Aisa Desa Hai Mera (This Land is Mine) Past Review
By Allegra K (Women Gender Sexuality Studies and Asian Studies, American University) - abroad from 08/20/2016 to 05/13/2017 with
IFSA/Alliance: Pune - Contemporary India
Having no expectations and taking life day by day takes away stress and gives you experiences and opportunities that are so worth wild.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Since I was there for a year, I was able to take all of the classes that they offer. All of the classes have amazing professors who keep conversation engaged and helpful to you in your study abroad experience. None of the classes are too difficult, as long as you are trying your hardest then you will get a good grade. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff there is absolutely amazing! They are there throughout your whole study abroad experience. Through your tears, laughs, every single moment. They are there to support you and want to support you. I cannot brag enough about them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I still talk to my host parent to this day. The host arrangements are set up to your needs. The host family really bring you into their home and make you feel like you are apart of their family. They are there for you also throughout your whole experience. My host family is and will forever be my family |
| * Food: |
I am Indian myself so I am a little bias in this. I never had an issue with food. The program is also very helpful and accommodating to your dietary needs. The only thing is that in India, you have to eat everything you put onto your plate, so keep that in mind. If you really don't like or can't eat something be very insistent. It wont be an issue. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Again, being Indian I never felt apart from the culture. India gave me the experience to really get in touch with my cultural roots. I got to visit my family in Kerala and further explore my cultural roots. The program also goes out of their way to introduce you to every aspect of the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The program does a good job if you are sick to take care of you. I only went to the doctor once and it was very helpful. I get sick with sinus infections every once and a while so I just brought prescriptions from my doctor which was helpful. The program really is attentive to your health and will really help you if you are sick. |
| * Safety: |
Safety is never an issue. The program gives good advice in orientation. You have curfew so that is really what protects safety, but safety outside of that isn't ever an issue. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program is so inclusive and gives you such a great experience. I would go back for the staff, my host family, the teachers, and everything about the program. Pune is also just such a great city and I would go back within a second. |
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) |
Living in India is not very difficult financially. Its 68 rupees to a dollar. The most you spend on lunch is five dollars, transportation is only a few dollars as well. You at most most spend ten dollars a week but not even. It is very easy to manage finances. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than 10 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | try not to go out as much, that is where I spent the most money. In addition, plan your travel plans EARLY. Tickets get expensive the more you wait, book it or think about it as soon as you get there. |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | very low beginner |
| 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? | They will teach you Marathi at the beginning of the semester and remember some of those words. Those will be really helpful to you. |
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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| 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? |
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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? | I wish I knew more about what to expect as a trans student. I received an email from the resident director, but I wish that I talked to the other trans student from the program to really know what I would expect from another trans person. That is probably what really caught me off guard in India. |
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 UrbaniteA 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: |
Beginner/Intermediate Hindi |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Sunila Gondhalekar |
| Instruction Language: | Hindi |
| Comments: | Sunila is a great professor! Hindi is hard to learn if you are not familiar with the language. She makes everything very digestable. If you have any issues, she will sit there with you and help you along every step of the way. You are able to learn what you want to learn as well. She prepares great activities, field trips and was and is my favorite teacher! There are tests and homework, but you all create the test together because she wants to see you succeed. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not at all! |
