India is the place for me Past Review
By Ally V (International Relations and Affairs., American University) - abroad from 01/09/2014 to 05/09/2014 with
IFSA/Alliance: Manipal - Global and Public Health
This experience helped be decide that India is truly the place for me and that I should do as much as I can to go abroad as often as I can.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Some professors would have lower expectations for the American students because we were bachelors students in masters courses. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Katie Jo was excellent and Ananda became a very reliable source and a relatable person to confront with issues. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
The mess food was decent, everything else was really great! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think our travel week focused too much on colonialized areas, we stayed at a lot of British and French hotels and not as much roots of India. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any issues with my health so I cannot say for certain. |
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | roughly $50 a week, sometimes even less than that |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I mad sure I had $1500 in my bank account when i arrived in India, and I gradually took from it as I was there through ATMs. I ended up staying for a month after the program ended and still had about $500 left when I came home. Save your money for days when you know you will want to buy a lot of souvenirs. Spend in the beginning to get clothes, food, stuff for your room, but then pace yourself until travel week and you will be fine! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
The language component was not the same language that the locals spoke, and it was not required to take the language course. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you really want to embrace the time here, learn Kannada not Hindi. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is very difficult to transfer credits, and I would be taking classes that were with masters students not bachelors |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
