Pune Student Handbook - Alliance for Global Education

CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Pune
program handbook
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
PAGE 1 OF 74
2016
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Our vision for this program is to introduce intellectually ambitious, adventurous U.S.
undergraduates to some of the most dynamic, exciting areas of Indian society, politics,
economics, and culture today.
Through an academically challenging curriculum, i ntegrative housing arrangements, a rich array
of extra- and co-curricular activities, as well as work done in the context of an internship or
directed research project or documentary making; that will conclude your academics in the
program, we offer an intensive, transformative intellectual, personal, and cultural experience
that will train and prepare you to be a global citizen.
Pune, a vibrant, dynamic center of both traditional and modern India with a wide and varied
range of academic, cultural, professional offerings, offers you the best of India's academic
institutions and research facilities, a rich cultural life, a thriving student scene and leading,
innovative NGOs and multi-nationals. Our Pune staff has extensive professional experience in
study abroad in India and a well-connected local network. They will work to maximize your
learning inside and outside the classroom and your immersion in the local community, while
maintaining the highest standards in health, safety and professional program management.
We hope that you will take full advantage of the wonderful opportunities we have created for
you and encourage you to make your semester in India as rich and meaningful as possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Alliance staff to help us maximize your
learning, growth and development. We are thrilled to have you as part of the Alliance and as
the newest member of our collective effort to promote and expand intern ational education.
Uttaraa Jadhav
Director for India Programs
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
about us .................................................................................................................................. 5
1.1.
1.2.
our vision ....................................................................................................................................... 6
your program ........................................................................................................................ 6
Meet the people behind your program .............................................................................. 6
Meet your faculty .................................................................................................................... 7
Your host city ........................................................................................................................... 8
Your host institution ............................................................................................................... 9
1.3.
resources ................................................................................................................................ 10
Internet resources ................................................................................................................. 10
Local resources ...................................................................................................................... 10
Recommended reading materials ...................................................................................... 10
Important contact information ........................................................................................... 10
2.
academics ........................................................................................................................ 11
2.1.
our academic policies ..................................................................................................... 12
Academic Policy Contract .................................................................................................... 12
Human Subjects Research Policy ....................................................................................... 15
Code of Academic Integrity ................................................................................................ 16
Grade Appeal Process ........................................................................................................... 19
2.2.
your academics ................................................................................................................... 20
Understanding your program requirements ................................................................... 20
Your program focus ......................................................................................................... 21
Co-curricular activities ......................................................................................................... 22
2.3.
resources ................................................................................................................................ 23
How to make your term abroad successful ..................................................................... 23
Useful links .............................................................................................................................. 24
Seeking academic support abroad .................................................................................... 24
3.
health & safety ..................................................................................................... 26
3.1.
3.2.
our health and safety policies .................................................................................... 27
your health and safety ............................................................................................................. 28
Your Health ............................................................................................................................. 28
Weather .................................................................................................................... 28
Water &hydration .................................................................................................. 29
Food .......................................................................................................................... 29
Hygiene tips ............................................................................................................ 30
Stress, resilience and mental health .................................................................. 30
Support for psychological issues........................................................................ 31
Special needs and accommodations for disabilities ...................................... 32
Your Safety ........................................................................................................................ 32
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Transportation ................................................................................................... 34
Preventing theft and pickpocketing .................................................................. 35
Travelling independently ...................................................................................... 36
Evening activities ................................................................................................... 37
Sexual Harassment ................................................................................................................ 38
Sexual Harassment Policy..................................................................................... 38
Prevention and reaction ................................................................................... 40
3.3.
resources ............................................................................................................................... 43
Important contact information ........................................................................................... 43
Contacting the U.S. embassy and consulates ................................................................. 44
Further reading ...................................................................................................................... 45
student life abroad .............................................................................................. 46
4.
4.1.
our p rog ram p olicies ..................................................................................................... 47
Student Contract ................................................................................................................. 47
Sanctions Following from Breach of Student Contract ............................................... 49
Special Warning about Drug and Criminal Offenses Abroad ...................................... 50
your t erm ab road .................................................................................................................... 51
4.2.
Tips on packing smart for your time abroad ................................................................... 51
Getting there ..................................................................................................................... 52
Planning and managing your finances ............................................................................. 51
Housing and accommodations ........................................................................................... 53
Getting around town ............................................................................................................ 54
Staying connected while abroad ........................................................................................ 55
Getting inside your host culture ........................................................................................ 57
Culture shock .......................................................................................................................... 63
4.3.
resources ............................................................................................................................... 67
Seeking
Survival
Survival
Student
5.
help with getting settled ...................................................................................... 67
Hindi ......................................................................................................................... 68
Marathi ..................................................................................................................... 69
blogs ......................................................................................................................... 70
the fine print ..................................................................................................................... 71
5.1.
5.2.
5.3.
5.4.
5.5.
5.6.
5.7.
Regulations and Policies ............................................................................................................ 72
Nondiscrimination Statement ..................................................................................................... 72
Student Address and Biographical Data ................................................................................... 73
Disclosure of Student Records .................................................................................................... 73
Technology Abuses........................................................................................................................ 74
Loss or Damage Statement .......................................................................................................... 74
Housing Policy ................................................................................................................................ 74
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
ABOUT US
Our Vision
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Our History
Our Mission
Your Program
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Meet the people behind your program
Meet your faculty
Your host city
Your host institution
Resources
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Internet resources
Local resources
Recommended reading materials
Important contact information
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
OUR VISION
OUR HISTORY
The Alliance for Global Education, LLC, a division of the Institute for Study Abroad, Butler
University, was formed with the vision of opening study abroad destinations in Asia to an ever growing and more diverse U.S. undergraduate population. Since 2007, the Alliance has enrolled
over 2,000 undergraduate students from 300 U.S. colleges and universities in our China and
India programs.
OUR MISSION
Our core mission is to develop and promote innovative programs in vibrant, dynamic Asian
countries that are of ever-increasing scholarly, political, and economic interest.
YOUR PROGRAM
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR PROGRAM
Uttaraa Jadhav, Director for India Programs and Resident Director, Pune Program
As Director for India Programs and Resident Director of the
Pune Program, Uttaraa oversees the day-to-day operations and
development of the Alliance programs in Manipal, Pune, Delhi
and Varanasi. She has over a decade of experience in study
abroad management as well as extensive experience in higher
education as a consultant to the University of Pune's NAAC
project for Performance Excellence in Higher Education. Prior to
her work in education, she enjoyed a long career in IT,
providing her with a strong professional background in business
administration and information technology. A Pune native,
Uttaraa has strong ties to the local business, IT, and performing
arts communities and is both a capable administrator and a ready ear for student support.
5 questions with your resident director
1. What has surprised you most about working with American undergraduates? Your ability to
adapt to completely different life in India!! I worry about how heat will treat you, and then I
find you marching in the sun!
2. What’s your favorite Indian dish? Modak! These are like momos. They have fresh coconut
and sweet jaggary stuffing in a rice flour dumpling.
3. How many languages do you speak? Marathi, English, Hindi and little bit of German
4. What do you do for fun in Pune? Meet my 4
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th
grade friends and hang out with them!
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
5. What’s a day in the life of a resident director like? The day begins early at 5:30 A.M. I get
ready, do some Pranayam (breathing exercises), cook and reach office at 07:30 A.M.
Answer emails till 08:00 A.M., when students arrive for breakfast.
During the day, I complete my to-do list whenever I get free time from talking to students,
faculty, interpreters, staff and different vendors who come to my office. From 06:00 till
07:30 P.M., I finish the work and ride on my scooter back home feeling happy and blessed!
I listen to vocal classical music by Kumar Gandharva rest of the evening. The day ends with
watching Christian Amonpour on CNN. 
Abhishek Bhagwat, Assistant Resident Director
As Assistant Resident Director, Abhishek helps manage the daily
operations of the Pune program. A Pune native, he has been associated
with the Alliance for over five years, first as an interpreter and more
recently as internship coordinator where his extensive local networks
helped connect students to countless opportuniti es for engagement with
the local community. Given his personal interests in slum and rural
development, political awareness and education in India, Abhishek has
been closely involved with a number of non-profit organizations
addressing these issues, in particular Jnana Prabodhini, LEARN, Bombay
Underground, Parivartan, and the Aseem Foundation. He has traveled
extensively throughout India and enjoys reading, photography, and meeting new people.
MEET YOUR FACULTY
Prof. Ashish Kulkarni, Contemporary
India, Development Economics
Prof. Archana Vidwans, Internship and
Directed Research
Prof. Milind Damle, Documentary Film
Dr. Triveni Mathur, Gender and Indian
Media
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Dr. Hemant Apte, Public Health
Dr. Medha Kotwal Lele, Social Justice
Prof. Sunila Gondhalekar, Beginning
Hindi
Dr. Aparna Jha, Intermediate Hindi
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
YOUR HOST CITY: PUNE, INDIA
American undergraduates will have the opportunity to explore the changing dynamics
of modern, urban life in Pune – a city where tradition and technology, social justice and
business, the arts and entertainment compete, counterbalance and coexist.
The family dynamics of urban India are being remapped in Pune, as multi -generational
families embrace the employment of their daughters -in-law; couples Skype with their
children who are studying or working abroad; or young women in slums find more
liberation than in their home villages. A generation of plugged -in, tech-savvy Millenials
roams the streets of Pune, writing blogs, taking selfies, and putting it all online – via
their smart phones or Blackberries. They might live at home until marriage, sure, but
experience a greater degree of independence and worldliness than any generation
before.
Pune’s rapid pace of economic growth has brought tremendous opportunities – and
tremendous risks to many citizens. Thousands of skilled engineers commute to
corporate offices in complexes on the fringes of the city; working for domestic giants
like TATA and international brands like Mercedes -Benz and Volkswagen. Meanwhile,
migrant construction workers live on the edge of subsistence nearby the mega -malls,
concert venues or hotel complexes, where these same young professionals spend their
free time and money. Social entrepreneurs, activists, and community organizers come
together at various levels to propose their solutions to the issues of the day – access to
quality education, food security, healthcare, sanitation, economic opportunity and
women’s rights.
Traditional Maharashtrian performing arts, fine arts, and artisanal crafts still have their
supporters in Pune, but have found it necessary to evolve in order to survive and thrive.
The latest Bollywood pictures playing at the multi -story megaplex offer up catchy song
and dance numbers that advance the plots of buddy comedies and dramatic
intercontinental romances, while nightly Marathi soap operas capture the imagination
of families across Pune, with their intricate tales of love, betrayal, family drama, a nd
village injustices.
Studying Contemporary India in Pune offers a unique opportunity to examine the
complex and multi-faceted aspects of development, economy and society in this rapidly
changing, diverse and welcoming South Asian urban center.
Interesting facts about Pune
1. Pune’s population growth rate is estimated at 12% per year – attributed to an influx of
skilled labor to the software and automobile industries, along with unskilled migrants
working in construction, and the absorption of fringe villag es into the greater metropolitan
area. Currently the estimated population is 8,242,142.
