Great Festivals of Japan: Awa Odori
This is the first in which I hope to be a series of entries detailing some of the best festivals that Japan has to offer.
Step outside the glass doors of Tokushima Station on any day of the year, and you may not be overwhelmed by what you [...]
By: Alumni Correspondent Neal Vermillion
A lot of people ask me questions about my chosen career path such as “How did you become a diplomat?” or even “Why did you become a diplomat?” The “why” question is sometimes asked with a sense of puzzlement or even shock as in “why on [...]
Of all the questions I get about my time in Japan, it seems the one facet of Japanese life that people are most interested in is the school system.
Coming from an education background at Madison, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the differences between the two systems on a pedagogical level, but surprisingly [...]
Continue reading about Oloizia: A Peek Inside a Japanese Junior High School
Hello again! Last time out I told you about my history with Madison, and now hopefully I can dig a little bit more into my life in Japan and just how I ended up here.
In the spring of ‘05 as a junior at UW, I had the opportunity to study in London. Admittedly, [...]
Greetings fellow Badgers! My name is Jeff Oloizia, I’m a ’07 UW grad, and I live in Japan. Pleasure to meet you.
I’m writing here on the Badgers Abroad Blog because…well, because they’re letting me I suppose. And hopefully, because I feel I have something unique to say about Wisconsin and its place in the world [...]
Continue reading about Greetings from Japan!: Introducing Jeff Oloizia, ‘07
So I got home about two weeks ago and didn’t have time to blog yet…so here it is… I guess not much has changed since I’ve been gone. I’ve been gone for about four months and the only change is that the weather is no longer cold. My family is still the same and so [...]
1. Bring your own toilet paper/tissue to use in the bathroom — there is not always toilet paper.
2. Most bathrooms have a 1 – 2 inch lip of marble separating it from the rest of the room. Be sure to step over this so your feet or toes do not get injured or stubbed.
3. Don’t [...]
Continue reading about Words of Wisdom When Traveling to Taiwan: Compiled by the UW Dancers
So time is winding down…and I’ll be back in America in less than 2 weeks…sounds crazy because when I get back, I have to do a blog on the “retuning” portion of studying abroad…So I wanted to introduce some food and a few little interesting things (kind of looking back) that I found in Korea…LET’S [...]
Sent from Taiwan by UW-Madison dance student Brittany Wittmann
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Unlike street fashions, dancers here in Taiwan wear similar clothes, for the most part, as in the United States. Last week all of us UW dancers came to class clad in leotards and tights. We quickly found that their dancers take class, with the [...]
Continue reading about Lots of Sweating Happening in Taiwan by the UW Dancers!
Results for the competition:Turns out we didn’t get 1st, but we did end up in the Top 10. Which I’m really happy about! We ended up getting 8th place, which is really good because there were some really good blogs out there! I just wanted to share the results with everyone!! Good Job!!
**Website for the [...]
Posted from Taiwan by UW-Madison dance student, Brittany Wittmann
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Today was a wonderful day. Laura, Megan, Natalie, Ali, Mychelyn, Amy, and I ventured off on our own and spent the morning and afternoon at the Shimending Market. The market surrounded a metro station and curved and winded along large and small city streets.
Right [...]
Continue reading about UW Dancers Spend Sunday in Taipei Market
A missive from Kate Corby, assistant professor in the UW Madison Dance Program…
June, 5, 2009
Hello!! We are having a great time and wish you were here!
After a 25-hour journey starting in Madison, we arrived safe and sound in Taipei last evening. The hotel is clean and comfortable and the staff are very friendly. We all [...]
June 3, 2009 – Fourteen UW-Madison dance majors and three faculty members are flying halfway around the world today to participate in a three-week cultural exchange program in Taipei, Taiwan. Students will join Taiwanese students at the country’s most prestigious dance school, Taipei National University of the Arts, for daily technique classes, rehearsals, and a [...]
So I got an email saying that my writing got noticed by this Web site and they want to nominate it for TOP 100 INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE AND EXPERIENCE BLOG. But actually I wanted to say it’s not just me but it’s WE…YES EVERYONE WHO WRITES FOR BADGERS ABROAD. So you guys should go vote and [...]
Continue reading about We Got Nominated for Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blog!
I’m not sure if everyone knows, but former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun commited suicide yesterday morning and it was all over the news. Since I don’t have a TV to watch the news and I don’t read the Korean newspapers (because even if I can read it, I don’t fully understand it), I didn’t [...]

