A Blog about Education Abroad

Category: Independent Summer School

  • Caron Tremble in Livry Gargan, France

    Caron Tremble in Livry Gargan, France

    France, 8-13 April 2019

    What an experience, I am changed forever. Thank you so much to Stellenbosch University for allowing me to get to France to play an international piano competition. This was one of the greatest experiences of 2019 and I had no idea it would happen to me.

    In February 2019, I applied for the International piano competition in the town of Gagny, France. As a musician one applies for all opportunities then you just wait and see which one comes your way. The entry required recordings of me playing piano as well the repertoire which I planned on playing at the competition.

    I almost forgot about it until I received an email stating that my application had been accepted. It was so surreal! I could not believe that I was somewhat ready to compete on an international level. I sort of just thought to myself, okay you got in, but there is no way you will be able to go. I was so thankful when a friend told me about the international office and that I could apply for a travel bursary which would cover the flights to get to France and back.

    Before leaving for France:

    There is a lot of admin before planning an international trip, I was extremely lucky that everything just worked out in time. First, you need to book your flights and accommodation, only after you have done this can you apply for your visa application online. The application process is quite long, whereby they give you the nearest available dates to visit CAPAGO in Cape Town to finalise your VISA. The type of Visa you need is a Schengen Visa now luckily with this Visa you can book your flights before getting the Visa. Always check this detail because all VISA applications have different requirements. It is important to make sure that you have travel insurance and that you are covered medically because anything can happen.

    My visit to CAPAGO did not take very long, I was quite lucky in this regard as well. Make sure to fill out all the necessary forms required for the Visa. When you go to your Visa appointment have all your documents organised and ready. Only bring the documents that they list on the website and put them in the correct order beforehand. This helps the process go faster. If you are looking for affordable accommodation overseas always check Airbnb and not only hotels. Airbnb, in my opinion, offers so much more than just a hotel room. You can cook for yourself and it is affordable. Buying groceries works out much cheaper in France than eating takeout. Living this way helped me to save a lot of money. Google maps will become your new best friend. Try to plan your travelling before you get there and the costs involved. It is much cheaper to use buses and trains in the country itself instead of uber. When I arrived in France my host family was kind enough to explain exactly which buses and trains I needed to get onto to get to the Conservatoire of Gagny. By the second day, I was good to travel there without assistance.

    In between all of this I had to practice and prepare for the competition, graduate and get ready to go overseas. The competition organisers were very informative and helpful and gave practicing space before our arrival however, we could only access this space for up to 2 hours daily. This is not enough, my lecturer offered to lend me her keyboard this proved as quite a challenge to carry/ travel with however I managed. I was very thankful to have this instrument to practice on and it fitted perfectly into the Airbnb where I stayed. My Graduation was on the 4th of April and I left the 8th for France.

    Leaving for France:

    I have never been more scared in my life. At this point, I was not nervous about the competition at all but very scared about the travelling part. I love to fly that’s not the problem, what scared me was being in an unknown airport and place. Many people who I spoke to already about their travels in France told me the French are unfriendly and they do not speak English. I quickly tried to brush up on some of my French 178 skills, but it had been 4 years since I spoke the language. At Cape Town International airport, the keyboard and keyboard stand had to go to oversize baggage counter, I hoped that it would land safely in France.

    The flight was a straight flight which took about 13-14 hours. When we landed in France, my nerves started, first I had to access my suitcase then find the keyboard. It is so strange to be in a foreign country, and hear people speak. Usually, I liked to eavesdrop on conversations but this was not possible. The biggest shock was the size of the trolleys at the Cape Town International Airport we have such nice trolleys for our luggage, these trolleys were quite small. There was no way I would be able to fit all my baggage on it. When I got to the oversized baggage area I asked the flight assistant working there in French if they could speak English. He spoke a little. He was very friendly and helped me with my luggage to the exit as well as to load it in the uber.

    When I arrived at the Maison (house) that I booked on Airbnb, I was quite excited to start finding my way around but also exhausted. My hostess helped me carry my luggage, her name is Maria she was very kind but could not speak English at all. She sort of explained and showed everything to be in the separate entrance where I stayed. My first mission was to find the nearest supermarket thereafter I went to go practice at the Gagny conservatoire.

    Preparing for the competition and sightseeing a little in Livry Gargan:

    By the end of the second day, I had gotten the hang of the public transport system and which bus was going to which station as well as which staircase to go used to go in a certain direction. One of the best things for me in Europe, in general, is the convenience and safety of the public transport system.

