PRE- DEPARTURE:
My preparations were quite overwhelming at some point because it was my first time to travel abroad. Because of this I decided to book my flight through a travel agent so that I avoid unnecessary stress. I didn’t want to make any mistake or encounter a system error online that will cost me dearly. The travel agent booked for me my return ticket and also got me travel insurance. The most overwhelming one was the visa application process. I had to make sure that I get the relevant documentation for the visa. I had to get the acceptance letter from AC21, letter of proof of accommodation in France, return flight ticket, travel insurance, letter from the university validating that I am a registered student and I will resume my academic program after the Student World Forum, two passport size photos and a fee of R1200.
I needed all of these just for the visa application although sometimes they also need a three months bank statement. I was relieved two days later when I was told that my application was successful. Another thing I did not plan well was exchanging currency before I left. I arrived in the O.R. Tambo International airport before boarding my flight and went to American Express to exchange currency and after standing in a queue for close to 25 minutes they requested my proof of residence in South Africa which I could not produce because I did not have it with me. Meaning I cannot exchange currency. Now when I got to France the exchange rates were seriously a rip-off.
Hence, I advise when one is going overseas to exchange currency here at home or get a cash wallet. In addition to this, I also had to get neck pillows, camera to take pictures, travel journal, make sure I have enough toiletries, an international adapter to charge my laptop and phone, make sure I have enough warm clothes as the April weather in France can be cold. Most importantly, I had to notify my lecturers that I will be gone and assure them that I will not run behind schedule but I will catch up with the academic schedule when I come back.
EXPERIENCE AT THE SUMMER SCHOOL:
The picture (of an endless road) on the cover page of this report really captures how I want to articulate my experience of the AC21 Student World Forum 2015. It was a journey from the first day of the forum. I journeyed into people’s lives, I journeyed into understanding the theme “The European Experience in Local and Regional Democracy”, I journeyed into understanding Europe and I journeyed into adapting to the French community. The whole AC21 Student World Forum was a journey and every aspect of it was filled with a myriad of learning opportunities. My experience of the AC21 Student World Forum was life changing. I left the forum a different person than I came.
From the people I met to the topics we discussed during the plenary sessions and workshops. My life has been radically changed!!! My hope is that I can continue to be involved with AC21 even after the SWF because I believe so much in what the Academic Consortium is doing to improve and change the world we live in. It was a privilege to visit the European parliament and the Council of Europe. To learn about the Human Rights underpinning of these organizations. For example, the Council of Europe was created to secure military, economic and personal security for all Europeans. It was fascinating to learn how Europe has moved past its history but is still deeply influenced by its history in the way that it shapes its politics.
It was also wonderful to learn all of this in the second diplomatic town in Europe, Strasbourg. The program also included excursions like a guided boat tour of Strasbourg on river, a visit to the wine cellar of Strasbourg city hospital and an amazing trip to Freiburg, Germany where we had a guided tour of the city. The theme of “Sustainable city development in the Upper-Rhine Valley” in Freiburg was very intriguing. This is because we got see the fruits of the new energy concepts with innovative and resilient materials through the Rieselfeld new city quarter project. This project demonstrates how successful and sustainable city development is in the Upper-Rhine Valley. And how we can move to the future today in the way we do city planning innovatively.
In Strasbourg we worked on two projects, namely: (i) How to monitor the charter for local autonomy and (ii) How to increase the enterprise-university cooperation for the design, manufacture and distribution of products. We presented both of these projects on the final day of the forum together with our overall experience of the Student World Forum. I would like to thank my university, Stellenbosch for choosing me to be part of this great forum and also thank the University of Strasbourg together with the AC21 General Secretariat for organizing such an amazing forum. I have made lifelong friends and a family network through this forum. It is an experience I will always treasure in my heart and I am eternally grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
RETURN:
Going to Europe has totally opened my mind to different things, different people of diverse cultural persuasions. In France and Germany, I felt more at home there than I feel at home in Stellenbosch. Firstly, things are run the way they should be. I am not saying it is perfect but things are the way they should be. In Europe, I was just a South African, I was not a black, white, coloured or Indian South African. My primary identity was that I am a human being. The way some European countries like Germany protect and promote human rights (and human dignity), all of their citizens are able to share in their countries wealth. There are of course class distinctions but these distinctions are not along racial lines. In South Africa, the socio – economic status is mostly defined along racial lines which affects sectors like Education, Healthcare and Environment.
I vividly remember feeling like a stranger when I came back home because I was coming to a country that is still developing, first of all. Secondly, I was coming back to a country where people’s identities were still described along racial lines. I was coming back to a country where a large percentage of the population still lives below the poverty line. Where large percent of the youth is unemployed, uneducated and unskilled. This made me realize that there is a lot of work to be done still in my country and it gave me joy to know that I can be part of the agents of change in my country.
Being in France on not being able to communicate and connect with another human being simply because I did not understand their language really troubled me. It has changed my mind-set, I have to learn at least 3 of the world’s most spoken languages e.g. French, Chinese and Spanish. This I will do not by applying for a language course but by going to place where that language is most spoken and live with the people who speak the language. Then I can call myself a global citizen, I cannot call myself a global citizen without understanding at least 3 of the world’s most spoken languages. Going to Europe has also challenged me to be open to new things, new experiences, foreign cultures and foreign languages. That is why I am planning to apply for a summer/winter again should I get the opportunity. Or a semester exchange because I want to learn more. It has just wet my appetite for learning!
I would like to encourage anyone reading this to apply for a semester exchange or summer/winter school. The people you will meet will change your life because you will find that what is esteemed in your country is not esteemed in their country. Their outlook, mentality, frame of reference and world view is totally different because they live in different parts of the world. One way Europe has impacted me is to give me hope not only for South Africa but for Africa as a whole. It showed me that there is a lot of potential in our country and continent, we just need education and courageous leaders, leaders with purpose and vision for their country.