Fall 2009 Newsletter - Cimba

Fall Into CIMBA
The Newsletter of the CIMBA Undergraduate campus
Fall 2009

Table of Contents
Letter from the editor Page 2
The first day of the rest of my LIFE Page 3
Learning to fly Page 4
A day of repentance Page 5
USA vs. Italia Page 6
Add a seat to the table Page 7
Hotel Fior: A taste of elegance Page 8
Phi Beta Delta Page 9
Life as a PC Page 10
Professors Perspective Page 11
RA to LIFE Assistant Page 12
Thanks Page 13
“Its surprising how much of memory is built around things unnoticed at the time”
-Barbara Kingsolver

Letter from the Editor
By: Zach Wright
University of Kansas
It was not too long ago I stumbled upon a facebook group “Cimba Italy Fall 2009”. At the
time all it meant to me was I get to see who else would be on the trip, looking back, it was a view into
the future of the people and experiences that would change my life. “Cimba Italy Fall 2009” has
changed my life. The people I have met, the places I have seen and the lessons I have learned have
created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
September 7, 2009 seventy four eager students stepped off of the bus and into Cimba. Unbenownced
to most of us this was the start of the first day of the rest of our lives. Somewhere in the blur that is
the first few days a program called LIFE started for half of us. This program brought out the best in
all of us, and I can honestly say after walking out on graduation day that program changed me. It did
not make me a leader, it made me want to be one.
Whether you made the decision two weeks before hand, or in my case four years before, you still
made the decision to spend 3 months in Italy this fall. This choice was not easy for many who may
have left baggage at home, but nonetheless a choice that I am confident all of us can say was justified.
We can all take away memories, friends and a bond that will last us a lifetime. We are a select
few, we are the seventy eight students who chose to step out of our comfort zones for an experience
that would test and try us to our very cores. Some of us were brought to tears as cold and sobering as
the storms we so often encountered. Some of us with smiles as brilliant as a sunset overlooking MT.
Grappa on a peaceful fall day. But regardless of which emotion you felt, we will all leave here a bit
better, a bit wiser, and a bit stronger. The choice we made to study abroad proved to be the right one.
Me writing this article means this semester is sadly drawing to a close. I have learned much and
grown in leaps and bounds over the semester abroad. I came here on a journey, and I am leaving on
a mission. The mission is to continue to push myself out of my comfort zone and leave no regrets. If
I can leave you with one thing before I am through as your RA it is that it has been a privilege and a
blessing to know each and every one of you. I can only hope I left you with as much as you all have
left me. Starting here with nothing and leaving with everything can mean only one thing. Cimba
Class fall of 2009 you will be missed, but never forgotten. Ciao!
2
“I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos”. ~Charles M.
Schulz

The first day of the rest
of my life
By: Chris Mullenberg
University of Iowa
LIFE (Leadership Initiative For Excellence) is the most beneficial program for personal
growth that I have ever been involved in. The 2.5 days of LIFE were filled with constant emotional
and mental stimulation. For the sake of confidentiality, I won’t go into details about the specific activities
in LIFE, but there was a lot of laughter, some tears, and periods of fast-fun action and eye-opening
reflection. LIFE is the only instance I can think of in which you can put 40 complete strangers in
a room together, and in two days become a tight-knit team of best friends. Some classmates of mine
said they grew even closer to their LIFE teammates than they had with lifelong friends back home. It
felt really good to bond with the team right at the beginning of the term and get to know each other
before classes even started. The experience changed us all, and everyone was smiling from ear-to-ear
with satisfaction as we walked out of LIFE graduation on the final day.
The personal benefits of LIFE are worth their weight in gold to say the least. I formulated
life goals and a long-term vision. “Big Why’s” became much clearer to me, and we all broke through
personal barriers which had previously been holding us back. We were encouraged and coached by
the LIFE trainers to put our life dreams onto paper and make plans to reach them. I graduated from
LIFE with a sense of direction, which was accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of excitement
for the future. It was like taking the scattered ambitions and dreams in my head, grabbing them out
of the clouds, and placing them right on the path of life in front of me. I would not have been able to
achieve such confidence and focus with my personal mission had I not participated in this program.
I highly recommend LIFE to anyone and everyone, especially at a young age, such as we are. It will
change your life in ways you never realized possible.
3
“We do not remember the days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in
memories we have forgotten.” -Cesare Pavese

