Introduction:
I am Sethu Maqubela, a 2nd year BA(Law) student at SU. This year I took a chance and applied for summer school in Germany. I was so surprised and happy to be accepted. I had been wanting to go to Germany to better my German-language skills and immerse myself in the culture so this was an opportunity I could not miss.
Pre-departure:
My pre-departure was a bit of a tricky one as it was before and during Semester 1 A2 season. I was deep in my studies and exam routine but at the same time had to think about planning, visa´s and packing. Sometimes I would catch myself daydreaming about what life would look like in Berlin in the middle of my study session. As hard as exam time always is, the fact that I would be travelling to Germany after the A2 season kept me motivated, excited and pushed me to give my all in exams before my departure.
Experience at host university:
My time at Humboldt University was like nothing else I´ve ever experienced. The university is so history rich and has beautiful architecture. I loved every day that I spent on the campus, and I enjoyed taking part in class. The course I did was well taught; we even had field trips built into it, which was a nice way to explore and see more of Berlin. I learnt a lot about the international relations field, learnt more about the history of Berlin and Germany as a whole and had the chance to immerse myself in German culture.
Finances at the host country:
Finances in the host country were not easy as a South African who has to work with the Rand-Euro exchange rate. It was an exercise of self-control and not buying everything I found cool or liked the moment I saw it. I used my money wisely and at the end bought gifts and souvenirs for my family and friends back home. My family members contributed for my spending money and for that I am forever grateful.
Return to SU:
My return home was a long journey with multiple flights and a long layover in Doha. I did get to leave the airport and see some of Qatar, which was nice, so I am not complaining. I returned home on the first day of Semester 2, which was a hard adjustment, but I was happy to see my friends and be back in Stellenbosch. I immediately got back into the groove of things and had to get back into my routine which was not easy, but I had to push myself to. I returned to SU with bigger love and appreciation of Stellenbosch and South Africa than I had before.
Some pictures of me while abroad
