Last week, as I was tired of wrapping up my to-do list for 8th week, I realized I needed to take a break. I needed to de-stress and just get away for a little bit. And, that’s exactly what I did- I took an impromptu trip to Madison, the state capital.
Getting places from Lawrence is easier than I thought. The Greyhound bus station is an eight-minute walk from the Campus Center. That is also where the city transit center is located. So, I bought my ticket and decided to go away for a day to visit a friend.
I love traveling. As I am an international student, I get really excited when it comes to seeing new things in the United States. The thought of being able to go see the Capitol building, Monona Terrace, eat at some great places and see a different city was beyond exciting.
When I finally arrived at the UW Madison campus I saw a lot of people around me. It was a strange feeling, as none of the faces were familiar (you always know a face when you are at Lawrence!). I couldn’t wait to explore and try some ethnic restaurants.
The first thing I did was go on a tour of the Capitol building. It is so grand! The history, structure, and aesthetics were really interesting. And as a foreigner, learning about these new things never seems to end.
Later, I took a long walk on State Street, visited some little shops, had bubble tea and sat outside in the warm sun. The weather added to my trip and I am so grateful that Mother Nature made my day perfect.
I went to an Indian and Nepali restaurant for lunch and then for dinner I decided to have some Jamaican food. And to mark the end of the day, I went on a cruise on Monona Lake and saw the Capitol building all lit up in the darkness of the night. It was indeed a memorable experience, as being away from Lawrence made me think of how much I miss it. It sounds crazy, but even though I was away for a day, I missed my crazy time at Lawrence trying to balance between different things to do, and I felt like I was missing out on Saturday night activities.
The Lawrence bubble exists and it’s surely comfortable in there, but it’s nice to get away for a bit and actually acknowledge the existence of that bubble. There is a lot to learn from the outside community, and the more you travel and explore, the more comfortable you get being out of the bubble. So, don’t be afraid of getting out of your shell. Be it traveling or trying something new, there is always a surprise waiting for you when you decide to take a chance and just do it!
