Experience at the Host University (UNIVERSITÄT HAMBURG)
I arrived Hamburg 1st October, 2016, went to the university, and later on Peutestrasse, 25, where I spent the five (5) month period. The distinction is while registering at Stellenbosch University is speedy and somewhat stress-free, my experience at Hamburg was on the contrary. The encounter, I understand, had to do with the inability to register online from here. The students who had been able to register before arriving Hamburg had a smooth sail whilst ours was a bit bumpy at the start. Even so, the process was sorted within weeks and regular academic life commenced.
Language :
At the university of Hamburg, a large proportion of staff and students understand and speak English so it was problematic. Still, the knack to be able to learn some pleasantries in Deutsch before heading to Deutschland should be of great benefit which future students should be stimulated to acquire.
Study facility :
Internet access in Hamburg is available only upon registration, and for me, it took long to access it. The solace was that I had right to use a desktop at the Doktorand (graduate) office as soon as I arrived. In the area of African languages, the library of Asien – Afrika Institut, where I worked most of the time, holds one of the highest stocked of texts I have got anywhere else. For instance, I acquired writings about the area of my research spanning over hundred (200) years.
Result of Exchange Programme :
Within the period of my stay in Hamburg, due to availability of data at the library as well as with the professor I worked with, I was able to complete a book draft entitled Basic Hyam Grammar with Ethnographic Notes (currently with a publishing house in Nigeria expectantly to be ready before mid-2016). Therefore, with a loud voice, I can say I had one of the most fruitful moments of my entire university life. Meanwhile, since I was not enrolled for any credit course posits that I was a solitary student been supervised by a 77-year emeritus professor.
Gratitude :
Prof Dr Ludwig Gerhardt proved there is no limitation to productivity not even age and I owe him immense gratitude for his indefatigable support. At the Institut, I benefited from the kindness and patience of the library staff. They are hereby acknowledged and thanked for their work. Too, academic staff and students were friendly and accommodating. Similarly, Dr Heinz Jockers enriched my stay by granting me access to his personal library. His’ holds inestimable data on the of the Middle belt of Nigeria. Such expression of kindness encouraged me and I hope to go back to Hamburg someday.
Profound gratitude goes to Stellenbosch Universiteit for nominating me for the winter semester of 2015/2016. To Angelika Ruiz Moreno and Annette Listman at Hamburg, I am thankful.