Thank
You………
The journey
is slowly but surely coming to and end and we cannot depart before
we pay our tribute to those who made this life-time experience
possible for us. Therefore, it is my greatest honour and pleasure
to give on behalf of the South African group of 2006 our sincerest
thanks to all involved in this programme:
Firstly,
to our sponsors: DAAD, Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung
und Kunst Baden-Würtemberg and DaimlerChrysler. We can assure
you that you invested your money wisely and that we will forever
be grateful for your generosity.
To all
our lectures throughout the four weeks: Stephan Anders, Dr Iris
Kemmler, Ute Link, Sylvia Kunze-Ritter, Donato Tangredi, Torsten
Woyke, and our two German lectures, Eva Muré and Susanne
Kuhn. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us as well as
for your never-ending patience and encouragement. Your lectures
truly made an impact on us which will not easily be forgotten.
A big
thanks to all companies that we went to on our excursions: CHT
Beitlich, DaimlerChrysler, Ratiopharm, Südwestpress and Adolf
Würth as well as all the museum and factory guides. We whish
you much success for 2006 and hope that the following years groups
will benefit from your hospitality as we did.
To the
cameramen, Armin and Sabrina. Thanks for always being there (Even
behind our backs!!) and for capturing our memories on a CD and
video. We greatly appreciate all your hard word and long hours
behind the lenses.
And of
course, The University of Tübingen, for hosting 23 crazy
students from South Africa. To the rector, Eberhard Schaich, Axel
Markert (Director of International Affairs) and Wolfgang Mekle
(Director of Academic Exchanges). Thank you for your belief in
the programme.
Last,
but definitely not the least. The team: Barbara Owen and her two
assistants Marion Schmidt, Nicki Schaepen and Marthie Smit (Stellenbosch
University). Marthie, thank you for all the arrangements prior
to our arrival to ensure that all 23 students will arrive safe
in Germany. Barbara (alias Sista Babs). What can we say!! Your
positive energy and infectious enthusiasm were an inspiration
to us all. Thank you for all your hard work, endurance, patience,
understanding, generosity and your belief in us. But most of all,
thank you for being a mother to us during these four weeks. Nicki
and Marion, we sure were a handful but your spirits carried us
through snow, ice, wind, up and down mountains, hills, castles,
factories and museums. We greatly appreciate all that you did
for us!
And finally………..to
the "dear students". Each of you contributes in your
unique way to making this an unforgettable experience. We can
all agree that these four weeks have moulded and developed us
in mare ways that we can imagine. The challenge for us lies in
going back to South Africa and sharing the knowledge that we have
gained from this programme and to make a difference. Together,
we truly can achieve this.
Simunye.
We are One.
PS: We would just also like to thank all the bus drivers of busses
1,2,3,4,6 and 7. We will miss you!!!
by Sumari
Schutte
