University of Wisconsin–Madison

Italy: Carmina Heideman

Program: CET Florence, Summer

Carmina’s Major: Linguistics

Carmina takes a selfie from in front of a metal railing overlooking the city of Florence, with many buildings having reddish-brown roofs.
During a program excursion, we climbed the 436 steps to the top of the Duomo and got a gorgeous view of Florence. It was a tiring experience but definitely worth it!

How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?

I study classical studies and medieval studies. Getting the opportunity to go see the art and architecture in person was greatly beneficial and helped me learn more about it.

What is the moment you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my first conversation that I had in Italian. I was ordering gelato in a gelateria and had a full conversation with the waitress, which was the first time I had ever done so.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

For someone considering my program I would recommend that they focus on their health and bring medicines if they are allowed to. It’s a very busy program and being in a new country can bring about some crazy sicknesses. You don’t want to miss out because of illness, so I would recommend prioritizing physical health.