Before You Go
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The ACM India Studies Student Handbook is created to make preparing for and living in India easier. It is revised each year to include more current information and contains information on various logistical procedures you will undergo for your trip. We've tried to answer some of the more common questions here, such as what to pack, how to call home, and good The italicized quotes in some sections are restaurants in Pune, but we do not claim to be comments and advice from past participants. comprehensive. The information you learn from exploring Pune by yourself will supplement and possibly supersede what you read here. But do take the time to read this handbook carefully and take it with you to Pune. After your experience in India, please let us know if you have any suggestions for this handbook – particularly if any of the information is outdated – so we can improve the handbook for next year's group. 1 Before You Go Pune sits about 190 kilometers from Mumbai (also referred to as Bombay) on the Deccan Plateau. The plateau accounts for Pune's temperate climate. The three-month rainy season may have already started when you arrive in July. While the monsoon often turns Mumbai into a murky mess, Pune's rains are not as heavy. You can expect rain daily, but typically it only pours for a short period before you can go out comfortably. The rains tend to taper off around September. October is generally hot, but the heat eases by November, when the nights will grow cool and you will probably need extra blankets! Pune's population, including the Cantonment area, is about 3,000,000. As you know, the local language is Marathi, but English is spoken by many people. Do not be surprised if people practice their English language skills on you. Hindi is also widely understood. Often when you speak to rickshaw drivers, vegetable vendors and waiters in Marathi, they will answer you in Hindi. Nevertheless, you will find that your knowledge of Marathi will be a wonderful asset, bringing you closer to the local culture and further authenticating your experience in India. Staff in Pune The American Coordinating Representative (CR) varies from year to year and is a professor from an ACM college who has traditionally been an advisor to the program. Cathy Benton will serve as the Coordinating Representative for the 2008 ACM India Studies Program. She has taught classes in Asian Religious Traditions and Literatures at Lake Forest College, just outside of Chicago, for 21 years. 2008 will be her third time directing the ACM India Program in Pune. Her research interests include Asian religious story literature, firsthand accounts of religious practices, and the values and communications styles of different cultures. Cathy‘s first work experience in India was as a Field Officer for UNICEF, based in Madras, now Chennai, but since that time she has spent time in different regions of India, directing study abroad programs, doing research, and recruiting international students to study in the U.S. She has worked in Switzerland, Turkey, Bangladesh, and China – and she loves all forms of dance. The CR arrives in early July and only stays with the program through the initial program orientation. In addition to working with other program staff, the CR also consults with students about their independent study project, and assists with everyday student life matters. The Field Director in Pune is Suneeta Nene, who has been with the program since 1998. As the primary administrative officer, Suneeta coordinates the academic program and field trips, and helps students with official paperwork Shrikant Paranjpe, who is the Head of the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at Pune University, and Vidyut Bhagwat, who is the Head of the Women‘s Studies Program at Pune University, serve as Project Advisors, and they work with Suneeta, the ACM Coordinator, and the ACM students to set up project guides for the students. 2 Seema Gunjal serves as the Program Secretary who handles correspondence, the phone, and many arrangements for students. She works very closely with the host families and advises the families about what to expect from American students. During the program‘s session, Anjali Bhagwat works in the Pune office to help the students adjust to living with their host families as well as adjust to the larger Pune environment. Anjali also helps the students with their travel plans and arranges different extracurricular activities. Tukharam Ghute and Subhan Sayyed also work in the ACM Pune office, running errands and helping with the office maintenance. ACADEMIC PREPARATIONS Suggested Preparations Self-preparation is the most beneficial aspect of pre-program preparation. Each student has different interests and levels of international experience. It is always a good idea to gain an understanding of the country‘s historical background. However, you should also research other cultural aspects that are of particular interest to you, which will give you more independence and confidence in your experience abroad. Your college library is a good place to find interesting books on Indian arts, politics, gender issues, and many other subjects. This will also prepare you for choosing a topic for your independent study project. The web is an obvious place to turn for current news and events from India. Traditional periodicals in your school‘s library can also give you current information. The following are web sites you may find useful: News and weather: www.webIndia123.com Culture: www.punelifestyle.com A Description of Pune during Ganapati Festival: www.rootsworld.com/rw/feature/pune.html Funky Travel/Culture Discussion: www.indiamike.com History and Tourism: www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/maharashtra/pune Marathi Language Guide: www.marathimitra.com Also check out the Marathi Online Web Project. See the appendix for directions on how to launch this website. Possibly the most valuable resource you have for self-preparation is other people who have been to this area of the world before. Talking with people about their experiences can reveal much more about what to expect than book knowledge. You may want to start with your Off-Campus Studies Director or Program Advisor, alumni of the program, Asian Studies Departments, or professors of Indian or international subjects. You will find it well worth your effort, and you may be surprised how excited people will be to share their experiences with you. The best place to start your research is by purchasing a travel guide. It will also be a good resource for you while you are in India. 3 Here are two of the travel guides that are most recommended by past India Studies participants. ● Abram, David, Nick Edwards, Devdan Sen, Mike Ford and Beth Wooldridge. The Rough Guide to India. 6th Edition. Rough Guide Travel Guides: November 2005. ISBN: 1843535017 ● Singh, Sarina. Lonely Planet India. 12th Edition. Lonely Planet Publications: September 2007. ISBN: 978-1741043082 Required Readings Before arriving in India, your assignment is to read two – very enjoyable – books. The first book on the list, a novel about an Indian family, is required reading for the entire group. The second book, you and 3 classmates will read and present to the group for discussion. During July and August, in Pune, the group will get together for an informal tea and discuss what we are learning from these writers. All of the texts are available on amazon.com and through the numerous used book dealers on the web. Required for the group: Rohinton Mistry, Family Matters Group #1 Dharma’s Daughters Group #2: Love and Longing in Bombay: Stories Group #3: Mirrorwork Suggested novel: Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children Administrative Arrangements Tuition & Refunds To save yourself long-distance communications hassles, you should check with the appropriate offices on your home campus (business, registrar, off-campus studies office) before you leave to be sure they know of your plans. Your tuition for the India program should be paid directly to your home campus business office before your departure so that the money can be forwarded to the ACM office to cover the educational expenses of the program. Tuition refunds will be based on the policy and schedule in effect on your home campus. Program Fees The remainder of the program fee (minus the $400 deposit paid to ACM) should also be paid directly to your home campus before you leave. No part of the program fee already expended on your behalf will be refunded should you withdraw from the program. Students from non-ACM colleges will have different billing arrangements, but remember that all fees are still due prior to the first day of the program. Please note that you will be liable for any damage to hostel, hotel, or dorm rooms during your time on the program, and ACM is not responsible for any excess costs incurred for such behavior. 4 * If you are on financial aid and receive student loan checks that need your signature, consult your financial aid officer or bursar about making alternative arrangements. Under no circumstance should loan checks be sent by postal service or express courier to India. The checks may be lost or stolen. Grades & Credits It is your responsibility to consult with your college registrar about grading, credit arrangements, and registration policies for off-campus studies. Check with your registrar about registration for the spring semester following your return so your academic progress is not impeded by the overseas program. Either register before you leave or arrange to have your registration materials sent to you at the program site. Give the registrar the address in India and remind him or her that everything should be sent by air mail to ensure reasonably prompt delivery.