Alumni Spotlight: Vineeta Chauhan

I chose this program because I had a deep desire to interact with India through a critical lens. Having Indian heritage, I've been to India a number of times to see family and tourist sites. However, I've always wanted to learn about India in a deeper way. When it came to selecting a study abroad program, I was struggling because none of the programs already pre-approved by my institution really met the level of academic rigor I was itching for. Like a knight in shining armor, my advisor came to me and informed me about IFSA's program in Pune. Although Pune wasn't a location I had ever thought of studying in before, after taking a look at the program details and classes that were offered, I felt as if no other program could fit me better.

Honestly, my university and IFSA really managed the whole process for me smoothly. I never at any point felt like I didn't know what was going on with the application process, the pre-arrival process, or what to expect once I'd landed. IFSA was always in touch with me through the admissions counselor, program advisor, and program staff about the status of my application and what documents and deadlines I had upcoming. If I had any questions about my documents or what I had to fill out, they always responded to me immediately and gave me advice on what to do next or guided me through it. If you're like me and have a million questions about any application process, you'll appreciate the support IFSA offers every step of the way.

One piece of advice I'd give to someone going on my program is to manage your time and expectations. Studying abroad is a very exciting experience and you're bound to learn a million new things about the world around you, but it's important to know what you're stepping into and give yourself time to adjust. Make sure to pack/bring things that help you with self care (like a notebook to keep as a journal) so you can process all the new experiences in a healthy way while not getting overwhelmed. I think IFSA does a great job in accommodating and supporting students' needs, so always make sure to talk to your program staff whenever you want support!

An average day starts out with your classic morning chai (black milk tea) with your host, and a short rickshaw ride to school. IFSA teaches all of their classes at the program site with local Indian professors, and they provide you with breakfast every morning. Then, you'll go through a day of classes with cultural performance art lessons weaved in-between (you get to choose between a few options) and lunch on your own. You can take the time to explore Pune after class or go home to talk to your host and have dinner together. On the weekends, IFSA would plan activities or you were free to explore the city with your program mates. A lot of the activities and interests were chosen with our specific cohort in mind, and if we had any interests specific to us that we wanted to explore, the program staff would always try to make it available.

My biggest fear was probably leaving India not having learned anything new about where I was from. I really wanted my time abroad to be a nuanced experience of this incredibly diverse and vibrant place; I wanted to learn about more than just my own local culture, about the people I was around and Pune in general. I really think IFSA was able to give me that gift - through classes and immersion experiences like excursions and day activities, I learned more about India in my short time there than I probably had in my whole life and whole academic career. Not only that, I learned about how India is much more complex than I had ever even imagined from issues to public health to gender and media studies. I got to know India in a seriously meaningful way.