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And how are things in Stellenbosch?

This summer I moved to the student town and the center of the winelands: Stellenbosch in South Africa for a few months. I started with a holiday and quickly discovered pluses and minuses of a country with a colonial history.

by
photo Tim Stek

The first week I got a very warm welcome from my 1st-year bachelor roommate, which meant we went out until the late hours with brandy and mixed drinks because apparently, a normal beer is not the norm here. I thought I outgrew these nights during COVID as an ‘old’ Electrical Engineering master's student, which was also proven the next day. Luckily for me, in the second week, I also got to know other master's students, who also learned that a normal human being cannot go out every night.

At one of the many wine farms in the Stellenbosch area, with Hans (left).

This was my first experience at Stellenbosch University, but at that moment I was already in South Africa for a few weeks together with my friend Hans. I thought starting with a 3 week's holiday was a nice way to start my internship and explore the country. And wow what a beautiful country it is!

Hike at Robberg, where Tim Stek saw the rough Indian Ocean and hundreds of seals.

We have seen all types of climates; from the vast desert where you encounter more wild animals than people to the rough ocean where the Dutch and British fought to colonize this gorgeous country. The effects of the colonization are still visible, for example in the language Afrikaans, which is very similar to Dutch.

Tim Stek prepares a nice braai lunch in the middle of the desert.

Another -negative- effect can also be seen in the extreme inequality you find in every city, town, or village you pass. I think that for every person living in a normal house, there is also a person living in a slum of that place.Sometimes the township is just on the other side of the road as a big gated community with large villas most Dutch people even can’t afford.

A Safari near the Swartberg, where Tim Stek saw giraffes, hippos, and buffalo.

Next to this confronting side of South Africa, I see a lot of very beautiful sides though, such as the beautiful nature, delicious food, and great wines! The wine tasting tours here are one of the best inventions ever, you start at 10 in the morning with your first 5 glasses of wine and during the day all the people you meet at the farms are getting less sober and happier and happier.

This adventure has been already fantastic, while I’ve only just started with my internship. Sometimes I do miss my friends and family in the Netherlands, which can be hard, but this is a lifetime experience and I can’t wait for the next few months!

Hike through the Wolfberg Cracks, in the Cederberg area.
"For our trip through the desert, we hired a 4x4 car". All photos | private collection Tim Stek

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