DESSARY MATAKALA SIMATAA, WINDHOEK

TELL US ABOUT YOU:

”I would like to be a good ambassador and host when visitors from Sweden and Finland come to Windhoek, our capital. I’ll do my very best to make them feel welcome.  

My autumn semester in Karlstad in 2019 became better and better the more I got to know people. It was hard in the beginning  since many were quiet and reserved. So I took the initiative and then they dared to talk to me.  I study to graduate as a social worker at the University of Namibia and during my exchange period in Karlstad I studied culture and globalisation, culture and origin plus did some research on social work.  When I return home, I will study one more semester before my practical placement that will qualify me for working with young people or in palliative care.  

At home, I’ll say that Karlstad University has an excellent library with fantastic staff, efficient systems, and a great deal of material to make use of. The International Office staff were all very accommodating and helped me a lot. What I found odd was the grading system. As a student I put a lot of effort into my studies and then it seemed strange not to get a higher grade then pass with distinction. In Namibia, the grading scale includes two more higher grades. In the future I hope to receive a scholarship so I can return to Sweden for a Master’s degree, but until then everyone visiting Namibia is welcome to contact me via e-mail, also when I’ve started working.”

WHAT DID YOU STUDIED AT KARLSTAD UNIVERSITY?

Under min utbytestermin i Karlstad har jag studerat kultur och globalisering, kultur och ursprung plus att jag forskat lite inom socialt arbete.

EXCHANGE YEAR:

2019