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Organizational Feature Photo - Study Abroad

Sales Sharks


<h3>What inspired you to go abroad? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone and learn in a way that was impossible in classrooms in the US.</p><h3>Why did you choose SIT Study Abroad? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>SIT focuses on experiential learning and was a safe and reputable program. When I saw they had a program focused on public health, my area of study, in India, a country I had never visited, I knew that was it.</p><h3>What was your favorite part about Delhi? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>I loved being in Delhi and traveling around India for all of the reasons tourists typically say--the food, the hustle and bustle, the people I met--but the best part of my stay was my program, and feeling totally safe and supported while also being constantly challenged.</p><h3>What made your experience abroad unique? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>The community that you became a part of through program staff, other students, and homestay families.</p><figure class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="https://www.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-curtis-1511334633.jpg" alt="International student with homestay family in India"><figcaption class="caption"><p>My homestay family for my independent study</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><h3>How did local staff support you throughout your program? <span style="white-space: pre;">	</span></h3><p>They provided logistical support for everything imaginable, including personal weekend trips we took separate from the program; they hosted a week long orientation including scavenger hunts around major markets to help us get oriented and be safe; they checked in on us with texts and calls while we were on our independent study projects to see how we were feeling and if there was anything they could help with.</p><h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>I honestly can't think of a thing right now besides having a longer program! Maybe more prep farther in advance for our independent study projects.</p><h3>Describe a typical day in the life of your program. <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>(During classes) Wake up and have breakfast with homestay, then go to Hindi classes at 9, followed by a lecture from an expert in the field for class til 1. Lunch at 1, then either another class or we were done. During workshops with NGOs and on our independent study project, schedules varied as per each person's fieldwork.</p><figure class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 50%;"><img style="" src="https://www.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-curtis-1511334645.jpg" alt="International student with two professors in India"><figcaption class="caption"><p>Me with two professors</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><h3>What did you enjoy doing in your free time? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>Hanging out with my homestay family at home, or going to museums and historical sites around Delhi, or walking around markets.</p><h3>What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>The homestay family was ideal in that they provided a real delhi-life experience, but they also went through their own orientation so they knew how best to support and accommodate Americans. We are still good friends and chat to this day.</p><h3>What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?</h3><p>You don't need to bring everything from the US with you!!! You'll be living in New Delhi, where you can get literally everything--typically even the same brands--of things like soap, shampoo ,and clothes; anything you have in the US.</p><h3>What was the hardest part about studying abroad?</h3><p>The hardest part about studying abroad was my constant fear that I wasn't "making the most" of my experience. I felt like I constantly had to be having these mind-blowing, perspective-shifting experiences in order to make my experience "worth it," in a way. I don't know where those ridiculous expectations and seeds of self-doubt came from, but that was something lingering over my head the whole time.</p><h3>What surprised you most about India?</h3><p>What surprised me most about India was how truly vast and varied the country is--you hear that a lot in travel guides or whatever you read before going, but it really shocked me when I arrived in New Delhi and everything felt hustling and bustling but also very Western, and then I went to Old Delhi where the sights and smells of the spice market were so distinct from anything you could experience in the U.S. And then in Bahraich, rural life followed a completely different schedule, laying down for rests in the afternoon, and cooking for hours before dinner. My program allowed me the opportunity to travel a lot in a focused academic way that really made these differences stand out, and I am very grateful for gaining that perspective.</p><figure class="awesome-image left-aligned" style="width: 50%;"><img style="" src="https://www.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto4-curtis-1511335311.jpg" alt="Market in Jamkhed, Maharashtra, India"><figcaption class="caption"><p>A market in Jamkhed</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><h3>How difficult was it to communicate with locals?</h3><p>It honestly was not difficult to communicate with locals. Everyone I met was so warm, open, and happy to talk with foreigners. Yes, there was sometimes a language barrier, particularly when I was in rural UP, but we would both try to speak the other's language in a way that felt like we could get our points across.</p><h3>What is one thing you wish you would have known before studying abroad in India?</h3><p>I really wish someone had told me that I didn't have to try to have it all and experience everything, and that I should be open to new experiences but that I shouldn't put overwhelming pressure on myself to try to experience all of India, because that's impossible.</p><h3>If you could study or intern abroad again, where would you go?</h3><p>If I could study or intern abroad again, I would go to India! I say that a bit tongue-in-cheek because I have come back to do a Fulbright-Nehru student research fellowship in India. But really, the experience I had on my program was so wonderful that I know I will keep the connections I made here, both professional and personal, forever. The bigger answer to this question though is that now I really want to go everywhere! This program was instrumental in my realization that I, an over-idealistic 20-something-year-old, cannot fix all the problems of the world, mainly because it would take too many lifetimes to even begin to understand them. All that I can do is be a student of locally-based programs around the world, their trials, successes, and failures, and try to bring that back to my own community to make change there. I have loved doing this in India, and I hope I get the chance to be a student of other cultures' practices forever.</p><figure class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 50%;"><img style="" src="https://www.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto3-curtis-1511335246.jpg" alt="International student with homestay sister in Delhi, India"><figcaption class="caption"><p>My homestay sister in Delhi</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><h3>What do you feel the biggest benefit of studying abroad is?</h3><p>For me, the biggest benefit to studying abroad was how it impacted my relationship to my studies and my identity as both a student and a "real person" when I got home. Having gone and had real-world experience in an experiential program, having studied from a completely different perspective than we are taught in the U.S., I came back to my college and approached my classes and my time at school completely differently. I was more focused and passionate in my classes, because I saw the real world implications of what I was studying, and I could use my experience abroad to ground discussion among my peers so that we weren't always speaking purely in the abstract. But I also became much more involved in community work and local advocacy when I got back from abroad, because I realized that we as college students don't have enough faith in what we're capable of. We as college students think that only after getting a piece of paper confirming that we have adequately read and discussed ideas in classrooms for four years will we be able to do anything or accomplish anything worthwhile. There's this divide in our minds between what we study at college and what we will someday do in "the real world." Studying abroad showed me that I was already living in the real world, that I was capable of making change and serious impact in my communities right now.</p><h3>Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to India?</h3><p>My biggest packing tip is you DO NOT have to bring a 3-month supply of every personal care product from home with you, because you will be able to get literally everything you need here. You're not living in a bubble. Furthermore, if you're in a bigger city like Delhi, you'll probably be able to get the exact brands you had at home too!</p><h3>Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?</h3><p>It's brought me back to India! I'm now doing a Fulbright fellowship as a continuation of my independent study project.</p><h3>Would you recommend SIT Study Abroad in India to others? Why? <span style="white-space:pre">	</span></h3><p>I would highly recommend my specific program, as well as SIT, to anyone who has aspirations higher than reading and writing about things just in books.</p>