    As a South African we have natural alertness when being in a public space. I found myself walking into the station being very aware of my bag, my cellphone, and my wallet. As well as on the train and once I got off the train and had to head to the conservatoire. At times I had to remind myself to relax a little and enjoy the ride.

    The facilities at the conservatoire were quite old however, everyone was really friendly and helpful. At the station, people helped me if I asked for directions or which train to get on. By the third day, I found myself taking the train a little more relaxed and at ease.

    On the second day I decided to walk around a bit in livry gargan it is a small town and there is not much to see. I went to the Chateau De La Foret and visited the Parc Lefevre. I was thankful to stay there because the groceries were cheap and the quality of the food in the supermarkets was fantastic. I wanted to see Paris but I did not want to tire myself too much before the competition.

    The competition was on Thursday. I had a feeling of immense gratitude that day. Thankful that I could be there and that I had gotten this amazing opportunity to play. The performance went well, however, I did not go through to the final round. Before playing I heard some of the other pianists warming up and it was amazing to hear so many other people doing.

    Paris:

    This was probably one of if not the greatest experiences of my life. I wish I had more time to see Paris. Getting to Paris was quite tricky from livry gargan and it would be my first time taking the metro train. So there are different types of trains the metro runs throughout Paris and to the airport. Then there is the RER this was the train line I took and it runs to Paris. Buses are running in Paris as well, but the Metro is much cheaper and faster. How I got to Paris was by taking a bus to the Metro station this was quite a long trip. When I got a ticket for the Metro, it was quite scary how fast it was but afterward, I appreciated it. My first mission in Paris was to get to the Eiffel tower, I made a list of all the places I wanted to see. I forgot how exciting but tiring sightseeing can be. Paris is magical, even though it was cold. It’s a city I would not mind seeing in any weather. My first view of the Eiffel tower as seen below was completely picturesque, I gasped.

    In planning for sightseeing, I had this long list of everything I wanted to do in one day which turned out to be near impossible. I barely made time to eat or just sit down a bit and relax this is very important. After seeing the Eiffel tower and taking a ton of pictures I was famished. I sat down at Cafe Eiffel and enjoyed an Onion Soup, Hot chocolate, and Creme Brulee. All of these dishes were perfect. I sat a bit after eating then decided I would walk around a bit and just see what I found.

    Thereafter, I continued walking and eventually google mapped myself to Champs Elysees, and walked up the street to Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe was very busy, there were lots of people and cars driving on the road. I wondered how they all knew which way to go as the road was quite busy.

    After a long day of sight-seeing, I was quite tired and headed back to where I stayed. The next day I packed my belongings in preparation for my flight back. On the flight back to SA I sat next to a South African who lived in France. This trip taught me a lot. What stood out is the importance of language, whenever I addressed a person in France for direction/ train/ bus help, I greeted them in French and tried as far as possible to ask for help in French. At some points, I would ask, “ Parlez- vous Anglais?” To which some of them responded a little or not at all. The importance of Language and identity has never played a bigger role than when you are away from home. I have chosen the following quote by Trevor Noah which expresses this beautifully. ‘ Language brings with it an identity and a culture, or at least the perception of it. A shared language says we “ We’re the same.” A language barrier says, “ We’re different.” The minute I addressed people in their language there was an openness and a willingness to help.

    Upon returning I received my videos and recordings as well as feedback from the competition organiser. I am very grateful to have received such extensive feedback from Antoine Bouvy on my playing and for this opportunity. I was very lucky throughout my travelling experience, wherever I asked for help people were very friendly and offered help.

  • Kristen Harding at University of Cambridge, UK

    Kristen Harding at University of Cambridge, UK

    Pre-departure:

    My International Summer School experience had been in the making for almost a year. I had known for a long time that I wanted to take part in a short-term study abroad programme during my undergraduate degree, it just came down to finding the right one. Choosing my final year of studies to pursue this trip meant that I had a better idea of which academic field I wanted to further explore. It also allowed me to better understand what I wanted to gain from the experience both academically and personally. After diving deep into study abroad websites, I came across the University of Cambridge’s International Summer School which offered a specialised Literature Programme. This programme appealed to me because of the option to participate for one, two, or four weeks. The variety within the elective choices for the courses within the Literature Programme was also another plus for me.

    After receiving acceptance from Cambridge and choosing Newnham College for accommodation, the travel admin began! This being the first time I would be traveling abroad on my own, my learning began long before I even boarded the plane. From spending five hours in the queue at home affairs for my passport to gathering the countless pages of documents for my visa application. It turns out that traveling requires many hours in queues and looking back, I am sure that I got most of my preparatory reading done while waiting in lines.

