My word. Where to begin? Before kicking off with the administrative pre departure preparations I would like to urge those who are interested in studying abroad to sit down and apply. Just do it. Being part of an academic experience abroad gives one so much more perspective on various aspects of life. It’s not just another lecture or class – it becomes more of a life lesson and will add tremendous amounts of value to your studies and the way you view the world.
Pre-departure:
The administrative preparations for the summer school went smoothly. It was just a matter of getting it done and ensuring that I had all the correct documentation. From the Stellenbosch International Office side everything was organized very quickly, which allowed me to apply for my visa without delay. With regards to your visa I suggest that you print the check list of all documentation. I only had one minor issue at my visa appointment which was that the information of the extra accommodation that I had booked for after the summer school did not have my name on it. I had printed the wrong document. When you are putting together your itinerary make sure that you account for every night. Furthermore, your accommodation documents must have your name on it. My visa was processed quickly – in hand after about three days of applying.
Before departing I read some blog posts of class mates in my department who had just been on exchange to the Netherlands. Thank goodness I did, because it provided me with essential tips. Like for example don’t forget to change the limit on your bank account when you leave, doing so out of country requires an OTP which can be disastrous if you don’t have roaming and your daily limit is not large enough for your cash requirements.
The packing part of the trip was probably more intricate than organising my visa – sounds unreal right? Trust me, you don’t want arrive in a foreign place having forgotten to pack something so simple and small but essential. Finding the right shop to buy it when you arrive takes time if you haven’t been to the place before. So make a list and think about the things you would need. For example, make sure you know whether your accommodation includes a towel or not. Remember to put together a little medical kit of basic medicine and consider getting a script for a course of antibiotics. Also, check the weather and ask people who have been before. In Maastricht it can be sunny one minute and thunder storming the next. The weather during the week I was there was quite cold – almost as cold as it had been in Stellenbosch before I departed for the summer school. I had packed one of my winter coats and it definitely came in handy a few times. I also packed a few pairs of Jeans and a few Jerseys – all of which I used because it was cold and raining the week I was there. When I got home one of the things my mum asked me was whether I thought I packed well – it was a resounding yes! When it came to actually packing my stuff, one of the tips from Sarah was to roll your clothes. That was definitely one of the top 5 pre-departure tips! Space for days.
Experience:
I enrolled for the Finance: Fundamental Tools and Techniques summer school and was most impressed by the way in which the course was structured. The course covered a range of topics and was done well given the fact that the summer school was a week long. I would highly recommend this course to anyone especially if you have not studied finance. The reason is simple: we all have to make financial decisions one day, if not already and doing this course will assist you in making informed choices with respect to managing your wealth. Some of the topics covered included company valuation techniques, portfolio management, bonds and derivatives. The classes started at 9am and ended at 4pm. We were usually lectured in the mornings and did group work in the afternoons on the topics covered in the morning session. The group work provided a more practical approach to the topics covered, as we had to solve problems related to the theoretical framework. This gave the course content context and showed how various techniques are applied in reality.
Coming from a Finance background the course was not extremely challenging. It was constructive revision and getting a different perspective on the subjects covered in the summer school improved my understanding of the work even more. The undergraduate investments modules at Stellenbosch University are more than sufficient in providing a framework to understanding the course. I think the course is more geared towards students or people who would like to learn about finance, but do not necessarily want a career in the subject. However, it would also serve as good revision or as a foundation for future studies in Finance related fields.
The summer school team ran a social programme during the week which consisted of 4 events over 6 days. It was a really good opportunity to meet different people attending other courses at the summer school. The first gathering was a dinner at a student restaurant called Fresh in Maastricht, the second was a quiz night (which most of the foreigners failed dismally at because it was about the Netherlands but it did answer many questions I had about the country). And the last two events were a Barbeque, or commonly known to Saffas as a braai, and lastly a day trip to Amsterdam. Nothing beats a South African braai though – think most would agree with me!
The city of Maastricht is breathtakingly beautiful. The entire city is pretty much cobbled and is well-known for its Medieval-era architecture. I woke up early most mornings so that I could spend some time exploring the city, as I did not have time in the afternoons. It was the best idea ever because the streets were quiet so it was easy to make my way around the city. Exploring also helped me to orientate myself and I am quite sure this improved my navigating skills on our evening walks back to the Maastricht guesthouse. Overall the academic and cultural experience were exceptionally enriching. Meeting so many people from different countries and getting to know them was definitely a highlight of the summer school. I enjoyed every minute of my time in Maastricht.
Return to Stellenbosch:
Touching down on South African soil was a bittersweet feeling. After an amazing experience of making new friends from so many different countries, I found myself missing the foreign spirit in Maastricht. At the same time, it was good to be home despite being away for such a short period of time. I arrived back in the week that class started which left me with very little time to reflect on my experience in the Netherlands. Upon returning to Stellenbosch’s campus I felt a sense of gratitude to be part of such an inclusive and high standard University.
When I got back home one of the most frequent questions family and friends asked went along the lines of singling out the best part/aspect of my trip. Deciding on the answer was simple and did not require much thought – the people. Meeting so many people from different walks of life and getting to know them in the classroom or over dinner was the best part of my trip. Chatting about South Africa and hearing all about their respective countries was fascinating and broadened my perspective on the world. One of the topics of conversation in class was Brexit and being able to get a European and British perspective on the matter aided my understanding of the relationship between the EU and Britain even more. I also had an interesting conversation with one of my Belgian classmates about the way in which social security works in Belgium – a stark contrast to South Africa.
My last few morning walks to campus have been different to those that preceded my trip to Maastricht – I have returned to South Africa inspired, with the realization that the world really is my academic oyster. Being part of a University that makes this possible for their students is an absolute privilege and I am hoping to return to Maastricht for a semester of exchange in 2017. The summer school has left me with the fondest of memories and a curiosity to explore more countries and cultures.
I would like to conclude by mentioning reasons as to why I would like to return to Maastricht University for exchange. The first being the fact that the University attracts students from all over, which allows one to meet people from different cultures. Secondly, the city itself is not too big and is relatively easy to navigate. And lastly, the atmosphere of the city. I haven’t experienced anything else quite like it – a city full of life and rich history.