A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: Summer School

  • Marnus in Oestrich-Winkel, Duitsland

    Voorbereiding:

    Wat ‘n lekker tyd lê vir jou voor! Die Europese Besigheidskool se somerskool is ‘n belewenis en iets wat nie werklik vasgevang kan word in ‘n blog nie. Jy gaan vriendskappe smee met wonderlike mense en plekke sien wat so ryk aan geskiedenis is dat jy klein voel.

    Voor jy egter daar kan kom en die lekker ervaar moet jy die administratiewe gedeelte afhandel. Daar is sekere dinge wat net gedoen moet word, en hoe vinniger jy dit doen, hoe beter. Die grootste strik waarin jy kan trap is om dinge uit te stel want dit gaan jou meer geld kos, maar ook inmeng met jou Junie eksamen en dis ongerieflik. Eerste ding wat jy doen is bespreek jou vliegtuigkaartjie as jy jou datums het. Jy kan altyd travelstart.co.za dophou vir goeie aanbiedinge. Ek het na Student Flights gegaan om ‘n kwotasie te kry en hulle het toevallig die goedkoopste vlugte gehad en dan nog afslag op daardie vlug ook gegee. So dis die veiligste. Jou goedkoopste lugredery sal Qatar, Emirates of Etihad Airways wees. Ons het met Etihad gevlieg het en ‘n baie aangename vlug gehad.

    Die volgende stap is om jou VISA te kry. Vir die Schengen Visa maak jy ‘n elektroniese afspraak by die ambassade en gaan dan daarheen met al jou dokumentasie. Maak dubbel seker dat jy al jou dokumente het aangesien die mense nie baie tyd het vir mense wat met die helfte van hul dokumente daar opdaag nie. Ek het my VISA verniet gekry omdat die vrou gesê het dis vir akademiese redes. Onthou ook dat indien jy voor of na die tyd wil toer jy reeds bewys van daardie verblyf moet hê as jy vir jou VISA gaan. EBS sal vir jou ‘n brief stuur wat jou akkomodasie bevestig vir die drie weke wat jy daar is.

    Geld gewys het ek ‘n Cash Passport by ABSA gekry. Dit is ‘n Mastercard en werk die beste. Mastercard word orals aanvaar en met die Cash Passport betaal jy nie om die kaart te “swipe” nie. Jy betaal egter baie geld om te trek. Neem dus genoeg geld in kontant en genoeg op die kaart saam.

    Klere gewys kan jy somersklere pak met ‘n paar warm truie. Dis gemiddeld twintig grade maar in ons tyd was daar ook ‘n hittegolf wat die kwik tot diep dertigs laat styg het. ‘n Reënbaadjie is ook ‘n goeie roep aangesien daar gereeld ‘n bietjie reën uitsak. Pak ook gemaklike skoene aangesien jy bitter baie loop.  Los egter genoeg plek in jou tas sodat jy sjokolade, bier, tee, klere ens. kan saam terugbring.

    Marnus in Duitsland
    Marnus in Duitsland

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  • Robyn in Strasbourg

    Pre-Departure:

    So, if you are reading this, you probably have already been accepted into the summer school program of your dreams, CONGRATS, the hardest part is over! Although, not really. Planning your stay and travels overseas is hard, but not impossible. You can even plan during the busiest time of the academic year, June exams. When I saw that I had been accepted to EM Strasbourg, I was over the moon, and then reality set in. The reality was that I had to plan my travels down to the last cent as I was on a VERY tight budget, and I had to do all this planning without the never-ending assistance parents supply when they are nearby AND during the run up to June exams. With all this in mind, I thought planning everything would be impossible. But as I said above, it really isn’t.

    The first thing I remember doing was chatting to the person I was to be traveling to Strasbourg with, Johan. We got together and discussed what both of us wanted out of the experience, if we wanted to travel before the summer school started or after or even during. Once we saw that we had the same idea for our travels, we booked our flights. I booked my flight with a travel agent, for me this was the best thing, they really look after you and make sure no mistakes are made. I would definitely recommend using a flight agency if it is your first time flying overseas alone.

    Johan (the best travel partner ever) and I
    Johan (the best travel partner ever) and I

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  • Vincent in Adelaide

    Vincent in Adelaide

    Pre-departure:

    Australia, or “Straya” as it is locally known, is the destination of my most recent trip. I had the pleasure of living in Adelaide, in the state of South Australia for around 2 months (January and February 2013) as part of a Summer School programme, whilst taking some courses and visiting a few other cities in Australia. Contrary to popular belief, Australia remains one of the most interesting (and surprising) countries I’ve visited.

    My name is Vincent Kuo, I had just completed my Master in Civil Engineering when the desire came to travel a bit and spend a bit of time abroad. Upon searching for possibilities for internships, apprenticeships, research positions and other short term posts abroad, I settled upon a Summer School programme offered by the University of Adelaide (http://www.international.adelaide.edu.au/), who is also a partner institution of Stellenbosch University. I contacted them initially and enquired about the Summer School. Fortunately it turned out positively and I shortly received an offer letter, upon which I swiftly contact the Stellenbosch PGIO for assistance and support to finalize the plan. I was lucky enough to have part of my flight ticket reimbursed by PGIOs travel bursary, as well as my tuition waived at the University of Adelaide.

    The Famous Harbour Bridge in Sydney
    The Famous Harbour Bridge in Sydney

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