University of Wisconsin–Madison

Italy: Ruthie Kaufman

Program: Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA), Spring

Ruthie’s Major: Life Sciences Communication

Ruthie leans up against a railing overlooking the river and the city of Florence, in which many of the buildings have red roofs. A domed cathedral stands taller than all the other buildings.
Here I am in Piazza Michelangelo, a lookout point with a perfect view of the city. My favorite time to visit was during sunset because everyone would sit on the steps and watch the beautiful sky change colors all over the city.

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

The moment from my study abroad experience that I am the most proud of is when I decided to take a day trip by myself. I haven’t always been comfortable traveling places on my own but this showed me that my experiences abroad allowed me to flourish and become more independent. Relocating half way across the world where my main goal was to explore, in a place where everything was so new helped to push me outside my comfort zone and take these big steps on my own.

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

Taking classes through SRISA, Florence made for a completely different academic experience than UW-Madison. Since high school I have always been interested in the arts and often painted in my free time but after deciding to take a more science and health route at UW-Madison, I haven’t been able to take many art classes. However, this semester, I was able to explore that side of myself again by taking classes ranging all the way from feminism in art to introduction to drawing. While I love what I am studying at UW-Madison, I am grateful I was able to explore something new.

What is a custom, food or tradition from your host country that you are taking forward? 

A custom that I am taking from my host city, Florence, is making sure to slow life down. Being from New York and living in cities, there is often a feeling to rush places, get things done quickly and not “waste time”, but in Italy there is this constant culture to slow everything down. People stroll the streets window shopping or talking to friends, they spend hours at dinners really enjoying their meal, and they even drink their coffee inside the shop! This is a custom I began to adopt when studying in Florence and, I’m confident that I will continue to integrate it in my life.