Elizabeth Curtis

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Elizabeth Curtis who participated in SIT Study Abroad program.

Elizabeth Curtis | SIT Study Abroad Alumni Interview

Elizabeth Curtis - 2015 Program Participant


<p class="p1"></p><div class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-temena-1431487116.jpg" alt="







International volunteers and administrators at Tibetan Childrens Village in India"><div class="caption"><p>Assistant Headmaster, Gompo-la, Alexx&rsquo;s travel partner, Sam, and Headmaster Duke Tsering-la in the Principal&rsquo;s Office at TCV</p></div></div><h3><span style="line-height: 24px;">Why made you select Antioch Education Abroad&rsquo;s Buddhist Studies program in India over other study abroad programs and providers?</span></h3>
<p class="p1">My primary interest was to study Buddhism. Initially, I was interested in programs in Nepal, since I had already spent a month in India when I was in high school. But, I quickly realized that the appeal of those programs to me was the trekking and exploring, rather than the quality of education on Buddhism. I found myself avoiding the Antioch program for a while not only because it was situated in India, but also, admittedly I must have been afraid of the intensity of the program and its commitment to an immersive Buddhist experience.</p>
<p class="p1">In the end, I chose to apply for the program because I knew the program was one-of-a-kind. I wouldn&rsquo;t be able to have that combination of academic rigor with such an intense experiential meditation component elsewhere. And, it would be especially difficult to share that experience with a group of college students my age. Antioch&rsquo;s Buddhist Studies program seemed to have the structure and and rigor I was hoping for in a study abroad program; I didn&rsquo;t want to spend my semester only sightseeing or travelling in a way that I could on my own after my college years.</p>
<h3>Did you have an interest in Buddhist Studies prior to studying abroad? What sparked your research topic?</h3>
<p class="p1">I was primarily interested in mindfulness meditation and its effects on the brain before studying abroad. I wanted to supplement my neuroscience and clinical approaches to understanding contemplative practices by gaining a more cultural, religious, and philosophical perspective.</p>
<p class="p1">I work at an international residential summer school program at the International School of Asia, Karuizawa in Japan. There I met five students from the Tibetan Children&rsquo;s Village school in Selakui, India. I connected with them quickly and noticed that they were highly emotional aware and compassionate; I wondered what their school was doing differently than others to facilitate their development.</p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 370px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn4.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-temena-1431487159.jpg" alt="