Learning to Fly
By: Lindsey Manning University of Oregon
Imagine. You’re 13,000 feet above the ground, only seconds away from jumping. Attached to your back is
a relatively small piece of nylon and Elliot, practically a stranger you met only 30 minutes prior. These are your two
and only means of survival.
I was speechless for the first ten minutes of the ride up, but was then forced to speak when I had a camera shoved in
my face to say my “goodbyes” at about 10,000 feet.
The time finally came for us to jump, and of course, I was the last to go.
One by one I saw two bodies fall from the plane and vanish into thin air, getting taken away form the strong current
of the wind. There was no noise. No screams, or shrieks of terror, just the look of panic on the faces of my friends
before me, one by one scooting closer and closer toward the edge of the airplane. As each pair got carried away, my
heart sunk deeper into the pit of my stomach.
For as long as I can remember I have had a list of things I must do before I die. Among the fairly long list of
quite possibly the most terrifying things one can attempt, was skydiving.
Prior to arriving in Interlaken, Switzerland, I had every intention of going the seemingly safe route, which was to go
canyoning with the majority of kids in my program. Unfortunately, I slept in too late and missed my chance. Another
one arose, and this one didn’t seem quite so safe. Spontaneity kicked in and before I knew it I was signing my life
away for only 380 Euro. I’d like to know who’s brilliant idea it was to jump out of an airplane, and just how many
people died in the efforts of success. Apparently like this person, I too had an urge to walk on the wild side that day.
Upon arriving at the Scenic Air skydive-landing site along with four others from my program, my stomach
was entirely in knots. Nervous, anxious, apprehensive, none of these adjectives could come close to describing the
turmoil going on in my stomach and in my head at this time.
Gearing up for the fall was an extraordinarily lax process, and one in which I was rather concerned about, seeing
as though I was preparing to get onto an airplane that I intended to them jump out of. Elliot had a track record of
10,000 jumps, a number I just couldn’t argue with. He had hair down to his lower back, and an untroubled attitude
for life that I truly admired. It was because of Elliot, and his impulsiveness outlook on the world that I actually got
onto that airplane. From take off to 10,000 ft. was the longest, yet most invigorating 20 minutes of my entire life.
The jumping process lasted only two minutes, and before I even had the chance to hesitate for a second, or back out
at the last minute (which was my initial plan), Elliot had me sitting with half my body still on the plane, and half
dangling over the edge, with 13,000 feet of emptiness below me.
The words “are you ready?” sound vaguely familiar at this point, but I could hardly hear over the uproar
of wind, and responding was out of the question because I seemed to have to forgotten how to speak. Elliot rocked
me back and forth, and then back again, but this time we were free falling over the Swiss Alps. That uninhibited 45
seconds was the most liberated I had ever felt, and ironically enough, the safest. That day in Switzerland, among the
clouds, it was excruciatingly cold and the wind felt as though it had a mind of it’s own, burning my face and battling
the strength of my arms and legs, but none of that mattered. All that mattered was my unbound body, and the pure
emptiness below me. There was no time for shock, and no time for fear. My time flying through the clouds, and freefalling
with the wind was spent appreciating the world before me, and everything it has to offer.
No wonder Elliot enjoys jumping out of planes. Who wouldn’t want to feel free beyond explanation, and feel lifeless
in the arms of the sky?
4
“A smile happens in a flash, but its memory can last a lifetime” -Anonymous

