My Study Abroad Experience: Alejandro Mendez

Where and when did you study abroad/off-campus? 

Fall 2019 – Bocconi University

What did you do for your internship and what kinds of projects were you assigned (if you had one)?

N/A – not an internship role.

What are two things you learned from your time abroad/off-campus that you may not have learned otherwise?

  • See and understand how history plays a role in shaping culture and things in every day life from how people socialize to how their education is struct
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  • The world is a lot more connected than I expected – certainly more than about a decade ago. For example: Italy’s contemporary music scene is very similar to the latino one, their books are the same as in America, they follow the NBA and NFL, and a lot of the students I met have friends spread all over the world, including Asia, America, and Africa.

What surprised you most about your time abroad/off-campus?

The class dynamics are very different. You are not expected to go to class, but classes are very challenging because they expect you to go above and beyond of what the class teaches you. They expect you to be very well versed in the class topic and challenge you to think critically beyond practice exams, homework, etc.

What was the hardest part of your experience?

The change in class dynamics. In some cases, classes give you practice exams or quizzes, but they are not similar to the exams. As mentioned, they expect you to go beyond of what is taught in class to earn an A.

What was the best part of your experience?

Being able to meet so many people. Being in Europe gives you the opportunity not only to meet other exchange students at your university, but to explore the neighboring countries and meet people everywhere to go. It helps you put everything into perspective and understand the world better.

What are your best tips for those planning to study where you did?

  • Understand what is expected from you in class. It is really easy to underestimate how difficult exams will be, because what is taught in class and practiced in quizzes is a lot simpler than what they expect you to know for the midterm or final exams
  • Try to meet as many people as you can. There are a lot more students than you think doing the exam same thing as you – they are there to learn and meet people, so meeting people early on makes the whole experience better.
  • Plan your weekends if you expect to travel during the semester. Sit down and understand your schedule to plan out where you want to go and when. You wouldn’t want to miss a good trip because you did not anticipate you would have a quiz next week.

Are there any hidden gems that your classmates should check out?

Milan is easy to navigate. There are no places you won’t find after a quick google search for things to do. What I would recommend is knowing what places are open when it’s snowing and planning on going there before it starts snowing/when it stops snowing.

My Study Abroad Experience: Kennia Garcia

Where and when did you study abroad/off-campus?

I studied abroad in Padua, Italy, during my Spring Semester 2017.

What did you do for your internship and what kinds of projects were you assigned (if you had one)?

I interned at Sinedi S.r.l., a management consulting firm. The company focuses on strategy and organizational structure, decision support systems, private equity, and executive education. During my internship, I reclassified financial statements, prepared abstracts of potential clients that included a description of the company and its products, supported business intelligence projects, gathered research on venture capitalists in the Veneto region, and performed marketing-related functions.

What are two things you learned from your time abroad/off-campus that you may not have learned otherwise?

I took Italian language classes in high school and during my freshman year of college. While I did learn Italian grammar and vocabulary, I lacked an understanding of common phrases and cultural norms specific to different regions. My host family, Italian professors, peers, and work colleagues taught me Italian expressions not written into textbooks. In addition to expanding my understanding of the Italian language, I became familiar with Italian cultural norms, especially customs related to food. Little things such as not ordering a cappuccino after 10am, referring to coffee as ‘caffè’ and not ‘espresso’, eating dinner very late in the day, and eating an entire pizza by yourself were all things I learned that show whether or not you truly understand Italian culture.

Second, I learned about cultural differences in business. Business etiquette is different all around the world and in an increasingly interconnected world, it’s important to exhibit courtesy and respect. In the United States, showing up early means you are on time, being on time means you are late, and running late is unacceptable. I sat in on various meetings with company executives and rarely did they start on time. Oftentimes, business meetings are interrupted by caffè breaks and conversation about family. Adjusting to unfamiliar tendencies may feel wrong, but in the end, it is very necessary and ultimately results in a successful business deal.

What surprised you most about your time abroad/off-campus?

I was surprised by how much I learned about myself, the country in which I was living, and about travel. Being in unfamiliar places brought out the best in me. I was comfortable making mistakes because I grew from them. Without those temporary moments of embarrassment, I wouldn’t have had as many laughs or stories to tell. My language skills improved drastically in a short amount of time after being totally immersed in an Italian environment. Finally, I was surprised by how quickly I learned how to book flights, trains, and accommodations. Traveling throughout Italy and all of Europe became somewhat easy and that’s something I wasn’t expecting.

What was the hardest part of your experience?

