A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: semester exchange

  • Melissa Crouch At Polytechnique Montreal, Canada

    Melissa Crouch At Polytechnique Montreal, Canada

    My Polytechnique winter internship experience

    By Melissa Crouch (MEng, Civil)

    Pre-departure (April – December 2019)

    My pre-departure experience started with my study leader asking me if I was interested in going to do an internship in Montréal at the end of my masters. Thinking I had to go directly into the workplace, I said no. Fortunately for me, my study leader is persistent and a month or so later he asked again. Realising this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that boring ol’ work can wait, I said yes! I waited for the applications to open and started to apply. There was, however, one minor barrier, I was technically finishing my masters in 2019 and the internship was for 2020. I was lucky to have many people working to get me to Montréal and through some technicalities we made a plan and my application was submitted, and a couple months later accepted. I was so excited to be able to leave the continent of Africa for the first time and to experience what it really meant to be freezing. The Montréal pre-departure logistics were slightly easier for me as I have a British passport and so I did not need a visa which meant no consulate drama for me.

    Due to some other university connections in Sheffield, England, I had the opportunity to go visit England on my way to Montréal. This meant I left 5 weeks earlier than expected. I finished my masters, all other university work I needed to do and got home with 12 days to sort out all the minor last minute logistics. There is so much you don’t think about when travelling internationally for the first time – travel cards, money, health insurance, international sim cards, suitcases, backpacks and so much more. Getting my laptop that was in for repairs and a new phone (which got stollen 4 days before leaving) less than 24 hours before I was flying out was definitely cutting it fine. I decided to travel for 2 months in the USA and Europe after my internship, this meant I had to pack for two seasons. I definitely do not help the female stereotype when it comes to overpacking. However, with many hours of packing December 7 came and I was ready to leave for England. I spent my first Christmas away from home, spending it with a bunch of South African expats. We made a very traditional South African Christmas lunch, with malva pudding to end, which made it feel a little more like home.

    After some time at the university of Sheffield and then a small holiday in London over Christmas and New Years it was the beginning of January and I was ready to go minus another 20 something degrees to snowy Montréal. I did some serious repacking and ending up with one less suitcase (I originally had 2 suitcases and a backpack – this is not advisable when trying to travel alone). My flight to Montréal was fairly uneventful except that I managed to catch a cold. Even though I didn’t need a visa to enter Montréal, I needed to go through immigration as I was considered a worker in Montréal and needed to get a visitor’s record so I could get paid. Montréal immigration is not quite as bad as you see on boarder security, however, it was a long process with much waiting. I suggest if someone is going to pick you up from the airport, they should wait at least an hour and a half after your flight lands just for the immigration process. The only benefit of waiting so long in immigration was that my bags were the only ones left on the conveyor belt when I eventually got to picking them up!

    My first impression of Montréal was WHITE! There was snow everywhere, having only seen snow once as a young child this was a first-time experience and boy was it a crazy one. I walked out of the airport to meet the host of the Airbnb, where I stayed for my time in Montréal, who was so graciously fetching me from the airport to be greeted with -15˚C, another first. My five-minute wait bundled up in every layer I owned showed me what I was in store for over the next 3 months.

    My first weekend settling in was one shock to say the least. I had a caught a cold and so getting food and figuring out the lay of the land proved a challenge. I was so blessed to have an extremely hospitable Airbnb host who gave me medication and took me around town showing me everything I needed, really helping me feel more at home.

    What I got up to during my internship

    I started off my internship with an orientation day which was incredibly useful as we got shown around the whole building and got useful tips on budgeting, where to go grocery shopping, the best places to visit and so much more. Another benefit was meeting all the other interns which was comforting when seeing a familiar face around.

    After sorting out the prerequisite admin and meeting of my supervisor, who was great, I started with my work. The work I had to do required me to collaborate with the City of Montréal (the municipality). It turns out even municipalities in first world countries work with the same efficiency as South African municipalities. Relying on other people to help with data collection proved to be a tedious and frustrating process. I did, however, get to collect data all over the Island which allowed me to see parts of Montréal I would never have gone to see. The houses in Montréal are, in general, smaller than South African houses but are beautiful as they are often old and thus made of stone or designed in a very quaint manner.

