USA: Anissa Hernandez (Our Global Classroom)
Our Global Classroom
My Wisconsin in Washington program classroom is located inside a building called “The Methodist.” The University rents out a suite on the 4th floor of the building. Upon entering the suite, you are welcomed by a communal lounge area featuring cozy red couches with Bucky and cow print items. To the sides are offices filled with UW staff, where our two program coordinators are always available for us. There is a kitchen space where we can store food and fill up our water bottles. The room we spend the most time in is the conference room. We gather there on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for 3-hour classes. It is a long, white room that accommodates all 15 of us. The best part of the suite is its decoration. It is entirely decorated with UW merchandise, from Union Terrace chairs to framed displays of campus. The colors most represented are red and white, which really enhance the area and make it feel like we are on campus.
From the outside, the building appears old, long, and tall. It sits in a totally unique location, offering a beautiful and unobstructed view of the capital. It also features the famous Supreme Court building nearby. Outside the classroom walls, busy streets are filled with cars and buses during rush hour. The sidewalks are even busier with interns, professionals, and locals walking from one place to another. A distinct difference from traditional on-campus classes is that our classes are not always held in the conference room. Our professors sometimes require us to take part in or attend other educational excursions. For example, my cohort has visited the capital to see House votes on a bill, where we had the chance to see many Representatives, such as Mark Pocan and Alexandria Ocasio, among others. Sometimes, we also visit museums.
Anissa Dayanara Hernández Ruiz
Major: Legal Studies & Political Science
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin