University of Wisconsin-Madison

"I'm writing in response to your challenge at the Chancellor's Convocation earlier this year. You had prompted everyone to go out and meet someone with whom they normally would not have associated. Well, in my case I didn't have to go very far. My roommate has a hearing disability that is aided by his hearing aids, but once he takes them out, he hears absolutely nothing. Since I moved in, he has been teaching me signed English and I have been helping him learn more about music, as I have always loved music. Together we have been able to learn more about each other's abilities and disabilities alike. In any case, I thought you might be interested to know that at least one person took it seriously and I think that's all that matters. Take care,

— Dan

This morning, I met an amazing person. I met a Muslim student from Kenya, who is currently a senior at UW-Madison. I was in the post office, waiting to get my passport renewed, and soon struck up a conversation with the man behind me. Coming from the stereotypically snobby East Coast, I immediately thought, 'Wow, how friendly!'

After a few minutes of conversation about his country, his customs and experience at Madison, we decided to run our daily errands together. He showed me around Lake Monona, told me about happenings in Madison, and gave me words of wisdom to survive at UW for the next four years. He taught me words in Swahili, his practices of Ramadan, his struggle to communicate in America due to linguistic and cultural barriers.

For the next three hours, we exchanged laughs, stories and knowledge. I am so glad to have made a new friend this morning, never knowing where the day may take you, and never knowing who you'll meet at UW-Madison.

Just thought I'd let you know how thrilling it is to meet new and interesting people every day.

— Aurora

The other day I was standing outside the stock pavilion waiting for a CALS organizational fair to start. I met a young man who was also waiting. He is originally from the suburbs of Milwaukee. He came to this university to study biochemistry with hopes of going to medical school. We both happened to be at the right spot at the right time to meet. I enjoyed meeting him and getting to talk to him. Thanks for the encouragement to meet someone new.

— Peter

I don't know if you remember, but on move-in day you came into my room and talked to me and my roommate, Emily. I would first like to thank you for taking time out of a busy day to talk to us. I would also like to thank you for giving us the "assignment" of getting to know someone we usually would not.

I consider myself a rather shy person, so the idea of just going up to some person that was completely different than me and asking them to spend time with me was a little daunting. I did do it however, and I am glad I did. I live next to a girl from China. Although we had talked in the halls every once and a while, we had never actually hung out together. When I saw her in the hall yesterday I asked her if she would like to go to dinner with me, and she excitedly said that she would.

Although the dinner was at first a little awkward because we both come from such different backgrounds, I think we both benefited from the situation. We found things to talk about and I actually explained the meaning of "Freshman 15" because although she had heard the term before, she never knew what it meant. I found that by really paying attention, I didn't feel so uncomfortable and that really, we were both feeling the same way. I have learned that by not worrying about yourself so much, you actually will feel better and will accomplish more.

Although she and I are from different backgrounds both culturally and geographically, we have at least one thing in common: We are both new to Madison and we are both nervous. I am glad that I did this "assignment" because I learned that while people may seem so different from us they are really not, and it is worth getting to know them. I am sure that she and I will be spending more time together in the future.

— Laura

I met a girl whose name I can't remember. She is from London, Wis. We were walking up Charter Street when she looked up at Van Hise and said, "That's scary." She was only used to two-story buildings. To me, this was weird because I am from Milwaukee and I am used to very tall buildings. I have met people from all over. This place is amazing, and I can't wait to meet someone who can teach me something that I can't learn in a classroom.

— Michelle

This evening I was walking from the McClain Athletic Facility to Union South in the hopes that Bus 80 would ferry me at least to Memorial Union and shorten my long walk.

When I got to Union South another student was waiting for the bus with a bunch of groceries. She is a graduate student here studying actuarial science. She is Pakistani and got her undergraduate degree in computer science in Pakistan. She told me about how neat is was to have so many nationalities represented in one classroom. She says in one of her classes there are Pakistanis, Indians, Chinese, Koreans and students from the U.S.

The one thing she said to me that really stuck out was said just after her comment about international students. She said that she felt the real learning took place while talking with new people and learning about them, and not necessarily in the classroom during lectures. What an incredibly truthful comment. My friend from the bus stop and I never exchanged names, but I really enjoyed that walk home with her. I'm glad that Bus 80 wasn't running on schedule. If it had been that I would've never had the chance to get to know this incredibly intelligent young woman.

