Brown-In-India Handbook 2013-2014
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Office of International Programs Brown-in-India Handbook 2013-2014 Photo by Renuka Jain Brown-in-India Program Handbook 2013-2014 Table of Contents Introduction …………………………………………………2 India …………………………………………………3 Your Advisors in India …………………………………………………5 Pre-Departure Information …………………………………………………6 -Getting a Student Visa -What to pack? -Health information -Medicines -Insurance -Weather -Recommended reading -Pre-departure check list The Program …………………………………………………12 -Program calendar -Landour Language School -Program costs -Refund policy -Dismissal policy -Other costs and expenses Arriving in Delhi …………………………………………………18 -Let the OIP know -Contact the US Embassy Housing …………………………………………………19 -St Stephen’s apartment College Life …………………………………………………21 -Academics -Starting out -In and around college Around Delhi …………………………………………………25 -Cultural resources -Shopping and eating-out -Places and festivals you should not miss -Transport -Communication -Safety -Money and banking Traveling Around India …………………………………………………31 A Final Note …………………………………………………32 - 1 - Introduction This handbook is designed to assist you with the process of preparing for your journey to India and participation in the Brown-in-India program. It will serve to answer questions about what to expect. An India guide book, on the other hand, will offer you more specific information about the country itself. The “Lonely Planet” guide is geared towards students traveling on a budget as are “The Rough Guide” and “Fodors”. We at OIP would like to emphasize that programs in developing nations require enormous flexibility, openness to change, and a willingness to expect the unexpected. We emphasize this because past Brown-in-India students have read these same words, and have reiterated upon their return that these aspects were important to a successful stay in India. Students who opt for this program must understand that this is not “Brown University transplanted to India,” it is Brown at St. Stephen’s College or Brown at Lady Shri Ram. The academic experience differs distinctly from the Brown or another American university experience. As you read this handbook, we urge you to ask yourself, “Is this something I want to attempt?” “Can I accept the opportunity to develop an awareness of a different culture?” An intercultural experience is an emotionally intense and profoundly challenging experience for the participant. If you have any questions or concerns about anything now or while you're away, please contact our office immediately at the numbers/e-mail below. We accept collect calls from students abroad so don’t hesitate because of cost. If it’s an emergency and not during normal business hours at Brown you can call Police & Security at (401) 863-3322. They can reach one of us at all times – ask them to contact the staff of International Programs at home following their emergency procedure directions from our office. Brown University Office of International Programs Box 1973 Providence, RI 02912 tel 401-863-3555 fax 401-863-3311 email [email protected] Enjoy India! - 2 - India India is one of the few countries in the world today where the social and religious structures that define national identity have remained intact for at least 4000 years. This despite invasions, famines, religious persecutions, political upheavals and many other cataclysms. To describe modern India as a land of contrasts would be to state the obvious. There are many countries which would qualify for such a description in terms of ethnic, linguistic, religious and geographical variants, but few can match the vast scale and diversity to be found in India. Change is inevitably taking place as modern technology reaches further and further into the fabric of society, yet essentially village India remains much the same as it has for thousands of years. So resilient are its social and religious institutions that they have absorbed or repelled all attempts to radically change or destroy them. Even in fast paced modern cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, what appears to be a complete change of attitude and life style is only surface gloss. Underneath it all, the age old verities, loyalties and obligations still rule people's lives. There is possibly no other country where religion is so inextricably intertwined with every aspect of life. Coming to understand it can be a long process littered with pitfalls, particularly for those educated in the Western liberal traditions with its basis in logic. For those people, "Indian logic" can almost seem bizarre, convoluted and even exasperating. Yet, in its own way, it encompasses a unique cosmology which is both holistic and coherent as well as being fascinating. India was the birthplace of two of the world's great religions (Hinduism and Buddhism) and one of its smallest (Jainism). It's also home to one of the world's few remaining communities of Parsis, adherents of