Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An overwhelming and amazing cultural experience! Past Review

By (Philosophy., St. Mary's College of Maryland) - abroad from 01/09/2012 to 05/06/2012 with

IISAC: Pondicherry - Semester in India at Pondicherry University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I feel that my life has been enriched so much by studying abroad. I have learned so much about a culture that I had never really come in contact with before. I learned to no longer be picky about what I eat, worry when things don't go as planned, and to embrace things that happen along the way. I think the thing that I am most proud of is that I have become so much more confident in myself. I am much more independent and no longer afraid to go out and travel by myself. Studying abroad in a country that is so different from my own has made me so grateful for the things that I have while at the same time more open and accepting to the way the rest of the world lives. It has challenged my beliefs, made me think, and provided me with some of the most amazing and magical experiences of my life. Studying abroad in India is one of the best decisions that I have made in my life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Most of the classes were not very rigorous. The Science classes were more rigorous than the liberal arts classes. I found the classes that I took outside the university (we took yoga and classical south Indian dance at a nearby ashram) to be the most rigorous classes that I took. Based on the subject I didn't expect them to require a lot of outside work but at the ashram they seemed to hold us to a higher standard than we were held at the university itself.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Sunny Luke, who ran the program, was absolutely phenomenal. He was with us for our first two weeks in India and ensured that we were introduced to the culture slowly so that we would be completely comfortable. If there was anything that we needed during our stay, either on a personal or academic level, Sunny or his associates were there to help.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We stayed in a hostel designated to the foreign students on campus. I think this hindered our integration with the local culture a little bit. I definitely think that I was exposed to so much and definitely have a much better understanding of the culture. We had complete freedom to travel and go into town and experience what ever we found. But living with other American students allowed us to almost return to our own culture at the end of each day. This was really nice most of the time but I think I would feel more integrated with the culture if I had been immersed in it all the time.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

India is the perfect place to go on a students budget!! Everything is so cheap!

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? probably less than $10
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go somewhere where your money goes further! If you are going to be staying in one place for an extended amount of time search for countries where the cost of living is low. Not only will you save money for other trips but the you will have cultural experiences that you can't find in places where is economy is similar to that of the US and Europe.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • The program director lead us on a two week tour at the beginning so that we could ease into the culture.
  • The option of taking classes at a nearby ashram.
  • We had a lot of time to travel on our own.
* What could be improved?
  • It would have been nice if was a little easier to figure out a schedule of classes
  • Communication between the professors and students
  • I would have enjoyed learning more about the religious traditions of the culture
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I entered into the program not really knowing anything about where I was going. I learned so much while I was there but I think that it was really good that I learned all those things while I was there. There is no substitute for learning through experience.