PRE DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL:<\/p>\n
\nWednesday, 15 October, Gent, Belgium \u2013 Today it has been a month and 11 days since I set foot in Europe. Has it been worth it? Is that even a question?! Or I should rather ask how has it been? To be honest, it has been awesome!<\/p>\n
\nThe past few weeks my Stellenbosch Bubble went from being massive (I have been in Stellies for over 4 and a half years) to being ridiculously small. Viewing the world with more perspective has been a jaw-dropping experience. It has been an absolute privilege. I have been asking so many questions about people, cultures and nations that I bought a kiddies history encyclopedia. Venice, Munich, Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris and Bruges are the \u2018big\u2019 cities that we have visited.<\/p>\n
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\nOkay, \u2018nuff braggin\u2019!
\nWhether you are reading this article considering applying for a study exchange program or just reading for fun I guarantee you that you will go running to apply.
\nLooking back 6 months ago when a friend strolled into my office and asked me to join him in applying for this program and all the adMIN (dit is nie MIN nie, dit is m0er5e BAIE moeite!) that I conquered it has all been worth every bit.<\/p>\n
\nNow that you have a little bit of perspective I will take you through the journey on how to apply and the most important things.
\n1. Start early. The quicker you start with your application the better. This gives you time to apply for more bursaries as well.<\/p>\n
\n2. If you want to apply pop in at the PGIO (Postgraduate and International Office) in the Wilcocks Building. Start by speaking to one of the exchange coordinators. This is pretty much where the journey begins. They can give you info that websites and all the brochures in the world cannot tell you.<\/p>\n
\n3. I know what you are thinking\u2026 Money! Where are you going to get money? There are various funding opportunities. I will make a list of potential income sources that makes your trip way more affordable than you can imagine.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Rent your flat in Stellies to another international student from overseas. Advertise your room on the International Students Stellenbosch Facebook page (https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/207712962738434\/)
\n\u2022 The PGIO will (hopefully) support your endeavor.
\n\u2022 Erasmus Mundus funding opportunities
\n\u2022 Oppenheimer Memorial Trust
\n\u2022 Your host exchange university often has funding opportunities.
\nAs you can see there are multiple funding opportunities to help make your study exchange possible. So no more saying it is too expensive, okay?<\/p>\n
\n4. Finding accommodation can be hard. We only found accommodation as soon as we arrived in Belgium. We stayed in a youth hostel (backpackers) for the first few days until we found accommodation. Don\u2019t worry you will find place!<\/p>\n
\n5. You are obviously not coming because the host university has better modules or Europe has better weather (trust me it doesn\u2019t even compare with SA\u2019s weather!). You are coming to go and see cool places. Red Light District, Eiffel Tower, Berlin Wall, Venice gondolas en al daai lekker dinge! You will get more than enough time to travel. We decided to do a tour before classes start. This is ideal if you have the (extra) money. It gives you a good taste of Europe and how everything works (you will be an amateur at figuring out the underground metro trains, trust me). After that you will also find opportunity to go away for weekends.<\/p>\n
\n6. Do an exchange with a friend. Moments are best shared. Okay, I know that is corny but it also makes all the admin less such as booking flight tickets, sharing accommodation and all the admin that lies ahead. Oh, and obviously you can remind one another of the multiple deadlines you have to meet for documents.
\n7. Registration is easy. Don\u2019t worry about that!<\/p>\n
\n8. Classes can be super cool. Make an effort to search for modules that will benefit your studies. Do not think that a module is only what its name says. Read the study guides thoroughly. Some modules you don\u2019t even have to write an exam.<\/p>\n
\n9. You get to meet people. Lots of people. Unless you decide so. Okay, listen up. YOLO! You are only going to Europe once and semi getting paid to do it. Meet people. Network. I even got to go to a wedding. Just go crazy and meet people. Go places. No time to sleep late. You can sleep when you are dead. You are in Europe and you only get to come once!
\nI genuinely hope that this has inspired you to tackle the mountain of admin that lies ahead knowing that after that mountain comes a valley of pleasure.<\/p>\n
\nTHE EXPERIENCE:<\/p>\n
\nI took similar modules to what I could have taken back home apart from International Business. Although this module has 3 days class per week and 3 hours per class this module has proven to excellent. We only have 6 weeks class of the total 12 weeks class and do not have any exams. Evaluation is done through a big project that is done in groups. Gent University invites lecturers from all around the world to lecture on the topic of international business. This includes topics such as business culture, negotiation, innovation and international expansion amongst many other interesting topics from lecturers with much experience and different backgrounds.<\/p>\n
\nI am currently at the point where the excitement has passed and the small things are getting to me. Small things that irritate you get to you and luckily I have made the decision to conquer them.
\nBelgians are reserved, very reserved. They are not nearly as outgoing as we are. This makes it pretty tough to connect with them. I must also confess that I joke with them regularly.
\nThe French view themselves as being all up there (that\u2019s just my opinion). But I must say that I enjoy their classy edge.
\nThe Dutch from Netherlands are fun. If you are a classic Afrikaner then you will love them and easily relate with them. They are way more outgoing than the Belgians.
\nAll and all it has been an eye-opening experience and giving me awesome insight and perspective to the world \u2013 especially people, culture and nations.<\/p>\n
\nBACK IN SOUTH AFRICA\/ LESSONS LEARNT:<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Registering for modules at the host institution
\nYou can choose what modules you want to do but if you want to swap a module of your home institution for a module at the host institution you should speak to you lecturer that will present the module or to your study leader. You can get the form necessary to do this from your exchange coordinator.
\n\u2022 Carrying credits over from host to home institution
\nYour exchange coordinator can help you do this after you have received your final results of exams\/transcript.
\n\u2022 Closing arrangements at host institution<\/p>\n
\nSometimes it is required to sign a final form to declare that you are finished and that you have completed the registered modules.
\nIn the midst of all the excitement that was incurred by a new life, culture, university and country I must admit that the biggest blessing that I have rediscovered was that of relationships \u2013 family and friends. I will for sure not miss the (grey) weather, but leaving friends that have walked a significant journey with you behind is tough.
\nThe Belgians are a peculiar nation. They don\u2019t easily open up and aren\u2019t that inviting at all but once you get the opportunity to connect with one of them and they do decide to open up be sure to have made up your mind if whether or not you are willing to commit for this friendship. Belgians don\u2019t have a lot of \u201cfriends\u201d but the ones they do value they are loyal to and they will give their \u201call\u201d to that friendship.
\nI was privileged enough to make a couple of those friends. Yes, it did take a while for them to open up and allow you in but afterwards they are the greatest of friends. I learned quite a bit!<\/p>\n
\nThese Belgian friendships have taught me a great bit and have allowed me to rediscover the value of relationships.
\nBefore I got back I realized that I had to make friends and family one of my top priorities for 2015. Thank you to all y Belgian friends for teaching me this dear lesson! Setting back into my old life was not hard at all. I missed the great weather and nature a lot. We had a very cold winter in Europe (although it was apparently not nearly as cold as it usually gets).<\/p>\n
\nThe 5 months that I could live inEurope was just enough to get a good taste of life there and not too long to get completely home sick! It would be hard finding words to explain how I was changed as a human being but trust me that it was for the better.
\nAnother thing that I thought about a lot is whether there is hope for our nation. I can say with confidence that there is hope \u2013 more than what we need to change the course of this nation. I believe that justice and love will be restored because a generation is rising that believes, and have seen, a world where it is possible. I am excited and more at peace in my heart when I walk the streets and go about everyday life because a generation with hope in their hearts are rising!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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