India: Difficult yet Delightful Past Review
By Sohini P (South Asia Studies and Theatre, Wellesley College) for
SIT Study Abroad: India - Sustainable Development and Social Change
Yes. As a South Asia Studies and Theatre major I found this program very rewarding.
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. |
I think the language instruction was the weakest aspect of the program due to the language teachers being unaware of American learning styles. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
my homestay home was quite far from the program center, overall many aspects of the program were unpredictable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was treated like a member of the family and I really enjoyed my time with my homestay family however there were a few privacy issues. |
| * Food: |
The food at the program house was one of the bet aspects of the program. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed all of our excursions throughout India. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Delhi as mentioned above can be dangerous for women if they do not take safety precautions |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | In general everything is cheaper in India which can sometimes lead to excessive shopping |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I was able to use Hindi with my homestay family and with local people. This day-to-day useage really improved my language skills. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Anyone with an interest in South Asia or any of the fine arts should consider this program. |
