By Olivia Larson
My CIMBA study abroad program was the most unexpected, but perfect surprise. After my original Bumpers College faculty-led study abroad program got cancelled last summer due to Covid, I didn’t think that I was going to be able to study abroad at all. To my surprise, I discovered CIMBA, an external study abroad company, and fell in love with the idea of spending some of my summer in rural Italy. I will forever be thankful to sophomore year me for taking the chance to choose a new program last-minute.
A few of my best friends were already planning on studying abroad through the CIMBA program, so I quickly applied and began to plan what would be the best summer of my life. Studying abroad in college was always in my plans. I didn’t know if I would be spending a semester at the Rome Center, a few weeks in Scotland, or as it turned out 6 weeks in Italy!
To be honest, I don’t even know how to start recapping this experience. I lived with my best friends in Northern Italy, paraglided down the Dolomites, traveled around all of Italy, had a night on a pirate ship, and took classes that elevated my knowledge as a student. I have told many people this since returning home, but my time in Italy was the first time that I have actually felt like an adult during my college career. I was completely responsible for myself, and I loved the feeling of being completely independent.
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I don’t have the words to accurately describe my entire study abroad experience, so I will choose one word: memorable. I will always have the memories that I made during my time at CIMBA. One of my favorite memories of my entire experience was the night that over 20 University of Arkansas students chose to rent out an old pirate ship to sail on. We had an amazing dinner and sailed through the Mediterranean watching the sunset and taking in one of our last nights in Italy together. Sometimes it takes travelling the world to find the friends that have been right there on campus with you, and I am so happy that I did.
I will forever be grateful for my experience in the small town of Paderno Del Grappa, Italy. I will carry these travel memories with me forever. I hope to someday return with my friends and re-live some of the fun that this study abroad experience provided me with.