Italy: Samantha Blachowiak
Program: UW in Florence, Spring
Majors: Data Science; Economics
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
I think my most memorable experience is visiting Piazzale Michelangelo. It is a square on a hilltop in Florence that has the best view of the city hands down. I went up twice in my time abroad. The first time was with my family. I was so grateful that I got to experience such a magical place with them even though it was only February so most of the greenery and flowers hadn’t bloomed yet. There are multiple ways to get up to the piazzale, either by climbing the incline or going up the stairs. All ways offer stunning views either of gardens, trees or a lower view of the city. Once you reach the top, there is usually some sort of traditional dance taking place and you can watch as the sun sets above Florence. The second time I went was the day before I left Florence to come back to the US. I went with all the new friends I made and we reminisced on our semester and how much we loved living in Florence. Some tears were shed as the sun lowered until the street lights turned on when it got dark enough.
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
I would say my classes were a little less academically challenging than my classes at Madison because I only took two classes that counted towards my major. Those classes were a little difficult but overall I think classes and everything else was evenly balanced. The Timeless History of Tuscany and Preservation was my favorite class because every week we visited either a museum or landmark in Florence. Sometimes we had guided tours during these visits as well, which further added to the experience. Class sizes were also smaller so I got to get to know all of my teachers and classmates. I enjoyed this a lot and I felt like I got to experience what going to a smaller college would be like, even if it was just for a semester.
Having a rigid schedule is not always necessary to live a filling and driven life and I plan to bring this newfound freedom back with me to Madison.
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
I learned that I can be more spontaneous than I thought. I usually like to have a set routine every day in which all my tasks are planned out in order. This was impossible while abroad because the only planned part of my days was class, and I only had two classes a day, Monday – Thursday. Everything else was up to me to decide the day of or a couple of weeks before if we decided to travel that weekend. Whether it was deciding to get a new piercing, go hiking, or taking a random day trip, I discovered the joy in living in the moment. Having a rigid schedule is not always necessary to live a fulfilling and driven life and I plan to bring this newfound freedom back with me to Madison.
