{"id":856,"date":"2012-10-04T14:41:59","date_gmt":"2012-10-04T12:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/?p=856"},"modified":"2017-10-19T18:23:53","modified_gmt":"2017-10-19T16:23:53","slug":"tanya-at-babes-bolyai-romania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/2012\/10\/04\/tanya-at-babes-bolyai-romania\/","title":{"rendered":"Tanya at Babe\u015f-Bolyai, Romania"},"content":{"rendered":"

During July 2012 Tanya Olivier attended an intensive summer programme in Romanian Languages at\u00a0Babe\u015f-Bolyai University, here is her story.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Before you leave\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trip approved. The two words you\u2019ve been longing to see in black and white finally arrive in your inbox! So what\u2019s next? Once your heart rate has returned to normal, the first step is to figure out how best to get to your destination. For me, that was Cluj, Romania. Bear in mind that flying direct, especially if you\u2019re going to a smaller town, is often more expensive (albeit less stressful) and way less fun! Be sure to explore other options such as buses and trains leaving from the capital. Remember that your goal is to learn so the more opportunity you have to interact with locals (which is inevitable on public transport, whether you like it or not!), the better.<\/p>\n

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Step two: Will they let me in? Yes, but only if you have the necessary visa. Be sure to phone the relevant consulate (or check out their website) to make sure that you have all the necessary documentation before arriving at their offices. Administrative nightmares can be transformed into mildly pleasant daydreams if you are well-prepared. Application forms are usually available online and can be downloaded beforehand to save time once you get there. It\u2019s a good idea to start this process well in advance as there may be many people applying (unless you\u2019re going to Romania, in which case there are only four\u2026).<\/p>\n

Step three: Money, money, money! You have two basic options: you can draw foreign currency at an ATM on arrival, or you can buy foreign currency before departure. Consult with your bank to find out whether your specific card will work abroad as well as which charges will be applicable. Which option you choose really depends on you but bear in mind that the Rand is a minor currency and, as such, can only be exchanged on South African soil\u2026 so don\u2019t try to buy Romanian Lei with South African Rand in Transylvania. It\u2019s not going to happen. Similar advice is applicable for cell phone use abroad \u2013 contact your service provider to find out about roaming options although it is often better to buy a foreign sim card upon arrival.<\/p>\n

Step four: Check the weather and start packing! Depending on how far you\u2019re travelling, you\u2019re probably going to a different season. Be sure to pack appropriately and minimally. You will inevitably want to buy things while you\u2019re there so leave some space in your luggage for your return. Keep all important documents such as flight details, passport and boarding passes on your person at all times. It\u2019s also helpful to keep virtual scanned copies of these documents as attachments in your email drafts in case they go missing at some point during your trip. And last but not least, pack a camera!<\/p>\n

Random tip: Take a few ID photos with you. You\u2019d be surprised how often they come in handy.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let the Summer School begin!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was enrolled at Babe\u015f-Bolyai University for three weeks, along with 15 others, to participate in an intensive course in Romanian Language. We were divided into three streams according to our level: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Having no knowledge of Romanian except how to say \u2018hello\u2019 and \u2018thank you\u2019 (two very important phrases, I might add!), I was placed in the beginners\u2019 stream. The classes were presented on weekdays from 9am to 1pm and there were various optional activities in the afternoons and on weekends.<\/p>\n

The classes themselves were well-organised and incredibly practical. We started off by learning all the basic greetings and ways of introducing oneself. We then moved on to a series of themed lessons which included travel, shopping, restaurants and holidays. The teaching methods were very interactive (dialogues, presentations and games) and, being in a class of only four students, we had plenty of opportunity to practise speaking. Each time we were taught a new aspect of grammar, we learnt the relevant vocabulary to go with it. I found this very useful as we were able to use what we had learnt in the classes in our everyday experiences in the town.<\/p>\n

I find that one of the most exciting things about learning a foreign language is becoming aware of your own progress. In overheard conversations on the street you gradually begin to identify words that you\u2019ve learnt in class or understand signs at the market because of that day\u2019s lesson. Something as banal as asking a grocer where the raspberries are becomes a reason to celebrate and understanding his response is an even greater achievement!<\/p>\n

