Pre- departure
My journey to Norway was a long one. Not merely in terms of travelling distance, but due in large part to the process surrounding admission into an international exchange. After finding out about the possibility of applying for an exchange to Europe, I was surprised that I had not learned of such an opportunity before. Studying abroad and experiencing a foreign culture as a student has been a dream of mine for quite some time. My sister, who studied at Stellenbosch a few years ago, was granted the option of doing her Masters in French literature & translation at the University of Strasbourg in 2006. She ended up enjoying it so much that she stayed. She has been living and working as a translator in Paris ever since. With me being 15 at the time of her leaving, her stories of seeing new places and meeting people with completely different outlooks on life set my mind on embarking on such an adventure myself. I am grateful that I have been able to realise my dream, and I would recommend an exchange to any person who has considered doing so. It is something through which I have learned more than I expected to – about the world outside of Stellenbosch, Cape Town & South Africa, the importance of challenging oneself by moving out of your comfort zone and meeting people from all corners of the world, and most importantly I have learned more about myself. Travelling alone means that you have time for introspection about the challenges and possibilities in life. Whether I was hiking up to Djevelporten (The Devil’s Gate) in the majestic Lofoten Islands, or presenting a video advertisement that I compiled in a group with British, American and Chinese students for a course in marketing – this one month that I had the privilege of spending in Norway is one which I will cherish forever.
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