South Africa up closeExchange students presented their country at Aalen University
South African exchange students presented their country during the “International Evening highlighting South Africa” event. Photo: Tlholo Melamu
Recently, exchange students from South Africa presented their country, their traditions and their history during the “International Evening highlighting South Africa” event. The event was rounded off with culinary delicacies from South Africa as well as singing and dancing performances.
Over 75 guests listened eagerly to the seven exchange students from Aalen University's three South African partner universities - the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein (CUT), the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark (VUT) and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town (CPUT) - who reported on the so-called Rainbow Nation. The lecture was a brief insight into the diversity of South Africa - from the philosophy around Ubuntu to the country's sights to religion and multilingualism. The students talked, explained, danced and sang. After the lecture, guests were able to try home-cooked food at the buffet.
The seven-person team from South Africa organized the festive evening event independently and was visibly touched by the great interest of the audience. “Aalen University gave me and other South African exchange students the opportunity to think about our country, South Africa. I realized once again how much I love it. I was also able to tell others about its diversity, its strengths and weaknesses, and the spirit of Ubuntu that shapes the country's social structure. I am eternally grateful for that," said Tlholo Melamu, exchange student from CUT, Bloemfontein, after the event.
This was followed by a question and answer session. When university chaplain Tobias Obele asked about their very first impressions upon arriving in Aalen, the answers from the seven students were very varied. What they particularly noticed first was the quiet, cleanliness and orderliness, they say with a smile. The students were looked after before and during the event by the Evangelical and Catholic University Community of Aalen (EKHG) and the Intercultural Club of the International Center.