Pune, India: An Incredible Place to Be Abroad Past Review
By Talia Bornstein (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/27/2017 to 12/17/2017 with
IFSA/Alliance: Pune - Contemporary India
I learned about Indian culture both in and out of the classroom. But most importantly, I gained amazing relationships with my host family who made the whole semester worthwhile.
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 learned a lot about contemporary India in my classes, yet the assignments seemed like busy work and not always connected to what we were learning. The program said there would be class trips outside the classroom, but we did not do trips as much as I expected. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Not always helpful, but very nice people. Sometimes felt like I was treated like a child which was aggravating. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Amazing! My host family was incredible. They had a beautiful home and were extremely welcoming and warm. My host family is one of my favourite aspects of my time abroad. They provided me with an up close look at Indian society in Pune and taught me so much. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made a few very close Indian friends, yet it's up to you to take initiative. There are Indian students who are translators for this program. This helped me meet an amazing friend who helped me integrate into the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got surgery in India after I fractured by leg. The hospital care was amazing and I had amazing doctors. |
| * Safety: |
Overall, I felt safe during my time abroad. However there were a few incident that happened at night while walking alone. Even if it isn't that late, depending on your location, a woman shouldn't walk alone at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The program had issues regarding the staff support and help for participants. While the classes were not academically enriching, I still had so many opportunities to learn outside the classroom. The internship component is also great. Pune in general is a very metropolitan city and gives you independence and freedom. |
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) |
Very easy to stay on a students budget. |
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 |
Language classes ended before the end of the program which made it difficult to retain what was taught. |
| 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 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Talk to your host family, rickshaw drivers, and any daily interactions with local people. |
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? | I wish I knew that only 6 people were going to be on the program. The small number made group dynamics difficult. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