The afternoon activities were varied, catering to all personalities and interests. We visited the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, went on a tour of the Ursus Brewery and attended several lectures on Romanian history, geography and culture. Nature-lovers enjoyed a hike through the picturesque Turda Gorges and ventured into the depths of the Turda Salt Mines. More creatively-minded students were treated to workshops on glass painting (a common practice in Romania) and Romanian mask-making. We also cooked up a feast of traditional m\u0103m\u0103lig\u0103<\/em>, sarmale<\/em> and salat\u0103 de vinete<\/em> at a cooking tutorial in a local restaurant.<\/p>\n

My personal highlight was undoubtedly a weekend trip to Maramure\u015f County. On the way there we stopped off in Sighet to visit the Memorial to the Victims of Communism where we learnt a lot about Romania\u2019s turbulent history. Other stops included the Potter\u2019s House for a live demonstration, a visit to the Merry Cemetery in S\u0103p\u00e2n\u0163a and an exploration of B\u00e2rsana Monastery, famous for its wooden churches. We then spent the night in the authentically rural town of Ieud: 2 churches, 2 bars and a shop. I was astounded by the overwhelming warmth of the locals and their willingness to share their culture. It was a truly unique experience.<\/p>\n

Of course, all of these excursions are twice as fun when you\u2019re sharing them with wonderful people. Other summer school participants come from all over the world and as such, the cultural exchange is rich. My group comprised students from Poland, Luxembourg, America, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal. Absorbing other cultures and sharing about your own is most rewarding and is a great opportunity to promote South Africa.<\/p>\n

Random tip: Try everything! Don\u2019t think, \u201coh, that\u2019s not for me\u201d. You learn when you enjoy things and when you don\u2019t, and either way you\u2019ll have a great story to tell!<\/em><\/p>\n

Home Sweet Home<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coming back home is always bitter sweet \u2013 it\u2019s great to be back (I always get a lump in my throat when I see Table Mountain from the aeroplane) but at the same time it\u2019s normal to miss the perpetual mental stimulation of being abroad. I love the analogy of being a sponge when travelling \u2013 you\u2019re constantly absorbing new sights and experiences and you return home fully saturated. But wringing out all those experiences so that others at home can benefit from them as well is the most important step. Share the knowledge, spread the love. Here are some things I\u2019ve learnt from my travels\u2026<\/p>\n

One: I\u2019m proudly South African. There is no better feeling than being able to reply \u201cSouth Africa\u201d to that all too familiar question, \u201cWhere are you from?\u201d Saying your home is the furthest point south on the African continent always sparks a discussion. Not only that, but people are always genuinely interested in our country, which leads me to my second point\u2026<\/p>\n

Two: Know your country. There is nothing worse than saying \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d or mumbling something obscure about Nelson Mandela and braaing<\/em> under your breath when people inevitably ask things about South Africa. Travelling abroad is an excellent way to promote our country but you can\u2019t promote it if you don\u2019t know anything about it. And yet again, one of the best ways to get to know your country is to\u2026<\/p>\n

Three: Tour your own country. South Africa holds treasures that people come from far and wide to see. And they\u2019re right on our doorstep. Embrace them.<\/p>\n

Four: We\u2019re all different but not as different as you might think. While I\u2019m intrigued by the many cultural differences when travelling, I\u2019m also often struck by how similar we all are. South Africans, Romanians, Norwegians and Lichtensteinians, we\u2019re all citizens of planet Earth for now. A common occurrence which proves my point is the ever-amusing and often overheard \u201c[foreign language] Facebook pic [foreign language]\u201d when visiting a tourist hotspot!<\/p>\n

All in all, my trip to Romania has served only to increase my desire to travel and pursue other exchanges in the future. While a formal education is of utmost importance, you learn so much from travelling (about yourself and others) that any opportunity to do so must be grabbed with both hands. I\u2019ve also been encouraged to (and would strongly recommend) travel to lesser-known countries. Europe\u2019s Big Five have a lot to offer. The Eiffel Tower is magical and Pisa\u2019s Leaning Tower does just that – it leans. But countries that are off the beaten track provide other rare opportunities that are often missed because they are overshadowed by Big Ben.<\/p>\n

Random tip: Talk to strangers. Be your country\u2019s biggest supporter. SA is great and positivity is contagious.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>** All pictures were taken by myself in Romania and have been in no way edited to enhance the natural beauty of this amazing country. It\u2019s all real!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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