMBA was exceptional. I felt like I could connect with my professors which helped me a lot in my classes.
Summer 2018 Participant
Looking back, the most rewarding aspect of studying abroad was the new connections I made. I met a lot of amazing new friends!
Nhan Thuy Nguyen,
Summer 2019 Participant
It was amazing to be in Italy, but it was even better to have a professor that is from KU. This program is so rewarding in itself. I had the best time getting to know people and experiencing the small town culture in Italy. It wasn't busy like the big touristy towns which made it a lot easier to get to know the locals and find out more about their culture.
Summer 2021 Participant
The professors at CIMBA were there to help you in your careers and that was clear. I think studying abroad through CIMBA was the perfect step towards my future goals.
Summer 2021 Participant
I found planning my own weekend trips to be very rewarding. This program gives you the freedom to explore what you want to.
Fall 2022 Participant
The most rewarding part of the program was the chance to learn more about myself in a completely new environment.
Summer 2022 Participant
Being able to step out of my comfort zone within small-group activities. Another element is after completing this program I am a much improved public speaker.
Summer 2022 Participant
I enjoyed exploring new cities and interacting with local community members at shops/ restaurants.
Summer 2022 Participant
The most rewarding part of the program was being able to meet and connect with people from a different culture and ask questions with each other that we normally wouldn't get the opportunity to.
Spring 2023 Participant
The most rewarding was getting challenged in the classroom but also managing all the travel.
Spring 2023 Participant
I thought that the going home to a family was great because we got to see how they lived and got to have great conversation. Also, learning how to deal with a lost/stolen passport TWICE and come back from both of those situations was great.
Spring 2023 Participant
The LIFE program was very beneficial to me. I also loved the Add A Seat activity where I could talk and have dinner with a local family.
Summer 2012 Participant
To really embrace the culture and try to become engaged in it. I felt that I was too comfortable with my English speaking professors and friends that I didn't branch out enough and try to learn the language or meet the people.
Henry Bradley Foster,
Summer 2013 Participant
I learned that to have the best experience, you must try to blend in. Try to be like the natives - use their language, use their manners, etc. You will have a much better experience if you are respectful to their culture, rather than being another stereotypical, loud American.
Meredith Rose Wegner,
Fall 2015 Participant
I learned a lot about being on my own. My program was known for traveling every weekend which gave me the opportunity to travel to 11 different countries. I learned how to be on my own in a foreign country and navigate a new place.
Summer 2015 Participant
Study up during free time so that you have time to go on trips.
Summer 2015 Participant
Time is crucial. Don't spend your days doing nothing. Get your work done so you can get the full Italian experience.
Brittany R Butler,
Summer 2016 Participant
Always plan ahead for many different situations that may happen. Nothing goes as planned, and be ready for change!
Summer 2016 Participant
Always book where you are staying before you book the transportation when traveling on weekends.
David Joshua Vasquez,
Summer 2016 Participant
Plan early! It made the week much less stressful.
John T Fellers,
Fall 2017 Participant
I learned that you shouldn't say no to any new experiences while abroad. It's the things that you may not think of doing that turn out to be the best experiences.
Fall 2017 Participant
I've learned how to plan for short trips, how to navigate in a city or country that I am not familiar with, and how to interact with locals even if they do not speak English.
Joseph M Hayes,
Spring 2017 Participant
I think I learned to be resourceful and adaptive. When venturing into a new country for the first time, and not being able to speak the language or understand the culture, it can be a challenge. You must be able to figure things out on your own, deal with adversity, embrace and prepare for the challenges you may face.
Summer 2017 Participant
I learned the importance to go with the flow. Everything works out in the end.
Evan Burkett,
Summer 2017 Participant
It is expensive, be prepared to spend money
Summer 2017 Participant
Always take advantage of opportunities like this
Summer 2017 Participant
You really need quite a bit of money if you want to have meaningful experiences. The program does not provide any excursions for you to take, only giving you travel weekends for you to do with what you please. If you really want to go and do a lot of things to really make the experience worthwhile, then you'll need to get ready to plan a lot of traveling and go searching for deals.
