Exploring the Buddha's teachings in Boudhanath, Nepal Past Review

By A student (Religion, Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 05/01/2015 with

Rangjung Yeshe Institute: Nepal - Center for Buddhist Studies Summer Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Learned a tremendous amount about Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhism in general, and the issues that are facing the transition of Buddhism to Western cultures. In addition, learned how to live on my own in a developing foreign country. One of the most worthwhile things I have ever done in my life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Rigorous classes taught by over-qualified professors.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Wonderful student counselor, Tina Lang, can help with any issues you might have.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Lived in a homestay with a Tibetan family for the entire year and loved it. I plan to return to Nepal soon to reunite with them, and the dozens of other friends I made there.
* Food:	Tibetan and Nepali food is filling, though not particularly varied. The restaurant at the monastery where the institute is located, however, serves delicious and healthy vegetarian lunches.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Very integrated. If you put the time into learning Tibetan, it opens up a whole new culture and way of life that you may not have believed was possible before you came into contact with it.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	There are many decent hospitals in Kathmandu; the best of them is CIWEC clinic, which provides medical care at Western standards with a friendly, helpful, English-speaking staff.
* Safety:	Despite the disarray of traffic, which includes cows and goats, Kathmandu is a pretty safe city and I had no serious safety-related incidents. Just don't go out at night alone, but that is sound advice for nearly anywhere.
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)	Nepal is very cheap. Think $100 rent/month for a decent apartment, and filling meals for under $3 a piece.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$20-30
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Live in a homestay--you often can get food included with your rent and so you don't have to eat out. Take public transport instead of taxis, and always bring your Kathmandu University student identity card with you--it allows you to get discounts at tourist sites.

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	Learning Tibetan at RYI is optional, but most students are there to learn about Tibetan Buddhism, and so it makes sense to learn the language. RYI is helpful in encouraging students to speak Tibetan, but it is more of a personal choice if you really want to put in the hours to learn 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?	Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	N/A
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?	Live in a homestay! Speak as much as possible, even if you think you don't know how to say anything. You will get the hang of it eventually.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	living with Tibetan host family making friends who are interested in Buddhism interactions with Tibetan lamas and monks
* What could be improved?	classes could be a bit harder for students who are already trained in Western academic tradition
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Most people you need to interact with in Kathmandu will speak some English, so it is not a problem to not learn Nepali. That said, it is nice to learn the language of the country where you live.

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 Linguist You 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:	TSTD 101 Buddhist Philosophy and Hermeneutics
Course Department:	Specialized Textual Studies
Instructor:	Khenpo Urgyen Tenphel, translator Joost palenstijn
Instruction Language:	Tibetan, live translation into English
Comments:	Depending on how much basic knowledge you have about Buddhist philosophy, the course could be very challenging. Course was taught in traditional Tibetan monastic manner, which involves long, daily lectures and lots of memorization with little class participation. However, there was one review class per week during which students could discuss important themes with Joost or the TA, Jo Donnovan. Course did not offer field trips, but did make us of the location in that the course is the kind of course that is normally offered at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The professor, Khenpo-la, was extremely knowledgable and well-versed in Buddhist scripture, with the ability to quote passages of famous texts at random. Participated about the same amount as at home institution. Assessed by reflection papers, exams (which are nearly entirely memorization of lists and key concepts), and one research paper at the end of the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	TLAN 103 Colloquial Tibetan I
Course Department:	Himalayan Languages
Instructor:	Cyntia Font
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Great introduction to spoken Tibetan language. Made great use of location by having tri-weekly sessions with language partners who were local Tibetans. Cyntia is a knolwedgable scholar of Tibetan language and religion and is a great teacher who makes learning Tibetan fun, but is not afraid to push you enough to make sure you learn it well. Participated just as much as at home institution. Assessed by weekly quizzes, homework, and a midterm and final (the latter included an oral component).
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	TLAN 101 Classical Tibetan
Course Department:	Himalayan Languages
Instructor:	Cyntia Font
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Great introduction to Classical Tibetan language. No field trips but made use of location in that it is amazing to be studying the language in which the scriptures of the monastery we were studying at were preserved. Cyntia is a knowledgable scholar of classical Tibetan and has herself translated several texts. Participated just as much as at home institution. Assessed by homework, weekly quizzes, a midterm and final.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	BSTD 409 Independent Research Project
Course Department:	Critical Studies in Buddhist Doctrine
Instructor:	Tracy Joosten
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Entitled "Buddhism and Development," this independent study project looked at different meanings of development, and in the end focused on the contemporary movement of "engaged Buddhism."
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	BSTD 203 Fundamentals of Buddhist Philosophy
Course Department:	Critical Studies in Buddhist Doctrine
Instructor:	Karin Meyers
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Great introduction to Buddhist philosophy and the different interpretive approaches one might follow when reading Buddhist scripture. Did not have field trips, but the class itself was unique and special since it included such a variety of students--from a handful of Western college students, including me, "studying abroad," to local Tibetans and Nepalis, some of whom were monks. Participated about the same as at home institution. Assessed by three short papers, and two longer papers. Karin is an accomplished scholar of Buddhism. Although her graduate work focused on Pali sources, she is quite knowledgable about Tibetan Buddhism as well.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	TSTD 102 Buddhist Philosophy and Hermeneutics II
Course Department:	Specialized Textual Studies
Instructor:	Khenpo Urgyen Tenphel, translator Joost Palenstijin
Instruction Language:	Tibetan, live translation into English
Comments:	Continuation of TSTD 101. Completed the seminal Buddhist text, Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara ("The Way of the Bodhisattva").
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	TLAN 104 Colloquial Tibetan II
Course Department:	Himalayan Languages
Instructor:	Cyntia Font
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Continuation of TLAN 103. By the end of the course, able to have comfortable conversations in Tibetan!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	TLAN 102 Classical Tibetan II
Course Department:	Himalayan Languages
Instructor:	Cyntia Font
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Continuation of TLAN 101. By end of the course, able to read and translate Tibetan texts!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	BSTD 304 Madhyamaka Thought
Course Department:	Critical Studies in Buddhist Doctrine
Instructor:	Philippe Turenne
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Challenging course on Madhyamaka philosophy. No field trips, but fact that the class is made up of such a diverse group of students (including local Tibetans) makes the class itself a field trip of sorts. Philippe is an expert on Madhyamaka and wrote his dissertation about it. Participated about the same as at home institution. Assessed by two short papers, and a midterm paper, and a final research paper.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	BSTD 102 Buddhist Traditions: History and Culture II
Course Department:	Critical Studies in Buddhist Doctrine
Instructor:	James Gentry
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Took as non-credit class since was interested in the material and enjoyed lectures by the brilliant and entertaining professor, James Gentry.
Credit Transfer Issues: