Pre-departure:
During the international week , adverts were put up for summer schools, for me this seemed too good to be true, I was curious to find out what a summer school was all about. To satisfy my curiosity I visited the exchange office. I asked him about summer schools and intricate details about the summer schools and exchange programmes were given. They advised me too on how I could go about making the video interview and encouraged me that even as a foreign I stood a fair chance of being selected for summer school. I left their office and I was doubting within myself if i should apply or not , part of me told me there is a lot of people applying and I wouldn’t stand a chance. Despite the battle within me I decided to apply, the office was very helpful in helping me select a suitable course, after submitting the online application, I met up with another friend of mine who was also applying and we began to work on the video interview, it took us quite a while but finally got it done. I submitted the video and all I had to now is keep my hopes high as the selection process went on.
The results came out and I arranged a meeting with the PGIO and when we met they gave me the good news, I was so ecstatic, I felt like jumping and shouting really loud, amidst all the joy that had engulfed me, I managed to seat calmly as the coordinator began to disseminate concise information on what I had to do next. The PGIO office had given me an 11 000 rand travel bursary , within only a few weeks the money was deposited into my personal account and I straight away began searching for a cheap ticket, and the time of approval was early enough for me to book my flight in advance. During the same time period when I got selected for the summer school, I had just lost my father, who had been helping me financially. I explained to the international office that I would not be able to cover living expenses because I had no other funding, and so I was asked to write a motivation letter as I explained my situation. In response to my request, the PGIO office approved extra funding of about 5 000 rand, I was the happiest person at that moment , not only did I receive extra funding but I had also managed to source a cheap flight. Now that I had bought my ticket , the only task at hand was to apply for my visa. The PGIO helped gather information on the documents I needed and gave me advice on various issues. I booked for an appointment at the Netherlands embassy, as I waited for the day of appointment I collected all necessary documents and when the day came I went with much confidence and I successfully submitted my documents and the amazing thing is that I dint have to pay for my visa its actually free for students. Within the specified time the Visa was out. As I collected my visa reality dawned on me that I was actually going overseas for the very first time as well as boarding on a flight for the very first time. The PGIO had made what seemed as a farfetched dream come to reality, on the third of August 2014, I boarded on the emirates flight , a glorious experience, as the plane ascended I felt I was close to the heavens a moment never to be forgotten.
Experience:
I arrived in Amsterdam on the 4th of August 2014 at 20:00hrs, as it was my first time, I asked around where the train station was, I had done prior research and found out there was train at the airport, which was convenient for me. I asked for directions on how to get to Maastricht and the Dutch ladies that worked at the rail ways station were helpful but I still wasn’t clear on how to get there but at least they helped me get on the right train. As I was on the train I asked the woman next to me if she knew were Maastricht was and she said she was going there and so I told her I would follow her till we got there. We arrived in Maastricht at mid night and the lady helped me get on a bus that dropped me near the hostel and I was easily able to find my way. Found my room was prepared and some other international students had already arrived too. The following day on a Monday we had a meeting with the other students who came to attend summer school.
That very day we met with our lecture, the course I was doing was called Economics and management of trust. We began on a high note as there was limited time. It was a small class of about 8 people and we could easily interact. That Monday we had a welcome dinner and had a chance to meet and know students from all over the globe.
The following day I had a chance to see the town and my eyes had never beheld such beauty, the question that was going through my mind was that; I would I ever be able to live this place? As I was in Maastricht I joined a local church, and I was able to attend their services and it was no different from home.
The social programme was amazing, some sightseeing, amongst the few, boat cruising. As the week went on our lecture invited us for dinner at his house, I should say the Dutch can be hospitable, I seldom cooked meals for myself when I was there, we had one event to another were we fed massively. The one thing I couldn’t adjust to was the rand to euro exchange rate, having changed my rands to euros everything seemed twice the price as I would have bought for in South Africa, but I budgeted so well. It was such a wonderful experience; I was enriched academically, spiritually, culturally and socially, what more could a man ask for? On my last day in Maastricht, friends from church took me for a tour in Germany and Belgium, so I did not only get to sea Netherlands but also got the chance to see other countries too. I established long term relationships with the people I met there, I spoke so profoundly about Africa that each time we met, they wanted to hear more. I was an ambassador not only for Stellenbosch University of Stellenbosch but for Zambia and Africa at large. One of the highlight for me was that in summer the sun goes down at 10pm in Netherlands, I was awed totally amazed.
Return:
It was hard saying good bye to all the wonderful people I had met, I wished I could stay a little longer, but I said to them in sad tone, I will come back. I have now a network of friends internationally and some have opened up their homes in case I want to visit again. The summer school benefits one multi-dimensionally. On my way back I missed my flight in Dubai, so next time you are changing flights between countries make sure you adjust your clock if it doesn’t adjust automatically.
I came back from Netherlands on the 18th of August; I came back a changed man. The experience had changed my perception on different things. I learnt some healthy habits from the Dutch, I learn about their culture and their way of living. Academically the course gave me a different way of thinking about the concept of trust altogether, I should say having done a course in Netherlands, has increased my employability as I have an international qualification from a renowned university. Most of all being in the Netherlands also helped me appreciate Africa, it opened my eyes to the opportunities that are in Africa, some time you will only appreciate were you are when you have left for a while. I had a lot of catching up to do with school as I had gone when university had resumed, I had to sacrifice some sleep, but the experience was worth the sacrifice. In closing I want to say it is imperative to expose students internationally, because it helps one think outside the box about various issues.