Hi, I am Jacob Rennekamp, a senior accounting student at UA. I am excited for my trip, UA in Italy: Food and Wine. The trip is from May 2-10, and I will be staying a little longer in Rome from May 10-13. My class group will be stationed in Bologna, Italy, and will explore hospitality management and nutrition topics in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. I chose this trip because my siblings have studied abroad and have highly recommended it; the trip had to be before my auditing internship, I needed extra credit hours for my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure, and I knew that this summer was the last time that I would be able to study abroad before graduating.
This study abroad experience will present me with many new opportunities. I especially hope to gain new insights into nutrition and hospitality management. As a business student, I have not been involved in colleges and departments outside of Culverhouse. I am interested in health and especially how food affects it. Through culinary classes, factory tours, and vineyard tours and tastings, I will be able to see how traditional, organic foods are prepared.
I am not known to be an amazing preparer, but I have been doing well in preparation for this trip. I made lists weeks before the trip and I packed my luggage three days before the trip (usually I pack the night before). Some important things that I don’t usually pack with me are a crossbody bag because of the possibility of pickpocketing, bottle protectors so I can bring back olive oil from the vineyards I am visiting, and an outlet converter for the different styles of plugs in Italy.
I can’t wait to arrive and start the course! Buona giornata!
