Pre-Departure:
As soon as I had received confirmation from the Postgraduate & International Office that my application had been approved to attend the Winter School at Humboldt University in Berlin, I was ecstatic to have this chance to be going to Germany. I would be going to Berlin to complete a three-week language course where I would learn German and various aspects of the German culture, especially that of Berlin.
Sam Hirst took part in the summer school Pathogens, Parasites and their Hosts: Ecology, Molecular Interactions and Evolution at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Here is some of the photos he took; more text will follow shortly.
Pre-departure:
I had never organized my own overseas trip so this was a completely new experience, but it was a worthwhile learning experience. Make sure you apply for passport at least a month before you book your ticket. I luckily got my passport a day before the final day I was allowed to book my ticket so rather avoid such a hair-pulling stressful experience. When you apply for your visa, make sure you have all the documentation.