I encountered challenges when I took classes at the University of Padua. Questrom is very different than the Department of Economics and Management at the University of Padua in many ways including classroom layouts, professor and student relationships, study spaces, and course expectations. At Questrom, I have worked on multiple team assignments with students from different parts of the world. We have been challenged to work in a team-oriented mindset and to complement each other’s strengths. Most of the students in my classes had never worked in a team or written a research paper collectively in a small group. I felt frustrated at times because our standards of quality work differed greatly. Questrom provides team rooms and other study spaces to get work done, but I struggled with finding an enjoyable study spot. Boston University has different resources and I think it was difficult to adjust to those offered at UNIPD.

What was the best part of your experience?

 I absolutely loved the food. The entire practice of eating an Italian meal is remarkable. The idea of eating an antipasto, which is a starter, followed by a primo and a secondo with a contorno, a side dish, and ending with a sweet dolce is quite an experience. Fresh ingredients and seasonal produce make for a delectable meal. Italy thrives on small family-owned restaurants which treat restaurant patrons like family. Not only was the food delicious, but the atmosphere created by the owners was very pleasant.

What are your best tips for those planning to study where you did?

I recommend getting familiar with basic Italian words and phrases. There are many opportunities to practice and expand your language skills, especially if you will be traveling. While most people in large cities and in Northern Italy speak English, it’s nice and much appreciated if you can communicate in Italian. Since you will be living with a host family, be respectful of their space as well as yours. Try to share some of your own culture as much as they share theirs with you because there’s beauty in mutual cultural exchanges. Finally, learn how to appreciate your own company. This program is one of the longer ones offered by Questrom. There will be times in which you find yourself alone and yearning for your friends and family’s company, but take this time to do a lot of self-reflection and enjoy the things you can’t get back home. Walk around, practice your Italian, eat lots of bread and cheese, and get lost every once in a while.

Are there any hidden gems that your classmates should check out?

Forno Zogno has delicious piadine and it’s right by the Prato, Dalla Zita has cheap sandwiches and over 60 combinations, daPrette is a counter that sells panzerotti, La Romana has some of the best gelato in Padova, and the Coffee Box has awesome mugs, great wifi, and a taste of home if you ever miss the states. If you’re into running or simply want to go on a nice walk, jog along the river. Last, many people don’t know this, but students can get into the botanical garden for free and even do work there because they have wifi!

My Study Abroad Experience: Nikki Reyes

What are two things you learned from your time abroad/off-campus that you may not have learned otherwise?

I learned to be grateful about being from a big city in America and the relationships that I have here. Although abroad was beautiful and I saw things and places that I have never seen before, it made me realize that we have a luxury in cities like Boston and New York; everything is so easily accessible. It also made me realize that the world is small, and things and people are similar no matter where you go!

What surprised you most about your time abroad/off-campus?

When I was abroad I had a lot of free time. In Boston I was doing something 24/7 – working at a job, keeping up with classes, managing student groups, working out, etc. But in Venice my only real obligations were my classes – and they were MUCH less work than what I am used to in Questrom. So I had a lot of free time – which was good because I could travel a lot.

What was the hardest part of your experience?

The hardest part of my experience was the slow paced life style in Venice. I haven’t had that much time to sleep since 6th grade. It was impossible to work out in Venice – there are barely any gyms and you can’t run across bridges. I wanted to have a job on the side – because I always have a side job – but it was hard to get hired because of the language barrier. Also, there were times that I missed my other friends and family (since the program was so small)

What was the best part of your experience?

Venice is such a cute and simple city. You always have access to fresh, yummy, cheap food. People are always out having a drink and eating. Also, I loved travelling. It is so cheap to fly somewhere in europe. A lot of things are a lot cheaper in Europe (Alcohol Especially). It was nice to experience something COMPLETELY new every single weekend. Europe is awesome because every country has such a different culture. You fly an hour away and the food, the language, the way that people look, the architecture, the history, is all so different – it felt like I was in an amusement park.

What are your best tips for those planning to study where you did?

Don’t be afraid to spend money experiencing new things. You will never really have the chance to be in a different country for 5 months, with no other obligations, with a group of people who are all on the same page as you. Abroad is a great time to be refreshed. I had CORE the semester before and was drained – I wanted to travel the world and be an artist for a living – but after doing that for four months abroad, I came back to America refreshed, more motivated, and more inspired than ever before. It was as if I got the travel bug out of my system and came back wanted to get shit done.

Are there any hidden gems that your classmates should check out?

If you are in Italy go to the Amalfi coast – the food is amazing and it is one of the most beautiful places ever. I think that although traveling outside of the country you are living in is amazing – you should also immerse yourself in the country that you are in by exploring different parts of it. As far as Venice goes – there is a super cool place that all the college kids go to called Billiardy (Like Billiards) – it is the only place in Venice that is open past 2 am. Also do the tour of the Venetian islands – it is a good deal and you can see all of the islands for the perfect amount of time at the perfect price. Also – drink spritz and tons of cappuccino because you can’t get that in America. Also — 5 euro pasta.