2. Pune is known for its traffic density, particularly the number of “two -wheelers” (motorcycles
and scooters) that are ubiquitous on the roads of Pune. It’s not unusual to see upwards of
50 of these vehicles stopped at a major intersection or lined up at a petrol pump.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
3. With over 100 colleges and 9 universities, the city has a decidedly youthful feel.
Restaurants, cafes and pubs cater to the student population. However, u nlike American
colleges that have deluxe facilities, most campuses in Pune are more bare bones.
4. Pune is situated near the Western Ghats, the mountain range that traverses the western
coast of India. The city is surrounded by forts and hill stations and h as a climate that is
preferred by many in the region.
5. Pune is a city of do-gooders. There are countless social organizations, non -governmental
organizations, charities, advocacy groups and individual citizens working for various causes.
Since 2001, 77-year-old Pandurang Garsund of Pune has been undertaking voluntary
cleanup of the Mula River that runs through the city.
YOUR HOST INSTITUTION: GOKHALE INSTITUTE OF
POLITICS AND ECONOMICS
The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics is one of the oldest and most prestigious
research and training institutes in economics in India. Founded in 1930 by the Servants of
India Society and renowned Nationalist Leader, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the Gokhale Instit ute
occupies a beautiful green campus in the centrally-located Deccan Gymkhana neighborhood.
Dhananjayarao Gadgil Library, the library of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics,
has one of the largest and most important collections of so cial science documents in India, and
was established as a public library in 1905. The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
hosts the Alliance for Global Education offices, classrooms and other facilities, and students
can take advantage of the Institute’s library and academic resources for their studies.
Interesting facts about the Gokhale Institute
1. The vision of the institute is to ‘to conduct research, education and extension on the
foremost social and economic problems at national and international levels with the aim of
providing viable solutions for decision makers for the betterment of human life.’
2. Some major on-going research projects at the Institute are ‘Reversing son preference in
India’, a project for UNFPA, and ‘Capital Flows & Exchange Rat e Volatility in the Financial
Stability Framework for India’, a project for the Reserve Bank of India.
3. The institute has been behind the design of numerous research methods and socio economic interventions used to study and promote development in rural In dia.
4. Students at Gokhale are pursuing their Ph.D.s, or working towards Masters of Science in
Economics, Financial Economics, or Agribusiness Economics; or taking a P ost Graduate
Diploma program in Financial Derivatives (in association with National Stock Exchange,
Mumbai) and Certificate Programs in Financial Economics, Law & Economics, Econometrics,
Macroeconomics, etc.
5. Gokhale has two semesters per year: July-November, and December-April.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
RESOURCES
INTERNET RESOURCES
http://www.burrp.com/pune
Local restaurant listings and a great food
blog
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gipepun
e/Want to connect with other students at
Gokhale? Check out this group.
http://www.allevents.in/pune
Places to go and things to do
LOCAL RESOURCES
Money Exchange:
Thomas Cook, Bhandarkar Road, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune
Bank of Maharashtra, 1182/2 Sneha Center, F.C. Rd, Shivaji Nagar, Pune
*Please note, traveler’s checks can only be cashed at Thomas Cook.
Copying and Printing: All along F.C. Road, printing can be found for just a few rupees – just
bring a USB!
Restaurants:
Roopali, Vaishali, Amrapali, Chaitanya Parathas, Café Good Luck, and
Wadeshwar are just a few of the restaurants you’ll come to know and
love on F.C. Road.
Libraries: Dhananjayarao Gadgil Library (on Gokhale campus); British Library (F.C. Rd)
RECOMMENDED READING MATERIALS
India after Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha – chronicles the history of India after independence
Cultural Intelligence: Living and Working Globally by David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson – a
guide to navigating a globalizing world
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo – a compelling narrative based on years of
reporting in Mumbai’s slums
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
During evening hours and on weekends, please only contact staff in the event of a health or
safety emergency.
Uttaraa Jadhav, Resident Director
[email protected]
Abhishek Bhagwat, Assistant Resident Director
[email protected]
Anna Stewart, Student Services Manager
Office: +1 202-587-9109
[email protected]
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
ACADEMICS
Our Academics Policies
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Academic Policy Statement
Human Subjects Research Policy
Code of Academic Integrity
Grade Appeal Process
Your Academics
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
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Understanding your program requirements
Your program focus
Co-curricular activities
Resources
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PAGE 11 OF 74
How to make your term abroad successful
Useful links
Seeking academic support while abroad
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
OUR ACADEMIC POLICIES
ACADEMIC POLICY CONTRACT
At orientation, program participants are required to read and sign an academic policy contract
to confirm their understanding and acceptance of their academic responsibili ties during their
term abroad. These academic requirements are intended to ensure that students take
responsibility for their academic success, to maintain the Alliance’s academic integrity and
relationships with partners and faculty, and to ensure that all conditions are met for final
evaluation and the issuing of an official transcript. Students must demonstrate a compelling
academic, personal, or medical need for any requested exception to these policies.
Full Course Load
You are required to register for a full-time academic course load, in most cases 15-18 credits
per semester program and 6-9 credits for summer programs, the satisfactory completion of
which will result in your earning full credit for your term abroad.
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Under-loading or over-loading of credit is not permitted except by special permission.
Courses may not be audited except by special permission, and may not be taken on a
pass/fail basis.
Courses taken outside the normal curriculum or by special arrangement are not
acceptable for academic credit except by special permissio n.
Adding/Dropping Courses
Depending on curriculum structure and offerings, Alliance programs may offer an initial
add/drop period at the beginning of each term. Any course changes during this period must be
approved by the Resident Director. Any subsequent course changes, or course changes in
Alliance programs that do not offer an add/drop period, must be ap proved as a special
exception. The Alliance may not grant credit for courses tak en without proper approval.
Students are responsible for ensuring that any changes to course registration are approved and
accepted by their home institution.
Withdrawal
Special permission is required to withdraw from a course and there must be a compelling
academic, personal or medical reason to do so. It cannot result in an under-load of credit for
your term abroad, and must have the approval of your home institution.
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A class dropped within these parameters and within two weeks of its start will not be
recorded on your transcript.
A class dropped after the first two weeks, but more than four weeks before the final
exam or conclusion of the class, will be reported as a ‘W’ (withdraw) on your transcript.
If a class is dropped without the requisite approval or within four weeks of th e final
exam or scheduled conclusion of the class, it will be reported as an ‘F’ (failure) on your
transcript.
Alliance students must complete all course requirements before leaving the program site.
Under exceptional circumstances, such as a documented me dical or family emergency, students
may make special arrangements with their Resident Director and program faculty for
completion of course requirements outside of program auspices. Terms and requirements
associated with this arrangement are spelled out in the Withdrawal Form, available upon
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
request from your Resident Director. Students who do not complete all course and program
requirements receive a failing ‘F’ grade for their coursework.
Exams and Assignments
Students are required to take all regularly scheduled exams in courses for which they are
registered and to submit all assignments on time. Any compelling academic, personal, or
medical reason that might justify a rescheduled exam or assignment must be brought up to the
Resident Director, not program faculty. Failure to take scheduled exams or submit the requisite
assignments for a course will adversely affect your grade as per the stated grading criteria for
each course.
Academic Integrity
All Alliance students are expected to maintain the highest levels of academic integrity in their
coursework and research abroad. The Alliance’s Code of Academic Integrity and sanctions for
breaches of academic integrity are spelled out in detail below.
Another component of academic integrity is ethical research practices, in particular for research
involving human subjects. This is addressed in further detail below. Students are expected to
uphold the Alliance’s Guidelines for Human Subjects Research in the conduc t of their research
abroad. Please do not hesitate to contact your Resident Director or program faculty if you have
any questions relating to the ethics or integrity of your academic work abroad.
Grade Appeals
Alliance students have the right to appeal any grade they receive. A Grade Appeal Form is
available upon request from your Resident Director.
Attendance Policy
Excessive absences affect student learning, group focus and morale and faculty workloads.
Therefore, class attendance is an important, required component of the successful completion
of an Alliance program.
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Semester. Students are permitted 10 total hours of unexcused absences for their entire
course load. After 10 missed hours of class (including hour s missed for field study
components) a written warning is issued. After 15 missed class hours, a second warning
is issued, placing the student on academic probation. After 20 missed class hours, the
student is dismissed from the program with no refund and no transcript.
Summer. Students are permitted 8 total hours of unexcused absences for their entire
course load. After 8 missed hours of class, a written warning is issued. After 12 missed
class hours, a second warning is issued and the student is placed on academic
probation. After 15 missed class hours, the student is dismissed from the program with
no refund and no transcript.
Hours are based upon rounded-up class duration. For example, a 50 -minute class
counts as one class hour; a 1-hour 45-minute seminar session counts as two class hours.
Class hours for field visits and field study components are calculated along the
following lines:
 Missing a half-day field visit or required co-curricular activity counts as three
unexcused hours.
 Missing a day of internship counts as six unexcused hours.
 Missing an all-day or overnight excursion counts as twelve unexcused hours.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Reasons for excused absences may include the following:
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Illness. The Resident Director must be notified before the start of the missed cl ass. If
the student misses class due to illness for two or more sequential dates, then a doctor’s
note is required for the absences to be excused.
Hospitalization.
Major religious holidays observed by the student’s religion. Pr ior notice to the Resident
Director is required.
Activities required by police registration, another class or internship. Pr ior notice to the
Resident Director is required.
Other circumstances according to the discretion of the Resident Director.
Reasons for unexcused absences may include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Independent travel and/or resulting fatigue.
Illness, without informing the Resident Director in advance or not providing a doctor’s
note for two or more subsequent absent days.
Attending functions with host families, roommates, buddies or language partners.
Entertaining personal visitors.
Transcripts
An official transcript is issued for any student who has participated in an Alliance program.
Transcripts are issued by Butler University based on grades submitted by Alliance faculty. The
Butler University transcript lists the number of credits earned and letter grades received in all
courses for which the student registered and received grades.
Grading
At the beginning of each semester, Alliance faculty provide a detailed syllabus outlining the
class structure and schedule, dates for assignments and exam s, required and recommended
reading materials, and grading criteria. Alliance students receive letter grades for each course
according to the following structure:
Excellent A
A-
93-100%
90-92%
Good B+
B
B-
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
Acceptable
C+
C
CUnsatisfactory D+
D
DFailing
F
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
67-69%
63-66%
60-62%
<60%
Classroom Conduct
Respect for instructors is extremely important in China and India. Student punctuality is the
foremost mark of that respect; arriving late is taken as a sign of disrespect. It is improper to eat
in class, to text or email, or to slump or nap. Students are expected to be alert and engaged as
a sign of respect for their professors.
Should you have questions or concerns about your courses or academic performance, please
notify Alliance staff. The Resident Director is in regular contact with program faculty who are
interested and invested in our students’ academic success.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH POLICY
The research our students complete during their participation in an Alliance for Global
Education program is an extraordinary opportunity to conduct original field research in an area
of focused academic interest. This research may help fulfill credits required by your home
university, become a foundation for a senior or honors thesis, serve as a conference
presentation or scholarly publication, or enhance a graduate school application.
Though the internet and local libraries will no doubt provide critical support to your researc h,
one of the most exciting and valuable aspects of studying abroad is the ability to conduct
research in situ, gaining insights directly from host nationals in the local environment. Not
only does this challenge and hone your abilities as a researcher in important ways, it also
enables you to leverage the cultural and linguistic skills you have acquired while abroad.
Before beginning the research process, however, it is critical that you familiarize yourself with
ethical considerations inherent in conducting research that involves human subjects. Our
complete Human Subjects Research Guidelines will be distributed and discussed further at
orientation, but it is important for you to begin thinking about this aspect of your upcoming
research now, especially as it may require input from your home school academic advisor or
Institutional Research Board (IRB).
The fundamental rule for conducting research using hu man subjects is to ‘do no harm’. In a
medical research study the possible harm may be easily understood as pertaining to an
individual’s short- or long-term health. But in social science research the harm may be less
tangible or obvious, and is more often associated with the possibility that participation in a
research study may jeopardize an individual’s livelihood or relationships.
While most Capstone or Directed Research Projects do not pose risks to research participants,
it is critical that you remain sensitive to the possibility that your work could put someone’s
well-being at risk and, in some cases, actually undergo an approval process required by your
home university. As noted above, this is particularly important should you want to use part of
your research abroad as part of a larger project at home.
Questions to ask yourself, then, as you begin to think about your Capstone or Directed
Research Project may include:
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Could the questions I ask be sensitive? In what way? For whom?
Could the questions I ask or the information I collect and then share in my research
paper pose any physical, emotional, social, or economic threat to those I interview? For
example, could the research I conduct somehow put someone’s livelihood or
relationships at risk?
How will I inform my research subjects (that is to say, my interviewees) about the
purpose of my research project?
How can I be sure I have obtained their voluntary informed consent to participate?
Are my subjects aware of:
o The purpose of my research
o The risks and/or benefits to them in participating
o The level of confidentiality with which their identities or responses will be
treated
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o Their right to refuse or withdraw from the research?
Am I working with vulnerable populations, for example, children or economically/
educationally disadvantaged persons? If so, how am I ensuring that I have obtained
their voluntary, informed consent?
Again, you will be discussing these questions as they relate to your proposed research with
your Faculty Advisor and Resident Director once you are in -country and beginning your
Capstone research, but please also discuss any particular questions you may ha ve regarding
your specific project with your home school academic advisor or study abroad advisor, and for
research that may be particularly sensitive, it is a good idea to establish contact with your
home school’s IRB before you depart.
CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The Alliance for Global Education expects its students to uphold the highest standards of
academic integrity, and enforces a zero -tolerance policy for academic dishonesty.
Any
confirmed violations of this code of academic integrity will carry a n appropriate penalty, and
student’s home institutions will be notified, which may lead to further judicial or academic
sanctions.
Definition of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own
work, taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate
authorization, and the fabrication of information.
Common examples of academically dishonest behavior include, but are not limited to, the
following:

