How Johannes was enchanted by Colombia's diversity
It has now been six months since Johannes spent his winter semester in Colombia at the University of EAFIT . The student is still amazed by the country's diversity: "In a small boat in the Pacific, watching whales off Colombia's west coast and accompanying turtles on their first journey into the sea on the beach in the morning. Travelling through the desert in a jeep, along the Caribbean coast on the way to the northernmost point of South America or observing the vibrant city of eternal spring, Medellín, surrounded by mountains."
After Johannes had successfully completed the application phase at the International Office and secured one of the coveted places, his details were passed on to EAFIT. Together with three fellow students, the IBS student booked a room in a co-living flat. There were seven rooms in the apartment, in which students from many different countries lived. Johannes particularly appreciated his accommodation, which was in El Poblado, for its central location and proximity to the university. Before his departure in Germany, Johannes had already made contact with other applications with the help of the International Office, which made things a lot easier for him during the preparation time at home and on site in Colombia.
Gaining ECTS as well as experience
"The Learning Agreement is super important if you want to take home not only experience but also ECTS. The best way to do this is to follow the instructions on the WiWi Faculty website," explains the 23-year-old. In addition to three management courses, the IBS student also had English V+VI and Español V+VI recognised. "It's all a lot of bureaucracy, but it's worth it. Personally, I got very good grades abroad and still had plenty of free time to explore the country and its people. It is advisable to have the Learning Agreement finalised before departure, but changes can also be made from Colombia."
After arriving in Colombia, orientation days were organised for the international students. The semester started for Johannes in July 2021, although the summer semester in Paderborn had not yet been completed. He was able to write exams from Medellín due to distance learning. However, the student is sure that exams can be brought forward without any problems if there are any overlaps in the classroom teaching. He spent his semester abroad at a private university with numerous cafés, food courts, a gym and a well-equipped library. "It felt like a privilege to be able to study at a university like that." Unlike what Johannes was used to at UPB, there was a lot of group work, mid-term exams and discussions. Most of the courses were held in English and a few in Spanish.
Starting out, friendships and language skills
At the "Orientation Day", Johannes got to know many international exchange students and played the "usual familiarisation games" with them. Johannes recommends that anyone interested in a semester abroad should make lots of contacts during this initial period in order to make friends and get to know potential flatmates for shared accommodation. During a tour, he also got to know the campus and all the organisational processes. "I was shown around directly by my contact at the International Office. At the beginning and also during the semester, I could always turn to them if I had any questions or problems." Communication during my stay was "very straightforward and uncomplicated" via WhatsApp. Although Johannes was able to fall back on numerous language skills as an IBS student, he still decided to take an intensive Spanish course at the EAFIT language centre in order to be able to interact with locals outside of the university - as the 23-year-old sums up: "Of course, it is advisable to speak a lot of Spanish during the semester abroad, para que mejores tu Español." At the end of the semester, he received a transcript of records, a certificate of all his achievements at EAFIT. The IBS student had already finished his exams by the end of November, so he decided to travel further within Colombia to get to know the country and its culture even better.
"A salsa course is highly recommended"
Looking back, Johannes describes Colombian culture as "outgoing and extroverted" and fondly remembers the many parties where there was a lot more dancing than he was used to at home. But the IBS student also describes cultural life in general as a unique experience: "Colombian food is very hearty, but there is a large selection of international food in Medellín. The fruit is great. It's completely different, much bigger and fruitier than you're used to in Germany. People often drink fruit juices or Colombian coffee. In the evening, beer, aguardiente, rum and cocktails." Johannes would recommend a stay in Colombia at the Universidad EAFIT in Medellín to all students who want to improve their language skills and get to know a completely new culture. "Both academically and emotionally, the semester in Colombia had a positive impact on me."
Johannes recommends these apps for a smooth start to the semester abroad:
- Uber, Cabify, DiDi Driver
- Skyscanner
- Rappi (delivery service)
- Currency converter
- TripAdvisor/ Get Your Guide
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