???????? Greetings from South Africa ????????

South Africa - between giraffes, elephants and purple flowers

Master's student Jaqueline spent her semester abroad in South Africa and we are delighted to be able to share it with you: Hello, I'm Jacky, 24 years old and I was able to spend my third semester at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

About half a year ago, I decided quite spontaneously to spend my semester abroad in South Africa. Looking back, I have no regrets about going. Even though the country in and of itself has its challenges, of course.

What I liked most about my semester abroad was the chance to meet lots of new people and to gain insights into my studies that I would never have had in Austria. For example, I had the opportunity to work with the Namibian Tourism Board and also to help with the preservation and marketing of tourist attractions in the townships of South Africa.

My favorite month in Pretoria was November because the jacaranda trees started to bloom everywhere and the whole ground was covered in purple flowers. It looked incredibly beautiful! At the same time, however, the exam period started and the stress level at the University of Pretoria is not without its challenges, which made me feel desperate at times.

But my highlight was traveling through South Africa. I saw elephants, zebras and even cheetahs just five meters away. I was able to enjoy sunsets that became more beautiful every second, marvel at lush green mountain landscapes and see sandy beaches that were almost as white as snow.

South Africa is an incredibly interesting country with a diversity of nature that cannot be compared to any other country in the world. It's not for nothing that people here call it "a world in one country".

In conclusion, I would say that the last six months have definitely changed my perspective on the world and I am grateful for every experience I had there.