Listening and Responding to a Call to India Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We had several large papers, internship reports, and book reports to complete throughout the semester. They were graded fairly and although the program is focused on development, each student was challenged and allowed to flourish within his or her particular discipline. Obviously, traveling to a non-Western country, my greatest learning experiences occurred outside the classroom.

On-site administration of your program

They were in constant communication with us, especially during the internship phase of the program. They were all Indian, but their English was great and they are very familiar with American students. When I had to go to the hospital, the administration was very helpful in communicating with hospital personnel and our insurance company.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Home-stays were arranged for us through MSID and included in program costs. I lived with two Indian families; one was middle-class and one was very wealthy. Living with each family showed me two different sides of India. Both homestays were close to either our MSID school or my NGO. The families were very welcoming. At my first homestay family I had a 15 year-old host sister who was very helpful. Homestay families were protective of us, sometimes a little too protective, but overall I developed great relationships with them and plan to return to India for my host brother's and sister's marriage in a few years!

Since our food came from host families, everything was authentic and home-made. Food in India is DELICIOUS...so fresh and so many vegetables. I wasn't well-acquainted with Indian food before living there, but I loved it.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Hearing Dalai Lama speak, attending Jaipur Literature festival, visiting Jaipur Foot factory, visiting local pottery and paper production sites, interviewing children in villages, interacting with children at NFE, visiting Taj Mahal and MANY other ancient forts (Jaipur, Agra, Delhi, Jodhpur), attending an Indian wedding, watching Holi festival from a rooftop restaurant, riding motorcycles through villages

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I caught E-coli and visited Fortis Escorts Hospital for 3 days/2 nights. Hospital staff, program administrators, and insurance company were all very helpful during my illness. I felt a lot safer in India than I have, at times in the US; my definition of "safety" has indeed been redefined by my stay abroad. At first, many aspects of daily living in India seem "dangerous." Example: crossing the road. But one has to "live as they live"...we were advised to brush our teeth with bottled water...that's unnecessary. For the most part, Indians are very caring and if any dangerous incident arrises, people are very willing to be assist. I did take Doryx for as a prophylaxis drug to prevent malaria although it wasn't really needed. I had a vaccine for tetanus, polio, typhoid, and hepatitis A. Some other students had vaccines for Japanese something something, although I heard that was expensive and also unnecessary.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

We practiced language with each other, with our teachers, with rickshaw drivers, with shop owners. Although many Indians spoke English, it was necessary to use Hindi in everyday interactions.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family
• Americans

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• Americans