Past Review

By KateC (Community Health and Anthropology, Tufts University) for

SIT Study Abroad: India - Sustainable Development and Social Change

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

My study abroad experience was one of my favorite parts of college. It is such a distinctive sensation to leave a country that you found initially difficult, unfamiliar, and very foreign, feeling like it is home, and that you understand it, at least to some extent. It was empowering to discover how easily I could adapt to circumstances that were so different from those I was used to. My time spent with my host family was wonderful. I really did feel like I was part of their family, and it was so valuable to have that home perspective on life in India. I think what I really loved about study abroad was that everyday was an adventure. Everyday something new happened that challenged, surprised and excited me. Life was unpredictable and that was just so exciting!

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place:	Spring 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The semester I went was only the second semester of this program. Sometimes academic lessons and flow felt a little disorganized, but the academic director was absolutely wonderful, the program staff was very helpful, and the resource people were extremely knowledgeable. I feel confident that any of the kinks will be easily worked out with time.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The India-based staff of the Jaipur program was INCREDIBLE. I have never come across a more dedicated, helpful group of people. Whenever any of us had any sort of concern, need, or want, it was addressed as efficiently and completely as possible. The staff was organized and knowledgable and went out of their way to ensure that we were happy, safe and content. The program size was perfect, and my expectations were far exceeded. I can't say enough nice things about the program and program staff!
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived in a house in Civil Lines with my host family that included my host mom, and my adult host sister. <br /><br /> My location was a 3 minute walk to the program center (other students had to take 40 minute rickshaw rides everyday to and from school). The host families are assigned by SIT, so I had no say. However, I really loved my host family, they were so good to me. There isn't really much nightlife in Jaipur, but the neighborhood was among the nicest in Jaipur and very safe. I walked alone frequently during the day, but because of societal expectations, I was rarely out at night and never by myself.
* Food:	I got to cook Indian food with my host family which was great, and it was delicious. The food at the program center was also amazing! There is little meat in the average Indian diet so vegetarians would find living in India to be quite easy. We had to be very careful where we ate outside of the program center and our homes because cleanliness can be a significant issue. If unclean water gets into your food, it can make you really sick.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Several weekends my group traveled, by choice, all together to various other cities. It was always really fun. I remember one night in Jaisalmer, a desert city, we took camel rides out into the Thar desert and had a huge dinner by campfire. We took many program-led excursions as well to visit all sorts of places. SIT does a great job finding interesting places for us. I could not have asked for a better group of students to share my abroad experience with. I absolutely loved every single person on my program and everyone added something new and wonderful.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	As with any developing country, you can expect to have to be extra careful with food and water. I got very sick during my stay due to eating unclean food. It is part of the experience and it is almost unavoidable. Healthcare in India is easily available, though the system is different from America. Doctors in India are not used to patients with medical knowledge or patients who participate actively in their own care. Safety wasn't really an issue. However, Indians stare at western people, they ask questions, invite you to their homes and generally want to be best friends with you. Particularly for women, this can feel really uncomfortable at times. I felt most safe and secure when I was with someone else. However, I also spent plenty of time on my own and it was just fine. There is little violent crime in Jaipur, so our concern was theft, which never happened to anyone on my trip in the 4 months we were there.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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?	I spent less than 20 dollars a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Living is very cheap in India. Food is mostly provided by the host family and program center. But even eating out, at a nice restaurant, would cost you 3 dollars. The bulk of the money I spent was on gifts to bring home. However, you might expect to spend some money on healthcare.

Language

Language acquisition improvement?	I had no prior experience in Hindi. The Hindi classes were very helpful, but because most of my host family spoke very proficient English, I didn't speak as much Hindi at home as I might have otherwise. I used Hindi when out and about in Jaipur, but even there most people spoke at least a little English.