    Little did I know that the most reading I would have to do this year would happen after my English exam. The thirty-day countdown began as soon as I arrived back home from Stellenbosch. A month to read seven novels, ten short stories, as well as to organise the rest of the admin necessary for traveling abroad. With each story I finished reading, came a greater excitement for the trip but this was all mixed with the overwhelming feeling that I was not ready to go on this journey alone.

    I was stressed that I would never be able to finish all those books and I did not want to return to South Africa feeling that I did not give it my all. I was worried that security would stop me at the airport or that my flight would be delayed so I would miss my connecting flight. I was so concerned about all that I had to go through in order to get myself to England, I barely thought about what would happen when I actually arrived in Cambridge.

    Experience at the Host University:

    As soon as I was shown my room in Newnham College, I was struck by the view of the perfectly trimmed, picturesque gardens. But I couldn’t appreciate it for long as I had to immediately find my way to the International Office to register. The student assistants and staff were incredibly helpful and reassuring for those of us who were feeling quite stunned by the newness we were expected to become accustomed to in such a short period of time.

    Our fear of adapting to this new space was quickly forgotten as friendships were formed as soon as we sat down for our first dinner in the college. Mealtimes soon became one of my favourite aspects of the Summer School simply because it gave us the chance to really get to understand the countries and cultures from which everyone travelled. It was here that I met the people it would become the most difficult to say goodbye to when they would be heading back to their homes in the United States, Melbourne, China, and Poland.

    Falling into a routine of breakfast, classes, and free time to explore the town, made staying in Cambridge more than just a tourist’s experience for me. After classes, before dinner and evening lectures, was our time to take speedy walks to town over the beautiful bridges with views of King’s College and Trinity College. Cambridge’s maze-like side streets made it easy to feel as though we were discovering new places each day. Even on the last day, I found myself excited by the fact that it still felt as if I was lost in a strange town amongst the tour groups and exquisite architecture.

    Kristen's campus view
    Kristen’s campus view

    We had to hunt for the hours between classes to go souvenir shopping, museum visiting, and river punting. Yet, it wasn’t an issue if there wasn’t enough time in the day because our classes and lectures were the highlights. The literature classes were no more than twenty-five people which made it an incredibly interactive environment that welcomed discussions about our conflicting interpretations and opinions. I was not disappointed by any of my course choices and the instructors really challenged our thinking about the texts we studied. I realised that a classroom truly needs voices ranging in ages and cultural backgrounds in order to facilitate richer discussions.

    Choosing the Literature Programme did not mean that that was the only field with which I engaged. Our evening lectures ranged in subjects from archaeology to politics, and Leonardo da Vinci to Shakespeare. Attending the lectures I thought I would have no interest in, ended up being fascinating topics presented by some of the most passionate professionals I have ever encountered. The constant stream of information flooding our brains each day eventually tired all of us out and we concluded that two weeks was the perfect amount of time to spend there.

    Time for a quick boat trip?
    Time for a quick boat trip?
    Return to Stellenbosch:

    Because I arrived in South Africa the day before the start of the second semester, I basically stepped off the plane straight into my first class. I thought it would be easy to fall back into my routine at Stellenbosch seeing as I only spent two weeks abroad. However, while readjusting myself to being back here, I had to still be in the Cambridge mindset to tackle the essays I opted to write for two of my courses.

    I found the writing of these essays for evaluation to be the most challenging part of the Summer School Programme. Their emphasis on personal interpretation and close reading made it quite a contrast to the research-based essays we write at Stellenbosch. Although this shift in style took time to wrap my brain around, I know that it has given me the confidence to experiment with my approach in academic writing that will benefit my future studies.

    This experience studying abroad has affirmed my hope to pursue postgraduate studies overseas. It has given me the opportunity to understand all that goes into travelling and it has reassured me that I am capable of doing it alone. I absolutely encourage anyone who is contemplating an International Summer School to grab any opportunity they see. Students aren’t exaggerating when they say it truly is a life-changing experience that teaches you more than just what is taught in class.