Cheating - intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information
or study aids in any academic exercise; copying from another student's examination;
submitting work for an in-class examination that has been prepared in advance;
representing material prepared by another as one's own work; submitting the same
work in more than one course without prior permission of both instructors; violating
rules governing administration of examinations; violating any rules relating to academic
conduct of a course or program.
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Fabrication - intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any data,
information or citation in an academic exercise.

Plagiarism - intentionally representing the words, ideas, or sequence of ideas of another
as one's own in any academic exercise; failure to attribute any of the following:
quotations, paraphrases, or borrowed information.

Falsification and forgery of academic documents- knowingly making a false statement,
concealing material information, or forging an official's sign ature on any academic
document or record. Such academic documents or records may include transcripts,
forms

Facilitating academic dishonesty - intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to
help another person to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
PAGE 16 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Procedures for Papers, Reports, and Other Written Work:
The most general rule is that any use of another person’s ideas - whether the source is
published or not - should be acknowledged fully and in detail. Since disciplines show some
differences on how this should be done, instructors should be consulted as to the form and
nature of the acknowledgments required by each field.
1. When preparing all written work, take great care to fully acknowledge the source or
sources of all ideas, language, diagrams, char ts, or images which are not your own. If
you intentionally appropriate the ideas, images or language of another person and
present them without attribution, you are committing plagiarism. This includes the
purchase or acquisition of papers or other mater ial from any source. For specific
questions consult with your faculty member, but the following rules must be observed:
a)
Any sequence of words appearing in your essay which are not your own
must be enclosed in quotation marks and the source identified in a manner
designated by the instructor.
b)
A paraphrase should not be enclosed in quotation marks, but should be
footnoted and the source given.
c)
An interpretation based on an identifiable source must be so attributed.
2. If you wish to seek assistance from another student (i.e., proofreading for typographical
errors), consult your instructor to determine if such assistance is permissible. If
permitted, such assistance should be acknowledged in the written work.
Procedures for Taking Examinations, Tests and Quizzes :
1. To eliminate suspicious behavior during any type of examination, all books, notes, note
cards, papers, materials and instruments are to be left in a designated location away
from the testing area, except for those materials previously specified by the fa culty
member.
2. The faculty member may remain in the room. If the faculty member leaves the room
after the initial questions have been asked, he/she must remain accessible and may
return to answer questions that arise during the examination.
3. Requests for clarification of questions must be directed only to the faculty member.
4. Silence is to be maintained in the exam room.
5. If possible, students should occupy every other seat.
6. You are not to leave the test area unless an emergency arises, or by special permissio n.
Faculty members’ policies on leaving the testing area should be specified beforehand.
If you do leave the room, your test paper must be left behind.
7. In fairness to all students, you must finish the examination by the end of the
examination period. The examination time can be lengthened only if established at the
beginning of the period and only if the extension applies to all students. Students with
advance special permission are exempt.
Violations of the Code of Academic Integrity
Violating any of the above procedures constitutes a violation of the Code of Academic
Integrity.
In addition, the following also constitute violations of the Code of Academic Integrity
1. Submitting the same work for credit in more than one course without permission of
each instructor involved.
2. Attempting to give or to receive unauthorized assistance on academic work, and
attempting to hinder others in their academic work.
PAGE 17 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
3. Furnishing false information to program staff or faculty on matters relating to academic
work. This may include but is not limited to:
a) False
information
provided
for
the
purpose
of
obtaining
special
consideration (for example, postponement of examinations or of deadlines
for written work).
b) Fraudulent transcripts submitted for acceptance.
c) Signing the name of an absent person to an attendance sheet.
d) Reporting the results of experiments or surveys not performed.
4. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to exams or tests.
5. Cheating during examinations, which includes:
a) Attempting to look at another student’s exam.
b) Attempting to communicate concerning the content of the exam with
another student.
c) Attempting to use any materials (such as notebooks, notes, textbooks) not
specifically authorized by the faculty member.
Procedure for Addressing Alleged Violations of Acade mic Integrity
1. If you have violated an academic regulation, you may report yourself to your faculty
member or Resident Director within 36 hours of the infraction. Self -reporting will
increase the leniency of possible sanctions.
2. If you suspect that a violation has occurred, you may submit to the faculty member or
Resident Director a written, dated, and signed report of the suspected violation within 5
days of witnessing or discovering the violation. Persons who have knowledge of the
violation may be summoned by the faculty member or the Resident Director to be
questioned and to give testimony.
3. If a faculty member suspects you of having violated the Code of Academic Integrity, she
or he will notify you and your Resident Director that an inquiry is being initiated.
4. The faculty member is responsible for documenting the alleged violation and
forwarding it to the Resident Director.
5. The Resident Director will allow the student to prepare a statement within 5 days of the
report of the violation and will forward all materials related to the alleged violation to
the Executive Director.
6. The Executive Director will review the materials, including a second member of senior
management in the review and adjudication process and render a decision on whether a
violation has occurred.
7. If a violation has been found, the Director of Academic Affairs will dete rmine the
appropriate sanction and communicate it to the student and to the student’s home
institutions.
8. The review and adjudication process will take no longer than one month after the initial
alleged violation has been reported.
9. Once the judgment has been rendered, no further appeal within the Alliance is possible.
Students must take any appeals to their home institution.
Sanctions
Sanctions for violations of the Code of Academic Responsibility include but are not limited to:
1. Formal written warning.
2. Lowering the letter grade for the work involved.
3. Lowering the letter grade for the course.
PAGE 18 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
4. Resubmission of work or additional assignments.
5. Grade of F for the course.
6. Dismissal from the program.
GRADE APPEAL PROCESS
Students have the right to exercise appeals consistent with the Alliance policies and procedures
described below. Appeals regarding grades may be made only by using the following protocol.
Phase One
A student seeking the review of a final grade must file a written request for reconsiderati on
within one month of receipt of the grade. The letter should be directed to the Resident
Director. All relevant materials and supporting information must accompany the letter.
In considering the appeal, the Resident Director relies on the materials and information that
have been submitted, consultation with appropriate in -country faculty and staff, evaluated
work which may have remained in-country and any other documentation relevant to the
specific grade(s) being appealed. Within two weeks of receipt o f the appeal, the Resident
Director will respond in writing to the student explaining the decision reached. All materials
submitted with the appeal will then be returned to the student.
Phase Two
The only appeal from the decision of the Resident Director is to a panel of senior Alliance staff
in Washington, DC. The student must submit a letter to the Director of China or India
Programs accompanied by any and all relevant materials, documentation, and information
within two months of the original receipt of the grade(s). The letter must present a clear
explanation of the reason(s) that the decision of the Resident Director is not acceptable.
During this phase of the review process, the Resident Director will be given an opportunity to
submit an additional response to the student’s appeal. The review panel at Alliance
headquarters, comprised of relevant Director -level program staff, the Executive Director, and
another senior staff member, will then review all submitted documentation, pose any further
questions, and render a final decision.
This decision will be communicated in writing to the student, to Butler University, and to the
student’s home institution within two weeks of the initiation of the Phase Two process
whenever possible, but the investigatio n and final decision-making process may require
additional time.
There is no final appeal after the decision of the senior staff review panel at Alliance
headquarters.
PAGE 19 OF 74
YOUR ACADEMICS
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
How does studying in Pune differ from my home college or
university?
When you entered your college campus for the first time, you were part of the class of 201 6,
2017, 2018 or 2019, a group of students on a four-year path to graduation. With the Alliance
Contemporary India program, you will be with a much smaller cohort of fellow students from a
diverse array of backgrounds and life stages. You’ll spend three months immersed in your
classroom studies and field visits, before beginning your internship, directed research or
documentary film component.
Where are classes held?
Classes are held for your cohort at the Alliance program center in the Gokhale Institute of
Politics and Economics. This center will be your “home away from home” in Pune, where you’ll
eat breakfast and attend your classes. Unlike a direct-enroll program, this allows students to
explore their individual academic interests in a schedule that aligns with the U.S. academic
calendar. (As you might imagine, classes at Gokhale operate on their own, very different,
timeline and examination schedule).
While your classes will be customized for this program, your faculty will be teaching from the
Indian perspective, giving you new insights or wa ys of approaching issues. You will be exposed
to a system of education that places responsibility on the student to be actively engaged in the
learning and inquiry process.
Will there be Indian students in my classes?
No - unless there are students of Indian heritage on the program, of course. As mentioned
above, classes are offered solely for Alliance students due to the differences between the
American and Indian academic calendars. As you meet Indian students in Pune, you may
discover that their academic interests and trajectories are quite different from the path that
you are on (for example, even the idea of studying abroad for just one semester is quite
unusual in India).
However, this does not mean that you won’t have the chance to meet any Indian students or to
engage locals in your course of study. It does mean that you will need to be intentional about
seeking out this engagement – by getting outside the group comfort zone, overcoming shyness
or embarrassment about speaking Hindi or Marathi, or simply motivating yourself to use your
free time well.
PAGE 20 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
YOUR PROGRAM FOCUS
Your Core Course
SOC 360: Contemporary India (required – 3 credits)
A political, historical and social survey of post-Independence India as a complex yet unified
multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, religiously pluralistic democracy and rising major global power,
this core course gives students the ability to understand current events they see around them,
contextualized within a historical framework. Topics include: colonialism, nationalism, and
independence; Gandhi, social activism and the 1960s; gender a nd caste; 20th century literary,
religious and philosophical movements and recent history from 1990 to the present.
Your Language Options
You will have the option to study Hindi while in Pune, at either the beginning or intermediate
level. Please note that the study of Hindi requires an extra level of dedication, since it is a very
challenging language for beginners who only have prior experience with Romance languages.
*Marathi is the primary language of the host families and many NGO placements in Pune,
though many of them may also speak Hindi.
HIND 100: Beginning Hindi (elective - 3 credits)
Fundamentals of conversation and written Hindi for beginning students.
HIND 200: Intermediate Hindi (elective - 3 credits)
Higher level of conversation and written Hindi for intermediate students.
Your Internship, Directed Research or Documentary Film
INTS 380: Internship / DIRR 380: Directed Research / FILM 380: Documentary Film
(required - 3 credits)
Students are matched with internship and research placements bas ed upon academic interests
articulated in their Internship/Directed Research form. Internships require students to
thoughtfully and critically integrate the academic, experiential, and professional within an
organizational context, whereas directed researc h involves a formal research project carried out
within an organization, a library, or the field.
The documentary film option allows students to conduct and present research through a visual
rather than a written medium. Working closely with a faculty mem ber who is also a film
director, as well as students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), students are
expected to produce a short film on their selected subject area.
All projects are conducted under close academic supervision and enta il a final paper or project
with accompanying presentation.
PAGE 21 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Your Electives
COMM 375: Gender and Indian Media
From Hindu mythology to the pages of Bollywood gossip magazines, Indian womanhood has
been a constantly-evolving site for the mapping of cultural norms, desires and anxieties. The
simultaneous exaltation and oppression of femininity, in all its nuance and variation, is both
reinforced and contested in the many and various channels of mass media in contemporary
Indian society.
PUBH 300: Public Health (elective - 3 credits)
India faces unique and daunting challenges in the area of public health, battling malnutrition,
infectious disease, and high infant mortality. This course will take a multidisciplinary approach
to public health in India, incorporating policy development, gender issues, social justice, health
economics and epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and health services management. Students
will carefully interrogate how social, political, and economic factors facilitate or mitigate the
production and transmission of disease, and evaluate ethical and practical consequences of
policy and scientific initiatives.
SOCJ 365: Social Justice (elective - 3 credits)
Social justice movements in India may be most widely known through the iconic figures of
Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar, but there is a rich and diverse tradition of Indian social
justice theory and action dating from the British Raj era to modern Dalit, tribal, and women’s
movements. This course offers students an overview of social justice thought and activism in
India, evolving through nationalism and the freedom struggle, 20th -century political and social
movements, and contemporary economic, caste, and gender disparities.
ECON 390: Development Economics (elective - 3 credits)
For students with interests in business, economics, development studies, and international
affairs, the Indian economy serves as a complex, fascinating example of high technology ,
expanding trade, vibrant entrepreneurship, and a highly -skilled workforce, co-existing in
sometimes tenuous balance with widespread poverty, social inequality, and critical gaps in
health care, education, and infrastructure. This course explores how Indi a is seeking to address
and reconcile these disparities, focusing on technological change, political economy, trade,
social entrepreneurship and microfinance, and international aid as they are managed and
applied within contemporary India.
your co-curricular activities
There will be a number of field visits related to students’ coursework organized during
weekdays, as well as supplemental co -curricular activities on weekends. The field visits leverage
the Alliance’s insider access and help students enrich t heir understanding of India in areas
related to public health, development and Indian culture
Below are sample types of field visits that might be a part of your semester , though the
offerings will no doubt change from term to term and are subject to sched uling and speaker
availability.
PAGE 22 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA





Shaniwarwada palace (seat of the Marathi empire)
Visiting the Aga Khan Palace (where Mahatma Gandhi and other nationalist leaders were
kept prisoner)
Exploring local markets and heritage neighborhoods,
Celebrating India's Republic Day, playing colors on Holi or seeing the procession of
Ganpati Visarjan
Trekking at nearby hill stations
*Please keep in mind that all activities are subject to change.
Extracurricular Activities
In addition to its rich academic life, Pune boas ts a thriving performing arts community and
students are given the option of taking classes in expressive culture. Choices may vary
depending on the availability of instructors but bharatnatyam (dance), tabla (drum) or other
musical instrument and vocals are commonly offered.
Students will have an introductory session at the beginning of the semester before choosing
their extracurricular activity. Students are asked to commit to at least ten sessions, though
they have the opportunity to complete up to fifteen. At the closing ceremony, students may
perform their dance or musical talent, or display their artistic endeavors.
RESOURCES
HOW TO MAKE YOUR TERM ABROAD SUCCESSFUL
“Your attitude is the key determinant of your
experience. I struggled at first but once I decided to
always be positive and take every experience, good
or bad, as a learning moment and an important part
of my semester. I truly loved India and had a very
fulfilling semester.”
“Be receptive and try not to make the term conform
to your idea of what study abroad should be - let it
take you where it will.”
Studying abroad allows you the chance to
push your boundaries and try new
experiences. Some of these may be fun,
exciting and joyful; others will be difficult,
painful or frustrating. Many times you will
not know what type of experience it will
be until after its over and you have had
time to reflect on it. As you adapt to
studying in a new country, the only thing
you can expect is that it will be different
from what you are used to.
We encourage you to take your studies seriously. What you get out of this program is directly
proportional to what you put into it. Here are a few rules of thumb that we have gleaned from
many years of seeing students’ struggles and successes:


Embrace the hardships, the difficulties, the moments of exasperation or frustration.
Those are the moments you learn from. You don’t want it to be easy —you want to be
challenged—that’s where the transformation occurs.
In study abroad, everything is a learning opportunity. The point of study abroad is to
take learning outside of classroom.
PAGE 23 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA


Try to keep your eyes open, senses attuned, and brain working as you’re out and
about—keep the wheels turning as you go about your daily life and feed your
observations back (though your journal, perhaps) into your classroom work.
It’s not just about what you see, it’s about how yourself react—by better identifying
and framing your assumptions, the better you can unpack and interrogate them.
SEEKING ACADEMIC SUPPORT WHILE ABROAD
CHALLENGE
STRATEGY
Internet access is making it difficult to
find academic articles for my papers.
Find reading rooms, English libraries or other
resources by working with your RD.
I have a lot of assignments due at once,
and I feel overwhelmed when trying to
write my papers.
Don’t wait for your professors to remind you
of when assignments are due.
Check the
calendar of assignments in your syllabi, and
take advantage of your free time earlier in the
semester to begin larger projects. Even the
most daunting paper is easier to tackle in
small steps.
Sometimes
I
can’t
professor’s accent.
my
Mention this to your professors. Request them
to speak slower. Do not hesitate to ask them
to repeat what they have said.
I have a learning disability; at home, I
have access to a note-taking service and
extra time on tests. I’m not sure how this
will work abroad.
Talk to your Student Services Manager before
you go; ask your RD for help talking to your
professors about accommodations. Ask your
peers if they are willing to have a study group
together.
Unlike classes at home, my professors
here don’t elicit opinions in class or
engage
the
class
in
thoughtful,
provocative discussions. What gives?
Remember that when studying abroad, you
are not only learning the course content, you
are learning how to learn in a new and
different fashion. Take responsibility for your
own learning! Ask the questions you want
answers to! Find time to meet with your
professor outside of class.
PAGE 24 OF 74
understand
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
My professors aren’t clear on what they
want from me, and they don’t give me
much (if any) feedback on my papers.
Academics in India are very different from
what you’re used to. In both of these
countries, it is traditional for professors to
lecture and possibly entertain questions at the
end.
Alliance professors are aware that
American students are used to different
classroom dynamics, but adapting to a foreign
teaching style doesn’t always come naturally.
Writing @ CSU Guide: Field Research
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=23
Human Centered Design Field Guide
http://www.ideo.com/images/uploads/hcd_toolkit/IDEO_HCD_
FieldGuide_for_download.pdf
Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field
Guide
http://www.fhi360.org/sites/default/ files/media/documents/Q
ualitative%20Research%20Methods%20%20A%20Data%20Collector%27s%20Field%20Guide.pdf
Online Writing Lab
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
The Ultimate Guide to Note-Taking
http://wbsa.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-note-taking-inclass-infographic/
PAGE 25 OF 74
Check out these helpful online
resources!
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Our Health & Safety Policies



What we do to keep you safe and healthy
Communication with staff
Insurance
Your Health & Safety