— Amy

Keeping your words in mind, my goal for this past week has been to branch out and meet some new people. In doing so, I think I've met one of the most interesting people I have ever encountered. Her name is Kelsey, and she also is a freshman. What I find to be so fascinating is how she has lived all over the world. She was born in New York state, but then her parents, who were in the Peace Corps, relocated every two years from there on. Kelsey has resided in places from South Africa to Chad to here in Wisconsin, to name a few. The stories she shares and the insight she brings are very intriguing. I have never met someone who has had such worldly experience by the age of 18! She is just one of the many incredible individuals I have come in contact with since my time here at UW, and I look forward to meeting so many more!!

— Allison

The night after the convocation I was given the opportunity to join some people from my floor to a dinner being given by one of the many Christian clubs and organizations on campus. Being a gay student, I am usually at odds in opinion with many Christian groups, yet I decided to go anyway (truth be told, they had a lot of free food). When we arrived, I started a small discussion with one of my hosts from my floor on the topic of homosexuality. When others around us overheard the conversation a debate ensued. Being as I was the guest I didn't give my opinion on matters, but rather decided to listen to theirs. Even though I didn't agree with almost all of their views, I felt that by listening to a different argument on a matter that I think of as common sense was refreshing.

— Eli

I met a handful of people from all different backgrounds and that encourage me to attend more school events so that I can meet more people. I met people who were willing to help me with my classes when I needed to people who just wanted to go put and have fun and build and long lasting friendship. I just want to say thanks for that opportunity because it pushed me in wanting to get to now more people and becoming acquainted with the school.

— Steve

During my CALS orientation, I met a girl named Sarah from Green Bay. She is also a genetics major, although she plans to change it to biology. In talking, we found out that we have the same chemistry class. She asked me if I'm a good note-taker and I told her that I guess I am. She asked if I would take notes for her and then explained that she is hard of hearing and that I could get paid to take notes for her. I was not expecting that at all and thought that it was pretty neat.

My housefellow is very active with the multicultural group on campus. I went to their first get-together in the Satellite. I talked to several people from other cultures and am planning to go to their dancing lessons on Thursday night.

— Nicole

The person I met with a different back round from my own is my roommate. He is from New Jersey and he is Jewish. Before this experience I new very little about Judaism. I have learned many things and have made a great friend. We hang out together every day and have an excellent relationship. I thank you for helping to provide this experience and the many others that are sure to come.

— Jason

I am an International freshman here at the UW-Madison.This is my first time here in the United States. When I first arrived here at Madison I was nervous; I did not know what the area was going to be like or what the people would be like. At the same time as being nervous I was also excited to come to a new country and experience a new life. I am happy to say that everyone I have met here at UW and the city of Madison is friendly and very outgoing and has left an excellent impression on me. People are willing to talk to me and find out more about me and where I come from, and I am more than happy to speak to people. I have met not one but many different people from different backgrounds to my own, people who grew up in the Wisconsin area have been telling me about their lives here, which I can also relate to.

I am happy that I made the right choice by coming here and most importantly, I am proud to be a Badger!

— Asif

I am an Ojibwe Native American from a reservation at the north tip of Wisconsin. I am living on the second floor of Witte B. You probably know that it is the MLC (Multicultural Learning Community). Everyone on my floor is different from everyone else, except unlike most dorms we all have very open minds. There are African Americans, Asians, LGBT's, Hmong, Latinos and many others. So we all have found best friends in each other; we are a very close floor. I think that you should come and see us; it would amaze you. I think every dorm should have a floor like ours but no floor would ever be as great or as fun as ours. So I would just like to say thank you a lot!

— Alexandra

I met a girl from New York, specifically Brooklyn. She had grown up there and had lived in an entirely different setting from the safe suburbs that I have always known. It was interesting to hear about her experiences growing up and how they were so much different than my own. As it turns out, we had much more in common than I would have that. We are both the same major (biology) and are the oldest of the siblings in our families. Thank you for challenging me to reach out and learn something about someone I would not normally talk to, as it has broadened my awareness of the diversity on this campus.

— Ashley

Thank you for telling me to meet new students. Directly after the convocation I met a transfer student from Belarus and we ate lunch together. It felt great to meet someone from a completely different culture and with a completely different outlook. I was proud of myself for being more outgoing and proud that I could make her feel comfortable and make Madison feel a little more like home as well.

— Melissa