Phenomenal Past Review
By Rayna B (Social Work., University of South Carolina - Columbia) - abroad from 01/13/2014 to 05/03/2014 with
IFSA/Alliance: Varanasi - The City, The River, The Sacred
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Varanasi is endlessly confusing, and therefore endlessly fulfilling. I learned about my spirituality, ability to adjust to new environments, and the world. The most influential part about my experience, however, was learning to love learning again. The program directors are great and help you along the way while host families make cultural immersion unavoidable and wonderful.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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 if we went out to eat and I went shopping |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If money after arrival is an issue, know that technically all three meals are paid for with the program either in the program center or at your homestay, you can easily walk to class, and the most expensive meal I had there was under $10. Other than initial costs of appropriate dress and the independent travel weekend, spending is minimal. |
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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None in Hindi |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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 would have entered the program with fewer expectations. I could not have prepared myself for what I experienced, but expecting one thing and getting something else entirely worsened my culture shock for a few days. |
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.' |
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