Tibetan Childrens Village students at International School of Asia in Karuizawa, Japan"><div class="caption"><p>Tibetan Children&rsquo;s Village (TCV) students that Alexx met at International School of Asia, Karuizawa, in Japan</p></div></div>
<h3>What was it like to live in a Burmese Monastery in Bodh Gaya, India?</h3>
<p class="p1">The experience of living in an intentional community was so important to me. I loved our silent breakfasts, doing homework by candlelight, and winding down by 9 p.m. The highly structured schedule was both challenging and formative for me. Committing to waking up every day at 5:30 a.m. to meditate taught me that I can choose to develop a practice of rising early and sleeping early even while I&rsquo;m in college.</p>
<h3>What was the most surprising thing you learned from your research about the Buddhist influences in the Tibetan Children&rsquo;s Village of Selakui?</h3>
<p class="p1">I was so surprised to hear the Principal of Tibetan Children&rsquo;s Village, Selakui (TCV) describe the school as secular, despite the fact that students gather for prayers every night and recite Tibetan Buddhist texts aloud. Looking back, it now seems silly that I expected a &ldquo;secular&rdquo; school to operate in a way that I was accustomed to based on my limited Filipina and American perspectives. I learned that because Buddhism and Tibetan culture are so intertwined, promoting the preservation of Tibetan culture at TCV means learning and practicing Buddhism.</p>
<h3>What was the most unique thing you did as a part of your research?</h3>
<p class="p1">I was invited to attend a conference with TCV students called &ldquo;Cosmology and Consciousness&rdquo;, hosted by an organization that teaches science to monastic scholars. The conference was structured as a dialogue between scientists from different fields (astronomy and neuroscience, for example) and monastic scholars. I was excited about it because the content of the conference was quite relevant to my field of study, but even more, it allowed me to interact informally with a group of grade 11 and 12 students as we traveled by bus to the conference and during coffee breaks between sessions.</p>
<h3>As a contemplative psychology major, how are you able to apply your research to your current studies now that you are back at Brown University?</h3>
<p class="p1">Though this insight was not directly derived from the content of my research project, the process of overturning many of my initial assumptions about Buddhism, by living in a Buddhist community, caused me to reevaluate why or for what purpose I was studying and promoting mindfulness in the United States. This changed how I approach my own mindfulness practice and shaped my thoughts about how it should be used for social change and community wellness.</p><div class="awesome-image left-aligned" style="width: 300px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto3-temena-1431487188.jpg" alt="







