Testimonial: Exchange Program

Christian Burkert, a Media, Communications and Culture student at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University spent some time on an exchange program at St Cloud University in the USA. Read more about Christian's experience here.

Christian Burkert decided to extend his studies in Media, Communication & Culture on from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to an exchange program in the USA.

Name: Christian Burkert
Studying at: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Study: BA in Media, Communication & Culture

After one and a half years of study at NMMU, I felt like an adventure… but I didn’t want to extend my degree by taking time off. That’s when I heard about the exchange programs offered by our International Office. After looking at several different countries, I decided to apply for a university in the United States called St. Cloud State University. I couldn’t believe my luck when I got accepted!

The work was pretty hard, but it was different, and so it was exciting. The people were friendlier then I could have ever imagined. And let’s not forget about the parties! Messing around in the snow, watching the ice hockey team cream the ‘Gophers’… even eating at the school cafeteria was a different experience!

After 5 months of studying, some friends and I rented a car and drove down the West Coast stopping in Los Angeles, San Francisco and even crossing the border into Mexico! It’s those memories that stay with you forever.

When you take partake in an exchange program to another country, you experience more than just a different culture, you experience another way of life altogether! And whilst it may be confusing (and sometimes scary!) at first, you learn to adapt to it and appreciate all the differences. Meeting new people, visiting new places, eating new foods…. All these experiences  that you encounter on your trip help you to grow in confidence, maturity, and as a person in whole. An exchange program really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I would recommend it to anyone!

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