An awesome India experience Past Review
By A student (PSYCHOLOGY., Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/16/2012 to 05/08/2012 with
IFSA/Alliance: Pune - Contemporary India
I learned a LOT about how dynamic Indian society is. It was VERY worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Courses were somewhat helpful, not rigorous at all. Essays felt like busy work, but also allowed me to explore topics that were not fully discussed in class. It may be good that courses were not very rigorous because India is so busy already! I did most of my learning outside of the classroom, with program-led trips and my own exploration. Indian professors operate a little differently than I'm used to, and the program administration was not very responsive when we complained about last minute assignments or unfair tests. Everything worked out in the end, but academics became a point of frustration for me. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was incredibly warm and informative. They listened to all of my concerns and were always available to talk to me. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My homestay situation was ideal... kind family, personal space, good part of the city. It was a 10 minute rickshaw away from the college, but rickshaws are awesome! |
| * Food: |
The program always gave us AWESOME food when they provided it. When they didn't feed us, it wasn't too hard to find delicious food in India. Don't expect a great/diverse breakfast from the Alliance, but they have oatmeal, bananas, and some other things if you want them. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated with the local culture! The program took us all over Pune and taught us the significance of various landmarks. By the time I left, I was able to have a casual conversation with a barrista about local politics. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not need healthcare assistance, so I can only refer to what others on the program told me about their experiences. When you are sick, the program heads force you to see a doctor if you expect to miss class. I have a problem with this policy because I didn't entirely trust the doctors in India. I'm not sure how much information they have about the medications they're prescribing, and they don't know my medical history, so I would have been uncomfortable taking any medications they prescribed. Doctors aren't used to patients asking questions about the medication, so it's hard to get a straightforward answer about what you're taking. I wish the program were more understanding of students who chose to skip the doctor and take meds they brought from home. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe in Pune, but of course there were some scary moments. There was a minor terrorist attack a few years ago, and if you read the local news you'll see that there's always a scary incident or two. But the program always kept us informed and made our safety their priority. |
| 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) |
The exchange rate was VERY favorable. Unbelievably easy to eat and travel on a budget. Dinner is included in program cost, but not lunch. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $40/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy a Lonely Planet book for India and refer to the "budget" section when travelling. |
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 |
I could use little phrases, but the Hindi class itself was terrible. I think they found a new professor to teach the 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? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | It's whatever you make of it. Locals love seeing Americans speak Marathi (the local language), so if you want to practice there are plenty of people to help you. |
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? | They did not find me a good internship for psychology, I wish I had asked to do a Directed Research project. |
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.' |
