Enlightening Past Review
By Tamara W (Music and Child Development, Tufts University) - abroad from 08/29/2013 to 12/12/2013 with
Carleton Global Engagement: Buddhist Studies in Bodh Gaya, India
I felt more than I have ever felt before.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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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? |
It was a really fantastic experience to not only live simply, but to do it in a monastic setting. It was a particularly beautiful way to immerse ourselves in the culture as well as focus of our studies: Buddhism. |
| * Food: |
After three weeks, we were given stipends to go out into the town and eat at the local restaurants and stands. The food was absolutely incredible. |
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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? |
To address the concern that invariably comes with living in a third world country, the program employed health buddy systems and rules coupled with a hilarious way of presenting anecdotes that really took the stress away from such a serious topic. |
| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
If this is not including tuition, yes the cost of living was very cheap. |
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 |
Just like any language, it all depends on your willingness to try and have a high level of involvement and use of the language. But if you wanted to, there were always plenty of kind native speakers around to practice with and learn form. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Beginning Hindi |
| 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? | Don't be shy. Make mistakes. |
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 would have known that we actually get a fair amount of internet access. As much or as little as you want, really. I don't think my usage of it would have changed (I went to the internet cafe once a week or less), but I think it may have changed some decisions I made before leaving the states. |
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.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Independent Study |
| Course Department: | Anthropology |
| Instructor: | Robert Pryor |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was an absolutely amazing opportunity, especially for an undergrad. We were given the structure and resources to completely design and carry out independent field projects. The type of work we were able to do, and now have experience doing, is the kind of independent work expected for theses and fullbright type of scholarship. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
