Incredible India! Past Review
By Kristin W (Spanish, Anthropology, University of Tulsa) for
USAC India: Bengaluru – Culture, Society, and Global Perspectives
India is the perfect location for someone wanting to go somewhere off the beaten path. It is so rich in culture--all kinds of languages, incredible traditions of music and dance, the birthplace of several religions...and on and on and on. USAC was a great introduction to an amazing country, and I definitely want to go back!
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 loved the course offerings. There were a lot of interesting classes to choose from and the workload was not too heavy. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it was sometimes difficult to tell what the professors expected from us, but this could have been a cultural difference. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administration was GREAT. Jacob John, the resident director, was really friendly, funny and knowledgeable, and he went out of his way to help us out. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the girls' hostel. We had giant rooms to ourselves and western style bathrooms attached to our rooms. I loved having Indian students down the hall. I would have liked a little bit later curfew, but it was usually not a problem. It was also nice to be on campus and not to have to walk or take a rickshaw to get to class. |
| * Food: |
SO GOOD. Indian food is just amazing, and it's insanely cheap for really good quality food. If you don't want to leave campus, there are plenty of options around. Don't be afraid to try things that you can't pronounce--you'll find some new favorites! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Trips were great, as were excursions in the city. We went to Mysore as a group one weekend and the palace there is just incredible. Oh AND we rode elephants there. Those of us in the service learning class (and a few others) took a trip to a nearby village another weekend and it was really neat to see a more traditional India than what we saw in Bangalore. Trips really gave us a good idea of the amazing diversity of India. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I didn't have any health or safety issues while I was there. I took malaria pills even though several people on the program did not--it's better to be safe than sorry! |
| 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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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Have an open mind and don't be afraid to try new things. The beauty of India is that there is no shortage of new and exciting adventures. Also, take advantage of how friendly Indians are and make friends with the locals! |