A day of Repentance
By: Jake Kuperman University of Iowa
Yom Kippur is the single most important day in Judaism. “Yom Kippur,” in English means
the “Day of Atonement.” This is a solemn and important day because one uses this time to reflect on
the past year. He will think about his actions, what he did well, and what he can do differently in the
upcoming New Year. Because we wanted to carry out a traditional custom in an epic setting that is
Venice (and maybe miss a few classes), five of us guys decided to make the trip. We put on nice shirts,
tucked them in, and laced up our sneakers in preparation for our trek through the beautiful city.
Early Monday morning, we set the day trip to Venice in motion. We took a bus from school in
Paderno to Bassano del Grappa. We then traveled by train into the heart of Venice. Immediately as we
stepped off the train, we began our next journey: finding the Jewish Ghetto. It was easy to find, following
a sign or two. We entered an alleyway that led us into a court yard. The Temple itself was tucked
away, as it blended into the rest of the buildings. From the outside it didn’t look like anything special,
just a set of glass doors exposed the atrium. We talked to someone outside, who, for a good reason,
was extremely interested in what the five of us were doing there. After we made it very clear that we
were in fact NOT a terrorist group, we were graciously welcomed in.
The Orthodox Temple was different from my Conservative Synagogue because the men and the women
sat on separate sides of the sanctuary. It had marble pillars, ancient wooden bench seating, large
open windows, rustic metal chandeliers, and red curtains hanging from the walls. It was interesting
as I looked outside from the old-world setting, to see someone’s laundry hanging out to dry. I had to
remind myself where I was, and that it was 2009 and not 1909.
The most amazing part was sharing the experience with people with whom the only common
denominator was a very deeply rooted spiritual connection. They speak Italian, I speak English, but
we both practice Judaism in Hebrew. Though we couldn’t communicate conversationally, we could
smile, shake hands, and wish each other a “Sha-na Tova,” (a happy New Year).
The only limits to experiencing something new are things that can be conquered through self-assurance,
persistence, and desire. Our decision to search out the services in Venice led us to an unforgettable
event.
Studying abroad has brought a massive amount of new experiences. Being in Italy alone opens
the door to many opportunities because of all of its culture, history, and dynamic mix of the old world
with the new.
5
“We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning
and the power they have over us.” - David Seamands

USA vs. Italia
By: Allyson Lingerfelt Furman University
Rivalry couldn’t come close to describing the intensity behind the Italy vs. USA soccer game CIMBA
participates in each year. Every semester the American students gather their finest and most experienced
players to take on the well trained and equipped Italian soccer team. Ultimately the final score
was 4-2, and once again the Americans got defeated; however this score does not reflect the commitment,
passion, and energy that the American students put in that evening. Fifteen students walked
the fields ready and eager to play and continued to show true dedication and determination as they
fought for every last ball. As for the students who did not play, each one showed up on the sidelines
fully prepared with signs, cheers, and complete enthusiasm ready to cheer on their peers. We may
have lost the game, but rest assured, the CIMBA students, on and off the field, contributed passion,
enthusiasm, and dedication to the match. On the sidelines Coach Mike Cannone never gave up hope,
and continued encouraging those on the field. “The game was similar to a roller coaster. First when
we scored and took the lead we were on that first high drop. But we dropped to far, lost the lead and
could not climb upwards again, we lost our ‘kinetic energy’- it’s a roller coaster term. We will be ready
for next year, I can assure that” -Coach Mike Cannone. Although our hopes of finally ending the Italian
winning streak, and therefore proving our athletic capability was crushed, we’ll still have basketball
and beerpong.
6
“Time destroys everything but memories.” -RL

Add a Seat to the Table
By: Jessica Kinley
West Virginia University
Add a Seat to The Table was a great learning experience, and much less scary than one
would expect going to eat dinner with a family of strangers whose primary language is foreign. “What
if no one speaks English?” I heard circulating often; I was also amused by Michael Brock’s statement
“I have a date with an Italian girl,” referring to the Italian students who accompanied each of us to
dinner. In reality, it was impossible to predict how the evening would turn out. Personally, I find it
exciting to be put in potentially awkward situations; so, equipped with my polite gift of pastries from
the Alpina, I braved my way to the Simpson room, where I would meet up with the Italian family kind
enough to open their home to me for dinner.
Similar to coaching sessions with Anna, Add a Seat to the Table offered a chance to self-evaluate;
rather than my life, though, my conversational Italian was the evaluated subject. Meanwhile, I
enjoyed an authentic Italian dinner of rigatoni, meatloaf and potatoes, a vinaigrette salad, and delicious
“I dolce” (desserts; rich, pungent, individually-wrapped deliciousness.) The family consisted
of a mother and her two twin daughters. One of the girls had a particular interest in American history
which spiced up the conversation. After a long session of attempting Italian that lasted through
the meat course, I asked the family if they had any questions about America. Immediately the elder
daughter perked up, fumbled through her Italian-American dictionary and asked “Do you believe
that the Apollo 11 Spaceship landed on the moon?” I was surprised to realize that Italian students
are quite familiar with American history, yet Italian history books teach otherwise. I enthusiastically
replied, “Yes, most Americans believe it is true.” They also discussed their affinity for Obama, while I
explained the educational differences between the cultures that I have noticed thus far.
I understand why the CIMBA program offers Add a Seat to the Table and thinks it an important
part of the LEAP program. Marta Crabbia works hard to find more families each semester because
the experience is an invaluable, genius way for Americans to really experience the culture they
live in.
7
“We must always have old memories and young hopes.” -Houssaye

Hotel Fior:
A taste of elegance
By: Russell Schindler Furman University
Walking through the lobby of the Hotel Fior, I noticed the elaborately decorated white tent
with a fantastic array of food and for a moment, I thought that I was headed to photograph a wedding.
The fresh bouquets of white flowers, draped fabric hanging from the ceiling, and crisp linen table
cloths looked more like a wedding reception than an appetizer tent for a group of college students. In
the typical fashion of Dr. Al Ringleb and the CIMBA program, when it came to our first formal dinner,
no expense was spared at the Restaurant Fior in Castelfranco.
As a photographer, an event like our first dinner is always exciting to photograph. I was able
to capture the emotion and happiness of these newly acquainted friends as they gathered around
the carefully selected array of appetizers. Stories were told and laughter rang throughout the tent as
students talked about their adjustments to living abroad and their recent travel excursions. As the
appetizer course came to a close, the jovial mood continued downstairs where empty tables beckoned
the hungry students who awaited their main courses with abated breath. After eating pasta and red
sauce for the first few weeks of the program, the variety brought by the formal dinner was welcomed
with open arms. As the students took their places at the tables, a myriad of servers carrying silver platters
poured into the dining room. While the dinner itself consisted of several decadent courses, I think
that I can speak for almost everyone when I say that the pumpkin and chocolate truffle risotto took the
prize for the most enjoyable course. The savory taste of the pumpkin and truffle made for a fantastically
unexpected combination of flavors.
Making my way through the tables, camera in hand, I could see that everyone was enjoying
themselves. The formal dinners provide an environment where all the students of CIMBA can come
together under one roof outside of the classrooms and lecture halls. I wasn’t sure what to expect from
these formal dinners, however, as I walked underneath the white tent at the Hotel Fior for our first of
three dinners, my initial expectations were completely blown away. These dinners are a vital aspect to
the CIMBA program and I am thankful that we get to experience the local gourmet cuisine during our
stay here in Paderno.
8
“The past is never there when you try to go back. It exists, but only in a memory.
To pretend otherwise is to invite a mess.” -Chris Cobbs