Your Health
Your Safety
Sexual Harassment
Resources




PAGE 26 OF 74
Hospitals and physicians at your program location
Insurance contact information
Contacting the U.S. embassy and consulates
Further Reading
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES
WHAT WE DO TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY
Besides providing you with thorough health and safety training in orientation and maintaining
24-hour responsiveness to any health or safety-related matters you might encounter, you
should know that your Resident Director has undergone extensive training o n best practices in
health and safety in study abroad. Alliance staff take part in conferences, workshops and
trainings, and we keep up-to-date with current materials and publications—in fact, we are
frequent contributors to them.
We monitor State Department advisories, and register you with the local U.S. consulate. We
provide you with travel medical and evacuation insurance, and we maintain close relations with
local medical professionals and law enforcement officials. We maintain current contingen cy
plans for international, regional and local —as well as medical or criminal—emergencies, and
extensive contact lists for anyone who might be needed to assist in a crisis.
In short, we have a fine-tuned and carefully thought-out infrastructure to help keep you safe,
healthy, and focused on your academic goals, your cultural integration, and your personal
development. But we can only do so much, and you are ultimately responsible for your own
health and safety. Please act responsibly in ensuring your own well-being and safety so that
we can continue to offer this experience to generations of students after you.
COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF
As with any academic or personal matters that might arise, please be sure to report any health
or safety issues to Alliance staff immediately.
For health matters, even if it’s just a persistent headache, seemingly minor digestive issues, or
what seems to be an extended bout of culture shock, the Resident Director is concerned with
your well-being and is a valuable resource for helping determine the best avenue for
addressing whatever issues you have.
Though Alliance staff cannot offer medical advice, we can point you in the direction of local
medical shops and physicians who have worked well with other American student s in the past.
By reporting health issues to staff you also enable them to keep track of what you’re
experiencing in case problems persist or grow more serious.
In the event of a medical emergency, you should know that the medical forms you completed
upon acceptance have been shared with your Resident Director. They are treated with the
utmost confidentiality, and enable the Resident Director to be sure that any treating physicians
are adequately informed of your medical history and any special condition s should you not be
able to share this information yourself.
As noted above with regard to safety issues, please be sure to go straight to Alliance staff with
any concerns or questions you might have. No safety concern is a worry or a bother, and no
PAGE 27 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
matter is too small an issue to raise. Better to have a concern easily allayed than to risk it
turning into something more serious! We want to do our utmost to keep you safe and healthy
throughout your time abroad, but we need you as proactive partners in he lping us do so.
INSURANCE
As you know from your pre-departure materials and our website, the Alliance provides all
students with in-country medical insurance and medical evacuation coverage. If you have not
already done so, please be sure to familiarize yourself with these materials and keep receipts
for any medical expenses you incur. Though the Resident Director can direct you to the
insurance materials (and policies are all easily accessible from the pre -departure section of our
website), please raise any questions you might have about policy details or reimbursement
processes directly to the insurance provider. The Resident Director may wear many hats, but
insurance matters are best left to the professionals.
YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
YOUR HEALTH
Staying healthy is one of the best ways to ensure that you accomplish your academic and
personal goals for your term abroad, and have as enriching an experience as possible. Please
notify Alliance staff immediately of any illness, or even if you’re just fee ling “under the
weather.” The Resident Director can put you in contact with doctors who are familiar with
American students and the illnesses that often affect foreigners in India.
Weather
Adapting to a new climate can be a challenge during a semester a broad. When you’re packing,
please refer to these semester-specific weather charts for information about the type of
weather you can expect. During the first months of the fall semester, anticipate heavy rainfall,
followed by dry heat that gradually cools to a temperate climate. The spring semester will start
relatively cool but temperatures climb throughout the semester, culminating a final two months
of extreme heat.
Fall Semester
August - September
October-December
Season
Monsoon Season
Dry Season
Weather
Warm, Heavy Rain
Hot, dry
High
32°C (91°F)
Low
26°C (80°F)
32°C (91°F)- 23°C (75°F)
22°C (72°F)- 11°C (52°F)
Spring Semester
January-March
April-May
Season
Dry Season
Hot Season
Weather
Hot, dry
Very Hot, Humid
High
22°C (72°F)- 32°C (91°F)
38°C (101°F) -40°C (104°F)
Low
10°C (50°F)- 17°C (63°F)
23°C (75°F)- 26°C (80°F)
PAGE 28 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Water and hydration
As a rule, you should drink only boiled and/or filtered water or standard -brand bottled mineral
water (check to see that the seal is unbroken). Do not drink beverages with ice because ice is
most often made with un-boiled and unfiltered water. It is safe to drink hot tea, coffee,
standard-brand cold drinks, fresh lime sodas and boxed or bottled juices. Milk must be boiled
before you drink it. Host families, restaurants, and tea stalls usually use only boiled milk.
Proper hydration while traveling is the key to your health. The positive effects
of water on your energy level, your body’s capacity to process and eliminate
toxins, etc., are obvious. The number one reason students fall ill in India is
dehydration, which weakens the immune system and makes the body more
susceptible to bacteria and viruses.
You should try to consume 3-5 liters of water a day, depending on your activity level. Th is may
seem excessive, but keeping your body well-hydrated will keep your immune system stronger.
Try to carry a water bottle with you at all times. The program center has filtered water that you
can refill freely and your housing will also be outfitted with sources of safe water.
Besides keeping track of what you drink, a good way to monitor hydration is by frequency and
quality of urination: you should be urinating every 2 -3 hours, and it should be clear, odorless,
and plentiful.
If you do become dehydrated (symptoms include thirst, headache, dizziness, fatigue ,
weakness), supplementary electrolytes are available at every medical shop. Alternatively, you
can make your own by adding a lime’s juice, ½ teaspoon of salt and 6-8 teaspoons of sugar to
a liter of water.
Food
Switching from one type of food to another can often cause an upset stomach. This is a
normal reaction to new food, and to a new environment—digestive bacteria must be replaced
with the new local variety and that takes time. Most stu dents will have an upset stomach
within the first month (i.e. Delhi Belly) because of this change in bacteria. Germs in India aren’t
necessarily worse than our germs, but they are different and we are not used to them. When
eating on the street and at small restaurants, some places are obviously cleaner than others.
Enjoy the excellent food in Pune, but use good judgment about sanitation. Trust your instincts,
if you wander into a restaurant that just doesn’t feel right, just say goodbye!
It might be impossible to totally avoid illness, but here are some good food guidelines to help
you stay healthy:



Avoid uncooked or un-boiled vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled (i.e., grapes) .
Avoid peeled fruits that have been sitting out (i.e., pre -cut pineapple, papaya,
watermelon).
Do not drink sugar cane juice or dates sold in the open.
PAGE 29 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA




If ordering a fruit juice or shake in a restaurant, don’t be afraid to ask if they use
filtered water, and ask for no ice.
Lassis, while refreshing and healthy, often have ice and/or water in them which are not
safe. Ask if they can make them without either ice or water. If not, order something else
instead.
Ice is not common in India, but be sure to avoid it. Unless you made it yourself with
filtered water, there’s no way of knowing that it’s sanitary.
Food sold by street vendors has been exposed to dust and flies, and some vendors may
use old oil, so beware of street food!
Eating well means lots of fresh fruits and
vegetables, and avoiding too much rich,
heavy or processed food. While exploring all
the delicious food in Pune, remember to
balance the treats and sweets (rich curries,
fast food snacks, rich Café Coffee Day
mochas, chips and ice cream) with good
home food. The “tiffin” prepared and eaten
daily in Indian homes provides a perfect
nutritional balance of whole-wheat chapatti
(a kind of flat bread), vegetable or legumes,
rice and daal (lentil soup).
Hygiene tips





Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after meals, and after using the
bathroom. Antibacterial gel is great to carry with you to quickly clean your hands
before eating with them.
Shower at least once a day.
Wash your feet when returning home, especially if you have been walking a long way or
in sandals.
Clean and use antibiotic cream for any cuts, scrapes, or open wounds to protect against
infection. Carry band aids with you in your backpack.
Keep nails short and wash under your nails frequently.
Stress, resilience, and mental health
Stress is the mind’s and body’s way of coping with what it perceives as threats. It is an adaptive
coping mechanism, rooted in the fight-or-flight survival mechanisms of our ancestors. This
psycho-biological reaction, in which your brain releases cortisol, a stimulant that sets your
heart racing, is designed to help you cope with a short term crisis, such as running away from a
lion or taking down an antelope.
However, most of the stressors of daily life, both at home and abroad, are more complex and
long-lasting. Chronic stress turns a survival mechanism into a threat to your health – studies
have shown that a prolonged stress reaction has physical impacts on the body and mind. In
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
order to survive and thrive, you need to develop a way to circumvent your stress reaction and
develop resilience.
Resilience is the ability to adapt to adversity by resisting lasting damage and recovering
quickly. This is a trait may seem hard to acquire, but it can be developed with practice. In fact,
studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity to develop resilience, because by taking on (and
taking ownership of) challenging circumstances and overcoming them, you build your capacity
for life-long adaptability.
Just as you’ve developed a set of study habits that help you excel in the classroom, you’ll need
to develop a set of resilience exercises that help you manage your stress. Here are some
practices that you can try:




Exercise and nutrition
Reflective writing and journaling
Mindfulness meditation
Progressive relaxation



Time management and personal
organization
Social support
Spirituality
We encourage you to keep channels of communication open with your Resident Director and
peers about your well-being. Embrace the challenges that the semester brings, knowing that
you can overcome them and by doing so, develop a new sense of mastery out of the
experience.
Sometimes study abroad can bring unresolved or latent mental health issues to the surface,
causing a small minority of students to experience extreme psychological distress or mental
illness while abroad. If you or a peer begins to exhibit concerning behaviors or symptoms,
inform your Resident Director immediately. Better to address the issue early and be able to get
help and complete the semester, than to stay silent and let the situation get out of control.
Support for psychological issues
On your medical form, you had the opportunity to disclose any psychological issues that you
have now or have dealt with in the past. Full disclosure in advance allows us to work with you
to ensure that you are able to fully and successfully participate in the program. This includes
receiving approval from your treating physician to go abroad. If you have an undisclosed
condition, we strongly encourage you to contact Anna S tewart, Student Services Manager at
[email protected] before departure.
If you take any prescription medication, remember to bring a full four -month supply and a
prescription from your doctor. It can be extremely disruptive to change medications during the
semester if you run out. We cannot guarantee the availability of the same medicine or medicine
brand in your program location. Receiving a refill may require an additional doctor’s visit to
get a local prescription.
Any psychological issues that emerge after your arrival should be reported to Alliance staff.
Support for psychological issues in India is not what it is in the U.S.A. As with any condition
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
that emerges after arrival, whether physical or mental, every reasonable attempt will be made
to procure effective treatment.
However, the program cannot guarantee a level of
psychological care in India that is commensurate with what is available in the U.S. If adequate
treatment cannot be found, we will work with the travel medical insurance provider to
determine the best course of action.
If you have a therapist or psychiatrist in the U.S., make a plan for your experience, and discuss
ways to stay in touch with them during the semes ter. But, as with any other adjustment matter,
alert our Alliance staff to any concerns or issues as they arise, and we will always do our best to
help you address them.
Special Needs and Accommodations for Disabilities
On your medical form, you will have had the opportunity to disclose any physical or learning
disabilities that you have now or have dealt with in the past. Full disclosure in advance allows
us to work with you to ensure that you are able to fully participate in the program. This
includes receiving approval from your treating physician to go abroad. If you have an
undisclosed condition, we strongly encourage you to contact Anna Stewart, Student Services
Manager, at [email protected] before departure.
If you experience an injury while abroad that impairs your mobility, we will work to address the
issue on a case-by-case basis.
The program is not in a position to diagnose or treat learning disabilities on -site, so any needs
or accommodations in that area must be addressed before you depart. If you take any
prescription medication, remember to bring a full four -month supply and a prescription from
your doctor. It can be extremely disruptive to change medications during the seme ster. We
cannot guarantee the availability of the same brand, and receiving a refill may require an
additional doctor’s visit to get a local prescription.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
YOUR SAFETY
Staying safe is the other best way to ensure a successful term abroad. We’ll go into more
depth on particular safety issues and concerns below, but here is a short list of do’s and don’ts
that form the baseline of our expectations for student’s in-country.
Do:








Keep your cell phone charged, with sufficient credit to call or text the Resident Director
in case of emergency.
Have your Resident Director’s and other program staff’s numbers saved in your cell
phone. It is recommended that you also save contact information for the local U.S.
consulate, CISI, your roommate if applicable, and the Alliance U.S. emergency line.
Carry your emergency contact wallet card and a photocopy of your passport on you at
all times.
Dress and behave in ways that minimize attention to you —to your purse, wallet, money,
and nationality.
Avoid large crowds or rallies.
Notify your Resident Director if you are too sick to attend classes, or if you feel you
need medical care.
Report any theft or crime to your Resident Director, even if it seems petty or you feel
embarrassed about it.
Notify your Resident Director at least 48 hours prior to any independent travel outside
of your program location, sign a travel waiver and provide an itinerary.
Don’t (these are non-negotiable, and subject to immediate disciplinary action) :



Operate any motor vehicles or hitchhike
Use illegal drugs
Consume alcohol to the point of impairing your judgment or motor skills, affecting your
participation in the program, or putting yourself or other students at risk
Transportation
For all of the attention given to terrorist and o ther high-profile incidents, the fact is that, by
far, road accidents (including pedestrian accidents) are the number one cause of death and
injury for Americans abroad. Please exercise your best caution and judgment when on or near
the road, and don’t be afraid to speak up and call attention to traffic conditions that you feel
are unsafe.
If a rickshaw driver is going too fast for your comfort, or taking unnecessary risks, speak up.
Ask the driver to slow down, or ask the driver to stop and let you off. Never, ever get into an
auto rickshaw with more than one driver. Use your instincts —if it feels scary or simply not
right, get down, get out, do whatever you have to do to distance yourself from the situation.
You will be doing a lot of walking aroun d Pune, and you will soon learn that this is another
important acquired skill! There are often no sidewalks along busy streets, and roadsides are
filled with many different types of vehicles, vendors, animals, and of course other pedestrians.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Where there are sidewalks, there may also be uneven pavement or open holes, so it is
important to be alert and focused as you navigate your way around town. For this semester,
that means taking out the headphones while walking to class! Remember that buses, vehicles
and bikes may not stop for you and if you can’t hear their horns, you may get hurt.
Crossing streets can be one of the most daunting parts of being a pedestrian, and it can be
dangerous. In India, remember to look the OTHER way before you cross. Traf fic in India
follows the British system, so vehicles will be coming from the opposite direction than what
you are used to in the U.S.
Preventing Theft and Pick-Pocketing
The most effective methods for preventing theft and pick -pocketing are common sense. The
best thing you can do is to remain alert and aware of your surroundings, and to be responsible
with your belongings. It’s also helpful to be mindful of the social context you are entering.
In India, but also around the world, there is growing income inequality and an opportunity gap.
The citizens of India’s main cities enjoy extraordinary privileges (access to better education,
better health care and much higher standards of living) compared to those from smaller towns
and villages. Even within Pune, there is an enormous gap between the haves and the have -nots.
Whatever background you come from at home, your status as a globally mobile foreigner will
mark you as more affluent than many people you meet. Y ou will find many things in India
(rickshaw fares, clothing, and food, for example) to be rather inexpensive compared to the
prices in the U.S. Please stay mindful of the fact that flaunting the relative ease with which you
can afford many aspects of life in India might leave some with a poor impression of you –
especially those directly selling you their merchandise or serving you in restaurants and malls.
Here are some additional good practices to observe:
 Do not carry large quantities of cash around town with you. If you must, keep the
larger bills in a hidden compartment of your wallet or a separate change purse, so that
you are only exposing small bills to curious eyes when you open your wallet to pay for
things. Try to avoid large-currency transactions in the street or visible from t he street.
 In crowds, keep your wallet in a front pocket with your hand in your pocket, or keep
your purse in front of you with your hand over the opening.
 Backpacks are prime targets for pick-pocketing. Whenever possible, use a smaller bag.
While traveling with your backpack, secure it with a lock and make sure to keep it on
you at all times.
 When seated in a crowded café or restaurant, keep your bag in your lap or somewhere
in your direct line of sight. Do not hang it on the back of your chair.
 Secure digital cameras, iPhones, or other electronics in inner compartments of your bag,
and do your best to be discreet with them.
 Never leave valuables out, even if you’re just stepping out of the room for a moment.
People are coming and going all the time and even private spaces can be porous.
 Consult Alliance staff as to how best you can secure valuables at your housing location.
 A combination lock and cable or lockbox can have many good uses, either for securing
valuables at home or when you’re traveling.
PAGE 34 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA

