India was unforgettable Past Review
By Sophie Smelkinson (Rollins College) - abroad from 09/07/2015 to 12/02/2015 with
SIT Study Abroad: India - Sustainable Development and Social Change
I learned I can do anything I want, go anywhere I want, and I can be whoever I want. I traveled alone, by train in Mumbai every day for a month. The feeling of navigating a foreign place with all odds against you is indescribable. I feel that I understand the world better now, and most importantly, I understand myself better. I grew a lot from my time there.
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. |
It was challenging and stimulating! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff were amazing and they cared so much about our success. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host family was great. It came with the usual challenges of cultural differences. |
| * Food: |
Food was fantastic. I miss it all the time. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living with a host family, traveling to class every day, learning to navigate the city on my own...I don't think you can get more integrated than that |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
When I got sick, the staff was there to help me and they were very caring. They brought medicine to me at night at my homestay and they let me sleep at school during the day. |
| * Safety: |
Be aware of your surroundings. Be confident and look people in the eye when you're walking alone. I felt safe the whole time, but you can never be too safe! Don't be afraid to go venture out- that's how you have the best experiences. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program changed my life. I love how integrated we were with the culture and how the program really encouraged independence. I wouldn't trade it for the world. |
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) |
When I did my independent study for the last month, I had to spend a lot of money in Mumbai. It was difficult to find an affordable place for the 3 of us who went, so we definitely all spent more than we thought we would. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I can't remember |
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? | Hindi 1 |
| 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? | Keep trying! Even if people laugh at you! |
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?
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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? | Nothing |
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.' |
