Jason in Portugal

Jason attended a summer school with the theme Optimization and Decision Support Systems for Supply Chains (III) (Portalegre, Portugal). Here is his story.

After receiving notification about a summer school in Portugal I decided to take a chance and seek funding for a cultural and academic journey. After hearing of funding opportunities from friends I thought that I might have a chance at this experience. Applying for funding was easy, a simple mail and I was given all the details and information I required. The personnel at the university are friendly and helpful. Travelling from South Africa abroad has some challenges though. With the weakening rand my initial funding was only sufficient for my plane ticket and visa. Fortunately I was able to seek additional funding from my department. I offered to bring back knowledge to help my fellow students who I would have to leave behind. This would be in the form of a colloquium and a workshop. With funding for fees and accommodation I was set. All I needed to do was conquer the hurdle of travelling with the Green Mamba passport which many countries are afraid of.

Visa, visa, visa. The word brings chills, paperwork, admin and detail. It was a great help having friends who have done much traveling before. First step is to get the appointment with the consulate. A simple phone call would do it after which the admin D-Day is set. Bank details, photos, tickets, insurance, proof of accommodation – which proved tricky when staying at a university hostel – and don’t forget cash (consulates seem to be behind on the whole internet banking thing). A tip for those travelling in the future, official letters from banks aren’t as official as they used to be. Bank statements proving sufficient funds for travel is the best bet.
With the visa set the next step was waiting. Watching the rand exchange rate pleading for it to improve, but alas. The evening before was exciting. Summer in July creates a light suitcase, but I do not recommend packing the night before. Run a check list the week before. This will avoid the stresses of buying things on the way to the airport. Trying to sleep that night was tough, all the excitement and possibilities, an adventure approaching, new faces, sounds, people and cultures.
A journey of 3 parts begins. First a 24 hour trip to Lisbon. Eight hours to Dubai and a temperature change from 8 degrees to 40. Dubai international was a buzz of activity with every nationality and language. After exploring the terminal it was time to try and sleep. Fortunately they provide recliner chairs all around the terminal. So I joined the sleeping masses in await of my next flight. Early the next morning another 8 hours to Lisbon where my English would be a foreign poorly understood language.

After arriving at the airport I waited a few hours before meeting the organizer and  the other students. A large group of Italians, some fellow Africans studying in the UK, a Canadian born in Napal and an Indian from USA.  A truly multi-cultural crowd. After initial introductions it was time for our 4 hour bus trip to the town of Portelegre on the East of Portugal.  Time to chat to fellow students, but alas, lack of sleep got the better of me and this time was used for sleeping.

Barely a day after arriving it was time for class. A day of lectures and seminars awaited and I had eager expectations. I do not want to spend too much on the academics of my trip. A summer school focused on optimization in supply chains would bore many a reader. What I will say though is that the University of  Stellenbosch is a fantastic institution. After two weeks of class it was clear that my University provides me with top of the range computing facilities with fast internet, printing and easy access. Moreover we at Stellenbosch should be proud of our academic staff and the pool of knowledge in out humble town. Many of the lectures I attended in Portugal were well below our standards. However, there were many gold nuggets of information which I could take away and could communicate back to my fellow students and lecturers.

The biggest growth and learning curve for me was on the personal front. Removing myself from the cultural bubble that is Stellenbosch I was placed in conversations with people with vastly different backgrounds, economic views, and world views. A standout was my inclusion in a civil debate about the existence of God. Bringing different points of view is crucial for critical thinking challenging one’s own perception of the world. Apart from debates making new friendships around a common adventure was fun. Exploring castles and towns sharing with each other our life experiences and views brings people closer. I also experienced things I would never have before like boiled snails or being offered weed 9 times in a single evening wandering around Lisbon.

At the end of the two weeks it was time to go. Although I had new friends I was eager to see my family. This flight seemed longer with much to ponder. Ideas, stories and longing for home. Lying at Dubai I realized that reaching out of my comfort zone and going on this adventure removed fears and gave me more freedom to explore my world.
Return

Arriving back at Cape Town international my heart was racing knowing that my Fiancé was waiting for me. As great as adventures are, family is one of the greatest gifts. I had much to tell and share. Weird food, relaxed attitudes to time, late evenings, inside jokes, bus rides, castles, landscapes and more. But first a nap, overnight flights are exhausting. I recommend talking a few days off to recover from travel and to digest everything that happened. Sharing with friends helps and showing photos. Many of the memories only started to come out as I spoke and shared life again with my friends and family.

Two weeks away meant I needed to start working on my PhD as soon as I got back. That was tough. I wasn’t fully functional for a few days, and pushing myself to work hard was not the wisest. Although the trip was fun and a great experience, final year PhD requires more time than I thought and I recommend that students do exchange trips in the first years of their degrees.

South Africa the beautiful! Travelling abroad has shown me how beautiful our country is, especially in Stellenbosch. Mountains, vineyards, oceans, the Western Cape is truly a gem. I have realized that one becomes complacent of the natural beauty around us. Everything at our fingertips, lost in the rush of day to day living – time to explore home. After all of trips
Academically, I have returned with a renewed confidence in my education. I felt that my undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Stellenbosch covered a broad range of topics and challenged me to think critically about research. A confidence that I can compete on the international front and that we can be proud of our University. One of the tasks awaiting me is to share knowledge with my fellow students and staff – A chance to critically engage and pass on knowledge. I hope that my experience can offer benefit to more than just myself. I am planning to present a workshop at the end of the year to the postgraduates in my department and have assisted one of the lecturers to prepare additional material for an undergraduate module.

After travelling alone abroad I feel that the great unknown is reachable. This experienced has helped me consider and choose to pursue post-doctoral studies in a foreign country (hopefully English speaking) in the near future. Stepping out of South Africa again does not seem as daunting. Who knows perhaps this has sparked an alternative career path that I would have not considered before. Furthermore I made some contacts with academics in Canada and USA who work in similar fields. Let’s see what happens, I hope to stay in contact and collaborate in the future.