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
Carry laptops at your own risk and be extra-vigilant with these high-ticket items. You
may want to consider having it insured before leaving the U.S.
It is best not to travel with expensive jewelry, but if you do, keep it on your body at all
times, preferably covered by sleeves or a scarf.
Try not to say that something has been stolen if there is a chance you have lost it,
especially at your housing location. There will be housekeeping staff at your program
housing who could be unfairly suspected and lose their jobs.
Travelling independently
For the record, we must state that students traveling independently during or after the
program assume total responsibility for their actions and safety.
The Alliance and its
employees can assume no responsibility for students once they are beyond program auspices.
During the Program
With classes scheduled Monday through Friday and some co- and extra-curricular activities
scheduled on the weekends, you’ll have little time for travel afield during the semester.
There will be the Independent Travel Week scheduled in the semester, but if you plan to do any
weekend travel beyond that please be sure it will not conflict with scheduled classes or
program activities. We will ask you to complete an Independent Travel Waiver and to provide
us with as detailed an itinerary as possible. This is not to try to micromanage you, but to have
on hand in case of an emergency.
Post-Program
Since our schedule does not allow much time for travel during the program, schedule your
travels after the program’s conclusion. Pleas e know that it is your responsibility to understand
the terms and validity of your visa. The Alliance's sponsorship of your student visa cannot be
extended for travel, research, or volunteering conducted outside its auspices. If you’re
planning to stay beyond the official program end date, be sure to research all of the required
visa and registration requirements before arriving. Your Resident Director will not be able to
assist students after the program ends. We suggest that you register any post-program travel
itineraries online with the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Don’t Go It Alone
The main rule of thumb to follow as you’re planning your travels is not to go it alone! For both
men and women, the buddy system is best. Not only is it easier to have someone to watch
your backpack while you squeeze into a tiny train station bathroom, and cheaper to split hotel
rooms—and probably more fun—it is by far the safest and smartest way to travel.
PAGE 35 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Evening Activities
As a major university hub, Pune has a thriving nightlife and numerous hotels, bars and clubs
with live music, excellent food and drink, and plenty of socializing to be had . We encourage
students to take advantage of all the cultural opportunities that ar e available, while keeping
their personal safety in mind. Here are some guidelines to follow:








Stick with the buddy system. Go out with friends you know and trust. Keep an eye on
them and ask them to be sure to keep an eye on you. Make sure that no on e gets
separated from the group.
Studies have shown that tolerance isn’t portable. Even if you know the amount you can
safely drink at home, remember that this amount can change in a new environment.
Think about how you’ll get to and from the bar, club, hotel or restaurant. Make a plan
so you’re not stranded late at night. Remember that transportation options get more
limited (and expensive) later in the evening. It can also be riskier. As noted above,
never get into a rickshaw in which you are outnumbered, or that for any reason makes
you feel unsafe.
It also worth reiterating that you should not ride in a private vehicle where the driver
has been drinking or whom you do not know.
You may occasionally see young women wearing western-style outfits (short skirts, low
necklines, etc.). Remember that the guidelines for modest dress still apply in the
evening. You will already stand out wherever you are without wearing revealing
clothing.
Sexual assault and date rape exist in India, too. American female students may be a
particular target, as public perception can equate American women with more easy
availability.
While many things are less expensive in India, nightlife is not. Many nightclubs have
cover charges, drinks can be quite expensive , and many taxis or rickshaws will charge
additional fees or refuse to go by meter after dark.
Alcohol and drug use impair your ability to make sound judgments and protec t yourself.
Drug use is also non-negotiable grounds for expulsion from the program, with no
academic credit or refund.
Just because you’re in a different country does not mean you shouldn’t take the same
precautions you would back home. In most cases, you’ll want to err on the side of caution with
additional safety measures and street smarts. Overall, trust your instincts while using your
head—that combination will keep you in good stead!
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
This section has two parts. The first is the Alliance Sexual Harassment Policy. This is our
institutional stance on sexual harassment (we’re against it), and procedures for addressing it if
it occurs. Though it can address potential harassment occurring within the host community, it
is primarily geared to harassment that might occur within program auspices —the kinds that we
can more proactively prevent, adjudicate, and punish.
The second section—Sexual Harassment: Prevention and Reaction—addresses the kind of
sexual harassment that might occur outside of program auspices: systemic forms of sexual
harassment that may be endemic to the local context, and that are of a more impersonal rather
than personal nature (though it won’t feel that way). In this s ection, we aim to provide some
context for these forms of sexual harassment, useful tips and strategies for prevention and,
if/when it occurs, for responding and recovering.
Sexual Harassment Policy
The Alliance does not tolerate sexual harassment among it s employees or students.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature:
1. When submission to such conduct is made a condition of an individual’s academic
standing or employment;
2. When submission or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for decisions affecting
an individual’s academic standing or employment;
3. Where such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an
individual’s performance on the job or in the classroom or creating an intimidating,
hostile, abusive, demeaning or offensive academic, living or working environment.
The Alliance does not tolerate sexual harassment among its employees or students. If you feel
you have been the victim of sexual harassment, you have the right to initiate a complaint.
Those accused of sexual harassment have the right to defend themselves. Any complaints will
be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality and all efforts will be made to resolve the dispute
in a timely fashion while maintaining elements of a fair process.
When an Alliance student is accused
If a sexual harassment charge is levied at an Alliance student by another student on the
program, the Alliance Resident Director gathers appropriate documentation, including but not
limited to statements from each of the students involved, and convenes a judicial review with
the Country Director and a member of senior staff at Alliance headquarters.
If the student is found to be guilty, several types of sanctions may be applied according to the
type and seriousness of the offense: written warning, disciplinary probation, and/or dismissal
from the program. In the latter case, the guilty student is removed from student housing,
barred from entry into Alliance facilities and granted no academic credit or refund for his/her
participation on the program. If deemed necessary and/or appropriate, the guilty student may
be further warned in writing not to approach the victim or risk police int ervention.
PAGE 37 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
All disciplinary actions are fully documented. The Resident Director writes to the student with
the decision of any judicial review. If the student is asked to leave the program, a copy of that
letter goes to the home school and to Alliance headquarters for the student file.
When an Alliance staff or faculty member is accused
If the charge involves an Alliance staff or faculty member the above discovery and judicial
process also applies. If the Alliance Resident Director is the staff member a ccused of sexual
harassment, the Country Director and two members of senior staff at Alliance headquarters
serve as the panel for the review. This panel adjudicates the action, engaging an outside
mediator where appropriate to enable the process to be han dled objectively and with fairness
to both sides.
If the staff or faculty member is found guilty of harassment, his/her employment will be
terminated immediately. If warranted, formal charges may be filed.
When an Alliance student is a victim
In all cases, except those in which the Resident Director is the accused, the Alliance Resident
Director serves as primary support, advocate and resource for the student who has experienced
sexual harassment
If an Alliance student has a complaint against a student or faculty member in the host campus
community, the Alliance Resident Director files a complaint with university officials on the
student’s behalf. Should the university institute a judicial process, the Alliance supports the
student through that procedure.
If a student levies a sexual harassment complaint against a host national roommate or member
of his/her host family, the student is to be removed from the shared room or host family
immediately. A review of the charges is then made to determine whether t hat roommate or
family should be removed from the housing pool permanently.
If a student is being harassed by another member of the host community, Alliance staff advise,
support, and if appropriate, take the lead in addressing and resolving the source of the
complaints using all appropriate means.
Staff Guidelines for Preventing Charges of Sexual Harassment
Alliance resident staff must maintain a professional relationship with students at all times.
Under no circumstance should a member of the Alliance com munity enter into a personal
relationship with a student. Inappropriate behavior of a sexual or sexualized nature, including
but not limited to engaging in sexual activity with a student, consensual or otherwise, is
grounds for immediate dismissal.
Staff may not send students messages except through the official Alliance email accounts and
phone numbers (except in cases of emergency). Use of social networking channels outside
Alliance social networks is strictly forbidden. Staff will be subject to discipli nary action for use
of non-Alliance accounts, phone numbers or social media to communicate with students.
PAGE 38 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Sex Offenses
Students who are victims of sexual assault are encouraged to report the offense immediately to
their Resident Director, who will assist them in obtaining the necessary medical and
psychological support and considering possible avenues for reporting and legal recourse.
Sexual harassment prevention and reaction
Can sexual harassment ever truly be prevented?
No. Unfortunately, unwanted sexual advances, comments and attention are phenomena that
make up a part of the lived experience of millions around the globe, many of whom are
women. It can happen in any part of the world, in the U.S. and abroad.
Legal protections exist for sexual harassment. In some cases, though they may not stop
someone who decides to harass you, they can help you take action and get justice. In other
cases, you may never be able to identify or track down the perpetrator or are unwil ling or
unable to prosecute to the full extent of the law. In those cases, you need to identify other
means of responding and recovering.
How can I avoid sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is difficult to prevent, but certain techniques can help you p rotect yourself.
Following the social norms and customs of the country that you are visiting can help you to fit
in and command respect. Observing your surroundings and those around you can help you not
be taken by surprise. Developing an assured walk and manner, including the ability to say no
confidently and frequently, can help you avoid people who might try to take advantage of you.
When you are in India, you will want to educate yourself on cultural norms about how women
(and men) present themselves that make them worthy of respect: for example, dressing
modestly, looking neat and clean, and not smoking or appearing intoxicated in public. If you
follow these norms, you will be better able to leverage bystanders to come to your aid should
something happen.
Will I be sexually harassed in India?
Not necessarily. You may experience it more frequently or be more sensitive to it in India or it
may not happen to you at all. Try to keep in mind that this is a worldwide problem as well as
an individual experience. There has been a spotlight on India recently about this issue, but try
not to see all of India solely through this lens. While this is an undoubtedly serious issue in
Indian society, it is but one part of a very complex and dynamic whole.
Another tool is to tell the harasser that you know their behavior is wrong by saying something
to the effect of: “What would your mother say if she saw you doing this? ” “Is this proper
behavior for a trustworthy man?” or “Wouldn’t you feel upset if someone subjecte d your
daughter to such treatment?”
PAGE 39 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Sexual harassment is
a global issue. Talking
to other people about
it can help you deal
with the stress, and
staying in groups can
help protect you.
Sexual harrassment
such as groping
frequently happens in
crowded places like
train stations. Travel
in groups, be aware of
your surroundings
and don't be afraid to
react.
You may get
unwanted attention
even walking down
the street. Remember
that you are not
obliged to engage
with anyone.
What should I do if I experience sexual harassment?
If you experience harassment on the street or in public spaces, you will react in the moment.
You’ll be trained on how to leverage bystanders and shame ha rassers in your orientation, but
you can also choose not to react or to distance yourself from the situation. Sometimes getting
away quickly is advantageous, sometimes drawing attention to the harasser’s behavior is the
best response.
After the act of harassment is over, you may have an emotional reaction. You may wonder if it
was your fault, if you did something wrong. You may feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or unhappy.
You may feel angry, confused or like you want to go home. These feelings are normal, but
remember that sexual harassment is never the victim’s fault.
Beyond trying to prevent sexual harassment and identifying appropriate ways to respond if it
occurs, we encourage you to find outlets for addressing and expressing feelings related to
being the target of sexual harassment. Sometimes talking them out is helpful, and again, your
RD is there either for you to talk to or to help you find a qualified professional to talk to. You
can also talk to a trusted friend, write in your journal or find a creativ e outlet for these feelings.
The important thing is to not bottle them up until it spoils your experience.
PAGE 40 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
RESOURCES
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
What to do in a health or safety incident?
If you are not in immediate danger, call
your RD for assistance. In a lifethreatening emergency, call the numbers
below, then contact your RD ASAP.
RD's will direct
students to services
and resources as
appropriate.
For fire, dial 101.
For ambulance, dial
102.
For police, dial 100.
HOSPITALS
Sanjeevan Hospital
Plot No. 23, Off Karve Road,
Pune 411004
Tel.: 020-66093200/201/202
Sahyadri Multispeciality Hospital
Plot No. 30, Deccan Gymkhana
Karve Road, Pune 411 004
Tel.: 020-25403000; 020-25459315
PHYSICIANS
Erandwane, Pune, 411004
Tel.: 099-60686867
Dr. Sanjeev Manglurkar
12, Ganesh Chamber
Karve Road, Pune 411 004
Tel.: 020-25441316
Dr. Prachi Sathe
Park Plaza 1st Floor, Opp. Kamla Nehru Park
Dr. Girish Ranade
Clinic: 1786 Sadashiv Peth
(near Anath Vidyarthi Griha)
Pune, 411030
Tel.: 020-24473771
INSURANCE
Alliance CISI Policy Number: 15 GLM
N06565979
To contact CISI:
Outside the USA: +1 203-399-5130
Inside the USA:800-303-8120 (ext. 5130)
Email: [email protected]
PAGE 41 OF 74
Steve Hopkins, Account Representative
Email: [email protected]
Office: +1 401-921-5135
Cell: +1 401-952-8598
Fax: +1 866-866-4693
In case of a medical emergency abroad, call
Axa Assistance to open your case.
24/7 Hotline: +1 312-935-1703
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Email: [email protected]
CONTACTING THE U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE
What can Overseas Citizens Services do
for you?
Primary goal: safety and security of
Americans abroad
Emergency Response: Smart
Traveler Enrollment Program
(STEP)
Pre-departure info and
security monitoring:
http://www. travel.state.gov
U.S. CONSULATE – MUMBAI
Trade Center, Gr. Floor, G Block,
Kalina, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra
[email protected]
American Citizens Services
C-49, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex
Bandra East, Mumbai 400051
[email protected]
Tel.: 022-2672-4000
Taxi drivers may also know the area for the
Trident Hotel or American School of
Bombay.
AIIS PUNE
Mr. Anil Inamdar, Administrator
Deccan College Campus
Pune, 411006
[email protected]
Cell: 096-37483556
Office: 011-65004911
PAGE 42 OF 74
Provides information on
local resources and can
contact family members
in the United States.
In Country Services : in the
event that a US citizen is
arrested, missing, is a victim
of violent crime, becomes ill
or dies, or is destitute.
Please Note:
•You are automatically enrolled in STEP
through the Alliance. Post-program
travel must be registered separately.
•Privacy Act: Consular officers may not
reveal information regarding an
individual Americans location, welfare or
problems to anyone, including family
members, without the expressed
consent of that individual.
•If you are arrested, all local laws apply.
The consulate can only act as a liaison,
and cannot release you from jail.
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
FURTHER READING
Traffic Safety Resources:
ASIRT Resources
http://www.asirt.org/KnowBeforeYouGo/Resources/RoadSafetyLinks/tabid/274/Default.aspx
World Health Organization on Traffic Safety in India
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_traffic/countrywork/ind/en/
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2013/country_profiles/india.
pdf?ua=1
Resources for Mental Health Issues:
ULifeline -http://www.ulifeline.org/
Active Minds - http://www.activeminds.org/issues-a-resources/mental-health-resources
University of Arkansas Study Abroad
http://studyabroad.uark.edu/health-and-safety/health-and-wellness/mental-health.php
Mental Health Wellness Abroad
http://educationabroad.global.usf.edu/_customtags/ct_FileRetrieve.cfm?File_ID=010F767D754F7
40204030507000B1C700C7B7714737B02036E010303067D070B7603057D047B730676
SAFETI Adaptation of Peace Corps Resources: Pre –Departure Health Training Handbook
Maintaining Strong Mental and Emotional Health
http://globaled.us/peacecorps/maintaining-strong-mental-and-emotional-health.asp
Resources for Sexual Harassment and Assault:
AIIS Manual on Sexual Harassment and Assault
http://www.indiastudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/sexual-harassment-manual-final.pdf
Traveling While Female
http://travelingwhilefemale.blogspot.com/2014/01/some-common-misconceptions-about.html
U.S. Department of State Resources:
http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/consularnotification/india.html
http://studentsabroad.state.gov/
PAGE 43 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
STUDENT LIFE ABROAD
Our Program Policies



