Prepare for… (admin) lift-off! This statement pretty much sums up the entire pre-departure experience.
To any student considering an exchange abroad I would suggest an entire mind-set shift. It is quite a tedious and time consuming process and makes you wonder why you applied for an exchange in the first place. Applying for a visa, arranging accommodation, selecting the cheapest flights, deciding on which exchange courses to take, and suddenly realising you are actually still a student and not a travel agent takes a lot of time and patience.
But then the day comes when you actually arrive at your destination…
To me this destination is the small town of Maastricht in the Netherlands. This is the first time I left the safety of my parents’ house, the delicious home cooked meals, and the washing and ironing of my laundry. So upon arriving in Maastricht I had no one to remind me to wash behind my ears, and here I am standing 14 426 km from home as tired as can be after 23 hours of travelling, but with the biggest smile on my face. Let the life changing journey begin!
It only took about a day in order to feel right at home in the main Brouwersweg guesthouse (dorm). The rooms are huge in comparison to what I have seen in Stellenbosch (Meta, New Gen, and Huis De Villiers). But then again this was once a hospital… If you want to see any photos of the guesthouse just visit:
http://www.maastrichthousing.com/Room/Maastricht/Brouwersweg_100_C-gebouw_type_B/15486/photos
Orientation and registration could not have gone any better. The international office will answer all your questions within minutes of you e-mailing them and thus you never feel overwhelmed or lost. Within the first week you meet such a diverse group of people from all over the world you’ll find yourself hoping you won’t meet anyone else, because you can’t possibly remember anymore names or faces.
Depending on your field of study you will probably find a wide variety of courses which you are eligible for. I am currently completing my full thesis option MComm at SU and thus could not use any of the credits earned at UM to lessen my thesis-work. This, I feel, is more of an advantage than disadvantage as it gave me free reins with regards to my subject choices. I thus selected the subjects that really interested me and would recommend this exchange approach to everyone – it just helps to take the academic pressure off and for the first time you can experience what it feels like to study not because you have to pass or because you have to get good grades, but because you really want to.
Maastricht University has a one of a kind way of teaching – a method they call Problem Based Learning (PBL). This system is geared towards learning by doing. Each course consists mostly of tutorial sessions and only a couple of lectures. Students are usually divided into groups and each group then gets the opportunity to facilitate a two hour tut session during the semester. The sessions wherein you are not a facilitator still requires you to do a lot of preparation for the class (usually reading academic articles). Participation in class counts a significant weight towards your final grade and classes consist of about 20 students, so the tutor or lecturer will notice if you do not contribute.
The PBL system definitely forces you to think for yourself – something that I feel other universities’ teaching methods fail to do. The workload at UM is also much more than I have been used to at SU, but at the end of the day it is very rewarding.
As far as facilities go: the internet speed in Europe is supernatural, and wifi is basically freely available in most places. Furthermore, public transport is extremely efficient and always on time. However, it is quite expensive, so the best way to travel in the city is by bike (which you can purchase for about €50). Just be sure to lock it up because bike-stealing is the national sport in the Netherlands. And make a mental note of where you parked yours!
If you like travelling you’ll love Europe and you will soon find yourself spending more time Googling your next destination than working. You can basically fly anywhere within Europe for under R1500 return. I once even saw a return flight from Belgium to Norway for around R100. For any racing enthusiasts, such as myself, you can visit Zandvoort, Assen, or Spa which are all only an hour or so away. And for any big concert fans – Europe is the Mecca for all bands, so you can almost certainly be guaranteed of seeing your favourite international artist perform on your doorstep.
I have often heard people say “it doesn’t feel like I’ve been away” after returning from their exchange. Upon my return home this was no different for me, but you do realise that time certainly did not stand still while you were away.
Then the realisation of the disappearance of all the first world luxuries suddenly sets in. You are back on Vodacom airtime, no more trains or busses, no more central heating, the uncertainty of power-cuts, corruption, and unemployment to name but a few all suddenly dawn upon you. Yet, hearing Afrikaans again and driving around the neighbourhood where I grew up did raise a somewhat nostalgic feeling. Having this international experience and thinking about all these ‘negative’ aspects of our country drastically shaped my perspective of South Africa. I now know what immense potential South Africa has! We can be proud to call this country our home and I feel it is our responsibility as South African youth to contribute to the development of our country.
Reflecting upon my experience I acknowledge the fact that such an opportunity comes once in a lifetime and it is up to you to make the most of it. Thus, in closing, my most important word of advice to prospective exchange students would be to truly live life abroad. Partake in all the activities, travel the world, embrace the different cultures and peoples’ perspectives and really get to know yourself!