    Kristen's break along the riverside
    Kristen’s break along the riverside

  • Bongumusa at Raleigh Fiktin Memorial Hospital, Swaziland

    Pre-Departure:

    Swaziland, one of the smallest countries in Africa, is situated in Sub Saharan Africa bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. It is landlocked and is ruled by King Mswati III under absolute monarchy. The country is mainly divided into four regions namely Lubombo, Shiseleweni, Hohho and Manzini. The capital of Swaziland is Mbabane however the most densely populated city is Manzini which was once the capital before 1968 when Swaziland gained independence from the United Kingdom. The total population of Swaziland is roughly just above 1.3 million. Swaziland is classified as a lower to middle income country and its economy is pegged to the South African Rand.
    Swaziland has a quadruple burden of disease namely HIV/AIDS, TB, NCD (Sugar diabetes) and mental illnesses. It has one of the highest rates of HIV infected people on the continent with a study conducted in 2002 citing almost 28% and the WHO stating approximately 64% of deaths in Swaziland are HIV/AIDS related. 38.8% of woman in pregnancy tested positive to HIV/AIDS. In 2005 the country declared to be in a humanitarian crisis due to the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS and a major shortage of healthcare workers with approximately 16 doctors per 100 000 people and most facilities located in central Swaziland reducing healthcare coverage by almost 80%.
    Raleigh Fiktin Memorial Hospital (Is partially owned and run by the Nazarene Church, a Christian mission group that settled in the country and also opened a nursing college) is situated in one of Swaziland’s most populated cities, Manzini in Central Swaziland. Due to the health structure in the country one cannot clearly distinguish at what level of care it provides but from working there for four weeks officially and one week unofficially one can gather that it’s mostly functioning as a level two hospital with a lot of services missing which are then transferred to Mbabane Government Hospital which is the National Hospital and should be able to provide almost all the essential needs however that is not always the case.
    It has approximately 80 in-patient beds, 5 in trauma and 4 private rooms. There is an X-ray department, a lab that can do basic tests and 2 basic theatres which are normally reserved for emergencies. There is also a Gastroscopy/ Endoscopy lab. There is no CT scan, MRI, or any other imaging modalities.

    Experience at Raleigh Fiktin Memorial:

    Nestled in between two countries, Mozambique and South Africa, land locked Swaziland has been dubbed the friendly country. With a very modest population and an economy heavily reliant on its neighbours Swaziland shares so many problems with its much bigger neighbours but unfortunately lacks so much when it comes to combating those problems unlike some of its neighbours. Like most under developed countries the state of healthcare is nowhere near a standard fit enough to aid and alleviate most of the burdens of diseases its stifled with. For most doing an elective here would not necessarily be their first pick but with me, it was challenge accepted.
    The only way to really effect any amount of change in Africa is to go to the places that need it most. The abandoned places where basic healthcare has become a luxury no one can afford. It’s at the war stricken deserts of Sudan, the many refugee camps scattered in East Africa, the heavily burdened Sub Saharan Africa with HIV and the many parts of Africa that are struggling as a result of climate change. It’s there where real change can be effected and I personally want to do my bit to equip myself with the fundamental skills like language, cultural sensitivities, empathy and zeal to work in such hostile places. It’s not romanticising poverty and playing the super hero role, no its just being human and understanding that there’s more to this degree than what meets the eye.
    Professor Dempers words still resonate deep within me. It’s making the tough choices that earn us the big bugs and put those letters at the end of our surnames on the wall. The decision to leave the comfort of your bubble and put yourself where you not even bound to get the highest of accolades but deep down you have offered so much to so little. It’s the decision to sincerely play your part wherever you may be and doing your utmost best not for the article in Time magazine but for the person sitting across your consultation table or lying on that stretcher en-route to ICU.

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    It is with that spirit that I did my elective in Swaziland. Yes, I am well acquainted with the country. Half my ancestry is from those shores but it became much bigger than that when whilst working there that the bigger picture dawned upon me. Africa needs to help itself and it starts with every one of us. I am privileged to be in an institution that is equipping me with skills such as Quality Improvement and being a change agent. An institution that is making sure that at the heart of my training the country I am in and continent will benefit the most. The only other thing left was for me to expose myself to these places and further my learning and taking responsibility in equipping myself with the necessary skills.
    That is why I chose to do my elective in Swaziland and it has not only been an eye opener but I sternly believe has contributed immensely, in a psychological manner, the grit and guts necessary to expose yourself to these harsh realities and still offer the best that you possibly can with very little to so many.
    Rural medicine, I believe, is still the most powerful tool we have to offer to our communities. Urbanization is taking place drastically and as a result I personally feel like we are now abandoning these communities to deal with the influx into the cities. It’s all upstream- downstream. Get a hold of the stream at the top and you won’t have much to do with the downstream. Africa has real African problems and unfortunately, we still heavily reliant on solutions very far from out continent. Sharing knowledge and getting advice from others is very important and paramount in our quest to achieve the healthcare goals on our continent but we also need to be innovative as we are the ones experiencing these problems and ultimately, we are the responsible ones.
    I am very privileged to be in an institution that is very focused on creating doctors for South Africa and equipping us with skills for South Africa. I feel this is important to really aid in combating that which is continuously crippling us. African doctors for Africa!