Student Contract
Sanctions following from a breach of student contract
Special warning about drug and criminal offenses abroad
Your Term Abroad
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Getting your visa
Packing smart for your time abroad
Getting there: travel plans, arrival, and airport FAQs
Planning and managing your finances
Housing and accommodations
Getting around town
Staying connected while abroad
Getting inside your host culture
Culture Shock
Resources
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Seeking help with getting settled
Survival Hindi
Survival Marathi
Further reading: student blogs
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
OUR PROGRAM POLICIES
The Alliance recognizes that a successful term abroad involves both the program and the
student fulfilling mutual responsibilities. To ensure that we begin the semester based on a set
of shared, agreed-upon expectations, we ask all students to sign the student contract
reproduced below.
The Alliance views our students as mature, responsible adults who are capable of making the
right decisions to enhance and maximize their experience abroad. That said, we need to have
policies in place that guard against abuses, maintain program quality and protect our
program’s standing with partners, hosts, and the academic community.
This handbook, the contract, and our orientation materials set a baseline for our expectations
regarding student behavior. In return, our program materials offer students clear and accurate
expectations for what we offer in the way of supporting and facilitating our students’ goals for
their term abroad. With clear expectations on both sides and a shared commitment to
academic excellence, cultural sensitivity and personal growth, we look forward to working
together to make this semester a rich and meaningful educational experience for you.
The final section of this handbook (“The Fine Print”)outlines additional, more detailed policy
statements.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT– RECIPROCAL RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
Many of the points below reflect points that are also addressed under health and safety. Some
address other areas of cultural sensitivity, etiquette, and appropriate, respectful behavi or.
Overall, this document aims to communicate a comprehensive set of expectations for student
behavior that will help to ensure a safe, healthy and rewarding term abroad, not just for you,
but for those students who will be following in your footsteps. H uman relationships—with
partner institutions, faculty, host families and roommates —form the bedrock of Alliance
programs and allow us to offer students the insider access that enriches your term abroad. It
takes all of us to sustain and cultivate these relationships for both current and future
generations of students.
With clear expectations on both sides, and a shared commitment to academic excellence,
cultural sensitivity, and personal growth, we look forward to working together to make this
semester a rich and meaningful educational experience for you.
Overall Behavior
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I have read the Program Handbook and agree to follow and respect the guidelines for
health and safety outlined therein.
___
I have read the Program Handbook and agree to follow and respect the cultural
considerations and guidelines for etiquette and personal presentation outlined therein.
___
I have read the Program Handbook and understand the proscribed behaviors and
disciplinary sanctions outlined therein.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
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I understand the importance of behaving respectfully to Alliance and Alliance partner
staff, faculty, and service providers.
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I understand that the program makes every effort to keep me informed of any changes
to classes or program activities and agree to be responsive to program
communications—whether by text, email, phone call or other means —especially when a
reply is specifically requested, and in a timely manner.
Alcohol and Late Nights
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I will exercise moderation in any consumption of alcohol.
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I understand that being or appearing intoxicated poses not only a risk to my safety, but
to my—and therefore the program’s—relationship with partners and/or the host
community.
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I understand that returning home late at night can be unsafe and that student housing
may have curfews which must be respected.
Academics
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I agree to place academics among my top priorities during my time abroad.
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I agree to observe local standards of classroom decorum.
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I agree to respect cultural differences in pedagogy, faculty communication and course
organization, and can appreciate this as an intrinsic part of educatio n abroad.
Medical
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I understand that though the Alliance provides students with the contact information of
local physicians, clinics, and/or hospitals, this does not constitute a recommendation or
endorsement of the medical provider and the Alliance can have no role in what
transpires between me and the medical provider.
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I understand that the Alliance will send a staff member with me the first time I need to
go to a doctor. After that, however, I understand that Alliance staf f cannot accompany
me on subsequent visits. If I am too ill to get to the doctor, Alliance staff will tak e me
to a hospital.
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I understand that though the Alliance provides me with travel medical insurance, it is
my responsibility to cover all medical bills and handle reimbursements directly with CISI.
I can also use CISI to locate physicians and specialists if I am not satisfied with the
providers on the Alliance list. I acknowledge that the Alliance has provided me with
contact and website information for doing so.
Travel
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I acknowledge that program materials state clearly that there is little time for travel
outside of the program beyond the time designated for independent travel.
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If I choose to travel outside of my host city on weekends, I will not let this affect my
academic performance or participation in scheduled program activities.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
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I understand the program has no responsibility for me when I am traveling
independently, nor should I expect the program to assist me with travel arrangements
or to adjust the program calendar to accommodate my travel plans.
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I agree to share any independent travel plans with Alliance staff, and to follow other
measures outlined in the Independent Travel Waiver that I will be asked to sign .
SANCTIONS FOLLOWING FROM BREACH OF STUDENT CODE
OF CONDUCT
The student contract is intentionally worded in a way that avoids a strict rules -and-regulations
approach. The Alliance prefers to view our students as mature, highly motivated young adults
who do not require such an approach. At the same time, however, we must be able to guard
against abuses when and where they might arise, in order to protect the experience of our
other students both current and future, to protect the program for reasons of li ability, to
ensure program quality, and to maintain the integrity of our relationships with faculty, housing
providers, institutional partners, and the greater host community.
Students are thus asked to follow both the spirit and the letter of the behavi ors outlined in the
student contract. If Alliance staff observe that they are being repeatedly or willfully breached,
and depending on the severity of the behavior, they may take any of the following actions,
singly or in sequence:
1. Approach you to alert you of the inappropriate behavior in question and remind you of
the guidelines you agreed to respect.
2. Issue you a formal verbal warning.
3. Issue you a formal written warning.
4. Place you on academic or disciplinary probation.
5. Suspend you from the program.
6. Recommend you for dismissal from the program.
If a student is placed on probation, suspended or recommended for dismissal, the student’s
home school will be notified and these actions may become part of the student’s record.
Again, we hope that there will never be an opportunity for any of this to become relevant. Our
students tend to self-select as among the most intellectually ambitious, adventurous, self motivated and mature of their peers and we look forward to the prospect of working wit h you
to make your experience abroad a rich and rewarding one.
Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Alliance staff onsite or in the U.S. should
you have questions or require any clarifications as to what is expected of you. We are happy to
help in any way, and hope that this articulation of shared expectations will go a long way to
establishing a firm footing for a smooth and successful term together.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
SPECIAL WARNING ABOUT DRUG AND CRIMINAL OFFENSES
ABROAD
While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which
may differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections
available to individuals under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than
in the United States for similar offenses. In many countries, the burden of proof is on the
accused to show that he or she is innocent of the charges. Persons violating local laws, even
unknowingly, may be deported, arrested or imprisoned.
Every year, several hundred Americans are arrested abroad on drug charges. Penalties for
possession of, use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in India are severe and convicted offenders
can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
Even in cases where an American might have unwittingly carried a small package containing
drugs in their luggage, if they are caught the fact that they were unaware that there were drugs
in that package will not reduce the charges against them.
Every aspect of an arrest abroad can be different from U.S. practice. For instance:
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few countries provide a jury trial
many countries do not permit pre-trial release on bail
pre-trial detention, often in solitary confinement, can last several months
prisons may lack even minimal comforts, such as beds, toilets and washbasins
diets are often inadequate and require supplements from relatives and friends
officials may not speak English
physical abuse, confiscation of property, degrading treatment and extortion are
possible.
persons convicted may face sentences ranging from fines and jail time, to years of hard
labor and even the death penalty
penalties for drug possession and for drug trafficking are often the same abroad, so
possession of one ounce of marijuana could result in years in a foreign jail.
As with any arrest of a U.S. citizen abroad, consular officers perform a variety of services, but
cannot guarantee release or exoneration. For more information about arrests abroad, see
http://studentsabroad.state.gov/emergencies/arrestedabroad.p hp
Your receipt and review of this document confirms that you have read and understood the
above warning about drug offenses and criminal penalties while participating in an Alliance for
Global Education program. You should also understand that illegal drug use will result in
immediate dismissal from your Alliance program, with no academic credit, transcript or refund
of program fees.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
YOUR TERM ABROAD
“TO BRING OR NOT TO BRING?” PACKING SMART FOR YOUR
TIME ABROAD
It is a good idea to travel light for your semester abroad, in order to comply with the standard
20-23 kg (40-50 lb.) weight limit on international flights.(Keeping in mind that overweight or
additional baggage will incur a fee). Try to have mix-and-match outfits that will go together.
When you get to Pune, you may want to purchase Indian clothes (kurtas and a salwar-kameez)
as they are a comfortable and appropriate option. Bringing little means you will also have more
space in your bag to bring things home!
Carry-on luggage
Be sure to check with your airline for the most up -to-date information on security measures for
carry-on bags, including what size toiletry items are permitted. Typically, you are allowed one
carry-on bag and one personal item. We recommend that the personal item be a small crossbody bag or backpack that can be used for day trips.
We recommend that you take the following items with you in your carry -on bag:
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Passport with valid visas (keep your passport handy, as you will need it to chec k in at
the airport in the U.S. and as soon as you arrive in the airport)
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Extra passport pictures as they may be needed for paperwork
Credit/ATM cards (we recommend having at least two different accounts)
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Cash ($100 for emergency usage)
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Local Currency ($50 in RMB and $50 in INR)
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Plane ticket or e-ticket confirmation
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Insurance card
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Contact information for Alliance U.S., India offices
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Prescription medication and a copy of all written prescriptions
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Laptop computer/accessories
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Transformers & adapters
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Camera and charger
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Eyeglasses and/or sunglasses
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Hand sanitizer
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A safety pouch to carry your passport, money and other important small items (like
credit cards). This can be worn under your coat or sweater as a safety precaution.
Your carry-on bag should contain all the necessities to live for one or two days in the event the airline loses
your luggage, including a change of clothes, toiletries and any required medications or other personal items.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Checked luggage
The following is a list of the basic necessities we th ink you’ll find useful during your time
abroad, compiled from student feedback and our team’s combined years of experience in India.
These are suggestions, not requirements and you can certainly survive without most (if not all)
of the items on this list. Review it with an eye to your personal preferences and needs and pack
what works for you.
Photocopy of the inside cover and
the visa page of your passport
 Photocopy of the front and back of
all major credit and ID cards you will
be taking along
The Basics
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7-10 pairs underwear (Modest cuts
and solid colors are best—since
laundry is hung to dry in common
spaces in Indian homes)
 Socks
 Comfortable clothing to wear at
home, for sleep or exercise (make
sure its culturally appropriate – no
shorts, no spaghetti straps)
Western Clothes
 One or two pairs of jeans or lightweight trousers
 A couple of pairs of opaque
leggings (many alumni prefer to
wear American leggings under their
long kurtas or tunics).
 A few shirts – for women, opaque,
covering shoulders – for men,
collared, button down. (Think neat,
wrinkle resistant, easily maintained
and presentable for being an
ambassador of your university, your
country and the Alliance).
 One dressy outfit (nice trousers,
dress/skirt/blouse)
Shoes
 One pair study walking sandals
 One pair all-purpose shoes (flats,
loafers, slip-ons)
 One pair sturdy, lace-up shoes
(consider your travel plans/activity
level before packing~ only useful in
colder climates or for serious treks)
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Personal Hygiene and Health
Sunscreen
Quick-drying travel towel
Most, but not all, toiletries are
available in India. (Alumni often say
that they wish they had left behind
their large bottles of shampoo).
 Small supply of basic over-thecounter drugs that you would use at
home such as cold medicine,
Tylenol, or Advil (we also stock at
the Program Center)
 Digestive aids such as Pepto-Bismol
and Tums (if you use them at home
or have a sensitive stomach; also
available at the Program Center)
 While electrolyte mixes are easily
available, you might prefer the taste
of Gatorade powder or Emergen-C
Miscellaneous
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Journal
Small flashlight (for power cuts)
Sturdy water bottle with screw top
Locks for luggage or cabinets
USB "flash" drive
Small photo album with pictures of
family, friends, home, and college
(Alumni strongly recommend
bringing this item!)
Any favorite small games (Frisbee,
cards, chess, etc.)
Gifts for your hosts, new friends, or
faculty (something from your
college/university or unique to your
hometown/region is usually a good
idea)
Ear plugs and an eye mask (some
students find these useful for
sleeping in a new place)
Leave at home
Fall Term Packing List
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An umbrella and/or a raincoat
