"The experiences from Vietnam laid the foundation for the path ahead"
Unsure about what to do after high school? A semester or academic year abroad can broaden your horizons and provide you with new perspectives that can help you figure out what you want to do next.
Rebekka (27) stumbled upon Kulturstudier completely by accident:
– I was actually searching for studies in Norway, when I suddenly saw an ad for Kulturstudier.
I really wanted to do something completely different after high school, like traveling, maybe studying – and this hit the bullseye!
– I looked through which countries I could choose to travel to and immediately fell in love with Vietnam. When I saw the pictures of Hoi An and its surroundings, I dreamed away. I actually decided that very day that I wanted to go there. And I did not regret that decision!
The experience of being in such a nice and warm climate, cycling to school with the others, and just experiencing a completely new culture, made the whole stay incredibly fascinating and great.
– The study was exciting, and we had many different lecturers from various countries.
It was interesting to learn about history, causes of poverty, climate challenges, politics, and to get a taste of how a country operates, which factors can lead to various positive and negative outcomes for different groups in a society.
Hoi An is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With its colorful lanterns, charming shopping streets, and striking temples and buildings dating back to the 17th century, it's easy to see why tourists flock to Hoi An. But students also travel out of the city to see more of Vietnam:
– We traveled on fieldwork to the village of Katu, which is a few hours by bus from Hoi An. Here we learned about climate challenges and what the workday looked like for the people living there.
We got to meet the villagers and interview them, and we slept outside in a kind of tent. I still remember this weekend very well.
Most people who travel with Kulturstudier don't know any of the other students beforehand. For many, it is also the first time they will live away from home and be away from family and friends for an extended period.
Our local staff will assist you in making the most of your stay, and act as a safety net for you should you need help.
– When I traveled to Vietnam, it was also the first time I was going to live away from home, and I learned a lot during the period I lived in Hoi An.
I also chose to travel a few months after my studies were completed. The 10 weeks in Hoi An ensured a smooth transition to traveling alone, as I was already accustomed to being on my own in a foreign country for an extended period.
– The knowledge and experiences from the semester in Vietnam laid the foundation for my path forward. I grew a lot as a person during my stay. The human encounters and the culture I got to experience have stayed with me ever since. I think it's nice to step a little outside one's comfort zone and challenge oneself.
Even though I am working on something else today, and did not continue studying development studies, it was still a very educational semester, and it has helped shape me as a person!
