Italy: Varun Gnanasekar

August 14, 2025

Program: UW Sustainable Food Systems in Italy and the World, Summer

Varun’s Major: Nutritional Sciences

Varun sitting on an orange tractor in an open field. It's a sunny day, and hills and valleys are in the distance. — Here’s a picture of me on a FIAT tractor at one of the wheat farms we visited in Campobasso. We were able to observe how the milling process is completed and even got to taste some of the different pastas they produce!

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

My most memorable experience from the program was being able to be fully immersed in the Italian culture right away from day one of the program. Being able to interact with many of the locals and ask questions really heightened my experience abroad and allowed me to learn so many new things. I consider my study abroad program one of my most memorable experiences in college. I made so many new friends I never thought I would have and I was able to experience a new country and culture with them, which made my experience even more enjoyable.

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

My program academics had many similarities and differences from taking classes at UW-Madison. Before going abroad, we participated in a pre-departure course where we learned more about the history of Italy, current affairs, and organizations and work being done that pertained to our interest of study. This felt like a more traditional learning experience that you would expect in taking classes at UW-Madison. However, once abroad, it felt much different than a traditional course. All of our learning was through fieldwork and observation, and it was very hands-on. This built upon all the work we had done in our pre-departure course and allowed us to see the work being done in real-time. These experiences are invaluable as the opportunity to talk with world leaders and interact with local businesses are limited and should be taken advantage of. The learning feels more personable and relatable when done face-to-face in person, an aspect you may not feel when taking traditional courses on campus.

Being able to interact with many of the locals and ask questions really heightened my experience abroad and allowed me to learn so many new things.

Varun standing in front of a pool of water and ornate statues. — Here’s a picture of me in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome! This is one of the most famous Roman aqueducts that dates back to the 18th century.

What is the moment you are most proud of?

I am most proud of the fact that I built up the courage to study abroad in a new environment and be open to experiencing something completely out of my comfort zone. I was very nervous at first on how I would make new friends within my group and how I would adjust to a new culture, but I quickly came to realize that this was a new experience for everyone in the group and it helped all of us bond together and more quickly. This made my time abroad very enjoyable and it made me proud that I was willing to challenge myself and put myself in a new situation.