    The best part of the internship, however, was not the work, it was exploring the city of Montréal. The university had set me up with another student who had been on an exchange to Stellenbosch a couple of years prior to my exchange whom I became friends with. We ate lunch together, explored the campus and often went out and ate one of the many delicacies that Montréal had to offer. Most importantly was my first ever Poutine experience, it truly is the perfect comfort food for the winter. I also made friends with my Brazillian brother and sister housemates whom I spent most weekend exploring Montréal with. We went ice skating, explored the underground city, the old port and so many other areas of the city. Obviously, solo adventures were common with walks up Mont Royal and many days spent getting lost in the streets of the city. The cold often hindered long outside adventures, but with the correct clothes a few hours outside was easily doable.

    I wouldn’t be doing the reader justice if I didn’t make a comment on some of the differences between Montréal and South Africa. Firstly, the cost of living and food was surprisingly comparable to South Africa; being a money wise person I was able to easily live off of the small allowance we were given by the university. However, eating out is particularly expensive in comparison to what we are used to in South Africa. In terms of the weather, having never travelled before and having grown up in Durban this was truly a completely new experience for me. I personally loved the snow and walking around when it was -5˚C and lightly snowing was incredible. However, simple tasks like taking out the rubbish or walking to the shops quickly required layers upon layers and heavy shoes. I also found it hard to be outside for hours on end as I got too cold even with all the layers. I also slipped on the ice a number of times which left a few bruises. Even with loving the snow, I personally don’t understand why someone would want to live in a country where they have to dig out their car every time they want to use it and can very easily get snowed into their house. One of the great things about Montréal is that it is extremely safe. There was never a time where I felt I had to look over my shoulder or worry about where I was going or if I needed someone to walk with me which was a nice relief from the stresses of SA.

    The hardest adjustment, however, for me was the language barrier. Montréal makes up one of the biggest French speaking populations in Canada. I was aware of this fact going into the exchange and I had spent some time getting to the know the basics of French, however, everything I read told me not to worry because everyone spoke English. Even though, it is true that most people in Montréal speak English, due to historic, cultural and pollical turmoil many people are averse to speaking English. It is also extremely hard to find signs in English, due to language laws in Quebec. The combination of the constant bombardment with French and no English signs made navigating Montréal an extremely frustrating and lonely experience. By the end of my time there I was excited to leave French Canada and head to the English areas where I wasn’t looked at skew for not being able to speak French.

    Post Internship

    As I previously stated, I had planned to travel after my internship. Therefore, during my time in Canada I had set up my travel plans, I was going to Vancouver, Victoria and Niagara Falls and then to the USA travelling through to Disney World. During my time in Canada I had also acquired a job in Ireland and had to adjust the end of my travel plans such that I could start my job. Having paid for my flights and most of my accommodation I was exciting about my future travels. However, it started to become abundantly clear through February and March that this virus that had been taking over China was starting to take over the world. After many long phone calls with my parents at the end of March it was decided that I needed to cut my time in Montréal short and get home ASAP. Within 36 hours of deciding I needed to come home I was on one of 3 very empty flights to Johannesburg, which couldn’t have been sooner as Mr Ramaphosa had just announced that the nation wide lockdown would start in 3 days. My last flight to Durban had been cancelled but fortunately my sister was travelling home from Potchefstroom and came and fetched me on the way. After 48 hours of travelling I arrived home a day before the nationwide lockdown, a blessing that took a couple of months to realise. The adjustment to life back home was to some degree easier than I had expected, I supposed facing a global pandemic changes your perspective considerably. I was grateful to be home and safe and with my family. Over time it set in that I was missing all the many travel plans that I was so excited about which was upsetting, however, knowing what everyone is facing with the pandemic I am still grateful to be safe and home, travels can happen another time.

  • Lize Victor at University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Lize Victor at University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Pre-departure:


    Here you should focus on your preparations for your trip abroad. It should include information about the visa application, as well as suggestions or “tips” regarding what works well and/or areas for improvement.

    At first glance, the pre-departure process for this exchange seemed quite daunting and complicated. Everything was actually very straight forward once you started the process. Learning agreements had to be completed and the complexity of this largely depended on how easily courses at our host universities could be found. Some course catalogues were simple to follow while others were slightly more intricate. The upside of this was that it really encouraged an in depth look into the courses we wanted to do at each university, allowing for a much clearer picture of which universities we preferred. Personally, once I knew which university offered the courses most in line with my interests, I felt much more comfortable and at peace with my top 3 choices. UvA had a good mix of softer business subjects that I wanted to take such as Retail Marketing, Human Resources Management, and Strategic Management.

