OIN STUDENT REPORTNote1: you may either fill this form or use this form to structure your own report (which you may send to as a Word document or as a PDF)

Note2: the report will be posted anonymously on the OIN website by the OIN Academic Director. If you are sending in a PDF please make sure that you refrain from putting your name in the document.

Note3. You may send some photos. Do remember that if you, or other students, are in the photos we need your permission (and that of the other students in the photos) before posting them on the website.

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Host Institution:

Symbiosis International University – Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts, Pune, India

Home Institution :

Carleton University

Type of Exchange : o Regular exchange.______________o SSP___X_____________________ o SIP______________

Term and year in which you were on exchange in India :

October – November, 2018

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GENERAL COMMENT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE IN INDIA

This was an experience of a life time. I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity to study in India. It was an extraordinary and unique experience, and I was happy to be there at every moment of my stay. Everyone I met were very kind, polite and helpful. I learned about Indian culture, customs and cuisine, and fell in love with Indian traditional clothing. I brought home many kurtis and saris, as well as other souvenirs.

I was lucky to be there during Diwali, which is a week-long holiday, celebrating “light” overcoming darkness, evil and ignorance. Since the school is closed during Diwali, I was able to travel a little. I went to Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and saw amazing museums, temples, forts, palaces and mosques. Needless to say, Taj Mahal in Agra stands out, but all of the sightseeing I did was memorable and

enriching. Just to give one example, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, an astronomical instruments and observation site was an extraordinary place.

The whole experience helped me better understand many fiction and non-fiction books I had read about India, and gave me a new perspective. Now, I feel better equipped to continue my studies here. Having studied at a prestigious Indian University will be a valuable addition to my resume.

I stayed at the campus. Symbiosis University offers guest rooms at the Liberal Arts and Law campus, which is a new complex; clean, bright, airy, with all the amenities including a cafeteria, a convenience store and a gym. My room had everything I needed: a bathroom, a fridge and big windows. Life at the campus is very charming. I made many friends, students and professors alike, and they all asked me to come again next year.

EXPERIENCE AT THE HOST INSTITUTION

Symbiosis University has many campuses in Pune. I am studying literature, so I was at the Liberal Arts and Law Campus. My supervisor there was wonderful. On my first day, she took me to a nearby café (which became one of my favorite places to hang out) and to the nearest supermarket. She introduced me to the faculty and showed me around. Everyone at the university were very helpful. I benefited greatly from the intellectual conversations I had with the professors. They suggested new books for my research and gave me ideas. The lectures were interesting, fulfilling and thought-provoking.

There were many extra-curricular activities, such as student plays, a traditional day, a Puja ceremony and a Diwali party for the foreign students.

The campus was not different than any other university campus anywhere in the world. I realized that a student is a student is a student. No matter where we come from, we are all the same.

Staying at the campus was very practical and recommend it to all students going to Symbiosis for s short term study program. The campus is safe and clean, and getting to the classes takes only minutes. There is a common kitchen for doing laundry and cooking simple things.

One wonderful detail is the Puja floor decorations in sand, rice or flowers. There were a few at our campus during holidays and religious celebrations. (I am attaching photos of these below.)

EXPERIENCE OF THE CITY IN WHICH YOUR HOST INSTITUTION IS LOCATED

Pune, where the Symbiosis University is located, is probably one of the best places to stay in India. It is a lively university town full of young people and academicians. It has everything one can ask for: lots of sun, restaurants, shopping, and the occasional “mela” (arts and crafts fair) which is an absolutely must to see. Food, clothing and other necessities are inexpensive. One of the world’s largest malls, Phoenix Marketcity is in Pune, and I loved going there in the evenings. It had many restaurants serving Indian and many other cuisines, as well as a food court, and a “street foods” section. While Indian clothing is cheaper in the melas, an incredible selection of colourful outfits could be found in the Phoenix Mall. For your more ordinary clothing needs, you can go to Marks and Spencers, or really inexpensive Pantaloons.

In Pune, there are way too many motor bikes and they make traffic dangerous. But there is never an accident, thank goodness. There seems to be no rules, but eventually one gets to understand that there are unwritten rules between the drivers and they all manage somehow. There is Uber, as well as a

similar system called Ola, and I made good use of these. But the most interesting form of transportation is the autorickshaw which is perilous by Canadian standards, but one gets used to it, and it is the cheapest and the most practical method of transportation for shorter distances.

In Pune, there are some cool sightseeing places such as the Aga Khan Palace, the Pune-Okayama Frienship Garden and the Peshwa Palace, as well as many temples. I took a day tour that visited 12 sightseeing location in one day. This tour is called Darshan Tour and can be scheduled online.

YOUR TRAVELS IN INDIA (including estimated cost of travel)

Pune is 130 kilometers from Mumbai. It take 3.5 hours by car. A group of students can hire an Ola to go to Mumbai and back. There are also travel agencies that make arrangements for a Delhi-Agra-Jaipur visit. These are more expensive arrangements but include airport pickups and tour guides, and guaranteed to be comfortable and pleasant. Most students make their own individual travel arrangements. I would highly recommend the Delhi-Agra-Jaipur (golden triangle) visit. There is so much to see in India, it is impossible to do all of it in one visit.

OTHER, including helpful advice….and your most memorable experiences

One thing that I am absolutely grateful for is the opportunity to discover some of the Indian arts: Gond, Madhubani, Warli and West Bengali arts were my favourite and I was able to buy a few of these in the melas.

The most pleasant part of my stay was the life on the campus. Not having had the experience of living in a university experience, I enjoyed campus life tremendously. It was so charming: students everywhere, chatting, studying, laughing, flirting… I felt safe and comfortable.

Another thing I enjoyed very much was the colours of India. Everything, everywhere is so brightly coloured, so cheerful, so sunny.

My advice to other students would be to always have a positive attitude. Not everyone gets to experience India, therefore, know how lucky you are and make the most of it. Do not be afraid to try new dishes, and, if there is a way to make yourself get used to spicy food, then do it. I already liked spicy food, so for me “getting used to” was easy. Don’t be afraid to ride the autorickshaw, just hang on tight. Travel if you can. Don’t come back without tasting kulfi, the Indian ice cream, and definitely buy yourself a couple of kurtas and kurtis.

I am attaching below a few photos from my visit.

- Coloured sand decoration on the floors at our campus:

- Craft fair (mela)

- Thali in Jaipur