Semester with the Alliance Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Indian education system does not allow students a chance to have discussions amongst each other or with the professor so students rarely get a chance to explore or discuss many of the questions and controversies that can arise everyday. The Alliance had problems booking classrooms on a college campus so classes often were placed in buildings not related to a college or seemingly abandoned.

On-site administration of your program

Administration was good! I do believe that Indians work on a different schedule and share different values when it comes to looking after young people but they provided us with most of the things we needed and were always available.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I will in the beginning say, The Alliance Program allows you to choose the option of homestay or hostel. This semester a week before the program started the hostel option was removed and all students were assigned homestays. As one of the students who chose this program specifically for the hostel option (because I believe staying amongst college students allows you to have a pulse on current topics), I was disappointed in the disregard shown towards people who'd really wanted the option. On the bright side however, I had a wonderful housing arrangement. I do think living with a host family in India requires some getting used to because you do become a child in the family instead of an adult. With this program you WILL have a 9-10pm curfew and there isn't much you can do about it. You WILL be force fed if you aren't willing to force your host parents to back off the food. But it's an amazing way to immersed in India, from the perspective of a child growing up there.

Food took some getting used to but when I did I loved it!!! The food is amazing, THE highlight of India.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Beware of this program if you are looking to get integrated in to the culture without having to break all the rules and flap around blindly. Classes seem to purposely be schedule 8-5 so students spend all day everyday in the classroom listening to lectures. The Alliance doesn't have much involvement with young people in the area so be prepared to throw yourself out there. And with a set of different cultural norms and subconscious barriers be prepared for a lot of frustration.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Great! They don't play about you being sick or in even the slightest of pains!

Be aware of yourself and how you are percieved by others. Follow the societal rules of India and if that means as a lady you are putting yourself at risk by wearing shorts then heed that advice and disobey it when you see fit. But don't place yourself in dangerous situations just to prove a point.

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

Currency is in our favor. But don't go crazy on spending just because everything seems cheap. It adds up! You can survive on 15 bucks a week I think!

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

0

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• Host Family

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• Americans

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• Americans

• The People I was in the program with
• They provided breakfast every morning

• Respect of students