    In terms of the visa process, much of the brunt work was handled by the university when we filled in the online application on SunLearn. All that was required from us was to make the appointment at our nearest embassy and to provide the documents outlined on their websites. Due to the routine nature of sending students abroad on exchange and the online SU application (I was already in their system), my visa appointment took a total of five minutes. Important to note is that these appointments need to be made with a safe window of time before you leave on exchange. My visa only took 3 days to be approved, but sometimes it can take much longer. Furthermore, when you go to the appointment, they will take possession of your passport while your visa is getting approved (usually not longer than 2 to 3 weeks), so do not plan any trips where you will need your passport while this is taking place. Your visa will only be valid for 3 months once it is placed in your passport. After this, you will get your temporary (6 month) residence permit at your host university. This is generally the most important document to carry once you are on exchange, though you will always need your passport to cross any border, even in Europe. Additionally, remember not to compare or equate your process with the processes of others going to different universities – every situation is different. Do thorough research (websites, past experiences, call the embassies), make clear lists of tasks that need to be completed and documents that need to be completed before your appointment.

    Areas for improvement include more clarity of what is expected of students and the illumination of certain warnings since not all students have the same background knowledge of visa processes. Having someone to individually give advice (mentorship program for International Business) will definitely be helpful with regard to the visa processes.

    Experience at the Host University:


    This section should include information about the academic programme, as well as other activities done during your stay abroad. Describe the academic programme in detail and more importantly compare your experience with what you have experienced at Stellenbosch University.

    The Dutch grading system works on a scale of 1 to 10, one being the worst and 10 the best. Six is the minimum passing grade (this may vary module to module), with most students attaining grades from 6 to 8. Nine is rarer and ten is very rarely attained. There are three blocks in a semester, the first two consisting of eight weeks, and the last one consisting of four weeks. We have to attain 30 ECTS, which generally means five subjects. In my experience, it was much easier to do 3 in the first block and 2 in the second. There tends to be a lot going on in Amsterdam/Europe over Christmas time so focusing on 3 instead of 2 subjects later on in the semester would have been more difficult. In the first block I took Human Resource Management, Retail Marketing, and Cultural Industries, and in the second I took Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Management.

    Compared to Stellenbosch, actual contact hours each week for classes are quite low since there are so few subjects being taken at a time. In my subjects, lecture slides were organized per week. During lectures, I would take notes as the lecturer went along with their slides, and then whatever I did not finish I would go back over later and complete. I found that this helped me keep up with the general content, which I would then go and fill in with more detail with the textbook before the exam. The workload for my subjects was very manageable if they were kept up with in this way. For some subjects there were weekly group assignments and presentations, but generally most of the pressure came the week before the exam. Many of the tutorials are compulsory but will allow you to miss one, so coordinate travels with those dates/timetables before booking anything. The final grade of my subjects was usually made up of a group project/assignment and then an exam (some other subjects will have midterms during week four of the block). Exams were mostly multiple choice.

    In my opinion, setting goals before going on exchange is very important. I went into exchange with two focuses in mind: doing well in my studies but also leaving enough time to travel in between. Going away almost every weekend, travelling to Germany, Sweden, Czechia, Italy, Spain, Ireland, France, and Belgium, I went to many more places than I had intended. Realistically, the only way to do this is to work hard during the week, keep up to date with the work, so that you can travel during weekends. It was exhausting at times, but I do not regret anything regarding my travels and how I found the balance between academics and fun. I adored Amsterdam and don’t doubt that it was the best setting for my incredible exchange experience.


    Return to Stellenbosch:

    Write about the process of returning to life in Stellenbosch / South Africa, and how your experience abroad changed your perspective on certain things in South Africa. Also refer to how your trip possibly influenced your future plans and if you are planning to go abroad again.

    Amsterdam will always hold a special place in my heart. The people are blunt but friendly, the public transport is simple, the outskirts are wholesome, and the city center is exciting and fun; there is something for everyone. Amsterdam is extremely liberal/egalitarian and exceptionally diverse. The first time you venture into the city is somewhat of a baptism of fire: with its coffee shops and red-light districts. South Africa was a lot more conservative than I had previously realized, and returning home highlighted that fact even more. In terms of navigating the city, it must be one of the simplest cities for South Africans, especially Afrikaans South Africans. While everyone speaks excellent English, much of the administrative side of exchange is in Dutch (e.g. banking). Having a handle on the language gives you an instant advantage and makes everything go smoother.

