I loved it so much, but it was really hard. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 12/30/2018 to 05/03/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Delhi

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Incredibly worthwhile! I learned a lot about how to respect other cultures even when they don't immediately make sense because the more time you spend in that culture the more it starts to make sense.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

he classes were much less interactive than in the US, as they were strictly teaching to a standardized test that we did not take.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Vinita is a lovely person and was very helpful in suggesting things for us to do. However sometimes it did not feel like she offered enough emotional support for the transition between the US and India.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in South Delhi and the apartment and the location were lovely. My only complaints are that there is an aggressive ant population in the building that bites, and I wish we had also had a toaster oven like the other appartment

* Food:

The food in India was incredible. It low cost made it really easy to feed ourselves without a dining hall. The tiffin service was hugely helpful in providing an easy dinner option.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The girls at LSR were very welcoming, and Vinita also hired a student guide who showed us around some of the major historical sites of Delhi. This helped both for us to see more of the city, and because she was a history major it also helped us learn more than just a casual visit.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I only suffered a minor cold but for others on the program the medical care seemed very good.

* Safety:

Our neighborhood felt very safe to the point where we did walk at night. However Delhi is definitely a city where you want to take care, and we were strongly advised to take extra precautions as women. There were definitely moments where I felt uncomfortable, but apart from nearly being hit by a few vehicles, nothing ever happened.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I learned so much about myself. I was really glad I chose a location that really challenged me rather than going somewhere that I had experience with the culture.

Finances

* 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)

Living cost in India are very low but we were buying all of our own food so that made it more expensive. I think some were more and some were less.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

None of us had any experience in the language so we were encouraged to use it but we didn't know enough to use it well.

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?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? It would have helped if we had been forced to speak it more in Hindi class. That was a decision made but our main instructor, and other instructors made us speak more.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • The food!
  • The location of the apartment
  • The school
* What could be improved?
  • More support in India and from Midd
  • A toaster oven in the south apartment
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had learned the wonders of Uber Auto earlier on!

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

India Economy

Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Divya M
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This instructor really tried to make it more of a discussion, and even had days when we did not do things based on the text. The students did not seem engaged in a way that this technique really worked, but I did appreciate it.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Development Theory

Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Vaishali Venni
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This instructor taught directly from the textbook. She taught it well and ensured we got through all of the material, but there was never room for improvisation or discussion. She was lovely but she was not very communicative about my final project and we ended up clashing as she had certain expectations that she had never actually voiced to me, an thus I did not fulfill them.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Beginner Hindi

Course Department: Zabaan
Instructor: Varied
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The instructors at Zabaan were wonderful. We ended up becoming good friends with our main teacher, which did mean we learned less Hindi, but we had amazing discussions with her and we learned much more about daily life for young people in India than we would have otherwise.
Credit Transfer Issues: