Although University of Wisconsin students have more than 100 study-abroad programs to choose from, UW students are not always the only ones looking for a semester-long change. Students from across the globe often choose to come to Wisconsin and other parts of the United States looking for a cultural experience overseas.

Even though the current international political scene is rocky, few students — from Madison or from abroad — seem deterred by the idea of travel. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, there has been a 7.3 percent increase in the number of UW students who went abroad during the spring semester of 2002.

Last week’s Study Abroad Resource Fair at Memorial Union had a large turnout as well, with students exploring the possibility of going everywhere from London to Senegal to Ecuador. Students were also informed of approaching deadlines. Friday, Oct. 3 marks the deadline for many programs such as Australia, Buenos Aires, Cuba and France.

To some people, studying abroad someplace “different” means coming to Madison. More than 3,700 foreign students are now studying in Madison.

For these students, relating to the American college and adapting to university life can be difficult. Many foreign students said they felt it was easy to originally meet American students, but it is more difficult to become friends with them.

“You meet Americans in class and talk, but you don’t see them outside of class. It’s easier to make friends with foreigners because they are also new and looking to meet people,” Bénédicte Romarie, a student from Paris, France, said.

Other students were pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome they received.

“Many people told me Americans were closed-minded, but I find them easy to talk to,” said Paris native Virginie Cohn, while sporting a Wisconsin hooded sweatshirt.

Students like Italian transfer Elisa Schwab said they really enjoy life in Madison and are surprised by how easy it is to get around campus.

“I thought you needed a car to get everywhere in America, but in Madison you really can survive without. I like that it’s easy to walk everywhere: to class, to the shops, to bars.” Schwab said.

However, Madison may seem particularly unusual to students who come from large international cities, such as Paris, because of both the big and small features present on the UW campus.

“I like that the campus is an integrated part of the town. It’s a big university but a small city, and it’s nice to walk around and see all young people,” Cohn said.

Many European students also find the American drinking laws odd.

“It’s a bit hypocritical to say students can’t go to bars before they are 21 when the government knows so many of them do. In France, students drink, but it’s legal, so it’s not a big deal,” Cohn said.

In addition to consumption laws, the drinking culture of Madison also strikes some as surprising, even students who come from cities where drinking at a young age is widely accepted.

“It’s funny how students all drink before football games, even though it’s morning, and everyone is all in red during football games; they have so much support for the university,” Romarie said.

When it comes to school spirit, Schwab also noticed a distinct difference between UW and universities in Europe.

“From an Italian view, it’s amazing how everyone dresses the same, and all the guys wear hats,” Schwab said. “No one in Italy wears sweatshirts with the university name.”

Although many students studying in Madison now are happy to be here, the process of paperwork and acquiring a Visa were far from easy for some.

“I came to Madison to improve my English and because I love to travel,” Schwab said. “It was very difficult to get a Visa, though.”

Foreign students also acknowledged the difference in American students going abroad opposed to international students coming to America.

“It’s more difficult for us to come to America than it is for American students to go abroad,” Romarie said.

Still, once the paperwork is in place, students feel that studying abroad is an opportunity not to be missed.

“Everyone at home said studying abroad was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a great way to experience another culture,” Cohn said.