Phi Beta Delta
By: Whitney Highfield University of Oregon
This fall the Phi Beta Delta honor society induced 28 new members. During CIMBA’s second formal
dinner Dr. Al Ringleb and Phi Beta Delta’s president Michael Brock formally initiated the new
members with an acknowledgement of the chapter’s motto and scholarly achievements, a certificate
and metal hung with the chapter’s colors of gold and red.
The newly initiated members of Phi Beta Delta began to plan the events that take place each semester.
The goal was to find events that would develop academic-based international learning, involve the
campus and benefit the community of Paderno del Grappa.
With the help of Michela Marin, Phi Beta Delta was given the chance to learn how to make homemade
Italian tiramisu. The experience not only gave the opportunity to try the delectable Italian
dessert, but gain some basic cooking skills that can be taken home to the states. The mouth-watering
dessert was the perfect combination of fluffy batter and liquor-soaked ladyfingers—a combination that
most of us will be unable to replicate the same.
Upon full stomachs and a slight sugar high, Phi Beta Delta was ready to get their hands dirty and give
back to the community that so warmly welcomes us. With the help of other CIMBA students, Phi Beta
Delta members wore reflective neon-orange vests and set out on the streets of Paderno with a trash
bag in hand. Throughout the day students returned to campus with bags full of trash that had been
collected from the streets. While picking up trash may not be every students idea of a fun afternoon,
the company of good friends and good feeling of helping the community made Pick-up Paderno a success.
While the semester came to a close Phi Beta Delta used the last Saturday in Paderno to explore the
Villa Sandi vineyard in Crocetta del Montello. The vineyard, famous for their Prosecco, Montello and
Piave wines, gave students the opportunity to tour the wine-bottle lined cellar of the 1622 company.
The experience of being a member of Phi Beta Delta was more than having the ability to add to an activity
to a resume. It was a chance to further our experiences of Italy while learning about the culture.
Members were able to enjoy activities with friends and leave Italy with a few more stories and photos
to share when we arrive home.
9
“Memory is the library of the mind.” -Francis Fauvel-Gourand

My first year as a PC
By: Katy Jo Brown CIMBA Staff
As a small tot playing on the elementary school playground, I had no idea what kind of
grown up I would be. I did know that a.) it is a really long time away b) it will be something really cool.
But never did I once think that I would get to go to school in Italy, to travel to several countries and
experience such unique cultures as well as the people. As kids we cannot even image the possibilities
we have at our fingertips. I know we are all still very young, and being grown up does feel “a long ways
away”, and you wouldn’t be here at CIMBA unless you figured out early on that your adult selves will
be something “really cool”!
It is so easy to get flustered from the constant stress the CIMBA philosophy puts us through.
But the undergraduates really started to shine by the end of the semester. The students left a mark
whether it was from getting bicycles on campus, to cooking classes, exploring a completely different
culture ; you all found something out about yourselves that you didn’t realize before you started here
at CIMBA. I think the little things that make a difference are what gets us to the desired state of who
we all want to be.
I have really enjoyed getting to know you all! I had no idea what to expect when I moved to Paderno,
it has been a huge learning curve. But I can honestly say that I do start to miss the students when they
are away on travel breaks. Now go out and be bomb.com! Arrivederci!
10
“You never know when you’re making a memory.” -Rickie Lee Jones

Professors Prospective
By: Dominic Standish
During ten years of teaching at CIMBA, I have been lucky to work with many wonderful students
and staff. Teaching the MBA, Executive, Company and Undergraduate courses has helped me
to appreciate how exciting knowledge can be.
After providing course participants with some observations, their ideas have assisted the creation
of new knowledge. While teaching the Human Resources module to Executives, their practical
experience of the companies they work for has led to significant modifications of the latest theories.
Similarly, running negotiation courses at companies has tested strategies as we have adapted them
for the situations business people are confronted with. Interacting with MBA students during their
Communications classes has helped refine many of my recommendations for writing, presenting and
communicating with people from a wide variety of cultures.
New ideas can even be created at the Undergraduate level. For example, this semester I have
offered my Travel Writing journalism students some background about Venice before they have explored
the city through reading, BBC documentaries and their own visits. Then they have refined this
information and come up with their own interpretations. I am feeding these into a book I am writing
titled ‘Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and Reality’, which will be published in the USA in 2011
by UPA. Thus, the synthesis of existing knowledge with students’ ideas can help generate new knowledge
that becomes available for others.
Those who think that knowledge is just the acquisition of existing ideas are missing out on
such creative experiences that define what education is. I look forward to many more opportunities
to create new ideas with students and business people at CIMBA. As the Enlightenment philosopher
Immanuel Kant recommended, “Sapere aude” (“Dare to know”)!
11
“Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us.” -Oscar Wilde

RA to Life Assistant
By: Michael Brock University of Tennessee
There is the status quo, and then there are those moments in your life where truly miraculous
events take place. My semester abroad in Paderno del Grappa has proved to be nothing short of a
three month fairy tale. I received the distinct pleasure of being a Resident Assistant as well as the opportunity
to serve as an Assistant Trainer for the LIFE program. Both responsibilities have given me
the chance to grow, learn, and love.
Upon being accepted as a Resident Assistant, I wondered how students would react to me differently
than other students. Fortunately, I never felt segregated from any of the students. Although
being a Resident Assistant involves a lot of work and stressful times, I would not change it for the
world. I particularly love the thought of being a role model for others. Even though everyone has
times in their lives that feel like two steps back, I sincerely hope that I have left a distinct impact in
some of the students’ lives. Remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: If one life has breathed
easier because I have lived, this is to have succeeded. Another thing I enjoyed while being a Resident
Intern was the ability to handle some of the big projects on campus. We were given the tasks of everything
from running the international honors society, planning intramural sports events, creating the
yearbook, and helping to make the entire LEAP program a huge success. I feel like my management
and leadership skills have been taken to the next level.
The LIFE program completely changed the course of my future. As most of us know, LIFE is a
three day intensive leadership and teamwork building training. Upon my completion of Team #1010, I
felt the desire to give back as much as I can. On October 9th, 2009, I had the opportunity to give back
in the form of being an Assistant Trainer for Class #1012. Being able to watch a new class of executives
go through the same training modules and endure the same emotions as I did was extremely pleasurable.
Going through the LIFE program as a student opened my eyes to the world. Having the chance
to become a LIFE Assistant Trainer gave me the unique opportunity to revisit the emotional moments
of LIFE while viewing the program from another angle. Being able to relive the experience while helping
others to grow allowed me to grow my leadership skills to the next level and has empowered me to
strive harder to succeed in my life. I love seeing the LIFE program from this side of an AT, but being a
student is a once in a lifetime event which I will always cherish and remember.
12
“As memory may be a paradise from which we cannot drive, it may also be a
hell from which we cannot escape.” -John Lancaster

13
Arrivederci
The Newsletter Staff would like to acknowledge
all the help they received during this process. To
all the people who contributed ideas, articles and
in any other way, we say thank you from the bottom
of our hearts. This process could not have
been completed without you. We would also like
to thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter
today. Valued Alumni, current or prospective
students, and anyone else who may take joy in
reading about Cimba fall 2009’s newsletter, thank
you! We have enjoyed making the project a reality;
we hope you enjoyed the final product.
“A moment lasts all of a second, but the memory lives on forever.”

Credits
Editor and Chief: Zach Wright
Design and Layout Editor: Allyson Lingerfelt
Writers:
Whitney Highfield
Katy Jo Brown
Dominic Standish
Michael Brock
Photos by Russell Schindler and ©AGinsberg.com
Chris Mullenberg
Lindsey Manning
Jake Kupperman
Jessica Kinley
Russell Schindler
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”. ~Theodor Seuss Geisel