Things to try while Studying Abroad @ University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison was recently named the best city for young people by Kiplinger.  I made a handful of friends who were international students or just studying abroad for the year.  I thought students coming from overseas might find this list helpful.  This probably can apply to students from out of state, but I included some American-y things on the list that you can skip.  I grew up in the Madison area, and currently attend UW - Madison.  I'll try to update this as I think of more ideas, and feel free to comment your suggestions.  These are in no particular order, but are split up by season.  Hope this helps you enjoy your experience better!

- General -

1.  I recommend trying these with friends who are from the US or from Wisconsin because they can help you navigate and get the most out of each experience.
2.  Get a Facebook page.
• Pretty much everyone in college has a Facebook.  It will helpful to keep in contact with friends you make in class.
3. Go to a free movie at Union South.   
• Here is the website for the location 
• WUD hosts the films (they also host guest lectures around campus)
• The seats are first come, first serve.  Therefore, if the movie is popular you might want to go early.
4. Go to the Farmers Market (website)
• It is open Saturday mornings at the Capital square
• It is available in the fall, spring, and summer
•  The hot spicy cheese bread is a must have!  (You can snack on it while walking around the square.)
5. Go to a midnight premiere of a movie.
• If you live in dorm, they will likely hold an event and bus you over.  
• If you don't want to buy food or drink there, then have a girl hide some in a large purse. 
• The energy level is higher at the midnight showings because the big fans will be the ones going.
6. Go dancing
•  There is swing dancing on Wednesday nights at the Brink lounge
• You can go latin dancing on Thursday nights at the Cardinal bar
7. Eat breakfast at Mickies Diary Bar
8. Have pizza from Ian's (considered the best place to get pizza downtown)
• I recommend the Mac N' Cheese pizza
9. Ichiban has the best Chinese food
10. Walk or bike on Lakeshore path
11. See a movie at Sundance
• They have a student discount (two tickets for the price of one) on Tuesdays
• A great place to go if you love movies
• You can have dinner on the roof (great spot for the 4th of July)
• If you are 21 or over you can bring alcohol (that you buy there) into the theatre
12. If you turn 21 here then celebrate!
• 21 is the legal drinking age in the United States
• Wando's has a thing called a fishbowl
• Nitty Gritty also has a birthday special (try a burger with their Gritty sauce)
13. Here is a list of websites with local events
•  Downtown Madison event page
• Memorial Union and Union South 
• Options for dancing
• Badger Herald (student newspaper) Undergraduate Bucket List

- Fall - 

1. Taste of Madison [Labor Day Weekend]
2. Food for Thought Festival [mid-Sept]
3. Freakfest on State Street [Halloween]
• Dress up in costume, do a pub crawl, and listen to live music on State Street
4. Celebrate Thanksgiving [Mid-November]
• If you don't get invited to someone's house then get together and make traditional Thanksgiving goodies (Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pumpkin pie, green bean bake, rolls, ect.)  
  
5. Sit in the student section of a football game.
• Football and sports in general are a big thing at this University.  Plus, the way fans show school spirit may be different here than where you are from.  You probably will miss out on season tickets if you are only here a year.  You can purchase tickets at the UW Madison Ticket Exchange Zone on Facebook.

 - Winter -

1. Walk on the lake when it is frozen
2. Free ice skating at the Kohl Center
3. Participate in the Polar Plunge or Santa Swimsuit Run
• There are a number of events like 5k walk/run fundraisers for charities in Madison all year round.  You can form a team with friends, raise money for a good cause, and exercise (or in the case of these two events, do something crazy). 
• I've personally done the Polar Plunge (raises money for the Special Olympics), GSAFE's Walk/Run/Eat, and the Literacy Network Run/Walk. 
4. Go to a hockey match
•  The women's team wins more than the men's team, but there is a bigger turn out for the men's games.
• The women's tickets are cheap and you won't have to go through the student ticket exchange.
5. Enjoy the snow!
• Build a snowman or snowwoman
• Have a snowball fight with friends.  If there is a snow day go to Bascom Hill for one of the largest snowball fights ever.
• Go skiing or snowboarding
• Go sledding down Observatory Hill (next to Elizabeth Waters dorm) or Bascom Hill.  The sled of choice is trays from housing food, but you aren't technically allowed to steal them.  (People tend to break them in the act.)

- Spring -

1. Attend the Madison Film Festival [April]
2. Go bar hopping on Saint Patrick's Day [Mid-March]
• Chicago turns their river green
3. Spend a day or weekend in the Dells
• It is a popular vacation spot
• There are multiple water parks
4. Go to the Mifflin Block Party [Early May]
   
• It is an excuse to get drunk during the day
• It is the last time to let loose before final week
• It is a UW - Madison tradition
5. Eat at the world's largest Brat Festival [Late May]

- Summer -

1. Shop during Maxwell Street Days [Mid-July]
• It is a sidewalk sale and many stores have a huge sale.
• Urban Outfitters get items from other stores, and all sale items are an extra 50% off.
2.  Greek Festival [Late July]
• Enjoy some traditional Greek food and dancing.
• You can also check out Milwaukee's Greek festival because they have a larger Greek population
3. 4th of July
• Independence day is a big event in the United States.  Enjoy a brat or burger with a nice cold beer.
• Rhythm and Booms is a firework show in Madison that takes place around the 4th of July. 
4. Dane Dances [August]
• 5:30-9:30 every Friday on the Monona Terrace Rooftop
5. Go to a music festival
• Milwaukee has the Warped Tour [Early August] and Summerfest [Late June and Early July]
• Chicago has Lollapalooza [Early August]
6. Take a trip up to Door County
• It is a popular vacation spot
7. Wisconsin Capital Pride Weekend [mid-August]
8.  Concerts on the Square
• Bring a blanket and picnic with friends on the capital lawn while listening to music
9. Have dinner on Friday night on the Memorial Union Terrace
• They have live music and it is right on the water