Summer 2017 Participant
Expand and eat around the city. The bakery across the round-about is so cute and the man that owns it is super nice.
Summer 2017 Participant
The culture between CIMBA students and locals is not great. There was no effort to integrate us into the town until the last few days. The town was just over 2000 people, had two restaurants, and one cafe. And the food on campus is from a cafeteria, similar to my elementary school quality food.
Summer 2017 Participant
This program was a great opportunity and I highly recommend it for all students even those who may be hesitant to study abroad, the summer session was the perfect amount of length for me and I still got to experience a lot.
Summer 2017 Participant
Be prepared for a strong cultural difference and have an open mind. Things are very different, so be willing to adjust to those differences.
Summer 2017 Participant
I learned that we take many things for granted living here in The United States. Tap water is usually not free in Italy! I learned that it is very easy to meet incredible people as long as you put yourself out there and have a desire to meet new people.
Summer 2017 Participant
I learned that trips were much more expensive than I was told. I assume this is due to me going during a summer session opposed to a semester session. I ended up spending much more on travel and lodging than I was expecting to.
Sarah J Brown,
Fall 2018 Participant
I learned many things on this trip and it would be difficult to put it all into words. The one thing I feel was most effective towards my personal growth was the LIFE program. I learned a lot about myself and others. It was the best way to connect with the people I would be traveling with. I discovered the fears I always knew I had but never wanted to admit to myself. I was able to face these fears head-on in front of all my new friends. I learned that you can feel the support of others even if you barely know them. I learned that other people share similar life experiences as I do and it was really helpful to hear the things I have in common with these individuals.
Fall 2018 Participant
I learned that you should overprepare for everything and always be cognizant of the new places and new cultures you are experiencing.
Ethan Charles Toman,
Fall 2018 Participant
Take the LIFE program and you can't be prepared for the experience beforehand. Just go in with a mindset ready to experience new things and grow from those experiences.
Nhan Thuy Nguyen,
Summer 2019 Participant
Academically, I didn't think I would be learning much, but my professors were great. I learned so much from them and retained so much. They definitely know what they are doing especially during the fast 4 week program.
Being in this part of Italy was great, but definitely hard to plan travel with the closest airport being so far away. Do your research on how the trains and other public transportation works. Trainline is a great app! And always keep Euro's on you...not just bills, but 1 - 2 Euros are always good to have.
Being in this part of Italy was great, but definitely hard to plan travel with the closest airport being so far away. Do your research on how the trains and other public transportation works. Trainline is a great app! And always keep Euro's on you...not just bills, but 1 - 2 Euros are always good to have.
Summer 2019 Participant
If you decide to participate in the CIMBA program, take advantage of every opportunity they offer. Do every pizza making night, go on every day trip, etc.
Summer 2019 Participant
I also learned to go with the flow and relax a lot. On the way to Italy, one of my flights was delayed causing me to miss my flight into Italy and I was stuck in Portugal for a while. This made me learn how to stay calm and deal with the problem all by myself. I also dropped my phone in the ocean and completely broke it so I had to learn to be independent and without that which is actually a lot harder than you might think it would be.
Summer 2021 Participant
Going abroad teaches you to be independent and broadens your worldview.
Summer 2021 Participant
You learn not only to grow as a student but also as a person.
Fall 2022 Participant
I learned that it is possible to thrive in an environment outside of the United States. I learned how to adapt when situations are difficult such as not understanding someone's language or missing multiple trains.
Summer 2022 Participant
You learn so much about another culture which is really interesting and puts your own life into perspective.
Spring 2023 Participant
I learned that it is okay to fear the unknown, but never let that hold you back from one of the most amazing experiences of your life.
Spring 2023 Participant
I think that learning how to be confident in travel and not anxious to make mistakes and know that it will always work out and when things go wrong that almost makes it the most fun part of the trip.
Spring 2023 Participant
I learned a lot about cultural differences in the world, and really immersing yourself in a different culture can help you become a better professional.