Saying goodbye to Madison

By Orla Feeley, (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA)

Though bittersweet, my last weeks in Madison were filled with all my friends savouring every last moment American student life had to offer. Despite many teary goodbyes to the Americans, I was excited to return home and reunite with family and friends, knowing this would not be our last time all together.

With exams looming, we were determined to make the most of every day we had left together. The girls and I spent our days revising at Memorial Library, trying new bagel and coffee spots across the city, and attempting to tick everything off our Madison bucket lists: a final chance to hold on to the study abroad experience for just a little bit longer.

At the end of April came the infamous Mifflin Block Party – a historical tradition I had heard about before arriving in Madison. Dressed head-to-toe in Wisconsin colours, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people flooded the streets for a pre-finals celebration. There was music on every street corner, heavily decorated houses, and a sea of red.

As the semester came to an end, we spent countless evenings sitting on the Memorial Union pier, watching the sunset across Lake Mendota and the boats float past. We planned future visits to London, Leeds, Paris and back to Madison, gripping tightly onto the friendships made.

Before everyone began to head home, we organised a final meal together, our “last supper”, to share stories and laugh over the past months we spent together. In true American fashion, despite there only being three Americans around the table, we went to Texas Roadhouse. Complete with huge portions, a giant American flag over our heads, and the people I had spent the last 5 months with, it felt like the perfect American ending.

There was no better way to end the semester than by going to the graduation ceremony. One of my friends I met during my exchange had completed his 4^th year at UW-Madison and invited our whole group to celebrate with him. Joining thousands of students, families, and friends inside the packed Camp Randall stadium was an unforgettable experience.  

We sang the national anthem, listened to an inspiring commencement speech from guest speaker James Patternson, applauded all the graduates crossing the stage, and heard the phrase “Once a Badger, Always a Badger” endlessly. Later that evening, we all celebrated and took turns trying on his graduation gown. While we weren’t graduating ourselves, our time at UW-Madison was coming to an end too.

Packing up my dorm was one of the hardest parts of the experience. Taking down photos of my friends and family, knowing I get to be with them in the coming days, while savouring my memorabilia collected from my time abroad. My roommate had left a few days before me, so returning to an empty room felt unfamiliar. It was strange not having someone there to chat to at the end of the day or share a laugh with. When I first found out I’d be sharing a dorm, I was incredibly nervous. Looking back now, it was one of the best decisions I could have made. Living with my roommate, Hanna, made the experience so much more comfortable and grounded. Goldberg Slichter 326 will be missed.

Looking back on my time in Madison, I’m grateful for everything this experience gave me: travelling to new places, meeting lifelong friends, experiencing American college life firsthand, and putting myself continuously out of my comfort zone. As excited as I was to head home after months away, I was heartbroken to leave behind my American life: Trader Joe’s snacks, late-night Target trips, and the warmth of the Midwest. Saying goodbye to my semester abroad felt like saying goodbye to a second home.

I’m sure this won’t be my last visit… Once a badger, always a badger. ON, WISCONSIN! 🦡❤️