Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Pune, India - What you get out of it is what you put into it. Past Review

By (Education Studies and Psychology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/21/2013 to 05/14/2013 with

IFSA/Alliance: Pune - Contemporary India

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be more independent, to speak up when something is not right, and to respect people who devote their lives to a craft, a religion, a way of life.

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.

There was a ton of material overlap between classes, and the length of each class was too long. Lecture style was nice but for every class and every time, it got boring quickly.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I wanted to be with a host family but ended up being placed in the shared apartment. I was disappointed at first but then realized the apartment is the best of both worlds. I got to live with 7 other program students as well as an Indian roommate, and my "host mom" and her son lived in the apartment above me, so I was welcomed into her home and still had the independence of living in the apartment.

* Food:

The food in the shared apartments was top-notch!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got into a traumatic bike accident and broke my right ankle. The program handled the situation wonderfully and I was cared for in 2 hospitals (rural and urban). The built-in program health insurance did everything possible to ensure I was safe, comfortable, and receiving the best care possible before my flight home to America.

* Safety:

As a woman, you must be aware of your surroundings and the next step at all times. Dress appropriately and obey curfew times. Pune has nothing going on after 10pm most nights, and it is hard to find a ride home after 8pm, so plan your night wisely.

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)

Eating out is like $2/meal, so you truly just need to budget for traveling outside of Pune and if you want to buy souvenirs for friends.

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

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? N/A
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? Buy a Marathi language book to help you speak with locals. And do not be embarrassed to use the language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Friends you make
  • The food
  • Field visits
* What could be improved?
  • Classes
  • Program support for making travel plans
  • Internship placement
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Buy things when you see it so you have them when you need it.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Public Health
Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Hemant Apte
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was interesting and stimulated conversation about current public health issues in India. The professor assigned each student to research a topic that would be discussed in class so students could give a US perspective on the issue. We were assessed with short essays after field visits to local villages and ended the semester with a PowerPoint presentation on a topic of our choice. It's helpful to read the articles before class, especially since you might use some articles for papers.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Beginning Hindi
Course Department:
Instructor: Charu Mathur
Instruction Language: English/Hindi
Comments: The Professor means well, but only take this class if your University requires you to do so. A lot of the material has to be memorized, and homework is as confusing as class material is. Learning a new language is challenging, and this environment is not the best way to learn a new language. You'll be just as fine learning Hindi through interactions with Indians outside of the classroom. Besides, Marathi is the local language in Pune.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Social Justice
Course Department:
Instructor: Medha Kotwal Lele
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The topics are informative and the field visits are fun, but the lectures become tedious and boring to listen to after a while. Most of the class is trying to pay attention for an hour and a half while copying information from a PowerPoint. There are 2 essays that are graded, and the professor is not an easy grader.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary India
Course Department:
Instructor: Triveni Mathur
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This is a mandatory course for all students on this program, but I reviewed the course anyway to give you an idea of what to expect. It is all lecture and can be a struggle to stay alert. The professor is so knowledgable of India, but can also go off on tangents, so I recommend writing down what you hear and doodling to keep yourself awake.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A