Right here’s what I wish to inform individuals
By Maggie Hunter, USAC Bengaluru
After I returned dwelling from my research overseas, associates, household, classmates, neighbors and strangers requested me, “You studied overseas in India? How was it?”
How do you sum up a life-changing expertise in only a sentence? Even a 12 months later, I’m nonetheless determining how one can reply that query.
I studied on the USAC program in Bangalore, India, through the spring of my sophomore 12 months of faculty a 12 months in the past. I went to school at a smaller state college in Idaho in a really tight-knit city the place it appears like everybody is aware of one another. India had all the time attracted me after my grandmother and aunt each did Fulbright packages to India once I was a toddler and grew up listening to how mesmerized they have been by their travels.
Undoubtedly, India has a fancy fame for a lot of Individuals. A number of the nation’s stereotypes have been true in my expertise, and lots of stereotypes are misunderstood cultural nuances. Right here, I’ll share what I actually wish to inform my family and friends about my expertise — each the positives and negatives.
Anticipate tradition shock — and progress
Irrespective of what number of occasions my college warned me that I’d face tradition shock once I went overseas, I don’t assume I actually understood how a lot it will impression my expertise. As somebody who felt like they have been considerably well-traveled, unbiased, adaptable, and street-smart going into this system, I assumed that my tradition shock can be minimal.
Tradition shock manifests otherwise for everybody. It’s not all the time actually being “shocked” by the tradition as it’s generally portrayed, but in addition contains homesickness and adapting to your host nation’s lifestyle.
No matter the place you go overseas, you’ll expertise tradition shock. One of many greatest shocks for me wasn’t essentially the Indian tradition itself, however adjusting to life in such an enormous metropolis. Coming from a smaller city in Idaho to one of many largest cities on the earth was chaotic and overwhelming. I’m undecided I ever absolutely adjusted — however I did adapt (I used to be nonetheless grateful to return to my cozy hometown after being overseas).
It’s essential to plan for tradition shock and never underestimate how actual it’s. I counsel each pupil to journal — whether or not that’s in writing, voice recordings, or pictures and movies.
Journaling helps you see the nuances of your expertise and replicate, resulting in extra progress. Develop some methods to ease your tradition shock, figuring out that learning overseas will problem you no matter the place you research. You’ll come out of your expertise overseas extra resilient and unbiased.
Addressing security considerations, particularly for ladies
India has a fame for being unsafe for ladies vacationers. If I’m trustworthy, there have been occasions once I felt unsafe. Take heed to your intestine above every thing else.
Any nation could be harmful if you’re unprepared. Cultural consciousness, good planning, and situational judgment go a good distance.
I’m nonetheless in awe of lots of the girls I met whereas overseas. I did an internship at an area girls’s group towards home violence the place I met extremely resilient and unbiased girls. As well as, all of my professors have been extremely educated girls who impressed me regardless of among the discomfort I felt.
I’m grateful that I skilled these differing attitudes in direction of girls — and the nuances which can be generally misunderstood within the West. Not all girls in India are oppressed, however some are. Not all girls see their remedy as oppression, however some do. Womens’ relationship with society could be very advanced. Being uncovered to those new and generally uncomfortable experiences challenged my assumptions and gave me the chance to advocate for myself and belief myself in ways in which I could not have finished earlier than I went overseas.
Comforts of dwelling exist in India — however so does journey
You’ll discover American quick meals, air-conditioned cafes, and acquainted snacks in overseas grocery shops. I discovered myself at Starbucks extra typically than I’d prefer to admit (there’s simply one thing about iced espresso within the Indian warmth!)
I liked the native meals in India and nonetheless have goals about paneer butter masala generally. Individuals warned me about how spicy the native meals was earlier than I left. It’s positively spiced and flavorful, however was by no means extra spicy than I might deal with (at the very least within the area and season that I used to be touring).
I feel that India attracts people who find themselves adventurous and curious. I’d advocate taking that very same strategy to meals there — with some optimistic warning, after all — and chances are you’ll shock your self. Nonetheless, it’s okay to take pleasure in a slice of pizza if you want some consolation from dwelling.
Faith, range, and on a regular basis marvel
India is a big nation — a whole subcontinent with almost 1.5 billion individuals. It’s arduous for any stereotype to be true as a result of India is extremely numerous: culturally, linguistically, spiritually, and geographically.
One in all my highlights was experiencing India’s non secular range. India is deeply religious and religiously numerous, although it’s formally a secular state. Most individuals follow Hinduism, although there’s additionally a big minority of Muslims, Jains, Christians and Sikhs. On class area journeys we visited Hindu temples, Christian church buildings, Jewish synagogues, Jain temples and discovered about Islam and Sikhism.
I reminded myself to keep away from assumptions. Everybody’s story is completely different. For those who keep curious and open-minded, you’ll study greater than you ever imagined.
Given its geographic range, I’d additionally completely advocate touring all through the nation as a lot as you possibly can. I didn’t see almost as a lot as I wished to since India actually is so large. It is a distinction for these learning in India: for college students who research in Europe, it’s very reasonably priced and simple to see many various nations in only a semester. I didn’t discover it as simple to hop round to completely different nations from India, which as an alternative provides the chance to get to know your host nation’s tradition even higher.
I did get to hop away to Singapore for a couple of days over my spring break and one in every of my classmates backpacked by means of Nepal. There are numerous alternatives should you search them!
Conclusion
India is probably not for everybody, however should you come ready, it may be life-changing. It’s true that this expertise challenged me in methods I couldn’t have imagined. It was lonely at occasions and I typically felt removed from dwelling. Nevertheless, should you do your analysis and lean into the discomfort, you’ll discover that sure, the challenges are actual — however so is the enjoyment, depth, and private progress. For those who’re prepared to be curious, courageous, and a little bit uncomfortable, learning overseas in India may simply change your life, too.
Maggie is a pupil on the College of Idaho, pursuing a level in Worldwide Research with minors in Journalism and Asian Research. She has studied overseas in Bangalore, India, and Prague, Czech Republic. When she’s not within the classroom, you will discover Maggie climbing, touring, snowboarding, and writing.
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