Emden in Austria for the International Week

Transcription

1 Emden in Austria for the International Week 1 st day for the international group. The 14 th of April, 6 students, Marine, Eva, Annika, Helena, Karolin and Hivda from the Sozial Arbeit department of the University of Applied Sciences Emden / Leer went to Sankt Pölten in Austria to participate to the International Week. I have followed the development of this week for one of the German student, Marine Danniou, and ask her how she leaved this experience. After 10 hours of travel (train, bus, flight, bus, taxi), the students finally arrived at night in their accommodation: one old monastery, in the middle of the fields, called Maria Ward Haus Lilienhof. One paper was waiting for the international students, saying to ring and someone would come to open the door. Indeed, one none came to welcome them and show them the room for 12 people where they were going to sleep. The International Week is to gather people from different countries to talk about the work of social managers and to share the experiences of social work from different countries, as well as the different ways to do it. This will be set up by few workshops that the participants will have to choose and participate during the week. Some of them are carrying out by teachers or social workers, and some by the international students themselves. This International Week takes place every year in different countries and in English to permit the participants to communicate with each other s. 1

2 The students have been welcomed warmly, even if they didn t expect this hosting framework. They discovered the day after during the breakfast, the others participants of the program, which were also, accommodated in the same hostel, but in different room. After the breakfast everybody took the train to join the university and start with the program. The organizers of the week were waiting for the international students. They welcome them with presents and lead them to the room where the presentation of the program took place. When we arrived there, the coordinators were waiting for us with some presents like notebook, typical drink from Austria and with the program of the week. They were really warmly and did their best to take care of us Marine The coordinator of the program, Andrea Pilgerstrofer, had prepared one presentation of the week and the university of Sankt Pölten. She asked to everybody to move the chairs in one circle, as it is usual to do in social work. And then the different groups introduced themselves and their universities. After all the presentations, some games were prepared to get to know each other. The games were a really good idea to build faster good relationships between the participants, because it s always a bit complicate at the beginning. In the entrance of the university was written the names of the different countries participating to the program. The participants had to register before to take part of the week. The real part of the program started after the lunch with the workshops carries out by the participants. The workshops took place during 4 hours approximately. And some took place during two days. It was maybe a bit long for some students. The first day the workshop I chosen Psychological Interventions in Case Management took place during four hours, so even if it was interesting, it was a bit long for me and difficult to keep following until the end The workshops were about different subjects, and the participants had the possibilities to choose them. For the lunch the students got 3 tickets paid by the host university to eat in the Mensa. The students could eat outside and enjoy the sun, on the grass. Indeed the weather was really good the all week (around 25 C). The university in Sankt Pölten is modern and with a lot of green areas. It is pleasant to study and have a break there. Everything is thought for the students and to create a comfortable atmosphere. We were enjoying the sun between the different activities and workshops offered by the universities The 6 girls from Emden enjoying the sun, with one view of the university on the background. 2

3 Presentation of the University of Applied Sciences Emden / Leer For example on Monday, the subjects suggested were : - Psychological Interventions in Case Management - The concepts of welfare new style and the T- shaped professional. The social worker as a generalist and a specialist - Vocational training and education in Germany - the dual system (a European comparison) All the subjects seemed really interesting, so it was sometimes difficult to choose. The workshops took place in a friendly atmosphere and all the participants had to give their opinion and to participate to the activities. It was particularly interesting because it was not only people from Austria who were doing the workshops, but also people from Belgium, Nederland, Chechen, Poland I liked the international aspect of the program. It permitted to share our point of view, culture and behavior through the social work. Except the workshops, some visits and activities were organized by the University of Sankt Pölten, for the participants. On Monday, there was one guided tour and sightseeing of St. Pölten. The participants had the possibilities to choose between two groups, German or English guide speaker. For my part I choose the English group, it was easier for me. I think it was a good idea to let the choice to the participants, because there were a lot of German speakers and some of them had some difficulties with to speak and understand english. With this initiative, everyone had the possibility to enjoy the city tour. At night one welcome party was organized in the Musikcafé EGON. With Dj and dinner paid by the university. It was a good beginning to get to know the others participants; the frame of the party was friendly and relaxed. We get more closed to the others, even if we stayed more with the German speakers, like for example the people from Hamburg and Bremen. It s maybe one bad point of the week. Here one the workshop on Tuesday: Care Work and Case Management from a radical structural approach 3

4 On Tuesday, the workshops took place the all day and one dinner was organized for the lecturer s. The others participants had free time at night and some of them decided to meet each other and spend time all together during one dinner. We ate in one Greek restaurant, talked about our different cultures, the workshops, our expectations for the week, the university It was a good moment. And the weather was perfect. I was really glad to spend good time with so different people and to share this kind of moment On Wednesday afternoon, the participants got free time. There were allow visiting the city, doing shopping or like some of them, go to visit Vienna. I went to visit Vienna for my part, with some others participants (Danish, Slovenian and co ). It was the perfect occasion to visit a little bit the country. For my part I had never ever went there, so I was really glad to go. We did sightseeing, some shopping and try the famous chocolate from the Hotel Sacher. More than only learn about social work, for me it was one week to discover other cultures, learn about our differences, and visit one new country. I was not disappointed. We had a really good time all together and build good relationships in spite of the differences between the people. German, Danish, Slovenian and people from Nederland sharing a dinner in one Greece restaurant in Austria. Another activity organized by the university and more related to the social work, was the field visit of Emmaus City Farm, on Thursday afternoon. The goal of this activity was to show to the participants how work the social managers. And what it is done in Austria to help the people without employment and the disabled people to find a job,. The visit was organized by the social managers working in the fields. So the participants had the possibilities to ask them directly questions about their work and how and by which means, do they help their clients to find a job. I was really surprised of the framework of those fields. I didn t expect that it was possible to work in this kind of areas to help the people and cheer them up to find a job. It was interesting for me to visit those fields and see in reality how the social managers work, and not only participate to some workshops where you learn only about the theory The famous chocolate from the Hotel Sacher. 4

5 The Emmaus City Farm. After the visits, was the farewell party, because every good thing has one end. The university had booked one restaurant for the participants, the Seedose, with one view on the water. It was time for the first goodbye; it was a bit sad because of the good friendships built during the week. I was just a bit disappointed because the party was really short, so we didn t have time to talk so much this night. But we had to wake up early the day after, so this was maybe the reason. To resume this experience from my point of view, I think this International Week is a really good thing to learn more about the social work, but it s also a good way to discover a new country, learn about different cultures and people, and share your own with them. We have been really warmly welcomed in Sankt Pölten, and everything was done to make us feel comfortable and spend a good week. The participants were friendly and the workshops particularly interesting (but maybe a bit long sometimes and it could be a good idea to let the students do their own workshops too). I also appreciated and enjoyed my free time there. I just regret that we didn t have so much contact with the Austrian people. For the other international people I had a good time with them, even if I didn t keep a lot of contact. I am really glad to have participated to this great experience! On Friday, came the final evaluation and certifications. The participants had to give grade for the weather, the workshops, the city and if they would like to come back one day. One huge breakfast was prepared and the participants received all their certification of participation. Everybody said goodbye to each other and exchange their address to keep contact. The ceremony of certifications. 5