Visiting the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India"><div class="caption"><p>Alexx with her roommates at the Mahabodhi temple on the last day of their meditation sessions in Bodh Gaya</p></div></div>
<h3>You won the Forum on Education Abroad&rsquo;s Undergraduate Research Award for your research in India. What was it like to present your research in front of over 1,000 international educators?</h3>
<p class="p1">To be frank, I was initially nervous and afraid that the audience would get bored or would lose me by the third time I said the word, &ldquo;Buddhism.&rdquo; My mentor who helped me write my speech, Helena Kaufman from Carleton College, however, assured me that every one in the audience was there to support me and cheer me on, not to criticize my research methods or question me. It felt amazing to be received well by such a curious and encouraging audience, and to answer questions afterward about all things that were important to me: mindfulness, wellness, Buddhism, applied practice, etc.</p>
<h3>What was the memorable experience from your time studying abroad in India?</h3>
<p class="p1">During the first three weeks, we were taught by two nuns, Sister Dhamma Vijaya and Sister Molini. They told us this amazing story about how they recited the <i>metta, </i>or lovingkindness, chant during a boating trip and saw several dolphins jump out of the water. They cited all the ways that the chant had helped and protected them over the years, so I asked to learn the chants from Sister Molini. Our one-on-one meetings were a highlight of my time abroad.</p>
<h3>What was the most challenging part of your experience abroad?</h3>
<p class="p1">One of the most challenging parts of my experience abroad was the intense humidity and heat at the beginning of the semester in Bodh Gaya. It was also challenging at times to keep up with the rigorous schedule of meditation sessions and classes, in addition to trying to experience the life of the town and completing schoolwork.</p>
<h3>What advice would you give to other students as to why they should study abroad and what it can do for them?</h3>
<p class="p1">I think it&rsquo;s easy to forget that there are real people who have real experiences with the ideas that we read about in the literature. We can cite theory all day and forget to acknowledge, value, and listen deeply to those who live the things we read about in the bubble of our lecture halls and classrooms.</p>
<h3>How did your study abroad experience impacted your life both personally and professionally?</h3>
<p class="p1">I left the program feeling so much more capable to make changes in my life according to what was important to me. Living mostly without mobile phones and computers, sleeping early, and living an intentional lifestyle in an intentional community for three months taught me to pay closer attention to the things that were working and not working for me in my life back home. I came back with the determination to choose a better sleeping schedule and better living habits in general, and to more fully develop the relationships I cared most about.</p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 370px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto5-temena-1431487224.jpg" alt="







Entrance to a Tibetan Temple in Bodh Gaya, India"><div class="caption"><p>Entering a Tibetan Temple in Bodh Gaya</p></div></div>
<h3>What are your plans for the future?</h3>
<p class="p1">My primary goals are to be well, to teach, and to teach others how to be well. There are so many ways to fulfill those goals! I am considering the following in the near future:</p><p class="p1"></p><ol><li><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>Embark</b> on a &ldquo;How to Live a Fulfilled Life Tour&rdquo; on which I would discover the skills, qualities, and practices that are essential for a happy and fulfilled life by visiting different cultures and communities around the world</span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>Partner</b> with educational institutions to develop programs that promote and teach social, emotional, and physical wellness as a practice</span><br></li><li><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>Apply</b> for a Fulbright Scholarship to study Buddhism and Social Justice in Burma or Thailand</span><br></li></ol>


Alexx Temena

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Alexx Temena who participated in Carleton Global Engagement program.

Alexx Temena | Carleton Global Engagement Alumni Interview

Alexx Temeña - 2013 Program Participant


<p class="p1"></p><div class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://cdn1.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-goudie-1430187207.jpg" alt="







Taglangla pass in the Himalayas"><div class="caption"><p>Our group at the 2nd highest drivable pass in the world</p></div></div><h3><span style="line-height: 24px;">Why did you decide to apply for an international program?</span></h3>
<p class="p1">I chose to apply for this program because I've always been fascinated by the Himalayan Mountains and the culture. I didn't know very much about Eastern religion or culture before going on the trip and I wanted to open my eyes to a new part of the world. I also am passionate about our planet and the more educated I can be the better of an advocate I can be.</p>
<h3>What attracted you to the Institute for Village Studies program in the Himalayas?</h3>
<p class="p1">I chose this program because of what it offered, the variety between cultures and ecology was very appealing to me and I felt it would give me a well-rounded experience.</p>
<h3>What was your favorite part about living in the Himalayas?</h3>
<p class="p1">My favorite part about the location was its remoteness. Not many people have traveled to this part of the world and this also aided to the natural beauty of the topography. I also loved being totally disconnected from the world that wasn't right in front of me with no technology.</p>
<h3>What made your program unique?</h3>
<p class="p1">This program is unique firstly because of its location. It is so difficult and time consuming that not many people will ever travel to this part of the world. Also, the mix of cultural studies and ecological studies I thought was very unique and perfectly balanced.</p><div class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://cdn3.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-goudie-1430187254.jpg" alt="