the faith of Zoroastrianism. Islam is among the major religions of India and it plays a large role in shaping the religious landscape of Delhi. Christianity, too, plays a role, although more so in Landour (where you will be doing your preliminary Hindi course), Goa, Mumbai, Kerala (South India) and the North-Eastern States. The modern state itself is a relatively recent creation born out of a people’s desire to throw off the yoke of colonialism. Even the mightiest of India's ancient civilizations did not encompass all of modern India, and today it is as much a country of diversity as of unity. You may have heard said that there are many Indias. In terms of ethnic origin, - 3 - language and geography, that is undoubtedly true and it sometimes bedevils efforts at creating a national consciousness. Yet, ever since Independence (1947) India has remained the world's largest democracy. - 4 - Your Advisors in India Program Site Coordinator: Samar Grewal Samar will coordinate off-campus aspects of the program; from organizing airport pick- ups to showing you around Delhi, assisting you with travel arrangements, health emergencies and answering all your questions about Delhi and Indian life. You will be meeting with Samar periodically (he will also conduct periodic inspections of the apartments on a mutually convenient day). If needed, he is also available for one-on-one meetings. Do not hesitate in asking for more assistance. Contact information Samar Grewal: E-242 F/F Greater Kailash-II New Delhi INDIA 110 048 Samar Tel: 011-91-98715 88798 (011 is the international access code when calling from the U.S. and 91 is the India country code. Email: [email protected] Student Program Assistants Brown also employs student program assistants from your respective college. The students will help your group (settle into Delhi and college life. Their role is multi- purpose, ranging from picking you at the airport, helping you to get mobile phones, answering questions about your College and helping you make sense of society around you. Program assistants often help you settle socially into Delhi as well as guide you around Delhi’s markets, restaurants and clubs. Having someone fluent in Hindi assist you is wonderful, not only does it help you get around better, it also gives you someone with whom to practice the language. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions; the assistants are there to help you, so get to know them as much as possible. If they are unable to help for any reason, do not hesitate to contact Samar. Foreign Student Advisor The Foreign Student Advisor at St. Stephen’s is Prof Sanjeev Grewal, ([email protected]). He will be your advisors for all matters related to the college. Any academic or administrative concerns should be brought to him. You will need to let him know your choice of courses and agreed-upon syllabi early on in the first term. - 5 - Pre-Departure Information Getting a Student Visa For US Passport holders you will need a student visa to stay as a student in India. Citizens of other countries should check directly with the Indian Consulate regarding entry requirements. The Indian Consulate has recently outsourced the Visa application process to an organization called: “Travisa Outsourcing.” It is your responsibility to verify the required procedures/documents with this organization, to apply, and to secure your own visa prior to your departure. It is strongly advisable to start this process as early as possible; however, you may have to wait a bit before you receive the following items from Brown: a letter of acceptance from your host college in Delhi (St. Stephen’s or Lady Shri Ram) letter of financial support and program participation This will be sent to you in the near future and you should have plenty of time to procure your visa before you depart. Please direct questions to Travisa Outsourcing at: website http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/ tel 212-754-9900-NYC; 202-333-7460Washington, DC; 312-346-2367-Chicago; 415-644-0149-San Francisco Past participants have said that this service works very fast. If you have any questions or concerns after inquiring with Travisa Outsourcing, please do not hesitate to contact Brown’s Office of International Programs at 401-863-3555. Consular Information Embassy of India 2107 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20008 tel 202-939-7000 OR Consulate of India 3 East 64th Street New York, NY 10021 tel 212-774-0600 - 6 - What to Pack? Regular clothing will be appropriate. Most students at college wear western garb; so do bring a varied selection of Western clothing. However, DO NOT over pack, because there are plenty Western clothing stores in India (Zara, Esprit, etc) and markets such as Sarojini Nagar are full of left-overs from companies such as H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch and the like. In addition, you will be buying Indian clothing that is better suited to wear in the Delhi heat (i.e. light cotton).