    The contrasts between a first world country like the Netherlands and a third would country like South Africa really came into focus. Safety, efficiency, progressiveness, education, all these things are starkly different between the two countries, but both have upsides and downsides. The Netherlands, while being beautiful and technologically advanced, was very expensive and still lacked a sense of warmth that South Africa has. South Africa is dangerous and has problems like load shedding and draught, but in the end, it is home.

    After I flew back on the 27th of January, having spent a month in Amsterdam without actually having class (I got a job during that month), I only had a few days to get my things together and catch up with my family before coming back to Stellenbosch. The readjustment process was easier than I had thought, considering many people had previously discussed how surprisingly difficult it was. I attribute that to the fact that my three best friends in Stellenbosch are also studying International Business, had gone on exchange, and therefore had gone through similar experiences as me. It helps to talk about it. That being said, it was also just so nice seeing everyone and being back where things made sense and you had the support of your people. I do find myself missing the feeling of Amsterdam sometimes. There was something freeing (though sometimes isolating) about the anonymity of the city.

    Having friends back in South Africa who understand what you went through on exchange is a huge advantage. Stick close to your International business group because they can help make your transition back into South African university life a lot more seamless. Exchange was such a massive learning experience, housing tough times and good times equally well. It teaches you to shoulder the weight and responsibility of being an adult on your own, because that’s difficult to simulate in your own country, in your own comfort zone. Being abroad for six months really opens your eyes to the possibility of more beyond South Africa. Everything feels less far away than it did before. I would love to do a masters abroad or become an expatriate for a portion of my life at some point. However, I mostly grew up in Europe and the USA (living in Belgium, Czechia, and Arkansas), so for now I want to stay here and make a life for myself in South Africa.

  • Lauren Ryley at Science Po, France

    Lauren Ryley at Science Po, France

    My Parisian Exchange

    By Lauren Ryley

    Preparation

    When I found out that I’d been nominated for the Sciences Po (Paris) exchange and the ERASMUS + scholarship, I was thrilled. It’s a natural choice for any politics student, but perhaps also for those pursuing their degree in economics, journalism, or law. The value of the scholarship amounts to just over 800 euros per month, but there is also a once-off payment that will cover the cost of your plane ticket and visa (it can be stretched a little more if you get a good deal – hello 10-hour layover). You will only receive these funds once you have opened a French bank account (which you cannot do remotely). This means that you should plan to have enough money to cover your first few weeks in the country, including the first month’s rental and deposit. As I had handed in all my documents timeously, I was paid slightly earlier than ERASMUS had stated in their communications. The last month of the exchange is quite a stretch financially, as ERASMUS will only pay you once you have finished your exams, by which time you are likely to be on your way out of France.

    ERASMUS is an academic scholarship, and as such, you’ll be required to take at least 7 courses (plus an extra two credits, which can be made up by doing an extra-curricular activity or attending the welcome programme). In terms of signing up for courses, it’s important to be prepared in your course selection and have back-up options for these. Courses can become full within a few seconds, and you may not get the courses that you want. For the sign-up, you need fast internet and to be on the portal the second that it opens. Course options include those taught in either English or French.

    As I hold dual-nationality, I didn’t need a visa to study in France. For me, the biggest struggle in the preparation for my exchange was finding accommodation. I was studying at the Paris campus, which meant that most accommodation was restrictively expensive. I found my accommodation through the Sciences Po housing website – a homestay with an older French couple (and their dog), as well as another Sciences Po student, situated about 10-minute walk away from the university. It cost me 600 euros, which was cheap for Paris. A hot tip is to check if your apartment can be registered for APL – as the French welfare system can give you money back on your monthly lease if this is the case. Some people use the Sciences Po ‘logements’ Facebook page to find accommodation, but you need to be wary of scams – never pay a deposit before you’ve seen the place. I stayed clear of the more traditional housing pages, as for the most part, they were looking for longer contracts, and a French guarantor (property owner) was required to stand surety for your lease. Another good option is Cite Universitaire, or a foyer – if you’re looking for residence-type, shared student rooms.


