Give India a try for a summer or after graduating. Past Review

By (South Asian Studies and Comparative Literature, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/21/2012 to 05/01/2012 with

University of Wisconsin: Varanasi - Field Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I did learn a lot through my own efforts and it was worthwhile because I had never lived abroad for a year. But I could have had that on any program or on a gap year with my own money.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

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:

The cooks in our program were amazing and knew how to prepare very safe food. I never got sick from eating food from the program-hired cooks. Sharda ji and Champa ji were amazing.

* 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? No

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)

India's cheap, so it was very easy.

* Was housing included in your program cost? No
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? don't worry about saving money in India; its easy. Everything is cheap.

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Intermediate 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? talk to locals and live with a host family.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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.
* What could be improved?
  • quality of classes and teachers
  • Giving orientations to host families
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew about the Princeton Dragon gap year program, the CLS programs, other summer programs, and the AIIS year programs.