Mountain view near the Zangla River"><div class="caption"><p>View from 16,200ft near the Zangla River</p></div></div>
<h3>How did local staff support you throughout your program?</h3>
<p class="p1">Our local connections were the life line to our entire trip. They helped with transportation, language, and when a plan did not turn out the way we thought it would they were always right there with a back up idea.</p>
<h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?</h3>
<p class="p1">There is not much I would have done differently. I took advantage of every single opportunity I was given while we were there and I am beyond happy I did. If I had to choose something though it would be making more of a connection with my host family. For the time and resources given I feel as though I did as well as I could have, but looking back I could have always tried a little harder.</p>
<h3>Describe a day in the life of your program.</h3>
<p class="p1">Every day was quite different depending on if we were in the city or the rural village. In the city things changed daily but always involved some type of group gathering whether it be at meals, a hike, or a trip to a religious festival. Once in Zanskar the days were a little more regular but not much, we would either have time in the mornings to help our families in the fields, weeding primarily, or we would travel to a different village to gather our research. Then in the afternoon we would often have a class session and time to go on a hike to the gompa (monastery) before returning to our host family for dinner. Every night we would help our family make dinner and sit in the kitchen all together, it was one of my favorite parts of many days.</p>
<h3>What was your favorite activity outside the normal day-to-day schedule of your program?&nbsp;</h3>
<p class="p1">My favorite part was either attending the Kalachakra Festival for World Peace where we were fortunate enough to hear His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama speak and be surrounded by the most amazing positive energy I have ever felt. Or it was going on a three day trek adventure up the Zangla River. We trekked up the river bed which called for 23 river crossings through rushing water before we got to our beautiful campsite. The second day a group of us hiked to a 16,200ft pass, the highest many of us had gone on our own two feet.</p><div class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://cdn1.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto3-goudie-1430187284.jpg" alt="







Stupa in Stongdey, Zanskar"><div class="caption"><p>Me next to a stupa in Stongdey, the village we lived in, in Zanskar</p></div></div>
<h3>What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?&nbsp;</h3>
<p class="p1">The first half of the trip we stayed in guest houses and a few nights in tents camping - I really enjoyed this and we were able to build relationships with the owners of the guest houses and most of them were very comfortable. The second half of the trip we were in home-stays in Zanskar which I really enjoyed because we were able to live and work alongside our host families and learn from them.</p>
<h3>Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?&nbsp;</h3>
<p class="p1">This program has opened my eyes to so many different things and I have continued to educate myself on the things that interest me. I feel as though I can be more of an advocate for Mother Earth as I have seen first hand what climate change is doing and how it is affecting so many people and animals. I have also gained a new confidence in myself that I can carry with me every day and integrate into every aspect of my daily life.</p>


Megan Goudie

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Megan Goudie who participated in Institute for Village Studies program.

Megan Goudie | Institute for Village Studies Alumni Interview

Megan Goudie - 2014 Program Participant


<p class="p1"></p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 350px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn3.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-macku-1424767939.jpg" alt="







Monkeys in a tree"><div class="caption"><p>In nature.</p></div></div><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Why did you choose to study abroad?</span><br></h3>
<p class="p3">To study abroad means for me to get to know foreign culture from the inside, sharing a piece of my life with the local people, finding new experiences, and becoming more independent.</p>
<h3 class="p1">Why did you choose to study in India?</h3>
<p class="p1">I have been fascinated with Indian culture, philosophy, and history for a long time, so I had no doubts about my study abroad location.</p>
<h3 class="p1">What let you to choose IES Abroad specifically?</h3>
<p class="p1">I was selected by my University to receive the IES Abroad scholarship.</p>
<h3 class="p3">What were your housing arrangements like in India?</h3>
<p class="p3">I loved my stay with my homestay family. All members of the family were lovely people and they took great care of us.</p>
<h3 class="p3">What was a normal day like as a student in India?</h3>
<p class="p3">Normally I went to the IES Abroad Center for a lecture, twice a week I volunteered at a local NGO school, and during evenings I went to see some art performances, wandered the streets with a friends, practiced yoga, spent time with my family, or did some work and readings for the lectures.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="p3"></p><div class="awesome-image left-aligned" style="width: 350px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn1.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-macku-1424767985.jpg" alt="







