Past Review
By Koichi T (Marketing & MIS, SUNY - Binghamton) for
SUNY Binghamton: New Delhi - Technology, Economy, and Society in India
My study abroad experience was not only worthwhile, but it was definitely an eye-opening experience. To travel to India - one of the oldest civilizations in the world - and to see the people, culture, foods, etc., while also seeing its characteristics as an emerging market was a very unique experience. A trip like this is worth more than a few years of an American college education.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | LPU - Lovely Professional University |
| The term and year this program took place: | Winter 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The learning experience was one that could have only been done with a native Indian professor. Our professor put a lot of time and effort into making arrangements and making sure that we were comfortable. The professor also answered a lot of our questions (no matter how silly they may seem), and allowed us to explore topics on our own. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We were treated very well upon arrival there. Our professor put in a lot of effort to make sure that we were learning something new every day, while also trying to keep us comfortable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We mostly stayed in a hotel. However, we did stay in LPU's dormitory for a night, which was interesting, for they had a more tropical type of architecture: open stairwells, open dorm rooms, etc. <br /><br /> Our hotel was decent for a bunch of students going abroad. The staff was also very kind. We had some challenges with the wireless internet connection and hot water, but those were made more efficient over time. |
| * Food: |
The food was definitely one of the highlights of the cultural experience. Though the spiciness sometimes made me feel a little queasy, for the most part i was fine. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had a great time meeting new people. I would have to say that that was one of the best parts of the trip. Everybody that we met were very friendly, helpful, and hospitable - it's the Indian way! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Our health and security were top priorities during the trip. The professor tried to accomodate everyone's needs sufficiently. |
| 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? | for a two-week trip, I spent around $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | more money for buying gifts! |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Since most of the trip was in English, we were not able to brush up on Hindi. However, we did pick up a few words, and conversations with the locals were enabled. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would say that whoever is not used to travelling abroad or eating multicultural food will have a tough time in this program. Also, always be prepared for emergencies! |
