Pre-departure:
My exchange is different from most exchange programs with regard to the fact that it is only 3 months long. The subjects at TU Delft are taken in 3 month periods as opposed to the 6 months (semester) at Stellenbosch University. Due to this system, it was possible for me to do a 3 month exchange. This is very convenient since I will be able to do the exchange without losing too much valuable time required for working on my master’s thesis.
My preparations started with a meeting with a coordinator at the PGIO. Before I could apply for the exchange, I had to identify the subjects that I was interested in taking at TU Delft. TU Delft stated that I needed to do a minimum of three subjects during my exchange. I searched through TU Delft’s study guide and found 3 subjects that complimented my field of study. I then applied for an exchange at Stellenbosch University’s International Office.
After I was accepted for the exchange at Stellenbosch, I had to apply at TU Delft. TU Delft accepted my request for a 3 month exchange but said that due to my short stay, they will not be able to assist me in finding accommodation. This was the major challenge for my preparations for the exchange. Delft is a town developed around the University such as Stellenbosch. As in Stellenbosch, accommodation is very scarce and hard to find. The fact that I did not have any acquaintances in Delft made this even harder. I joined various Dutch real estate websites but soon found that these websites requires a minimum period of 6 months. I then contacted a student housing agency (http://www.studenthousingnl.com) and they recommended that I search for accommodation on Facebook. On Facebook there are various group created for the purpose of finding accommodation in Delft. I responded to advertisements for a couple of months without any success. With my departure around the corner, I decided to advertise myself on all the groups as someone looking for accommodation. I got two responses within a few days and was able to choose between the two options in the end.
A big part of my preparations was also to obtain a VISA. However, due to the fact that I will be in the Netherland for less than 90 days, this process was made much easier. I applied for a short-term study VISA. The application process is almost the same as the application for a normal travel Schengen VISA. The only difference was that I had to obtain a formal acceptance letter from TU Delft stating the period of the exchange.
The last thing I did before my departure was to inform the bank of my exchange to ensure that I will be able to use my bankcard in Delft.
With my subjects, accommodation, VISA and finances in order, I was ready to board my flight and start my journey to Delft.
Experience at TU Delft:
Since my first day at TU Delft, I was very impressed with the university. I am taking three subject with a focus on water treatment. The Dutch are well known for their water expertise and TU Delft is no exception. The university has excellent wastewater and drinking water treatment programs and I am acquiring valuable knowledge from which I will definitely benefit in the future.
The main differences between my courses at TU Delft and at Stellenbosch are the amount of group work and the laboratory experiments. TU Delft is much more focussed assessment through group work assignments than Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch University on the other hand is more focussed on written tests. Although I normally would prefer a test rather than a group assignment, the assignments helped me to meet new people and making new friends. In contrast to Stellenbosch, at TU Delft wastewater and drinking water treatment are major fields of study with many postgraduate student and a state of the art laboratory. There are many laboratory experiments included in the courses with which I am gaining very valuable experience and knowledge. The third course I am taking at TU Delft is process management. Although this course is not directly related to my field of study, it is preparing me for the nature in which the South African engineering industry operates. In this course, we are simulating real world negotiations through roleplay. This is also something I am not used to but it is an interesting and fun way of learning about negotiation tactics.
TU Delft has a very high number of international student in the post-graduate courses. I therefore get to interact with different cultures from all over the world on a daily basis. The university has various systems in place to assist international students in adjusting to life in Delft and helping us to meet new people. Most of the faculties also have their own pubs, which is a great way to socialise with the Dutch as well as other international students.
Outside the university, I am also getting a good sense of the Dutch way of life. Delft is a typical Dutch town with many canals, narrow streets and old brick buildings with pointy roofs. Although the public transport is excellent in the town, a bicycle is the main form of transport. One of the first thing I did upon arrival was to get a bicycle. It took me a while to get used to the weather. As expected, it rains more often than not. The Dutch, however, do not mind the rain and continue with cycling even though it is pouring down. Compared to Stellenbosch, Delft has not much to offer in terms of social activities. Delft, however, is very close to Rotterdam and The Hague and we often go to these cities for social activities.
Returning to Stellenbosch:
I am now nearing the end of my exchange. I am starting to feel nostalgic with all the “lasts”. Every time I say goodbye to a new-made friend, I wonder if I will ever see them again. Although I am very much looking forward to returning to South Africa, I cannot help to feel sad that this experience I looked forward to so much, is almost over.
Living in the Netherlands really change my perspective on South Africa. The Netherland have such great infrastructure and everything always seems to work and run smoothly. Very much the opposite of South Africa. There is almost no poverty. Here, everyone have the opportunity to improve their own circumstances regardless of the wealth of your family. There is very little cultural or racial conflict and it seems that everyone is living harmoniously together.
Despite all these great things about the Netherlands, I still missed South Africa deeply. I realised that the cultural diversity in our Rainbow Nation makes life much more interesting and exciting. Being surrounded by people that think different (and even are different) than you, gives a certain edge to life. I realised that life in South Africa is very unpredictable. Although we often complain about this, it keeps us on our towns instead of falling into a routine driven zombielike way of life.
However, despite all these things I have come to appreciate, I also became more aware of all the serious problems we have in South Africa. We are an impoverished country with a handful of people living in abundance. My experience in the Netherlands taught me that by providing equal opportunity for education, we would go a long way to rectify the problems in South Africa. The importance of a proper education the perseverance it requires should be taught to children from a very young age.
The Netherlands is a great country and I have grown fond of the Dutch. South Africa can learn a lot from them. The country really opened my eyes to the problems in South Africa. However, I still realised how lucky we are to life in a place like South Africa with all the natural beauty.
My exchange was only 3 months long due to my thesis work in Stellenbosch. Although I feel this was long enough to experience and learn everything an exchange is intended for, I can understand the benefits of staying for a full 6 months period. Three months is too short to completely settle in a new place. I would have loved more time to learn the language or learn to cook their food. On the other hand, I also am looking forward to going home. Therefore I would advise future exchange students to consider a 6 month exchange too fully experience your host country.
During my exchange at TU Delft, I gained academic knowledge as well as experienced emotional growth. It was a good experience and I will definitely remember it for the rest of my life.