Man at a market in Old Delhi."><div class="caption"><p>In Old Delhi.</p></div></div><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">What was the most memorable experience you had while studying abroad?</span><br></h3>
<p class="p3">It is hard to say what was the most memorable experience I had because there were so many awesome experiences! A great experience was just the ordinary life in India because every day was so unique and special.</p>
<h3 class="p3">What was the biggest challenge you faced studying in India?</h3>
<p class="p3">Just two weeks before I was leaving a fire spread over the impoverished community. It was hard to overcome this experience and seeing the ashes that remained from the school and nearby houses.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<h3 class="p3">What are the top three reasons you'd go back to India if you had the chance?</h3>
<p class="p3">To see my local friends, to travel to the mountains, and to practice yoga.</p>
<h3 class="p3">If you could go on another IES Abroad program, which one would you choose?</h3>
<p class="p3">I think I would go back to the same place, I would go back to New Delhi, because sometimes I miss it. My life there was so diverse that I do not have doubts about going back. &nbsp;</p>


Veronika Macku

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Veronika Macku who participated in IES Abroad program.

Veronika Macku | IES Abroad Alumni Interview

Veronika Macku - 2014 Program Participant


<p><br></p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width:373px"><img src="http://cdn4.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interview-dominic-1412222639.jpg" alt="Dominic and his IES roommates en route to an early morning field trip in New Delhi."><div class="caption">Dominic and his IES roommates en route to an early morning field trip in New Delhi.</div></div><h3><b>What made you want to study abroad?</b></h3>
<p>I have always been interested in travelling and experiencing different cultures, and as far back as I can remember it was my dream to study abroad while in college. The only tough decision ended up to be deciding where.</p>
<h3><b>Why did you decide to study abroad with IES?</b></h3>
<p>The Delhi branch of IES Abroad had recently teamed up with the UC system so when I decided to go to India it was the most accessible program to go through. It turned out to be a fantastic program.</p>
<h3><b>What was your educational experience with IES like?</b></h3>
<p>IES is great because it houses it&rsquo;s own educational institution in the heart of New Delhi. They have their own staff of local teachers/professors who tailor their classes to foreign students and organize outside field trips. This makes India fantastically accessible in a way that is hard to achieve through other local universities.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><b>What would you like future participants to know about your program?</b></h3>
<p>The staff really wants to help you experience India in its fullest form, and are very passionate about the subjects they teach. They do a great job of easing you into the chaos of life in Delhi and then giving you full autonomy to explore the country, while helping organize trips throughout Delhi and other parts of the country. It is a fantastic medium to discover all that India has to offer.</p>
<h3><b>What made IES special to you?</b></h3>
<p>The close sense of community. We had about 25 students while I was there and everyone got along great. We all travelled together and the IES center was a great place to hang out throughout the week. I made some of my best friends to this day through the program.</p>
<h3><b>Looking back, what's one thing you would have done differently in New Delhi?</b></h3>
<p>I would have taken at least one class at a local university (IES helps organize this for students who are interested). It would have been nice to experience what local college life was like and a good medium for making friends with students native to New Delhi.</p>
<h3><b>Walk us through a typical day in your program.</b></h3>
<p>Wake up at 7:30, take a quick shower then stroll to the IES center for my Philosophy of Yoga class (you can get credits for this!). After two hours I would drink some chai and eat breakfast at the center, then those of us enrolled would catch a rickshaw across town to the National Museum for our Art History course.</p>
<p>We would grab some street food nearby for lunch afterwards, then return to the IES center for our Socioeconomics class where we learn about the macroscopic challenges facing Indian society today. Afterwards I would go home, make myself dinner then spend the evening chatting with friends on our rooftop until it was time to go to bed and start all over the next day. Not a bad life at all.</p>
<h3><b>How did you overcome culture shock</b>?</h3>
<p>Culture shock is inevitable in a place like India, it is so different from Western civilization in so many ways. It is best to meet it head on, going out and experiencing all that India has to offer. Gradually expand your comfort zone. IES was great at guiding us through the initial shock and introducing us to an entirely new way of life. Within a week or two, Delhi began to feel like home.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><b>How has studying abroad in India changed your perspectives on the world?</b></h3>
<p>Coming back from India, everything I had previously taken for granted about how life works in America became relative. You realize so many of the realities of everyday life are socially constructed, and that halfway across the world these realities take on an entirely different form. There was definitely a period of disillusionment adjusting back, but this smooths out as you come to fit the pieces into a newer, larger puzzle. In the long run, I can say that studying abroad in India was the single most impactful event on my life and I would do it over a million times again!</p>


