Out and About is a column where we chat to people who are currently living abroad, or who lived and worked abroad. This week we chat to Reiner Duvenage who studied and worked abroad and is now settling in his home country again.
Hello Reiner, what does it feel like to be back in your home country after two and a half years abroad?
It feels fantastic! I feel that I have learnt and grown a lot while I was abroad, but I am now refreshed and ready to make a contribution in South Africa. There are big challenges awaiting AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement, but I am also very excited about the opportunities that are available and the important pioneer work that we will be doing here in the coming years.
Where in the world did you study and work?
After the completion of my Honours degree, I took a gap year in Moscow, Russia and taught English for five months. I enjoyed it enormously, but while I was in Moscow I heard that I received a scholarship to complete my Master’s degree in Germany and Poland. I started my first semester in September 2019 at the University of Göttingen. The programme was structured in such a way that I could spend my second semester in Poland at the University of Krakow. I also had to complete an internship as part of my course which I completed at the non-governmental organisation Democracy International in Cologne (Germany). I then went back to Göttingen again in the beginning of 2021 where I spent my final semester and I completed my dissertation
I will advise any young person to learn other languages. It creates a lot of opportunities for you and teaches you to understand the world from other perspectives.
I believe that young people should learn as many other languages as possible. It sounds like a cliché, but it really broadens your perspective on the world and other cultures. It further creates many opportunities for people who want to live and work abroad.
You mentioned that you lived in Germany to study. What did you study and how does Germany’s university compare to Kovsies where you completed your undergraduate studies?
My course was called “Euroculture: European Politics, Society and Culture in a global context”. It was very interdisciplinary by nature and the modules focused mainly on the human sciences and political sciences. My dissertation was about the political philosophy of Jürgen Habermas and the concept of transnational sovereignty of the people in the European Union. Naturally it was a great honour to receive the scholarship and I learnt a lot from the German academic culture. I must say that for me the standard of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Free State is of the same quality (at least in my time) as that of the University of Göttingen.
What was the biggest adjustment for you overseas?
The biggest adjustment is certainly the cultural differences and climate. Luckily in 2017 I was privileged enough to receive a bursary for a period of two months for a language course in Berlin, so I already had experience of the long and dark winter. It was easier to adjust to the culture because I could already speak German well and I made an attempt to learn the languages in the places where I lived.
Is it expensive to live in Germany?
The greatest expense in Germany is accommodation. Luckily as a student I could make use of the university’s Wohnheims (hostels) where one gets a single room and then share a kitchen and living area with seven other students. It made my accommodation reasonably affordable. A further factor that has to be considered is that accommodation is even more expensive in big cities like Paris and Berlin. Food prices and groceries at supermarkets are reasonably affordable, but unfortunately bars and restaurants are more expensive than here. You therefore have to budget for those unavoidable get-togethers and drinks.
What was your favourite dish in Germany?
To tell you the truth I am not extremely fond of the German food. If I had to choose, I would say currywurstthat is served at small stalls in the cities. Furthermore I am mad about doner kebabs, that became part of the German culture, but I do not know if it qualifies as “truly German”.
You mention that you taught English in Russia for four months, how does the school system in Russia differ from the school system in South Africa?
I worked at a private language school, so I taught English to learners of all ages. On the whole my experience of Russian schoolchildren, who took lessons from me, is very positive. The children are well mannered and studious. In general the people in Moscow were very welcoming. To answer the original question, it is actually well known that schools in Europe (including Russia and Germany) are less structured and totally focused on academics. What I mean by this, is that sport and cultural activities do not take place at schools, but rather at dedicated clubs and associations. In general uniforms are not worn at schools and there are no religious activities at schools.
Do you have any advice for people who want to study abroad?
My advice would be to learn a foreign language as soon as possible. I would in this context recommend German, because Germany is the European country most involved in South Africa and provides many opportunities for scholarships. Many of these bursaries however give preference to those who can speak German or are busy learning the language. Prospective students can visit the website of Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) for scholarships. In addition, there are also the Erasmus Mundus bursaries provided by the European Union. The Erasmus Mundus bursaries are however only for Master’s degree studies. In my experience it is generally easier to get postgraduate scholarships in Europe.
What did you miss the most about South Africa?
You miss your family, friends, culture and language. It is not something that can be replaced abroad – even if you try really hard.
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