Pre- departure:
I’ve always disliked the concept of conformity. It is this dislike that drove me to apply for the Summer School opportunities at the Post Graduate & International Office. I did not simply want to obtain my degree and have an ordinary University experience like many others. I aimed to further my education and gain new knowledge. Despite my second year status, I decided to apply anyway with the faith that my results and campus involvement were adequate enough for me to qualify for this trip. At a later stage I was informed that I was nominated and accepted to participate in the Summer School Program with three other Masters Students. Intimidation does not merely describe how I initially felt; however, the joy of being accepted prompted me to be more confident amongst the fellow South African travellers.
Pre-departure, all four candidates met at the Post Graduate Office to possibly apply for visas and arrange flight details collectively. The intended “unity” of this meeting was unsuccessful, as all four candidates had vast differences between them in terms of age, personality and degrees. However, arranging flights and visa appointments individually was in fact a positive experience as it allowed for some element of independence which is crucial for first time travellers to prepare them for the experience abroad. Furthermore, since all four candidates came from different parts of the country, it would have been difficult to co-ordinate flights and visa appointments. Individual bookings were proved to be the best option.
Since I am from Johannesburg and my passport was also at home, it was easier for a family member to visit the visa office for me. To successfully obtain my visa, I completed an online visa application and then made a booking at the visa office based on my mother’s available times. I signed an “Authorisation Form” found online the Schengen Visa Website (www.visa-germany.co.za) and then proceeded to email that to my mother in order to legitimise her Third Party Representation at the Visa Office. It is crucial for visa applicants to provide all of the necessary information and to not omit any documents, as a further payment for another appointment is unnecessary stress and unnecessarily costly – trust me. Important documents include the following: Passport (valid for at least 3 months after the applicants stay in the Schengen state and not older than 10 years), two passport sized photos, itinerary, proof of sufficient funds, a letter from the university, travel insurance and proof of accommodation.
The best pre-departure advice is to ensure that you check the weather reports for the duration of your stay. Unfortunately, I assumed that summer in Europe would be similar to the Stellenbosch summer of intense heat and thus the perfect “dress” weather. However, to my dismay the German summer taught me a lesson. Lastly, ensure that you have Euros on hand before departing South Africa. This is convenient as you will need €2.20 at the Stuttgart airport to travel to the University and if you desire a German sim card immediately, you can purchase it on arrival.
Experience:
The summer school experience was indeed life-changing and the emotional maturity and growth is obviously evident. Studying abroad is not only about the course you participate in, but it has many other elements including engaging with other International students, being immersed in a culture that is different to your own, exploring other parts of the world and making comparisons that reflect how South Africa can improve, and also find yourself in an unfamiliar environment.
The Academic programme at Hohenheim was very enriching and definitely expanded my knowledge base. In fact, the more knowledge I gained the more I realised that I actually do not know as much as I assume I do. The world is full of knowledge and information, and it is crucial that those who gain this information can use it wisely to effect necessary changes to better society as a whole. The course covered Financial Markets, Financial Systems and the Financial Crisis. I decided to participate in this particular summer school because I felt that achieving my Honours in the BAccounting degree (Tax, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting and Auditing) was not sufficient enough in the financial world as the degree does not equip one with knowledge of banking, insurance, the financial crisis and various financial systems in various nations. I believe that a Chartered Accountant with knowledge of various financial dimensions is a great asset.
The Hohenheim course covered many interesting aspects including Insurance, Re-insurance (which I had never heard), Virtual Capitalism, Behavioural Finance, Risk Management and the Financial Systems of the European Union. I had no prior knowledge of the mentioned topics and am thus grateful to now have the ability to explain them well to other students, due to my summer school attendance. The programme was not limited to lecture room education, but also included visits to various companies such as Swiss Re, Schwäbisch Hall Bausparkasse, the Stuttgart Stock Exchange and Commerzbank to increase our knowledge in a practical and more first-hand manner. Some of these companies were based in other German cities such as Munich, Frankfurt and Schwäbisch Hall which also added an enriching tourist element to our academic programme. Another exciting outing was the visit to the Mercedes Benz Factory. This experience amazed many students as we were exposed to the actual production of motor vehicles and witnessed the high level of technology utilised in the factory.
The summer school programme was well balanced with free time which allowed students to form bonds with one another and to explore other German cities. Through the University, we were able to visit Heidelberg and Tubingen, and to explore Stuttgart’s beautiful architecture and learn of its history. The German students provided great insight to various social activities such as the Festival at Marienplatz, the visit to the public swimming pool on a hot day as well as the famous Stuttgart pubs. The group bonded really well. We enjoyed each other’s company so much such that we ate dinner together on most days, and even learnt about different cultures and food by hosting our very own “International Come Dine with Me”. The blend of Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, American, and South African students resulted in long-lasting friendships and the development of global citizenship.
It was a challenge to return to Stellenbosch, as I had grown so attached to my Stuttgart lifestyle. Since I arrived a week after lectures began, I battled slightly to catch up the work that I had missed. However, this was absolutely worth it.
This experience exposed me to various realities that are both positive and negative. While abroad, I realised the sad reality, that being “the lack of interest in Africa”. As I interacted with various people, they often seemed surprised that I was a product of the South African education system. Furthermore, due to High school history I was able to engage with various exchange students about their nation’s historical battles and politics. However, ask these Internationals about Africa and you’ll hear phrases like “Apparently, there are many wars, poverty and much corruption in Africa”. That was often as far as one’s knowledge would extend. This shocking realisation gave me a sort of challenge. It has challenged me to continue travelling abroad in order to expose the beauty of African culture to the rest of the world. Without proper interaction stereotypes remain solid. As a youth, I have realised that I have an obligation to my country of birth to alter perceptions and increase interest in the continent.
The positivity of my experience comes from the immense personal growth and the determination to improve my own country. The differences between supposedly first world country and a developing nation are immense. The exposure to flawless transportation systems, unemployment of 3%, successful social market economies, and the freedom of expression has allowed me to identify Africa’s downfalls and to already begin my contribution to Africa’s improvement.
Returning to South Africa:
On my arrival in Stellenbosch, my first act was to encourage all of my friends, peers and residence first years to travel. Travel because the world has so much to offer. Travel because submersion in other cultures and environments is the best way to truly discover yourself. It is easy to become complacent in the Stellenbosch lifestyle. Travelling will set you apart from everyone else who is studying your degree.
As a result of how much I enjoyed my stay in Germany, I have decided that I will do my masters in a Schengen state one day. In the current German education system, all education (including tertiary education) is free, even to International students. There are many excellent universities that offer Masters Degrees in Economics, Business Administration and Philosophy. I have managed to encourage many of my peers to also join me in furthering our studies in another country. I still love South Africa; however, I believe there is a major benefit in educating oneself in various nations and then returning to South Africa with an injection of knowledge that can be effectively used to drive our economy.
This was a phenomenal experience. Thank you for the opportunity.