Voices from Abroad: Alessandro Calanca
Seattle, WA (US), Exchange Program: University of Washington, Foster School of Business
Shanghai (China), Double Degree in International Management: Fudan University
New York, NY (US), Campus Abroad: New York University
Mumbai (India), Campus Abroad: Mumbai International School of Business
When I chose Bocconi as institution for my future education, its worldwide network was certainly one of the main reasons I enrolled. Five years later I do not regret that decision at all and I honestly have to admit I would have never been able to embark on so many different experiences without the possibilities that the International Relations & Global Alliances offices offered.
As an undergraduate student, I wanted to go back to the US where I had spent a semester while I was in high school. So I applied to five American universities and when I found out I was selected for University of Washington in Seattle I couldn't have been happier. I had great expectations for my stay at one of the top-ranked business schools in the States, and at the end I was not disappointed at all. Most of the classes I attended were not a piece of cake, but the great work-life balance provided by the American college system let me enjoy Seattle and the West Coast as well. I was honestly impressed by the smooth relationship between the international relations offices of my host and home universities, which not only facilitated the validation of all the classes I attended during my exchange experience, but also let me keep on track during my studies with no worry of being late for graduation at all – and that is certainly not to be taken for granted. Moreover, the truly international nature was proven by the great milieu I was surrounded by: my new friends were from Germany, France, Kuwait and Japan, and a couple of my professors were from China and Iran. I left the Emerald city (Seattle's nickname among locals) as a passionate Seahawks fan, which also explains why the result of the Super Bowl was hard to bear this year, and I have no doubt I would love to go back and live a few more months there.
As my Bachelor graduation was approaching, I realized that my travels and studies had been focused on the western world only. Indeed, I felt it was time to get in touch with a new culture and country, and I thought that studying at Fudan University in Shanghai would allow me to understand some of the world's economic and socio-political dynamics (as well as different business administration approaches) from an out-of-the-box point of view. My expectations turned out to be true: I had never been to China before, but I had always been fascinated by its history and potential as a BRIC country, and after a couple of weeks of adjustment I fell in love with this gripping, multi-faceted country. The Double Degree program in International Management not only increased my knowledge in the dynamics of the Chinese business world, but it also allowed me to enhance my analytical, interpersonal and research skills as well as broaden my cultural knowledge of a world I still have to discover. Studying and joining group projects with local students shaped my ability to work in a cross-cultural environment, and in most cases, diversity was one of the greatest values I appreciated, mostly in terms of culture and personal taste. Needless to say, I made friends I will always be grateful for, and I really feel I would have never made it without their support.
My newly full-time work duties would not let me join any medium- or long-term study-abroad program anymore, but luckily enough I had the chance to attend two Campus Abroad initiatives during the second year of my MSc. Last summer, I attended a course on International Institutions and NGOs at New York University, which was a very fulfilling experience both from an academic and personal point of view – and the location speaks for itself. On the other hand, I just came back from Mumbai International School of Business yesterday, where I attended a course on Corporate Financial Risk Management. The combination of a corporate finance topic and an emerging market setting enriched an enjoyable experience I will hardly have the chance to live again. Indeed, I loved both Campus Abroad experiences as their structures combine the traditional way of learning (classes, lectures, group projects) with on-site, course-related visits and activities that truly provide a well-rounded view of both the subject you are studying and the country you have landed in.
I consider studying abroad as an extremely enriching experience both culturally and in terms of human relations. I have no doubt to admit that the time I spent abroad was also the time I spent the best, as every single experience helped me develop a positive and open attitude towards the direct and mutual exchange of ideas as a means of gaining perspective and removing barriers, which often prevent us from fully understanding and sharing different points of view.
edited by Jenna Walker