    In regards to health insurance (required by Sciences Po), I bought a Discovery overseas health insurance package, as I had a complex case, which made getting onto the French Social Security system quite complex. This was sufficient for Sciences Po, as long as you’re only doing the semester abroad and not the year abroad.

    Paris

    I arrived in Paris a few days before the exchange student welcome programme began. This programme is quite expensive (250 euros), but it’s a really good way to meet people, and see Paris in a way that you do not really have the time to when your workload gets tough. If you can afford it, I would really recommend taking part, as it’s the easiest way to make friends in a city like Paris. When I arrived, the first thing I did was to set up a cell-phone account with FreeMobile – this deal is 50GB of data and unlimited calling within France for 9 euros per month. The catch is that cancellation is via post, and if you’re travelling within Europe, you need to check if the country has an arrangement with FreeMobile to avoid a hefty bill.


    My next task – to open a bank account – was far more bureaucratic. It took me about 10 days from when I applied for the bank account to have it active and functioning. I used BNP Paribas, as they give you 90 euros if you open an account as a Sciences Po student. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend BNP, as I was blocked out of my bank account for a number of weeks during the exchange, and they were not very helpful in rectifying the situation. For transport, I would recommend the NaviGo travel card, especially if you don’t live within walking distance of Sciences Po – it gives you access to all public transport within the Paris region for 75 euros per month. Bring an ID size photo with you, which they will use for the card. I did most of my shopping for groceries at Carrefour (a Spar equivalent). Monoprix is also good for groceries, and if you need to look for homeware when you arrive in Paris, this is going to be your best bet on a student budget

    To talk more generally on the Parisian experience, I had the most wonderful time. I met people from all over the world, and made my own little life there. Paris, itself, is magnificent. The wonderful thing is that if you’re under 26 and can show your passport and student visa, you have access to all the main art galleries for free. The Pompidou also has a really cool library, which is one of the few in Paris that’s open on a Sunday. See some jazz, walk along the Seine with your book, check out Luxembourg Gardens, go thrifting in the Marais, see the most ornate graves at Pere Lachaise, spend a day in Disneyland, amble around Montmartre. Every place in Paris has something significant about it, and it’s important to try to get orientated early on.

    At Sciences Po, my experience, too, was great. It doesn’t have that same campus feel that you might get in South Africa, as its buildings are dotted around Paris’ busy 6th and 7th arrondissements. I was in the Paris School of International Affairs Masters programme, which gave me access to a lot of cool events, including a talk by the head of the New York Times. In terms of courses and work load, I found that Sciences Po was not necessarily more difficult than at home, but the number of courses that are required for the ERASMUS scholarship means that time management will be incredibly important. I mostly took seminar courses, which are smaller than lecture courses, and usually consist of an essay, presentation, and perhaps a debate. In lecture courses, you’ll be more likely to be tested in exam format. Courses can be at odd times – I had some classes that finished at 21:15, and many people had Saturday class. You’re only allowed to miss two sessions (sick note or no sick note), so it’s important to choose wisely.

    On a more personal level, I had moments of homesickness, especially when my courses got intense and I was spending most of my time in the library. These, however, passed and I felt that I had a really strong support system in Paris with the friendships that I had developed. I still made sure that I stayed connected to home, and spoke often to my family and my boyfriend back in SA. I was able to meet my family in the UK over one weekend, and my boyfriend came to visit me for the mid-term break, during which we travelled Italy together. After my courses ended, I also did an adventure with some of the friends I had met at Sciences Po to Chamonix in the French Alps. If you book in advance, you can get around Europe for relatively cheap – especially if you use Easyjet or Ryanair. Flixbus is even better.

    Back to South Africa

    This section will be the shortest, as I have left the Western Cape to start a job in Johannesburg, and therefore, I believe that my experience will not be particularly generalizable. Arriving home was bittersweet – you’ve had a life-changing experience abroad and it’s so sad to close the chapter. On the other hand, there’s also something familiar and wonderful about being back – you’re reunited with the people who’ve known you for years, and the surroundings that really do feel like home. All-in-all, the memories of my semester abroad will be some of those that I most treasure. During my exchange, I learnt things about academics, politics, art, and culture, and I also learnt what true independence means. Merci et au revoir, Paris.