Amazing cultural experience with a disappointing academic component Past Review
By Layne Sinkhorn (Berea College) - abroad from 08/28/2017 to 12/01/2017 with
IISAC: Odisha - Science Semester Abroad
Understanding how other cultures that are on the extreme opposite end of the spectrum from the culture I am from live and function. I believe that I am a more well rounded individual because of my experience and that makes it all worthwhile
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
To be honest I was expecting a lot more. India is known for being extremely academically challenging and is on the forefront of engineering education. However I did not find this to be true in my experience. I was taking one on one classes with professors. Professors were often late to class and often didn't even show up. I would not receive an email or text regarding their absence and would often be asked to come at different times to make up the classes that they missed. I had an extremely full schedule and thus was unable to do this. The assignments and exams were also sub par. I felt like they were not expecting much out of me and even when I asked for extra work or more critical grading I was not pushed. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was the only student from IISAC and the only student from the United states. I was left on my own quite often and didn't interact with the administration almost at all. I still have yet to receive my grades even though I was told I would have them weeks ago. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My living arrangements were great. I was placed in a guest house of the university and it was well above the standard I was expecting. |
| * Food: |
Food in the guest house was often the same thing every day. However it was always very good. The food around the university and Indian food in general is amazing. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Due to being left on my own, and making a conscious effort to insert myself into the local social culture I felt very connected and enjoyed this aspect of my abroad experience the most! |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare through the university was great. Understand that it is not the same standard of healthcare here in the U.S. However it was more than acquit. My program did not assist at all the one time I needed medical attention. I was left on my own to handle it. I did need vaccinations to travel to India but nothing out of the ordinary. |
| * Safety: |
I am a large male and never felt in danger. However, the city is not the safest place and if I were smaller or female I would be careful of when I traveled, where I went, and I would not travel alone. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I rated the overall experience the way I did because I was most excited about that aspect of it from the start. I would do it over again because I always wanted to go to India and this program allowed me to do that and not have to spend extra time in school. |
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | All food was provided and expenses covered. I payed for food when I wanted to eat out and expenses when I traveled. approximately $10 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If planning a trip, plan in advance and ask the people around you about money saving was to do everything you want. When shopping if by yourself go to a market that has its prices listed, or take a local friend with you. |
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? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None is Hindi |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Spend time speaking it. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Classes are not as important and I would have used more time to travel and experience more of 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 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.' |
