India will hypnotize you in every possible way! Past Review
By Angela G (Public Health and Business, Franklin & Marshall College) - abroad from 01/18/2013 to 05/15/2014 with
IFSA/Alliance: Pune - Contemporary India
I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone, which allowed me to appreciate such a vibrant culture. It was very worthwhile! Don't be afraid to try something new, as this often brought me the most memorable moments.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic rigor was well balanced. We did have papers and presentations for almost every class, but professors were very understanding. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really enjoyed living with my host mom. She is the nicest and most caring person I met in India! I am very grateful to have had her as my host mom. |
| * Food: |
About 98% of the food I tried in India was beyond delicious! Don't be scared of trying a new dish (even if you don't know how to pronounce it), you never know if it might become your favorite one! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
India has a very welcoming culture, as we even had a welcoming ritual when we first arrived to India! Locals are very friendly as well. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Fortunately, I did not experience any medical difficulty during my stay. |
| * Safety: |
Pune is a very friendly city filled with young and welcoming people. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
Pune did not hurt my wallet too much. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 10 dollars |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | To not leave everything last minute! Whether it was trying out a restaurant, or buying souvenirs, or meeting new people. |
