Export Yourself: ITALY

Fratelli Beretta

2010-06-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Students on the Italy program attended a company visit on Tuesday to Fratelli Beretta, one of Italy's oldest companies. Fratelli Beretta, opened in 1812 and founded in Barzano, produces a range of traditional Italian cold cuts.

The group arrived at Fratelli Beretta for a wonderful lunch catered by the company chefs. Students enjoyed a variety of traditional Italian dishes including meat produced by Fratelli Beretta. Following lunch the group enjoyed delicious desserts and espresso.

Next the group headed to the auditorium for a presentation from Fratelli Beretta's marketing manager. He asserted that their position as a family business has been a "critical point of success." Fratelli Beretta has 16 factories across the globe that specialize in the production of different types of meat. They have recently been exploring ready made meals and snacks. This version of product innovation has been incredibly successful so far. The highlight of the presentation was the viewing of the 30 second commercials that were produced to promote the brand of pre-packaged snacks called Zero 24. Students really enjoyed the excursion and showed their enthusiasm at the end of the presentation. Fratelli Beretta provided the students with the ultimate present - gift bags full of sausages and snacks!

Company visit to Cortinovis

2010-06-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

The International Business class went on a company visit to Cortinovis. The plant makes machines that make power cables, telecommunication cables and steel ropes. The company visit was very interesting and educational. Cortinovis assembles the big machines in their factory in Bergamo, but they also export some work to China. There is a lot of technical work that goes into building each machine, and the company looks for new employees that have a background in civil engineering. Due to how technical their work is, the company tends to hire new recruits who have not had as much work experience so that they can teach them their process. There are many similarities between this company and American companies. Cortinovis holds themselves to a high standard of quality for each machine they make.This has enabled them to become very successful and earn the respect from their clients.

Soccer Game

2010-06-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

We've been waiting all summer to challenge our new Italian friends to a friendly game of soccer. Our chance finally came last Wednesday, as we all had a break from school. The game was on a small field right by the hostel, and it was a great day for it. We have a pretty good team, complete with a few players who take the sport to the next level and play for Mizzou, so we were really excited about playing against the Italians. All in all we held our own, scoring the first goal and remaining tied for a good half of the match. However, the final score wasn't in our favor, loosing 6-4. It was a great game, and the Italians were a little surprised as to how well we did. This Friday we have a real tournament planned, and I think they realized they are going to need to practice! Hopefully we can bring home a win for Mizzou!

Pasta Party!

2010-06-04T04:49:00.000-07:00

Students enjoyed a pasta party on Tuesday after returning from the long weekend. After class buses picked up students and faculty from the hostel and took them to a local Italian restaurant. We enjoyed a hearty three course pasta dinner along with wine, bread, and dessert. The highlight of the night was when Italian students broke out in traditional Italian songs and cheers. American students even chanted MIZ-ZOU and applauded the professors. It was a wonderful evening for all!

The Long Weekend

2010-06-01T01:23:00.000-07:00

Now that we're back from our long weekend, everyone is relaxed and ready for what's in store next. Having four days to travel rather than the usual three allowed students to get to places and really immerse themselves in the culture. A large group of students, almost half, headed to Barcelona, Spain where they spent the weekend soaking up the sun and staying up late. Barcelona is a town full of character and adventure, especially Las Ramblas. Pictured below is a group of street performers on the famous walk, where you can find everything from fresh flowers to Spain souveniors.

Other students went to Rome, Prague, Amsterdam, and even Nice, France. It seemed that beach destinations were the most popular for this long weekend, as it gave a little chance for R&R away from the University. Nice was full of sunny skies, a beautiful sea, and great people. While unable to board the yachts of the French Riviera, it was definitely a sight to see!

It's hard to believe we've already had our second weekend away from Bergamo. Time is flying by, before we know it we'll be saying our goodbyes at the Castle Party. But until then we have a ton of fun things planned. Tonight a pasta party, tomorrow a free day, then it's away again for the weekend.

Keep checking back for more updates, and if you have any questions, leave us a comment, we'd love to hear from you all back in the States! Ciao!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

2010-06-01T01:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, time is flying. I'm sure you can tell by our lack of blogging that we have been busy this past week! Between weekend travel, days off, school, and parties it feels like this trip is running at full speed. Here's a little recap of what we did last week:

*Weekend Travel

This was our first chance to get out of Bergamo and explore all that Europe has to offer. A big group of students went to Prague, another to Rome, and several to Cinque Terre, Berlin, and Barcelona. It interesting to see what other cities, and even countries have to offer and how they compare to life back in Bergamo. The group in Prague had a great time seeing the Clock chime on the hour, as well as check out the cool architecture of the ancient city.

The groups in Rome and Florence also fun visiting an entirely different side of Italy. Checking out the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps all proved to be exciting as well as informative. The weather was agreeable and no one could ask for a better weekend!

