Brianna’s Fall Semester in South Africa 

4

Desirous to step into the footsteps of a faculty scholar who did a examine overseas program in South Africa? We lately caught up with AIFS Overseas participant Brianna from Clark College who spent her fall semester finding out overseas within the scenic metropolis of Stellenbosch. 

Learn on to study extra about Brianna’s expertise with AIFS Overseas and the influence of being a global scholar in Stellenbosch.  

Selecting a Examine Overseas Program Vacation spot & Time period 

Deciding when and the place to check overseas generally is a problem for a lot of college students (our staff might help with that!), however regardless of which program you select, you’re in for the journey of a lifetime! Brianna selected to go overseas throughout her fall semester so she wouldn’t miss out on the rowing season that happens in the course of the spring at her residence college: 

“I selected to go within the fall as a result of I’m on the rowing staff at my college, and our official season is within the spring, so I didn’t need to miss that. This was a good time to go as a result of this system ended earlier than Thanksgiving so I may go residence for that!”  

So far as vacation spot goes, there’s nothing improper with selecting a well-liked European examine overseas vacation spot (they’re common for a motive!), however Brianna selected South Africa as a result of she wished a problem: 

“I selected this nation as a result of I knew I wished to go someplace distinctive. Everybody at my college goes to Europe, however I wished to go someplace which may not be as simple to go to. I’m additionally an environmental science scholar and South Africa has quite a bit to supply by way of the atmosphere and conservation.” 

Lecturers 

Whereas finding out overseas is an ideal alternative to journey the world and immerse your self in new cultures, the tutorial facet of issues is essential as effectively (it’s known as examine overseas in any case!). Wherever you find yourself, you’ll discover that your worldwide college expertise will probably be full of latest experiences, like Brianna explains: 

“I stayed at Stellenbosch College. This was a great expertise for me since I’m going to a small college with out lots of college students. The [university] has much more college students than mine, so I used to be in a position to meet many individuals and go to lots of occasions, similar to the varsity’s rugby video games. My college doesn’t have any huge sporting occasions, in order that was cool to expertise.” 

No matter your space of examine, lessons are an important a part of your examine overseas expertise. AIFS Overseas affords a variety of applications for college kids with every kind of educational pursuits. Brianna research environmental science, so she took programs that aligned along with her main, like Practical Conservation and Sustainable Gardening, together with Photography and World Service Studying programs. Hear her talk about her expertise taking lessons as an AIFS Overseas scholar finding out in Stellenbosch: 

“Lessons have been similar to my residence universities. They have been small, which I loved since you might have extra alternatives to attach along with your professors. One of many variations was that we solely met as soon as per week, and the lessons have been nonetheless fairly quick, which was good. This allowed me to go on lots of journeys! My lessons additionally included worldwide/AIFS college students.” 

One in all her favourite tutorial experiences in Stellenbosch was a subject journey, a singular expertise she would’ve missed out on if she had stayed within the U.S.: 

“What stood out probably the most for me was my one-week subject journey to Kruger Nationwide Park with my sensible conservation class. It was positively top-of-the-line issues I did whereas overseas.” 

Friendships and Social Life 

Whereas some folks select to examine overseas with buddies from residence, many others, like Brianna, set out on their very own. This generally is a daunting but thrilling expertise and a very good alternative to make new buddies. Bear in mind, whichever vacation spot you select, there will probably be different AIFS Overseas contributors similar to you who need to have enjoyable and make buddies! 

Along with making buddies with different college students, you could discover that professors are a terrific useful resource, like Brianna did: 

“I used to be in a position to construct a terrific relationship with my professors. If I ever plan on [getting] a job or visiting South Africa once more, I do know I can attain out to them! So my recommendation can be to attach along with your professors, particularly since [they’re locals]. They know cool locations to go and have nice tales to inform!” 