Dominic Fusco

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Dominic Fusco who participated in IES Abroad program.

Dominic Fusco | IES Abroad Alumni Interview

Dominic and his IES roommates en route to an early morning field trip in New Delhi.

Dominic Fusco - 2012 Program Participant


<p><i>After completing culinary school, Randi decided to see the world through international education programs. During her undergraduate studies, Randi was able to spend three summers traveling, interning, and studying abroad. Seeing the world has given Randi such a sense of gratification that she continues to look forward to many more journeys in the future.</i></p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width:373px"><img src="http://cdn3.goabroad.com/images/interviews/Interview-Photo-Randi-Howry.jpg" alt="The Beautiful Fabrics of India."><div class="caption">The beautiful fabrics of India.</div></div><h3><b>What made you choose ISA for your study abroad experience?</b></h3>
<p>I really felt that ISA offered a well-rounded experience for travelling and studying abroad. They provided the perfect combination of educational opportunities as well as weekend excursions. It allowed for an immaculate learning environment while still having time to be immersed in the incredibly rich culture that India has to offer.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><b>From your own experience, what advice do you have for other students heading to India for study abroad?</b></h3>
<p>Bring an extra suitcase! India has some of the most gorgeous fabrics I have ever seen. I had to buy a duffle bag while I was there to bring back all of the beautiful tapestries and saris that I had bought. Also, don&rsquo;t go with any concrete expectations. India is portrayed to us as this place of never ending colors and rich foods containing dozens of spices. Those things are true, but India also has a myriad of other life changing qualities to offer. Go with an open mind!</p>
<h3><b>Why did you choose Hyderabad and how did it live up to your expectations?</b></h3>
<p>I loved that ISA offered a program in a lesser known city, instead of Mumbai or Delhi. Although they provided weekend trips to both of these cities, it was nice to be in an area further south. After completing the program, I couldn&rsquo;t imagine studying in another part of India because I made some lifelong friends in the beautiful city of Hyderabad.</p>
<h3><b>What was your favorite class during your time abroad?</b></h3>
<p>The classes offered through the University of Hyderabad were very diverse. One class I took was called &ldquo;Contemporary India&rdquo;. Each day, the class covered a different topic that was either controversial or popular for one reason or another in modern India. For example, some of the classes were titled &ldquo;Indian Philosophy&rdquo; or &ldquo;Agrarian Crisis in India&rdquo;. It was so enriching to be able to have a different lecture each day designed by an expert in the field. I learned an incredible amount about India and I am very grateful for that class.</p>
<h3><b>How has studying abroad impacted your life back at home?</b></h3>
<p>I could write a 20 page answer for this question and still not portray just how much studying abroad has impacted my life. While abroad in India, I was constantly in the presence of something new, whether it was a new food, language, people, or home. I experienced things that are impossible to duplicate in the States, and not a day goes by that I don&rsquo;t deeply miss some of those things.</p>
<p>Most importantly, traveling and studying abroad has given me a greater sense of global awareness. I have been to five of the seven continents, and I can say that every single trip has left me with a greater sense of knowledge and understanding for every walk of life. Exploring this world is a priceless event. The memories you make, the people you meet and the experiences you obtain are worth every single penny.</p>


Randi Howry

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Randi Howry who participated in ISA (International Studies Abroad) program.

Randi Howry | ISA (International Studies Abroad) Alumni Interview

Randi Howry - 2013 Program Participant

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