Rotary exchange student talks about SA experiences

Edenvale Rotary Club‘s long-term German Youth Exchange student Karoline Schwarzer’s year in the country is coming to a close.

She has been in South Africa since July last year as an exchange student.

Schwarzer recently shared her experiences with club members and guests at Mongo’s Portuguese Restaurant.

Schwarzer said living in another country for a year presents many challenges and experiences for those who decide to do it.

“For me it was always clear that I wanted to take this step and discover another culture and country. What I did not know was that with my decision to go to South Africa, I was not only going to discover one culture but a huge variety of lifestyles and cultures. Now, at the end of my exchange year, I try to describe my experiences in this country, which is a challenge on its own,” said Schwarzer.

She said there are many things that have happened in this period and to put them into words doesn’t do them justice.

“Nevertheless when I look back I can’t believe how fast the time passed and that I am going to fly back to Germany soon. The quote ‘A day is long, but a year is short’ gives a very good impression of what this year has been like. Often a lot is happening at the same time or nothing is happening at all. The days feel very long, but the year passes by fast and I still remember it all like it happened yesterday – how I arrived in SA, scared and nervous to meet my new family,” said Schwarzer.

Schwarzer left Germany on July 19 and arrived tired and overwhelmed. She said she still remembers going through the door to the place where her host family waited for her.

“Luckily I learned English in school, so communication was not a problem, although I was not fluent in English yet. The first months of my exchange I stayed in Edenvale with an English family, who have roots in Slovakia. I lived just next to Edenglen High, where I attended school for the whole year. My host sister was still in France on her exchange and her older sister was already working and was not home often. I spent most of my time with my host parents. They were an amazing family and involved me a lot in their activities,” she said.

She said school was one of the places she experienced the biggest differences between South Africa and Germany.

She never used to wear a school uniform in Germany, for example.

“To be honest I was not very happy in the first month of school. It was difficult to establish myself in the already settled cliques and teachers, as well as students, were intimidating. When I started Grade 11 things changed. My new teachers were more welcoming and integrated me more in the lessons and I could share some perspectives from school in Germany and how we learn things differently. Furthermore, I made new friends and I am going to miss them when I return to Germany,” said Schwarzer.

Rotary organised two tours throughout the year for the long-term exchange students.

In November they were in Cape Town for 10 days, where they visited Robben Island, an ostrich farm, Franschoek and some Rotary projects.

“We had a great time and did too many things to describe. Climbing up Table Mountain and swimming with the penguins were definitely some of my personal highlights. Cape Town had a very special atmosphere, much more relaxed than Johannesburg and everything happens in its own time. Before my trip there everybody told me that Cape Town is the best part of the country, and after I experienced it myself I agree,” she said.

“My Rotary Club here in South Africa is the Edenvale Rotary Club. They did a great job involving me in their club activities and meetings. When possible I joined them at their fundraising projects like selling popcorn or the gift-wrapping for Christmas. I also had a chance to work at the Humanitarian Centre. Participating and engaging in my club was a great opportunity for me to get to know Rotary as an organisation better and to see that it is not only about youth exchange. I’m very thankful that the club agreed to host me and involve me as well,” said Schwarzer.

She said she has grown as a person and has a better understanding of different cultures.

“Rotary opened my eyes to the world and gave me openness to people with a different culture. It made me curious about the world and showed me that not everybody is as privileged as I am. I found a new home in South Africa and this experience will be with me forever, ” she said.

Mindfulness talk at Edenvale Rotary Club