Dealing with another culture
My experience is that you can learn a lot from living in another culture. The South African culture is very different than the European one. Especially the people in the communes live with another state of mind than we do in Europe. During my minor, I worked a lot with the local community in the townships. I have learned that patience, kindness and understanding are the key elements when working with another culture. Also, respect and keeping in mind that you are a guests in their country is important.
Experience of minor
The programme I followed at Stenden South Africa is called Humanitarian Management. First of the two modules of that programme I completed in Holland. For the second one, we went to South Africa and got to put out theory into practice. The group was divided in few smaller groups and every group got assigned with a project. We had classes and project hours. During the project hours we supported the project leaders.
I have learned what it is like to be an aid worker. What it is like to work closely with and help people in need. The situations there are in do not beging to compare with what we face in the Netherlands. I have learned how vital the role of aid workers is. Next to that, I have learned that people can be happy with the smallest things in life.
Living on campus was really comfortable. The students are become closer with each other compared to how it is in Leeuwarden. We would eat, sleep, stuy and go to school together. I became friends with people I probably would have never met or spoken to in the Netherlands.
A day with Caroline
My day would noramlly start at 8.00 am. First, breakfast is severed in the canteen. At 8.45 the pickup service arrives to take me to Ingubo (the project) in the NEMATO Township in Port Alfred. There we would begin the day with a small meeting with the project leader and go over the program for that day. Between 9:00 and 9:30 the children arrive and get a warm welcome from us. From then on, our day would take off. We would read, do some math, or play together.
At 11.45, the driver would pick me us up for lunch at the campus. Lunch at the canteen is always a warm meal.
13.30 is usually the time for CBL. Afterwards, we would go on with the classes and lectures. During the classes, the problems in the project are discussed.
That would be a day at
Stenden South Africa!
Grand Tour Experience
Go ahead and volunteer in the townships even if you’re not a humanitarian student. You will help the people there and you will even get more in return. It is a great experience to have at least once in your life. And please, travel around, rent a car in town and plan the weekends. The hostels are affordable. Usually, it was about 13 euros per night.
Don’t go on the streets alone! It sounds dangerous, yet when you’re there, you will realize it is a normal way of living and you will get used to it. When traveling by car, take everything of value out of the car.
Next to that, the weekend in the coffee bay was great! Only nature, no shops. Just the beach, friendly people, surfing and horseback riding.
At the end of my time on Grand Tour and final days of my minor, during our last visit to the township, all the children were singing for us and came to say their goodbyes one by one. It was sad and beautiful at the same time!