*Pizza Party

This is always one of our most exciting parties! The Missouri and Italian students gather at a famous pizza place here in Bergamo where we chat and munch on meter long pizza...yes, thats right, it's a meter long! The pizza is cooked in a huge brick oven, then brought out and cute right in front of you. We exchanged our program T-Shirts here, as well, so expect to see a lot of Bergamo University shirts back on campus. Tons of pictures were taken this night, so check out our ShutterFly page later!

*Class

Of course, that's why we are here, right? Classes have been going well. Students are having fun learning about international business in an international setting. A lot of the professors are requiring that Missouri and Italian students work on projects together which is proving to be a lot of fun. It seems that a lot of friendships are being formed, a soccer game between American and Italian students is in the works as we speak!

Well, that's our week in a nutshell. We have a lot more coming up, so stay posted so see what we've been up to here in Bergamo. Ciao!

Free Day!

2010-05-21T00:56:00.000-07:00

Ciao! We cannot believe how fast this week has gone by. We've already had our first week of class, and our first break from Bergamo...free day!

Many students went to Venice or Lake Como, but several also hung our here to get better acquainted with this great city.

Those leaving Bergamo had an early morning, with trains departing around 7am. Venice had great weather, perfect for a relaxing gondola ride. Here most students walked around and enjoyed the sights. Saint Marc's Square, the Grand Canal, and the Bridge of Sighs all were packed with people visiting the historical city. Of course, this was a great place to pick up souveniors, from Murano and Venecian Glass to authentic Masks and Lace. Everyone enjoyed authentic Italian meals, many complete with gelato and a glass of vino.

Lake Como also had great weather. Students visiting hear were greeted by pristine views of both the lack and the Alps, a really beautiful setting. Many chose to take boats from town to town, visiting the quaint streets and sampling delicious foods unique to this region. Of course, pointing out George Clooney's home was a highlight! Everyone who went to Lake Como had a great time, so we highly recommend it if you ever get up this way!

Of course, those staying in Bergamo also had a great afternoon. Catching up on sleep, exploring Cita Alta, or shopping in Porto Nouva were all popular options. The sun was shining and it was a great day.

This weekend students will be heading all over Europe, visiting Prague, Berlin, Cinque Terra, Rome, Florence, and everywhere in between. We are sure everyone will be coming back with tons of stories and pictures! Have a great weekend, we'll be back on Monday! Arrivederci!

Half way done with Week One!

2010-05-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

Ciao!

Last night we were all able to go to a local discoteca with the Italians! Everyone seemed to have a great time and it was good for everyone to be able to mingle with their new Italians friends outside of the classroom. The discoteca played a lot of American music and there were strobe lights throughout the entire room. It was a good time!

Yesterday was the first day for a new Italian language class. About 10-15 students showed up and we were all able to learn a little more Italian! We learned common phrases as well as the numbers 0-20. Several students are very eager to learn more and this group will meet twice a week until the end of the trip. No credits are offered, just a great opportunity! Hopefully this will help us get around town easier!

Tomorrow is the first full free day for the students. Most seem to be going to Venice to see the beautiful city and ride the gondolas! A few students were considering Lake Como which is a wonderful day trip with unbelievable views! I know a few of the students are wishing and hoping to see George Clooney. Some of the students are going to wake up really early to be able to stay the entire day at there destination but others are considering sleeping in! Both seem to be good options.

We will keep you updated on all the day and weekend travels! Hope all is well :)

First Day of Class

2010-05-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

Ciao tutti! Today is our first day of class...and a long day it will be. Students start at 8:30am in their American/Missouri led class, which lasts until 11:30. These courses are taught by the Missouri professors, and have a mix of American and Italian students. Next, we will have a two hour lunch break, to wander around the University area and grab a bite to eat (pizza, perhaps?)

From 1:30-4:30 classes taught by the Italian professors take place, again a mix of American and Italian students learning together. This is a great way for everyone to meet and make plans to hang out outside of school. Today everyone is a little tired, as many exlpored the upper city, Cita Alta last night after our orientation at the University.

So far everyone is in awe of how beautiful Bergamo is. The views are amazing from Cita Alta, so expect a lot of pictures to be posted soon. Jet-lag is starting to wear off, and energy is high. Tonight we have a party with our Italian friends at a new disco in Bergamo. Check back tomorrow for more!

Exploring the Town

2010-05-17T05:44:00.001-07:00

Today we had a break before classes start tomorrow, so we took advantage of the great weather and explored Bergamo. Getting used to the public transportation system was our first obstacle, the bus schedules can be a little difficult to read, but easy once you get the hang of it. We took a bus to the University and then to Porto Nouva, a great little shopping square. Next we ventured up to Cita Alta, the "High City", a historical (and beautiful!) part of Bergamo. We took a break and had a great lunch overlooking the town square, and of course, a little more gelato!

