Challenging but memorable and growthful Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/13/2016 to 11/18/2016 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Delhi
Flexibility and adaptation. Insight into a new culture and inspirational travels.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
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 |
The program only had two staff members, and having more members would be helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment is spacious and comfortable. |
| * Food: |
Students were responsible for their own food and finding appropriate food options was difficult. I hired my own cook but there was a language barrier between us. Food delivery services are available but finding a healthy option will require time and effort. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Although I felt a great appreciation for Indian culture, attempts of cultural integration by the program (such as arranging monument visits, more cinema visits, recommending appropriate social events for students) would have been very helpful. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The program managers were very helpful in finding healthcare services for me when I was unwell during the program. |
| * Safety: |
Although going around Delhi was relatively safe, thefts and pick-pockets are very common. I lost my mobile phone to a pick-pocket on the Delhi metro. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I would choose a program that allows me to travel and be immersed in Indian culture. The current program places little emphasis on cultural immersion and exploration. I was left at my own device to explore and benefit from this experience. |
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) |
Food and transportation are very affordable in India. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Avoid using ATMs as foreign transaction and ATM fees are expensive. Get a traveler's debit card from home bank to avoid foreign transaction fees. Money transfer options such as Western Union can be more economical. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| 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? | 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? | Practice with friends and roommates. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Adaptation Language |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Indian Philosophical Text |
| Course Department: | Philosophy |
| Instructor: | Silika Mohapatra |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | The course goes deep into the philosophy of the 11th century Buddhist sage Nagarjuna. Although the assignments and tests for this class are not challenging, an interest in the subject area is essential to benefit from this class. Classes were irregular because of scheduling problems by St Stephen's College. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Ethics |
| Course Department: | Philosophy |
| Instructor: | Vijay Tankha |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class explores a wide range of ethics, covering the topics of Bhagavad-Gita, Confucianism, Islamic thought, and Western ethics. The instructor mostly gave lectures and presentations. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | N/A |
