I miss Bhutan every day! July 01, 2025
By A student (Environmental Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/27/2025 to 05/09/2025 with
The School for Field Studies / SFS: Bhutan - Bhutan - Himalayan Studies
I'm grateful I was able to learn a lot about a country with little representation in the West, especially in regards to the way Bhutan approaches environmental conservation. Most surprisingly, I learned a lot about myself along the way. It was definitely worthwhile and an absolutely unforgettable experience.
Review Photos
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. |
The program was not as academically rigorous as I initially expected, but it made up for this with the amount of hand-on experiences and field visits we participated in. All our professors were extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the subjects they taught, and were very willing to have conversations with us about the local culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was clear that all the program administrators cared deeply about our well-being. Our health and wellness manager in particular went above and beyond to ensure everyone was healthy both physically and emotionally. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The campus we lived in was formerly a hotel, so each room had its own bathroom with a Western toilet and shower. I was one of the few people with only 1 roommate, but many of my classmates had 2-3. |
| * Food: |
The food was delicious, but I did wish there were more non-meat protein options for my classmates who were vegetarian/vegan. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were often encouraged to talk to local residents, who were very willing to have conversations with us if approached. We also had a homestay experience with a local family in Phobjikha Valley for two nights, which allowed us to further integrate into the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Norovirus and food poisoning were consistent issues throughout the program, and were often challenging to address because everyone lived in such close quarters. In general, it's a good idea to always wash your hands before and after every meal and avoid drinking the tap water. Before the program, I was also required to get a rabies vaccine, which is no longer mandatory. |
| * Safety: |
Paro was an extremely safe city, with the main concern being the amount of stray dogs. Many were friendly, but some were extremely aggressive/territorial. |
| 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? | $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Talk to the professors to see if there are better places to buy souvenirs. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | Beginner |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | It's a good idea to start reviewing the Dzongkha alphabet as soon as you can, since the language aptitude test happens much sooner than expected. |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | As one of the only POC students in a predominantly white cohort, there were times when I felt isolated and uncomfortable because of insensitive comments my classmates would make around me. I wish I knew beforehand that I didn't have to keep my concerns to myself for so long, and that there were always people around me willing to listen and help. |