Language Boundaries 

Do you know that you’re not required to be fluent in one other language to check overseas? Whereas sure programs do require some degree of proficiency, many don’t. Not solely is fluency not required, however there are many course choices with out language studying lessons in any respect. So, whether or not you need to examine overseas to study a brand new language otherwise you’d reasonably persist with English, there are applications completely suited to your tutorial and language preferences. For instance, Brianna didn’t know any of the native languages in South Africa:  

“South Africa has 13 official languages, so when touring round, folks converse in another way. One of many major communication challenges was after I would go to main college for my World Service Studying class. Not one of the college students spoke English, however I nonetheless needed to train them, in order that was a problem however a rewarding expertise.” 

For anybody who doesn’t need to take care of language difficulties, there are many places in English-speaking nations, which makes communication a breeze! 

Tradition Shock 

Tradition shock is a typical expertise for a lot of examine overseas and worldwide internship contributors, however we promise it sounds scarier than it’s! Tradition shock appears to be like a bit of bit completely different for everybody, however at its core, it’s a response to a brand new atmosphere, and other people expertise it in various levels. Regardless that the tradition in Stellenbosch may be very completely different from America’s, Brianna’s private expertise with tradition shock was fairly gentle: 

“I didn’t expertise a lot tradition shock. Most issues have been the identical. Using in vehicles was bizarre since they drove on the alternative facet of the street and so they drove considerably loopy.” 

Whereas adapting to a brand new tradition could really feel uncomfortable at first, will probably be a really rewarding expertise. In spite of everything, cultural immersion is likely one of the best advantages of finding out overseas! 

Why Select AIFS Overseas? 

College students select AIFS Overseas for all kinds of causes—the high-quality applications we provide, the vary of locations and tutorial pursuits we cowl, and all of our priceless inclusions from scholar housing to on-site assist employees. Hear why Brianna selected AIFS Overseas and why she’s so joyful she did: 

“I selected AIFS Overseas as a result of I wished a program that provided an on-campus atmosphere with nice assist employees. I knew I wished to be enrolled instantly by means of a college to fulfill different college students, not simply these in my program. I additionally wished to verify there was lots of assist if wanted. My mother and father and siblings had by no means been overseas, so that they have been extra scared than I used to be. On the time, it was the longest that they had gone with out seeing me, so that they wished to make sure I used to be in good fingers earlier than sending me away.  

All through my program, from the appliance course of to after [returning home], I had an amazing quantity of assist. My advisors earlier than going to South Africa have been useful when answering my questions pre-departure. Whereas I used to be in South Africa, I had the privilege of getting Hestea as my [Program Director]. She was AMAZING! It doesn’t matter what, she was at all times one cellphone name away and doing probably the most for all of us. I beloved her a lot!” 

Closing Ideas & Recommendation 

Examine overseas is the expertise of a lifetime. College students come again with unforgettable reminiscences and experiences that form their futures, each academically and personally. Right here’s what Brianna has to say to anybody who’s going to check overseas: 

“To begin with, congratulations! You’re about to embark on an expertise that can depart you with tales you’ll carry for a lifetime. There will probably be moments of pure pleasure but additionally moments of discomfort. You would possibly really feel misplaced (actually and figuratively), homesick, or overwhelmed by cultural variations. That’s regular. The hot button is to embrace all of it—the awkward, the unsure, the irritating—as a result of these are the moments that form you probably the most. 

One of many huge issues that helped me to have the perfect expertise is saying sure to new issues! I attempted bungee leaping and skydiving, and I don’t remorse it! I additionally requested for assist at any time when I wanted it; whether or not it’s instructions, tutorial assist, or a advice for the perfect native espresso store, individuals are usually joyful to share what they know. Most significantly, soak all of it in. This expertise will move sooner than you anticipate, however the methods it would change you’ll final far past your time overseas. 

I beloved finding out overseas! It was such a terrific expertise, and I might suggest it to anybody!” 

Are you a scholar who’s able to take the leap and examine overseas like Brianna did in Stellenbosch with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey!   

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students examine overseas. Our applications include many priceless inclusions, which takes lots of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in figuring out you’ll have assist all through your complete expertise overseas.