University of Wisconsin–Madison

France: Will Gittens (Our global classroom)

Four paintings with gold frames are hung on a red wall.
A painting in the Musée d’Orsay that my class saw after we talked about it in lecture.

During my study abroad experience, classes operated in a very different way than I have become accustomed to the last number of years at UW Madison. These could be little differences, such as riding the metro everyday in order to get to class or attending class in what used to be an old abby. These could also be larger differences such as branching out and taking classes in subjects that I never have before. Whatever it may be, my life going to school abroad has been an experience I will not forget anytime soon. During a study abroad experience it is also important to note that the classes you take are not full of students only from the University of Wisconsin. Students that fill your classes come from universities all around the US and in some cases even the world. This means you are always learning and gaining the perspective from new students. It also means you get to meet many new people who are different from you. This turns out to be one of the best parts of my whole time abroad. In addition to this, your classroom abroad is not always necessarily a classroom. Many of my classes had walking tours or trips to museums planned throughout the semester so you could actually see what it was that you were learning about. I got the opportunity to see paintings and buildings in real life, not just pictures from a textbook. It is astonishing the amount of difference that made in my enjoyment of what I was learning.

 

Wil stands in front of a dark gray background wearing a navy sweater.

Will Gittens

Hometown: Racine, Wisconsin

Major: BA in Economics and BA in Political Science

Program: UW in Paris