Pre-departure:
When I found out that I had been nominated to attend summer school in HUWISU, I was overwhelmed with joy. I just couldn’t wait to get on the plane and experience this new land. Then I realized how much had to be done before I left. This was my first trip overseas and I didn’t know where to start with the planning, I haven’t even had to plan my own trip to another city, so it was all a surprise when I had to start planning. Luckily the International office had tips on what to do to prepare for your trip. I had to look for travel insurance quotes, buy my flight ticket, get all these other documents for the visa application and apply for the visa. To tell the truth, the most stressful part was to get all my ducks in a row before my appointment at the visa application place. It’s best to apply for your visa as soon as you hear about your nomination and make sure to have all your documents. It took about 15 working days for it to arrive. It was stressful because I had tests and assignments in between and then exams started. My workload was pretty full.
I was able to buy my ticket through a travel agency and they helped me find an affordable flight without a long stopover in Abu Dhabi. The flights get more experience the longer you wait, so rather buy your ticket ASAP. And always check the length of your stopover. Also look around for travel insurance, get quotes from different places so that you can choose the best deal. Most travel agencies do offer travel insurance as well, so you can always check them out.
When it came to packing my luggage, I did that in time but forgot a few important things behind like my adapter and laptop charger. So I had to buy a new laptop charger and adapter. The other mistake I did with my luggage was to over pack. On my way back I had to pay for excess luggage because well I had a big chocolate and cookie stash in my bag and I bought a few more things to bring back home. Pack light because it does become a mission when you have to bring back all those new clothes from Primark and the ten slabs of Ritter sport chocolate.
Experience at Summer School:
Humboldt University welcomed us with open arms and made us feel at home. The course was called ‘Global cities as centres of knowledge production’. It ran for 3 weeks and it was 30hours in total. The lessons were very interesting and broadened my knowledge on the formation of knowledge cities and how they impact society. I found it very interesting how we can acquire knowledge from places such as a train station, and how knowledge is then produced. Our contact lessons were held in a discussion format which was different from what I experienced in my classes at Stellenbosch. My class in Stellenbosch has thirty two people and when we have a class discussion it’s very easy for some people to stay quiet or not be noticed or even not be able to give in any input to the topic of discussion. This was different at HUWISU because we had a very small class and we were all able to participate actively in class and to share our opinions. The format of the class helped me to pay attention and to formulate arguments for or against the topic. It was a great experience and I met different people from different backgrounds. It was very fascinating to see what each person brought to the table and how their experiences/life were different from mine. On our off days we went on excursions organized by the HUWISU team. What I loved about the excursions is that they all incorporated the history of Berlin and the whole of Germany. I enjoy learning about historical events. From the knowledge I gained on these excursion I was able to see how Germany has grown and also how their history has shaped the way the country is today. I was also able to meet students that were in different classes at the summer school on these excursions. We were able to get integrated into the culture and diversity of Berlin and to be exposed to a different kind of living. After a while, everything became so familiar and getting around was so much easier, I felt like I was a ‘Berliner’. Berlin is a beautiful city, it’s hip and lively, a lot like Cape Town. And as our Professor liked to say, ‘Berlin is an ever changing, growing city.’
The architecture is absolutely amazing, from the Museum island buildings, to the university to the Brandenburg gate. You will find a range of beautiful statues and designs on the buildings. The modern buildings are also beautiful and they fit in well with the older buildings. During my time in Berlin, there was a lot of construction happening around the city but you could still see the facades of most of the buildings and we went into the Humboldt box which was an information centre regarding the new castle that is being built. It was so cool to see how much effort has been put into this new structure and that the public is being informed about what the castle will look like and what will be in each floor.
Return:
I think in any situation, when a person moves away from their usual routine, there is bound to be challenges. Through those challenges you learn so much about new people and about yourself. The three weeks in Germany were challenging in that everything was completely new but I got used to it after some time. It helped me grow as an individual. I am so much more aware of the economic, social, cultural and political differences between South Africa and Germany. This experience has also grown my eagerness to visit other places in the world and I definitely want to master the German language. I would love to attend another summer/winter school in another country and to maybe do my masters in one of the universities that are partners with Stellenbosch University, such as Humboldt University. The course that I did helped me come up with ideas on how I can serve the community better. Little projects that will help contribute to making Cape Town a knowledge city. I am really excited to get involved in anything that will help in the development of our community. I was sitting in class today and the lecturer was talking about Human rights and the development of a state, and this took me back to memories of my summer school course and the discussions we had, how relevant it actually is in my current degree.
It is rather weird for me to return to my normal routine. I miss the adventures that I went on every day and the tasty döner kebabs from the Turkish bistros. I find myself wondering which part of Berlin I would be exploring if I was still there but I am excited for this new semester and I do look forward to the adventures I am going to experience here at home. I remember sitting in Abu Dhabi waiting to board my SAA flight back to South Africa and hearing all the people around me speak in different South African accents – the sound of home. It was such a cool feeling to be surrounded by a group of South Africans. I will always enjoy travelling but nothing beats the feeling of being home. The summer school was by far one of the most incredible things I have done during my June/July holidays. I am very grateful to have been nominated to attend summer school in Germany. For all of you wondering about whether you should go on a summer/winter school – go for it! It will change your life. And you’ll get to meet so many new friends.