{"id":1094,"date":"2013-11-27T09:55:13","date_gmt":"2013-11-27T07:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/?p=1094"},"modified":"2017-01-04T12:26:53","modified_gmt":"2017-01-04T10:26:53","slug":"le-fras-in-helsinki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/2013\/11\/27\/le-fras-in-helsinki\/","title":{"rendered":"Le Fras in Helsinki"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Le<\/a>

We had an international dinner, where everyone cooked something traditional from their home country. Good people, good food, good vibes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ready, Set, Go.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting ready for Helsinki was almost as exiting as being there.\u00a0 I would like to thank the University\u2019s Postgraduate and International Office for all their support.\u00a0 For me it was very important to have my Visa application fully prepared at least a few days before the due date.\u00a0 The last thing you would want to be doing is scrambling around the day before to get bank statements or travel insurance.\u00a0 The University provides a clearly defined checklist of all the documents you need and it takes some time to get hold of all the documents you need.\u00a0 Simply keep a file in which you gradually added all the documents you need.\u00a0 Remember that the earlier you buy you plane tickets the cheaper they are, so have those ready as soon as possible.\u00a0 A had a situation where my parents were provided their bank statements as proof that I have the required amount of money to travel to Finland.\u00a0 At the embassy that asked me for the bank statement of my credit card which I would be using in Finland.\u00a0 I did not have it there, because it was not stated anywhere.\u00a0 Nevertheless I emailed it to them the next day and received my Visa a few weeks later.\u00a0 At this point you might think: \u201cOK sweet, ek\u2019s in, nou moet ek net op daardie aeroplane klim\u201d.\u00a0 Not quite yet buddy.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In this modern age electronics are a necessity, and you are going to need the right plug for your three-point standard input.\u00a0 In Finland all the electricity points are two-points, you are going to need an adapter-plug for your three-point inputs.\u00a0 In Stellenbosch you can order them from Fidders in Andringa Street, across the road from Manouche.\u00a0 The travel agencies in Stellenbosch might also have these adaptor plugs.\u00a0 I found mine in Somerset Mall the day before I had to leave, because there were none left in Stellenbosch anywhere. So be prepared!<\/p>\n

Finally pack lightly.\u00a0 You don\u2019t need all your pants or shirts or shoes or jerseys.\u00a0 You do need enough underwear and socks though, well I packed in extra. It is late summer in Helsinki in August and the nights can get chilly so pack in a warm jacket at least.\u00a0 Most of the days were sunny, but be prepared for the rainy days as well for it will rain.\u00a0 Pack in a light water-resistant jacket to wear over your other clothes, as it does not rain extremely hard but you can get drenched if you have to walk a block or two.<\/p>\n

OK really finally, do not be afraid to ask questions, the staff members at the host University are also very helpful and insightful – make use of the support systems offered for you, you might just make a new friend like I did.<\/p>\n

Best Summer That I Ever Had:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not keen on reading this entire section, just have a listen to Future Fambo\u2019s \u2018Best Summer\u2019.\u00a0 This song will always be my Helsinki song and I listen to it often to remember the great times I had with my Finnish friends.\u00a0 Yes besides having to go to school while everyone else is on holiday you do have the opportunity to embrace Helsinki culturally and socially.\u00a0 Naturally being from a foreign country makes it easier to make friends, and the friends you make during the course will stick with you for life.\u00a0 I will be visiting one my friends from Taiwan during our December holidays this year.\u00a0 The Summer School also offers an extensive social program which should not be missed out on.\u00a0 If you plan properly your weekends can be packed with activities, from going on nature walks to the numerous amounts of music and arts festivals.\u00a0 I can guarantee you that whatever you are interested in you will find it happening in Helsinki, there even was a restaurant day where anyone can cook food and sell it, as well as a comic book symposium.\u00a0 I saved my money by making food at the Eurohostel, a \u20ac10 deposit gets you a key for a locker in the communal fridge, and cooking with your international friends is something that will also stay with you.\u00a0 Also be prepared to go to a sauna, the best ones are the ones you make with wood.\u00a0 I was privileged to go to one of my Finnish friend\u2019s summer house to experience a wood sauna.\u00a0 Now back in Stellenbosch I cannot go a day without hitting the sauna at Virgin Active, it does wonders for your health.\u00a0 I guess what I am trying to say is no matter what you will have a good time and you will meet incredible people, give yourself the opportunity to explore and share your perspective it will change your life guaranteed.<\/p>\n

On the other side of the coin we have the academic program; I attended the Intercultural Communication and Education: Moving On course.\u00a0 At first I was intimidated; we were discussing research and theory that I have barely laid eyes on.\u00a0 Yet the class is filled with open-mindedness, and the manner in which we were taught was a very open dialogue.\u00a0 I considerably valued the fact that you are allowed to challenge the concepts and ideas that the lecturers were discussing.\u00a0 Especially the head lecturer, Fred Dervin, who would respond with respect and understanding even if the discussions became very heated and believe me they did.\u00a0 Imagine a classroom of over 20 people, between the ages of 21 and 40-something, from over 11 countries discussing the issues surrounding culture and communication.\u00a0 I know for a fact that I will not have such an intimate academic experience again very soon.\u00a0 The course covered an immensely broad spectrum of intercultural research.\u00a0 One of the most enlightening classes for me was when C.K Raju (Google it!) discussed the notion of decolonizing math and science, the manner in which he conveyed information about topics I had no clue about (math and science) was so clear that I had no difficulty to understand the theory and research.<\/p>\n

It is hard to define the experience in relation to experiences at Stellenbosch University, as I have never been part of such a diverse group of individuals.\u00a0 The one thing that the two institutes have in common is the level of academic competence, and I realized that I do not have to be intimidated by new work for my alma mater has molded me properly to<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no place like home:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I can honestly day that I did not want to come back to South Africa and not because of the obvious reasons, but because I fell in love with Helsinki and its people.\u00a0 I have been back for over a month now and oddly enough the only thing I miss considerably is the public transport system and my friends.\u00a0 In all other respects the city is much like Cape Town for me.\u00a0 The trip definitely opened up my eyes the vast amount of study opportunities that exist all over the world.\u00a0 It has changed my perspective completely about travelling and I am currently making plans to go study either in Finland or America in 2015.\u00a0 The experience has also made realize how young South Africa still is and how much we still need to grow, but the beautiful things about this is that we can learn from other countries and adapt their ways in order to produce our own very unique sense of living.\u00a0 I have come to realize as well that no matter where you go the sky is blue and people are people it is a matter of what you make of your trip.\u00a0 You can either play it safe or you can make yourself vulnerable and explore your limits, perhaps even breaking them.\u00a0 I have returned home with new hope about the state of our country and wish to share what I have learned with my country men and women.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Helsinki Summer School staff members. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask them, and be nice repay them by making them bobotie \ud83d\ude09<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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