Time management. Making new friends. Moving away from home. Doing your own laundry. Cooking for yourself.
The pressures of life as a college freshman can be daunting. Now imagine doing these things thousands of miles away from home and not being able to say ""Hvourdån gar det"" in everyday conversation.
These are the challenges that volleyball player Julie Mikaelsen has had to adjust to, and that doesn't even take into account her responsibilities on the volleyball court. The lefty right-side hitter has been a real spark for the Badgers this season, recording an impressive 21 kills in one game and being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in early November.
Mikaelsen, a native of Askim, Norway, population 14,472, has an impressive résume from her high-school days, helping her club team in 2010 to the Elite Championship and has been a member of the Norwegian Junior National Team since 2006. So the big question is: Why Wisconsin?
""I had some people that knew some people here, and they told me that there are nice people here and that they believe in the team,"" Mikaelsen said.
Her national and high school coaches were in contact with Wisconsin assistant coach Colleen Bayer, so Mikaelsen knew she was in good hands.
When asked about the biggest change from Norway to Wisconsin, it was hard for Julie to pinpoint one thing in particular.
""The game is so much faster,"" she said. ""Of course we speak English all the time.""
The language hasn't been a huge barrier for Mikaelsen however, having since she spoke it often back home.
""But to not speak Norwegian all the time is a challenge, and that is how I see it: As a challenge,"" she said.
The freshman definitely knows that this opportunity is a great one for her. She didn't have too hard of a time deciding to leave her friends and family in Norway because she said that she would have regretted it and would have kept wondering about what would have happened if she said no to Wisconsin.
""I don't miss it too much, I see this as a challenge instead of thinking too much about what I miss at home,"" Mikaelsen said.
And what about the food? She barely hesitated as she said, ""I never eat McDonald's food, like ever.""
Mikaelsen said Americans eat much more fast food than Norwegians do, and she misses her home-cooked meals. But apparently sophomore player Kirby Toon's mom has some great cooking skills, and has helped her discover food in Wisconsin.
Mikaelsen's biggest dream is to play in the Olympics in beach volleyball, since she has played in the Youth Olympics with her best friend from home. Even though the freshman's major is undecided major, her dream job would be something sports-orientated, possibly nutrition.
Mikaelsen is obviously an extremely passionate individual, and hopes to contribute as a team and to a successful season on the court.
And if anything she has done so far is an indication, that passion is sure to take the Badgers far for seasons to come.