My Study Abroad Experience: Kennia Garcia

Where and when did you study abroad/off-campus?

I studied abroad in Padua, Italy, during my Spring Semester 2017.

What did you do for your internship and what kinds of projects were you assigned (if you had one)?

I interned at Sinedi S.r.l., a management consulting firm. The company focuses on strategy and organizational structure, decision support systems, private equity, and executive education. During my internship, I reclassified financial statements, prepared abstracts of potential clients that included a description of the company and its products, supported business intelligence projects, gathered research on venture capitalists in the Veneto region, and performed marketing-related functions.

What are two things you learned from your time abroad/off-campus that you may not have learned otherwise?

I took Italian language classes in high school and during my freshman year of college. While I did learn Italian grammar and vocabulary, I lacked an understanding of common phrases and cultural norms specific to different regions. My host family, Italian professors, peers, and work colleagues taught me Italian expressions not written into textbooks. In addition to expanding my understanding of the Italian language, I became familiar with Italian cultural norms, especially customs related to food. Little things such as not ordering a cappuccino after 10am, referring to coffee as ‘caffè’ and not ‘espresso’, eating dinner very late in the day, and eating an entire pizza by yourself were all things I learned that show whether or not you truly understand Italian culture.

Second, I learned about cultural differences in business. Business etiquette is different all around the world and in an increasingly interconnected world, it’s important to exhibit courtesy and respect. In the United States, showing up early means you are on time, being on time means you are late, and running late is unacceptable. I sat in on various meetings with company executives and rarely did they start on time. Oftentimes, business meetings are interrupted by caffè breaks and conversation about family. Adjusting to unfamiliar tendencies may feel wrong, but in the end, it is very necessary and ultimately results in a successful business deal.

What surprised you most about your time abroad/off-campus?

I was surprised by how much I learned about myself, the country in which I was living, and about travel. Being in unfamiliar places brought out the best in me. I was comfortable making mistakes because I grew from them. Without those temporary moments of embarrassment, I wouldn’t have had as many laughs or stories to tell. My language skills improved drastically in a short amount of time after being totally immersed in an Italian environment. Finally, I was surprised by how quickly I learned how to book flights, trains, and accommodations. Traveling throughout Italy and all of Europe became somewhat easy and that’s something I wasn’t expecting.

What was the hardest part of your experience?

I encountered challenges when I took classes at the University of Padua. Questrom is very different than the Department of Economics and Management at the University of Padua in many ways including classroom layouts, professor and student relationships, study spaces, and course expectations. At Questrom, I have worked on multiple team assignments with students from different parts of the world. We have been challenged to work in a team-oriented mindset and to complement each other’s strengths. Most of the students in my classes had never worked in a team or written a research paper collectively in a small group. I felt frustrated at times because our standards of quality work differed greatly. Questrom provides team rooms and other study spaces to get work done, but I struggled with finding an enjoyable study spot. Boston University has different resources and I think it was difficult to adjust to those offered at UNIPD.

What was the best part of your experience?

I absolutely loved the food. The entire practice of eating an Italian meal is remarkable. The idea of eating an antipasto, which is a starter, followed by a primo and a secondo with a contorno, a side dish, and ending with a sweet dolce is quite an experience. Fresh ingredients and seasonal produce make for a delectable meal. Italy thrives on small family-owned restaurants which treat restaurant patrons like family. Not only was the food delicious, but the atmosphere created by the owners was very pleasant.

What are your best tips for those planning to study where you did?

I recommend getting familiar with basic Italian words and phrases. There are many opportunities to practice and expand your language skills, especially if you will be traveling. While most people in large cities and in Northern Italy speak English, it’s nice and much appreciated if you can communicate in Italian. Since you will be living with a host family, be respectful of their space as well as yours. Try to share some of your own culture as much as they share theirs with you because there’s beauty in mutual cultural exchanges. Finally, learn how to appreciate your own company. This program is one of the longer ones offered by Questrom. There will be times in which you find yourself alone and yearning for your friends and family’s company, but take this time to do a lot of self-reflection and enjoy the things you can’t get back home. Walk around, practice your Italian, eat lots of bread and cheese, and get lost every once in a while.

Are there any hidden gems that your classmates should check out?

Forno Zogno has delicious piadine and it’s right by the Prato, Dalla Zita has cheap sandwiches and over 60 combinations, daPrette is a counter that sells panzerotti, La Romana has some of the best gelato in Padova, and the Coffee Box has awesome mugs, great wifi, and a taste of home if you ever miss the states. If you’re into running or simply want to go on a nice walk, jog along the river. Last, many people don’t know this, but students can get into the botanical garden for free and even do work there because they have wifi!