Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

India: The Most Incredible and Surprising Place on Earth! Past Review

By (Religion/Religious Studies., Austin College) - abroad from 08/25/2013 to 12/06/2013 with

SIT Study Abroad: India - Sustainable Development and Social Change

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I think one of the most important things I learned while being abroad in India was to always look to broaden your perspective on life, there will always be a positive lesson to be found if you are willing to dig deep enough and to allow yourself to get lost in the experience.

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.

Many of the lectures were paired with on-sight visits in the city of Delhi which added a layer of visual understanding to the historical context taught in lectures.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Loved my host family! It really brought the entire experience of living in a foreign country together!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Madhu Auntie was the best Indian cook around and the food provided at the Program House was also delicious, made for a very happy group!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very much apart of everyday Indian culture but at sometimes I felt a little too guarded by the program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never really fell ill, so my rating of this question is defiantly more on the positive end.

* Safety:

Come visit India!

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Less than 100 dollars
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't think in dollar values, but rather in the money rate of your host country.

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

It was nonstop encouragement!

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? I had taken German before
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? Don't just learn phrases but a few words a week while preparing to leave, words that you know if said by itself a person would understand what you are looking for or needing, such as 'water', 'bathroom' or 'help'

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Host Family
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The travel
  • the food
  • the month long independent research!
* What could be improved?
  • The length- it should be longer
  • the amount of chai, I wanted more!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing, I was happy to arrive without expectations to taint my initial experience.

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!