Tonight we will head back to the University and have an orientation where we learn a little more about the program and meet the Italian and Erasmus students studying with us. We really look forward to meeting new friends. After a short buffet of finger foods and drinks we may head back to Cita Alta for a relaxing night. Keep checking back, we will have pictures up soon!

We're Here!

2010-05-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

We have all safely arrived to our hostel in Bergamo, Italy. After a few delays and lost bags, we are all safe and sound. We were greeted at our hostel by Sergio and Simona, the hostel managers, with a great lunch and comfortable beds. After those long flights, we were very happy to see both. We spent most of the day unpacking and acclimating ourselves with your new 'home'.

In the evening we celebrated our arrival with a party at the hostel. The staff cooked a delicious spread of three different pastas, salad, and of course, our favorite...gelato! For many this was their first time eating the amazing ice cream, and everyone wanted more. With our day off on Monday, we will be exploring Bergamo and meeting our new Italian friends at the University. Stay posted for more!

Final Weekend Travel

2009-06-09T03:31:00.000-07:00

On our final weekend of the program, we were all excited to get one last adventure in! We broke up into smaller groups to hit cities all over Europe. We had groups representing Mizzou in 7 different countries this weekend! We hit the major European cities of Rome, Prague, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Interlaken, and Mykonos to make our own final memories!

As everyone says, you haven’t been to Italy unless you have seen Rome! The group that traveled here had a great time taking tours of The Vatican City as well as the Coliseum and hanging out with locals and tourists on the Spanish Steps.

Despite the less than perfect weather, the group in Prague was excited to get out and explore the city. They hit the major points of the city such as the clock tower, Prague Castle, Prague Museum and St. Charles Bridge and embraced the Prague nightlife.

The city of Munich provided a range of activities and adventures. Here, the group toured Dachau Concentration Camp which was an eye opening and moving experience. They also hit the local Beer Gardens to embrace to German culture and big soft pretzels!

In the beautiful city of Amsterdam, the group toured the home of Anne Frank as well as the Van Gough museum. The “Heineken Experience” was a fun tour the group took of the Heineken Brewery that was named as a “must see” by students who previously visited the city!

One lucky student was able to celebrate her birthday in the wonderful city of Paris under the sparkling lights of the Eifel Tower! The group hit all of the points of interest in the city such as the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe which all added up to a wonderful time for everyone.

Finally, one very brave group spent the weekend in Interlaken, Switzerland… the extreme sport center of Europe! They took in the beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps while falling 15,000 feet from airplanes!
We are all now sharing stories and pictures of our adventures with one another as we head into our last week in Bergamo.

Vino and a View

2009-06-09T03:28:00.001-07:00

Ciao Tutti!

Thursday was a great day for the winery. After the last class students piled (literally, all 60 of us) onto the local bus and headed outside of Bergamo for a day at a local vineyard and winery. It was located in Sconza, just past the Bergamo border in the foothills of the Alps. After quite a hike up the hill, we finally made it to the top, only to be greeted by breathtaking views of the city below. We were at a local friend's home, where his family started the winery many years ago. The company is called Biava and

creates some of the best regional wine in the Lombardy area. The owner was kind enough to give us a personal tour of the vineyards as well as the drying and fermentation rooms. It was quite a different experience than Columbia's wineries!

After the tour we learned the art of wine tasting. We sampled four different wines, two were table wines that the company sold, the other were special types found no where else. After swirling, sniffing, and sipping, students started to pick out their favorites. Biava is known for their "Yellow Wine". It is a true yellow color, with a sweet taste. This wine is what they use for church services in Bergamo. The next "special" wine was a red with a slight pepper taste--this is their most famous (and expensive, up to 80 euros!) bottle of win

e. It was delicious, unlike anything we had every tasted. To compliment the great wine we had a large spread of food, full of pizza, sandwiches, cheese, pasta, and chips, all the Italian favorites.

We stayed at the winery well into the night, admiring the view and the great vino. This was a great way to truly indulge in the culture we have come to love. A number of Italian students joined us, as well as one of our American professors. Everyone had a great time and it was a nice break in the middle of a busy week.

It's going by fast...

2009-06-03T03:45:00.000-07:00

Ciao!

It is hard to believe we are already half way through our program in Bergamo. Classes are going by faster than anyone could have imagined and in only a few days we will be venturing out on our last free weekend.

This past weekend marked our second period of travel. A large group of students headed to the sunny beaches of Barcelona, Spain, and a few others to various spots in Greece, Cinque Terre, Amsterdam, or Paris. Most came back with a tan and great stories. Barcelona was a great success. Being the long weekend, we spent 5 days and 4 nights in the busy city and enjoyed every second of it! Days were spent lounging on the beach or seeing the sights at Parc Guell, Las Ramblas, or Sagradia Familia. Nights were like nothing Mizzou has ever seen...clubs and pubs didn't even open until past midnight and they stayed open until the sun came up! It was definitely a tiring, but very fun weekend.

