Incredible India Past Review
By MmmmK3790 (Neuroscience, Psychology, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 06/15/2015 to 07/31/2015 with
IFSA/Alliance: Pune – Summer in Pune
I learned that Americans are in such a rush all of the time that they are not taking time to enjoy life. I believe some things should be done much faster than they are done in India, but I enjoyed the afternoon chai breaks, not having to be exactly on time, and not starting the day until later. After living in India for seven weeks, I came to appreciate all of the privileges I have in America: not having to worry about whether the water is filtered, having free Wi-Fi practically everywhere, being able to flush toilet paper, and having a shower. I wrote a paper on gender that included crime against women, so I am well aware of the high crime statistics. However, in at least Pune and Mumbai, I did not find India to be the dangerous place it is made out to be. It was absolutely worthwhile, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned more about India in seven weeks than in twenty years. |
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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? |
Nothing about my study abroad experience would have been the same without my homestay. I could not have asked for a better host mom. She was without equal. She was so energetic and always ready to show us something, take us to the market, make us food or tea, answer our calls, or do whatever we wanted to do. I already miss her voice calling our names, telling us to eat enough, and asking what we want. |
| * Food: |
Indian food is absolutely amazing. I definitely could go vegetarian if I lived in India. Breakfast was provided on weekdays at the program center. I had access to pretty much any type of food I wanted on F.C. Road, which was the road perpendicular to the program center. Dinner was provided by my host family, and even though my host mom said she wasn't that great at cooking, we would be to differ because her cooking was always amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was very easily accessible. The program coordinator made a doctor’s appointment for me, and the assistant RD accompanied me for the first appointment. The healthcare system in India is more simple and inexpensive than it is in America. However, it was probably only inexpensive to me because the USD is worth significantly more than the INR. The program suggests you consult with your doctor for which vaccines you should get. |
| * Safety: |
Being a woman and going to India seems to really worry the masses, but I did not have one problem for the entire seven weeks I was in the country. I felt as safe in Pune as I do in America. |
| 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) |
1 USD is worth 60 INR, so everything is extremely inexpensive when compared to America. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $32 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | 10+ |
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 that I wasn't going to get to go shopping for Indian clothes until three days after I arrived because I definitely would have brought more culturally appropriate American clothes. |
