Sustainable Development Study Abroad Programs in India

My expectation was completely different from my experience, as I had a lot of anxiety about coming on the trip and being around people 24/7 for 2 and a half months, but those people became my family and the program was so much more incredible than I could have imagined. I would absolutely recommend the program to others. I think this program was incredibly life changing for me, as I now have so much more confidence in myself and what I can do, because I pushed myself farther than I ever thought was possible on this program. I also think that I've come off this program with a greater appreciation for traveling and seeing new places, as there's so many incredible people to meet, places to see, and adventures to be had all around the world. I will definitely keep traveling after this program and I know that the people I have met along the way and on the trip will stay with me forever.

Thank you CDE for teaching me to recognize and appreciate the privileges I have, to be patient and live in the moment, to stay humble, and that one person can truly make a difference. These are lessons that have stayed with me the past two years since my India semester, and will continue to stay with me for the rest of my life.

I have yet to provide a review for my experience with CDE because it feels like one of those things that cannot really be articulated - like when a moment is so sweet that your camera could never really do it justice. Regardless of these limitations, CDE definitely deserves a good one. It's funny because I can so clearly remember looking through the reviews for the India program, and CDE in general on this website before I chose to participate. And here I am now, writing my own. So what was it that I was looking for in the reviews? What did I want to know? Would this actually be as exciting, adventurous and rewarding as it sounds? What happens if the food is too spicy for me to eat? Will I be sleeping for three months on cold ashram floors? Will I become a chai connoisseur? Will I meet a guru? Will I become enlightened? How long will my armpit hair be when I come back? Do only weird people do this sort of program? I won't provide the answers to these questions, because thats the beauty of experiencing this adventure for yourself. But I can promise you, this adventure is more than non-regrettable - it will change your life. *here's some photos that can't quite do these sweet moments justice

My most memorable experience would most definitely be meeting the Dalai Lama. It was an event, that while would hold incredible significance for anyone, meant so much because of the context of which this program placed me in. In my homestay in Dharamsala, my homestay mother, my Amaleh, would kiss the top of a post-card with His Holiness on it every morning. I spoke to a Tibetan refugee who told me about his journey from Tibet to India, which he underwent when he was only 19, and upon reaching Dharamsala and meeting His Holiness (which all Tibetan refugees are able to do), he fell to his knees and cried. Meeting the Dalai Lama was an incredible experience, not only for the meaning that it held for me, but also for the meaning that it had gained during my time in India. I chose this program because I knew that it would challenge and change me. I learned and experienced things that I never even knew could exist. The accommodations were to be expected, and definitely fit the description of a cultural immersion program.

Where There Be Dragons really and truly changed my life. I gained a sense of independence, a strength of character, and a feeling that I could conquer any obstacles that came in my way. I met a truly exceptional group of people, people who I was able to get to know in such a deep and personal way due to our shared experiences. Going to India was by far the most interesting, scary, and amazing experience, and without this program, I would never have been able to experience it the way that I did. Our instructors definitely did an amazing job, for they not only provided help when we needed it, but also allowed us to truly grow in this strange environment. The times I remember most are the times when I or other members in the group had to step up, assume responsibility, and lead the group on. This program is not for those who are not willing to open their hearts and their eyes, and to this day I think of this trip as one of the more difficult things I have ever done. However, it was by far the most amazing thing. I learned to open my eyes in a way I did not dream was possible, I learned to accept things about myself that before I could barely acknowledge, and, above all else, I came back a better person, a better citizen of this world. I cannot do Dragons justice just with these 5 stars and this jumbled review, but to anyone reading this, i beg of you, take a leap of faith, just as I did. You will be changed forever.

My son recently went on Pacific Discovery's Nepal and Tibet program for a gap semester prior to starting his freshman year of college. As a spring admit, he was initially at a loss as to what to do with his fall semester. We are so glad we found Pacific Discovery. He had an amazing, stretching, rewarding experience. Highly recommended!

Your instructors are adults with a tremendous amount of knowledge. They serve as resources and role models for the participants. Your program takes students to a world unknown to them and fosters an understanding of new cultures, religions and issues. The ability to experience this kind of learning and living enables them to develop an empathy and appreciation of both worlds. -- Katherine M