Fratelli Beretta

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

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

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!

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

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...

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!

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!