SIT Study Abroad: India: Public Health, Gender & Sexuality

I 100% recommend SIT: India. Although going abroad to a less conventional country may seem daunting at first, the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the places you go will make every penny worth it. I wasn't sure what to expect out of this program, but every moment exceeded my expectations -- the academics were rigorous and interesting enough that I felt satisfied in that regard, and the program staff were both welcoming and flexible (and incredibly in tune to how to tap American students into Indian cultures). I can say with absolute certainty that I had zero regrets -- I would do this program over and over again if I could! Much of the credit goes to the people who ran the program, and the other students who chose to take the leap of faith like I did in coming here <3. While my time in India has ended for now, the bonds I formed with staff and students will last forever :) GO ON THIS PROGRAM!!!

This program was more than I ever could have asked for! From my first moments in India, the program staff went miles to take care of me and curate a meaningful and rewarding experience. They were so welcoming and helped me integrate seamlessly into the community. The classes include a variety of lectures from local professionals, and there's something new every day! We traveled frequently on excursions to other areas of India, so I was able to learn from and explore a variety of different communities. For the last month, I participated in an independent study project. While the independence was daunting at first, it was not as hard as I anticipated to interview people and produce the final paper!
SIT really took care of all of the details and supported me throughout it all!

I had an amazing experience at SIT India and highly recommend it for anyone interested in social determinants of public health. The workload was reasonable and I felt like all the work I was doing was for a purpose I'm really passionate about, not busy work. We got to see so many amazing places, try delicious food, and meet incredible people doing really important work. I will never forget what I've learned about health and human rights on this program from so many different sources, and I will definitely take it with me into my future work.

SIT India is an incredible organisation and I feel so lucky to have been apart of it. The amount of passion all of the teachers and staff have is so evident, it really feels like home. They welcomed me with open arms, love and support. The program itself is designed very well and allows for some incredible academic and professional opportunities. Through SIT I made strong connections with people who will help me throughout my life. There was a lot of travel through this program too which was very fun.

After spending almost 4 months in India with SIT, I can't imagine doing my study abroad experience anywhere else. If you have an interest in public health, this is the program for you. The homestay experience was amazing and I felt like a big brother to my host-brothers and host-sister. Also, having home cooked Indian food every day is hard to complain about. I loved learning Hindi and feeling like I was a part of the culture, even if it was only for a few months. The SIT staff treats you like family and you won't want to let go when you hug them goodbye at the end of the trip. Lastly, having the experience of completing an independent study project was a crucial aspect of my trip and really helped to put all of our lessons into perspective. This program helps you succeed in every aspect of the trip, such as helping you transition, being a shoulder to lean on when you need it, or giving you suggestions on where to travel on a weekend or after the program. If you want to step outside of your comfort zone and establish yourself in a crazy, stimulating and colorful environment and culture, this is the program for you!

India is full of contrasts, chaos and unbelievable beauty. I never learned more in four months than I did through this experience. It challenged me and tested my patience, but I learned a lot about a lot and I would go back and do it all over in a heartbeat. You have to be willing to let go of some creature comforts (going for a run outdoors, punctuality, privacy...), but if you surrender even a little bit, you'll never want to leave.

SIT has an extensive on-site network providing access to speakers, organizations, hospitals and communities you'd never be able to access on your own. The staff are incredibly dedicated and there for your every need. They all feel like family to me now. The opportunity to do independent research was also a major highlight.