Going to the Extreme Past Review

By (University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 05/08/2012 to 05/23/2012 with

University of Northern Iowa: Mysore - UNI Capstone in India

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I've learned that there are many things in my life that I have taken for granted, and that so many of the things i do on a daily basis are so insignificant compared to what so many people across india and many other countries go through.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $65
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? don't buy all the random stuff just because you are in another country and it appears to be 'cheap'

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hostel
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • We did something that almost no other college students will do in their life.
  • getting to experience first hand the kind of hardships that these people in the tribes go through every day
  • the food
* What could be improved?
  • Better communication between the host and us, on what is going to happen, there were many days where we didn't know what has happening next
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? that basic schooling is not something that is just given to everyone around the world. seeing how difficult it is to get these people to get an education that I have always kind of taken for granted.