Lori Bettes

By Lori Bettes

The ring of the cell phone, the ding of the microwave and the ease of going for a long drive to get away are all things of the past for study abroad students in Paderno.

In a small town, thousands of miles away from the nearest city in the United States, these amenities are transformed from necessities in everyday life to desired accessories. Students at the campus of Consortium International University in Paderno del Grappa, Italy, have to make cultural adjustments as soon as they arrive on Italian soil. Studying in Paderno not only forces students to familiarize themselves with foreign and strange surroundings, but also renders a new sense of independence and freedom.

"When students stand in the airport back in the States, they feel like a big person; they can speak the language, they know where they’re going," said Al Ringleb, director of Consortium Institute for Management and Business Analysis (CIMBA). "In Italy, they feel much smaller. Strength comes from understanding that changes will come and realizing you can do this on your own."