Cinque Terre offered another sunny getaway. Students hiked the trails between the five villages and then relaxed on the rocky beaches of the sea. This town is a hidden treasure, full of history but very welcoming to travelers. It has been a favorite to visit on the program, and being only a few hours away by train it is an easy trip to make!

This week we will be very busy with classes and activities. Wednesday students in Professor Cavalone's International Marketing class will visit Beretta meat company to hear about a family owned Italian company made big. Then, on Thursday we will visit a local winery known for their unique flavors and brilliant view. Stay posted to hear all about the adventures of the week!

Ciao!

2009-05-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

Ciao Tutti! (Hello Everyone!)

One weekend trip down, only a couple more to go. Time seems to be flying by. Students returned to Bergamo after visits to Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, and Milan. Everyone came back with great stories and even better pictures.

Wednesday evening we had a pizza party at Da GiGi restaurant, a pizzeria known for their meter long pizza! It is Maura Cavalone, the Italian counterpart to the study abroad programs, "favorite pizza in the world". At this party we sampled all different kinds of pizza, even American flavor (pizza with hotdogs and french fries on top...not the best representation!) To finish off the celebration we exchanged T-Shirts with the Italian students. We gave them a Mizzou T-Shirt and they presented us with a Bergamo University one, tons of pictures were taken of course.

Thursday marks our second free day. Many students are traveling to Venice, which will be a perfect day to do so as the weather continues to be great. Others are staying in Bergamo to discover what the city has to offer, talks of a visit to the public pool are starting. The weather here has been super hot, so a visit to a pool sounds like a good idea to everyone.

Friday, students will venture out across Europe again on their weekend visits. There is a large group headed to Barcelona, Spain to get a little sun. This weekend is special due to an Italian holiday on Tuesday, so we have an extra day to explore.

Stay posted for pictures of the pizza party and weekend visits, once they get on Shutterfly we can put them on the blog!

Free day and weekend travel

2009-05-22T01:19:00.000-07:00

Ciao!

Yesterday (Thursday) students took advantage of their day off school to do a little traveling. Students headed to near by cities such as Lake Como, Milan and Venice for the day. The student managers took a group of students to Lake Como and had a blast, after a few wrong busses, missed trains and confusing train stops... but it was well worth the hassle!

Today (Friday) after classes we are all heading off to different countries for our first weekend! Some students are staying in Italy to visit Rome, Cinque Terre, and Florence while others are heading to Amsterdam, Prague and Paris.

Check back Tuesday to hear all about everyones weekends!

2009-05-20T06:27:00.000-07:00

Ciao!

A few days into the trip and things are going great! The students are starting to learn their way around the city and discover all it has to offer. We mainly travel via the public bus system, and while it can be confusing at first, everyone has started to master the routes and schedules. It really is a quick and easy way to get from place to place.

Last night we had a party at a local favorite, Velvet Pub. A friend of the program, Diego, organized the get together for American students and Italian students--it was a night of fun, dancing, and getting to know one another. Everyone had a great time and made a lot of new friends. Velvet Pub is in the central part of Bergamo, Porto Nouva, not too far from the hostel. Tonight many students will venture up to Citta Alta for a bite to eat and maybe some vino before our day off tomorrow. With the first free day of the program, most students are looking into visiting Lake Como, Milan, or even Venice--all just a short train ride away. Look for pictures to be posted soon on our ShutterFly website soon!

Stay posted for more updates about class, Bergamo, and weekend travel! Ciao!

First Day of School!

2009-05-19T00:31:00.000-07:00

Ciao!

We are now at the University for our first day of classes! The students were on the buses to class at 7:30 am!

After arriving Sunday, the group went to dinner at a local restaurant for dinner sponsored by Mizzou. We enjoyed a meal of pasta and wine like true Italians.

Yesterday we went exploring in Bergamo. We went to Porta Nuova (downtown) and to Citta Alta (the high city) and had our first taste of REAL Italian Pizza!

Last night we had an orientation at the University where the professors introduced themselves and we had appetizers with the Italian students. After, we headed out to Citta Alta again to have dinner and enjoy the beautiful weather we are having at an outdoor bar.

Today we are at the University for a 3 hour class taught by an Mizzou professor and another 3 hour class taught by an Italian professor. It should be a loooooong day!

We arrived safely!

2009-05-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

Ciao Everyone, we arrived in Italy safe and sound! It was a long journey, but well worth it. Everyone is settling in nicely and all of the students seem extremely happy to be here. We will be keeping this blog up to date so you can follow your students experience abroad.

Check back soon for picture and updates!