Insect repellent
Water safe shoes with good traction
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Spring Term Packing List
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Baseball cap or hat for the sun
Sunscreen
Lightweight pants
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Summer Term Packing List
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An umbrella and/or a raincoat
Insect repellent
Water safe shoes with good traction
Hair dryers and flat irons (Don’t plan
on styling your hair every day. Airdrying and brushing is your friend!)
Good jewelry
Comforters and linens (provided by
the Alliance)
Anything valuable that you don't
want to lose
Boots, high heels, or other nice
shoes
Books – you can use the Alliance
library or bookstores on FC RD to
find all the reading material you’ll
need for the semester.
GETTING THERE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The deadline to submit your flight details to your Student Services Manager is July 1 for fall
semester and December 1 for spring semester. You can do this by completing the Flight
Questionnaire in the Online Application System. Students are responsible for their flights to
and from the semester; travel as a group, during the program, is covered.
HomeMumbai
Orientation
in Durshet
Group Travel
to Pune
Arriving at your program location
In order to be eligible for Alliance transportation from the Mumbai on arrival day, you must
book a flight that arrives between 8 PM and 12 AM on the program start date. Alliance staff will
meet students arriving within that window at the designated meeting places below.
Please allow yourself about an hour to exit your plane, pass through Immigration, Luggage, and
Customs. After you clear customs in Mumbai, exit to the main arrival hall and look for a sign
that says "The Alliance for Global Education ”. Alliance staff will meet you there.
In the event that your flight is delayed or you choose to arrive after the designated arriv al time,
you will be given instructions for traveling independently from the airport to the orientation
site.
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Airport FAQs
Will someone meet me at the gate or baggage claim?
No. In India, for security purposes, individuals are not allowed access to the b aggage claim or
customs area without a ticket. In Mumbai, the Resident Director will meet you outside the main
arrival gate.
What happens if I lose my bag?
If your bag does not appear at the baggage claim, ask an airport official for assistance. There
will be someone available who can either help you locate your bag or fill out the paperwork to
have it sent to you. Address the bag to the program office address in Pune, not to your
housing address; list the RD’s cellphone number as the contact. Do not just leave the airport!
Be sure to pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case this happens—it can and does,
though rarely.
How do I know when to book my flight?
Check the designated arrival window on the website for accurate information. Triple -check your
flight details against this window. Be careful about the AM vs. PM arrival time – if you arrive a
day early or a day late, remember that you will be responsible for your transportation.
PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR FINANCES
Back to the basics: the best advice here is to have several ways to access and use money. A
combination of a debit card, a credit card, and U.S. currency is the safest, most reliable way to
carry money while in India.
Currency
The currency used in India is the Indian Rupee (₹), and it has a market determined exchange
rate. Rupees are divided into 100 paise, though the only legal coin is 50 paise. Notes come in
denominations of ₹5, ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹500 and ₹1000.
The current exchange rate is approximately USD $1 = INR ₹ 60.
ATMs
ATMs are common in India. They may become your primary means of accessing funds as you
get the best exchange rate and you do not have to carry or safeguard large quantities of cash.
In India, the maximum withdrawal may be up to ₹ 10,000 INR (roughly USD $170), but many
ATMs may not have this capacity. The average withdrawal range is ₹ 2,500-5,000 INR (roughly
$40-$80).
Be sure that you are aware of any international service charges and currency exchange fees,
however. As in the U.S., the banking institution in India might also charge additional fees for
ATM use. It is best to use a card that has the Visa/MasterCard logo, as not all U.S. debit cards
work. Also make sure that the card is in your name and know the PIN number for each card.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Don’t wait until you have only one rupee left in your pocket before you go to get more cash.
Anticipate your needs so that if you run into technical problems you can stil l afford to eat and
get around. We recommend having two accounts from which to access your money. If you lose
one card, you have the other account and card to use while you wait for your replacement card.
Always be alert and aware as you are withdrawing money: avoid doing so at night, in exposed
places, or alone—basically all of the safe practices you would observe anywhere else.
U.S. Dollars& Traveler ’s Checks
U.S. currency can usually be exchanged in banks; not all banks will cash traveler’s checks (if
they do, your passport will be required). As everywhere, rates will vary. Traveler’s checks are
less common now that ATM cards are more convenient. One disadvantage of changing traveler’s
checks is that the currency exchange rate may be less favorable than the ATM rate.
Credit Cards
Though credit card transactions are becoming more common, most students find that cash is
best to buy things most of the time. Some students suffer culture shock when making the
transition from America’s “plastic” economy to India’s “cash” economy.
Many credit card companies charge a foreign transaction fee of 1-3%. In order to prevent your
bank from putting a hold on your U.S. credit card, you should contact your bank before going
abroad to let them know where you’ll be.
Displaying/Carrying Money
As noted above in the safety section, be very careful about how you carry and display money.
The best practice is to have smaller bills and change for everyday purchases separated —either
in your main wallet or in a separate change purse —from larger bills, credit cards, and
documents.
Bargaining
Bargaining is a part of Indian shopping culture, but it’s a complex social interaction that you
won’t learn all at once. Most of the places you’ll be frequenting —student eateries, coffee
shops, internet cafes—are fixed-price. You’ll be given site-specific training in the do’s and
don’ts of bargaining in your orientation.
HOUSING AND ACCOMMODATIONS
All participants must live in Alliance-provided accommodations. Participants may not make
their own housing arrangements, arrange alternate hotels during program travel, or stay
overnight in hotels in the host city while the program is in session.
The specifics of your housing and meal arrangements will be reviewed and discussed with you
at orientation.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Host Family Etiquette
Living with host families it is particularly important to observe the basics of propriety and
etiquette.
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Inform your hosts if you plan to return later than usual on a given evening. They feel
responsible for your safety and will worry otherwise! Also try not to stay out late, and
don’t spend the night elsewhere without informing them first.
If you plan to miss a scheduled meal, please inform your hosts a day in advance. Host
families shop and plan meals one day in advance – giving 24 hours’ notice helps avoid
wasting food!
Ask for permission in advance if you would like to invite a guest over, whether for a
meal or to hang out.
Do not entertain members of the opposite sex in your room and if in the common areas
of the house; be sure other host family members are around. Especially if there are
young children in the family, any hint of impropriety could cause problems for the
family.
Avoid using host family telephones or computers, though they may graciously offer for
you to do so and don’t dominate the TV!
Be sure to establish parameters with your host mother on kitchen/refrigerator usage.
Feel free to involve our Pune staff if you don’t feel comfortable doing this by yourself.
Respect the family’s private or sacred spaces. Some families may have puja room s—ask
your host mother or Alliance staff if there are any restrictions on entering that room.
Be prepared to encounter different notions of privacy. Though host families have also
received their own training on habits and expectations of Americans, it m ay still be
natural for them to equate being alone with being lonely and to want to keep you
company or to feel free to come in and look through your books or pictures uninvited.
Any issues of this nature can usually be easily and effectively mediated thr ough Alliance
staff.
Clothing, Cleaning, Personal Hygiene
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Keep your room neat and clean.
Our Pune staff has probably established and communicated this ahead of time, but
establish with your host mother how laundry should be handled, especially
undergarments. Clothes should be kept clean and pressed.
Nail clippings, stray hairs, and dirty tissues should be disposed of promptly and
discreetly.
Be sure to establish with your host mother (through Alliance staff if you would be more
comfortable) how menstrual items should be handled.
Plan to brush your teeth every morning before you greet others.
Servants
Most families will have some form of a servant—either someone who just comes to comes to
sweep and clean the bathrooms, a cook, a live-in housekeeper or some combination thereof.
You may not be sure how to interact with servants and you may not understand certain ways in
which the family interacts with servants.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Part of keeping your room neat and clean, cleaning up hair and nail clippings, and establishing
protocols on laundry and menstruation is also to show respect for the servants who will be
cleaning up after you. Feel free to be friendly with them, but you need not feel the need to
become friends with them. They will no doubt maintain a friendly, res pectful distance from
you.
As noted above in the section on personal belongings, it is best to keep items of value out of
sight and ideally in a lockbox or locked luggage. This is not because servants steal —they are
usually trusted and respected members of the household—but because houses can be porous
and you would not want the loss of a personal item to cast doubts on a servant. By keeping
track of your personal belongings and by keeping them secure, you can help prevent the
casting of blame on household servants if something goes missing.
Any questions you might have about how to interact with servants can be raised either with
your host mother or with Alliance staff—don’t be afraid to ask!
GETTING AROUND TOWN
Auto-rickshaws
Are widely available, inexpensive and commonly used by locals to get around on a daily basis.
In orientation, you will be given training on how to use an auto -rickshaw.
Rules of thumb with auto-rickshaw drivers:
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Always notify your Resident Director if a driver acts in any way that makes you
uncomfortable. Note down rickshaw’s registration number , which makes it easier to
track him down.
Avoid confrontations with drivers. While you may assert for your right to go by the
appropriate meter price, never let an issue involving a few r upees put you in the
position of a heated argument where your safety might be compromised. The best
thing to do is pay, attempt to identify the driver and report the incident to Alliance
staff.
Due to the high incidence of sexual harassment and pickpocket ing on buses—as well as the
headaches of undependability and significantly longer transit times —Alliance students are
advised against using public buses. Alliance staff provides a thorough orientation on safe travel
practices both at the outset of the program and as your independent and any post -program
travel approaches.
Private Transportation
Please note that Alliance students are forbidden from operating motorized vehicles and you
will be subject to disciplinary action if you do. You will soon see that you probably would not
want to operate a motorized vehicle once you have had a taste of Indian traffic!
If a friend offers to give you a ride on a two -wheeler, we recommend that you only do so with a
helmet. Please contact an Alliance staff member for more information about acquiring a
helmet if you find yourself in this position. If a friend offers you a ride in an automobile,
please remember to wear your seatbelt, even if the driver isn’t. There are different sensibilities
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about seatbelt use in India, but your doing so could help to encourage seatbelt use and save
other lives, at the very least your own.
It should go without saying, do not to accept rides offered by people you don’t know and do
not ride with someone who has been drinking. This is something you probably wouldn’t do in
the U.S. and there is no reason to abandon this common sense safe practice abroad.
STAYING CONNECTED WHILE ABROAD
We know you’ll want to stay in touch with friends and family while you are abroad. There are a
number of cheap and easy ways to make calls while you are in India. Your main options are
outlined below:
Cell Phones
Alliance-provided phones. The Alliance provides students with a basic cell phone for use
while in India. These must be returned at the end of the term. Students are asked to put down
at Rs.1500/deposit, which will be returned when you turn in your cell phone at the end of the
semester. You are responsible for keeping a balance of minutes on your cell phone.
SIM cards. We purchase SIM cards from trusted providers for students.
Buying your own phone. If you prefer to buy your own cell phone, there are lots of options.
Make sure to buy a cell phone from a store, because although much cheaper, cell phones
bought from street stalls aren’t very reliable.
Adding minutes. To charge a cell phone, street vendors to put service packages directly onto
your phone via text message (SMS). This is normal, but you should verify that your service and
service package amount have been deposited.
Making local calls. Calling locally isn’t that expensive, but you will quickly learn that, like you,
most people in India prefer to use text messaging, which is even cheaper.
Internet
Two student computers and general internet access are provided at the Alliance Program
Center for academic use during program hours. For perso nal use, internet cafes are available,
although there is not much privacy there and these computers often carry viruses. You may
consider purchasing a broadband data stick, which connects via a computer’s USB port.
Students will be able to purchase this connection during the second week of the program and
should budget approximately $40 to purchase the data stick and the first recharge. After the
initial purchase, you should expect to pay as per your data usage. Students should not expect
internet access during orientation or at their housing placements.
Past students have strongly recommended bringing a personal laptop, though the Alliance
assumes no responsibility for personal items damaged or stolen while in India. If you are going
to bring a laptop, consider purchasing a special insurance policy before you go.
All students should bring a USB flash drive with them to use for class presentations, printing
assignments and saving work on other computers.
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It is important to keep in mind that internet access and land-line phone service may not always
be available. Power cuts are a frequent and regular part of life in India, so plan as best you can
to allow for more time than you might usually need to accomplish even the most humdrum of
tasks online.
Staying in touch with friends and family
It has become relatively easy to communicate with friends and family on the other side of the
world. These days, there is in fact a danger that students can become so enmeshed with
communications to friends and family in the U.S. that their immersion in the lo cal context is
compromised. Of course you will want to stay in touch with your loved ones and of course you
will want to share all of your new, exciting experiences with them, but just be aware that this
can exacerbate culture shock and feelings of homesickness and it can keep you from fully
jumping into and engaging with your new surroundings.
A good idea is to clearly articulate this to family and friends, who will no doubt understand and
encourage you to focus on the experience at hand. It is also helpful to set expectations and
parameters for communication, such as one phone call per week with parents or email
communication every other day.
In case of emergency, parents and relatives needing to urgently contact a student while on the
program should do so through Alliance staff in the United States, who can immediately contact
on-site program staff. Students should not give phone numbers of the Resident Director or
other program staff to family and friends without the specific permission of the people
involved. In an emergency, the Alliance needs to have the ability to rapidly communicate with
staff on site and phones need to remain clear for this purpose.
Postal and mailing services
As noted above, friends and family should be encouraged to stay in touch via snail mail, and to
send you care packages! Two things to note, however:



All parcels should be addressed to the Alliance program office, not your residence.
Absolutely no items of value or controlled medications should be sent via postal or
courier service. Not only is there is a high risk of theft, but certain electronics and
medications may also be held up indefinitely in customs.
It may take three weeks to receive a package from U.S.A. to Pune.
Visitors during the program
The Alliance actively discourages visitors during the term, due to the intensive nature of the
program and the disruption that such visits can cause. Students should communicate this to
friends and relatives and encourage them to schedule visits after the conclusion of the
program.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
GETTING INSIDE YOUR HOST CULTURE:
DO’S, DON’TS AND ETIQUETTE YOU WANT TO KNOW
All of the below topics will be addressed in much more depth at orientation, but here are some
brief notes on each to serve as points of reference for you. As with all things cultural, there
are always nuances and exceptions, but our advice here should be taken as good rules of
thumb to follow since nuances can take years to discern. It is also partly geared to what is
appropriate for students and guests in a country, so we hope that you will always choose to err
on the side of what is most respectful. As always, go to the Resident Director or other onsite
staff with any questions or clarifications you might have on these points—they are very
knowledgeable!
All societies have codes of behavior—markers and signals for the type of person you are and
the group(s) to which you belong. Whether it is India or the United States of America, we all
operate according to sets of unwritten rules and assumptions about how to behave. Here we
have attempted to document some of the most important behavioral practices for India t hat
will mark you as a thoughtful, respectful student of culture.
Shoes and Feet
In India, you will generally remove your shoes when entering someone’s home. (Families often
have house slippers or sandals to switch into for indoor use.) Shoes are also commonly
removed when entering some shops and classrooms and always in places of worship.
As
elsewhere, watch and see what others do, but when in doubt, it never hurts to go ahead and
slip off your shoes as a sign of respect for the space you are entering.
You should refrain from stretching your feet out toward someone , putting your feet up on
chairs or other furniture, or pointing them towards a religious image.
It is always best to sit with your legs tucked underneath you, your legs crossed, or your feet
simply planted on the ground. If someone has their legs stretched out on the ground
(presumably not pointing at anyone), it is also considered impolite to step over them. Lastly, if
you inadvertently step on or touch someone else’s feet with your own, always apologize. There
is a commonly used gesture the Resident Director can show you to demonstrate apology for
this, but an “excuse me” or “sorry” is also sufficient.
Greeting
Many more Westernized Indians will shake hands; the traditional greeting still also widely used
between men and women is the Namaste gesture—placing the palms of the hands together at
the heart. The best approach when you are not sure what greeting to use is to wait for the
other person to initiate it. Because you are a foreigner, someone may reach to shake your
hand while using the Namaste greeting with other Indians. Be prepar ed for either. If you are
a man greeting a woman, it may be best to err on the side of using the Namaste greeting
unless she extends her hand.
Touching
A much greater reserve between men and women is observed in India, especially when it comes
to touching. Under no circumstances is it appropriate or correct for a young man on the street
to come up to you if you are a woman and ask to shake your hand. Occasionally school
children will want to do this, in which case you should be careful and use your judgment, but
PAGE 58 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
adolescent or older men approaching a woman in this
should feel free to ignore them. If they persist, this is
correctly and they have not and you could leverag e
aggressive or invasive than described above falls into
be addressed as such.
way is absolutely inappropriate and you
an opportunity where you have behaved
bystanders. Touching in any way more
the category of harassment and should
Even with people you know, such as your fellow students , staff, and faculty, touching is
generally not appropriate. Avoid hugging or even seemingly innocuous touching on the back,
hands, or shoulders. We are not trying to make you paranoid, just to signal that you should
start from a position of reserve with all members of the o pposite sex. On the opposite side of
the spectrum, you will find that people of the same gender are more physically demonstrative
and affectionate. For example, two male friends may walk hand -in-hand down the street.
If you have any questions about someone’s touching behavior towards you, ask your Resident
Director and she will easily be able to help identify whether it is appropriate or not, and if not,
how to handle it.
Forms of Address
Indians tend to use formal titles as a gesture of respect. So if someone is a professor or has
the title of Dr., address them as such. In family contexts, you will want to at least begin by
addressing older members of family as “Mrs.” or “Mr.” until or unless they instruct you
otherwise. In shops or in public, always use “Sir” or “Madam” in addressing people who are
your elders. You may also use kinship terms where appropriate —for example, calling someone
“brother” or “sister” establishes a respectful distance —and you’ll be given training as to what
these terms are and when they are best used.
Eating and Drinking
The most basic guideline for eating and drinking in India is to use the right hand when not
using utensils. Also, sharing of food is generally only done with close friends and fa mily.
When you are a guest, you may be served first and expected to eat while family members look
on—this can be mildly disconcerting to say the least, but it is a gesture of respect and
hospitality.
It is very important not to waste food in India, so pl ease be careful when taking portions. If you
find yourself in a situation where you are being over -served with food, a good compromise is
to finish what is on your plate, while defending against second or third helpings with a hand
over your plate, a pat to your belly, or by telling your host (insistently, perhaps!) that you are
full. Saying “I’m OK” does not mean “I’m full” in India the way it does in the U .S.
If you adopt an attitude of careful, respectful attentiveness in all of your actions, chances are
you will quickly learn the right things to do, and at the very least you will be given a gracious,
understanding smile if and when you do mess up.
Right Hand - Left Hand
One of the most basic and important cultural form to observe is the distinction between using
your right and left hand in your interactions with others.
The left hand is traditionally
considered impure because it is used for toilet -related functions, so it is poor manners to use it
to offer money, food, or water. The right hand should always be used when you are eating with
your hands (though the left can be used with utensils). For left -handers, this may seem difficult
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
at first, but you will get used to it. In general, you will find fewer left -handed people in India
because they were often forced to adapt to the right-handed norms, but times are changing. It
is perfectly acceptable to write with your left hand, so there’s no need to beco me ambidextrous
overnight!
If your right hand is dirty at the table from eating or occupied in holding something, use of
your left hand is acceptable. As with all other forms of culturally -appropriate behavior, watch
and observe what others do around you, and know, too, that you be given a wider berth for
mistakes as a foreigner. You shouldn’t worry or stress out about these things, just be aware!
That said, showing respect and observing proper cultural forms is recognized, appreciated, and
will open doors for you during your stay.
Eye Contact
In the U.S. we are often accustomed to making eye contact with people and smiling—say, for
example, to a hotel staff member that you pass in the hallway. For us, this is being friendly and
polite. In India, especially if you are a woman and the staff member is a man, this can be seen
as flirtation or an invitation. This is not to say you should go around scowling, but just know
that it is perfectly acceptable to avert your eyes or offer a brief nod without a smile. Again,
these topics will be covered in orientation and beyond, but we w ant to signal here that eye
contact may be understood differently in India than it is in the U.S.
Personal Presentation
When you travel, you are a walking ambassador, a representative of your program, your home
institution, and the U.S. How you look, dress, and talk makes an impression on the people you
meet.
The key is to be neat, clean, and modest (the latter primarily if you are a woman). For more
traditional areas of India, a salwar-kameez is best. As a general rule, you will find that having
your shoulders covered, a modest neckline, opaque clothing
(or another layer underneath anything that is transparent),
nothing too tight or clingy, ideally a longer top that covers
your
hips,
and
some sort of shawl
or scarf around
your
neck
will
serve you best.
THE “PUNE
UNIFORM”
Leggings + Kurta
Indian Skirt + Tee
It’s perfectly acceptable to wear
your “regular clothes” throughout
the semester. Be sure to adapt to
the Indian context – adding layers
and scarves to make sure you are
adequately covered.
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Sandals + Crossbody bag
Many students in Pune end up with a hybrid of
Indian and Western styles for a look that is
comfortable, appropriate, and fashion forward.
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
However, if you immerse yourself in Indian
culture or spend time in rural areas, you may
find yourself more at ease in a salwar -kameez
and dupatta.
Not only for academic and cultural access, these
points come back to the safety tips discussed
above—when you present yourself respectably,
you are better able to avoid harassment and
leverage the assistance of bystanders if you do
find yourself in a difficult situation.
Hair, for both men and women, is an important component of self -presentation. Whether long
or short, it should be kept washed and brushed. If you have long hair, it is best kept pulled
back. If men have facial hair, it is best to keep it well -trimmed and groomed.
Piercings and tattoos are another component of self -presentation that will differ depending on
whether you are in more urban and Westernized versus more traditional contexts. Nose
piercing for women is, of course, liked and encouraged in India. Other bod y piercings, and
nose-piercings for men, might be looked at a bit askance in more traditional contexts, as will
tattoos.
Again, the Resident Director is here to help advise you on these matters and how they might
affect the kind of research and activities you want to do. Our job is to help increase your
access to and immersion within the local community for learning purposes, and all of our
advice on these matters will be geared toward helping you achieve those goals.
Exercise
Exercise holds a central role in personal presentation in the United States. The concepts of
“fitness” or “being in-shape” are culturally specific concepts, which may not translate to other
cultures. In Pune, you may find that it takes a lot more time and effort to pursue your fitness
goals abroad. Some types of exercise, such as jogging outside, will simply be unavailable.
We know that being active is a helpful tool for managing stress and staying healthy, so your
Resident Director will do their best to help identify in -country resources for exercise. For your
part, you may need to modify your expectations of the type, style, and frequency of
opportunities to exercise during your semester. With creativity, diligence, and a sense of
adventure, you’ll find new ways to get moving!
Social Norms
Beggars
Beggars, especially children, can be a particularly difficult part of adjusting to India. Everyone
will find their own way of processing and dealing with this socio -economic problem. A
perfectly acceptable thing to do is to offer them food or a drink if you have it on you or can
purchase it nearby. Another alternative is to simply ignore them: do not make eye contact, and
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
simply continue to look straight ahead; go along with your conversation and continue to walk
on. Not all beggars are thieves, but it’s not a bad idea to make sure you keep your eye on your
purse or wallet.
Your Resident Director can help you process what you see around you and share her own
means of understanding, coping, and helping. Educating yourself abo ut beggars and the
beggar industry through movies, books, or a visit to a NGO can be a helpful way to learn about,
understand and process the phenomenon.
Drinking and Smoking
Indian culture does not traditionally incorporate alcohol into soci al interactions as in the U.S.
and Europe. While the drinking age in Maharashtra varies from 18-25 years, depending on the
type of drinking is not a common feature of Pune city life. Indeed, among certain groups any
alcohol use is seen as impure or unref ined.
Even in cases where men may drink socially,
women often do not. Drunkenness is always frowned upon. This will be addressed further in
orientation, but just know to be judicious about the social and cultural implications of even
responsible alcohol consumption.
India has a country-wide ban on public smoking. Though this may be spottily enforced, please
be aware that this is the law and that, especially as guests in this country, we must be careful
to observe and respect the laws. As with alcohol, smoking for women is much less acceptable
than it is for men, especially in public.
Sexual Behavior and Relationships
Students must also be aware that both verbal and nonverbal communication, including dress,
can communicate specific sexual expectations in India. The subtleties of acceptable sexual
behavior in the local community may be difficult for outsiders to discern and you should tread
carefully with any assumptions about what is acceptable. As with other cultural nuances,
students need to become sensitive to these differences and educate themselves on appropriate
behavior.
Additional caution should be taken by LGBT students in India, as the Supreme Court recently
reinstated section 377 of their penal code, which criminalizes homosexual acts . While not
agreeing with the laws of a country, as a visitor and a foreigner, one needs to be aware of and
abide by them.
As noted above, please be aware, too, that you are viewed differently as foreigner. Not only
will there be different expectations about your own values and behaviors; you may also be
targeted in ways that you are not in the U.S. The best and safest way to behave is with reserve
and caution.
For health, safety and cultural reasons—as well as group dynamics we advise program
participants to avoid sexual relationships both with locals and with other participants on the
program. If you do choose to have sex, however, it is paramount that you protect yourself.
Condoms can be acquired at local medical shops and local ph ysicians are able to address other
contraceptive needs or issues you might have.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
LGBTQ Issues
Sexual orientation and sexual identity are typically not openly discussed —they’re simply kept
more private. Discussion of any sexual behavior or act is viewed as inappropriate and should
generally be avoided.
However, you will also see from the news and the media that LGBT issues are gaining greater
visibility in Indian social discourse and there are organizations in larger cities that address and
serve the needs of the LGBT community. Feel free to discuss these questions with your
Resident Director and she will be happy to direct to you to resources, as well as to advise you
on culturally-appropriate ways of navigating these identities in Indian societ y.
Here’s what one alumna wrote about her experience in Pune:
“I often get the question from family and friends as to what it’s like traveling as a lesbian in
India. I knew that I would be physically/legally safe, especially as a foreigner. But, I did n’t know
what it would feel like to go back in the closet, back into hiding my identity. I have chosen to
keep my sexuality private while abroad. Only my American friends in the program know. My host
mom does not know. My boss does not know. My professors do not know. They don’t need to
know.
Before coming to India, I have never been very politically involved or invested in the gay rights
movement. Living here and truly beginning to understand what a joint family means and what it
might feel like to grow up feeling trapped in these societal pressures of marriage have given me a
whole new outlook on what gay rights means.”
Race and Ethnicity Abroad
Indians vary widely in their awareness, recognition and understanding of racial or ethnic
identity, both as applied to minority groups within their own culture, and how they view
individuals from different cultures. In the U.S. you might be classified first by your
race/ethnicity, but abroad, you may be identified first as a U.S. -American – or people may make
completely different assumptions about your background based upon your appearance. While
we hope that none of our students face discrimination or racism during their time abroad, we
know that it is a possibility. It may be overt, or it may be more subtle. Try connecting with
other students of color who have studied abroad in India, to learn about their experiences, and
to develop strategies for coping before you go abroad.
Here’s what one alumna wrote about her experience:
“I was incredibly lucky to have been able to experience India with a diverse group. We had people
of all different backgrounds economically, racially, ethnically, and culturally. For such a small
group I found this quite impressive, but it also meant that we got a lot of questions when o ur
group was together. Seeing about five to six white girls with me (a Latina who has been told she
could pass for Indian many times), a Sri Lankan, an Indian -American, a self-proclaimed ‘Blexican’
and a Liberian, threw people off.
We were repeatedly asked how we could all be from America if there were “some white and some
black people.” I did not take too much offense to these statements, because based off of what the
white-dominated media portrays in India and in America; America is still a portrait of mainly one
PAGE 63 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
color. But I have faith that as more people of color and of varied backgrounds get opportunities
to participate in programs like the Alliance program, this belief will be dismantled and replaced
by what America truly is: a multicolored potpou rri of people!”
Another alumnus wrote:
“One thing that was particularly challenging [... ] I have long afro textured hair. When I would go
out with my hair not wrapped in a gamcha, numerous people would point and laugh at me. The
first five times this happened I was livid, but I learned to deal with these reactions by using my
Hindi and joking about it.”
CULTURE SHOCK
In preparing to study overseas, most students have numerous vaccinations and inoculations.
These will help keep you safe from many dreaded d iseases. Studying abroad also requires
obtaining a passport and other documents required for entry. These allow you to legally enter
and remain in the country. There is no vaccination or visa, however, for one condition that all
students encounter: culture shock.
Students go overseas to learn about and experience another culture, but this is not necessarily
always fun or easy; indeed, it can be quite stressful. Whether it is called Culture Shock, Cross Cultural Adaptation Stress, or Displacement Anxiety, a period of adjustment will occur that will
involve feelings of depression, homesickness, or frustration with your new surroundings. This
is only temporary, and as you become more accustomed to your new environment, you will
start to appreciate the differences. This section is designed to prepare you to recognize, cope
with, and understand culture shock.
The Nature of Culture Shock
In the midst of the euphoria of having arrived in a new country, it is very important to prepare
for the sizeable psychological changes that will take place as you become accustomed to not
one, but two new environments.
Support systems that you have always taken for granted suddenly disappear, and leave a void
that is hard to fillin the new environment. You have been used to leading your own lives and
making your own decisions, knowing your way around and feeling confident in navigating
interpersonal exchanges. As you study in Pune, new issues will arise for which you have no
easily identifiable solutions from your past e xperience. The physical environment will also put
new and different stresses on your body. And above all, you will face subtle challenges created
by a new culture with its own rules and you’ll be presented with new values and priorities that
may call many of your own assumptions into question.
Four Phases of Culture Shock
Experts writing on culture shock—and students who have gone before you—have identified
four general phases that anyone who lives abroad goes through. The length of these phases
may vary from individual; you may re-cycle through the phases as you leave one country and
enter another.
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
Fascination
When everything is new, there are seemingly few problems. Everyone is being extremely
accommodating and the predominant feeling is one of ex hilaration at being in India at last,
after a long period of anticipation. Unfortunately, this phase is fairly short -lived!
Friendship
As you settle in, it becomes paramount to build a new social structure to replace the one left
behind. Your fellow students will play a large though perhaps challenging part in this effort . A
combination of fear of the unknown and desire to create a comfortable new “known” will infuse
your relationship with them. There may also be a quite understandable tendency to gravitate
to the company of your fellow Americans for friendship, and to t ake refuge in the familiar - a
situation that can sadly but easily solidify into a “we-they” syndrome in the third stage. In this
stage, try and reach out to locals your own age, and form friendships outside as well as inside
the group.
Frustration
After a time, when you begin to become familiar enough with the country to come to grips
with the requirements of your new living circumstances, a stage of off -and-on depression
begins. Often, talking through these frustrations with your peers ca n create a feedback loop of
negativity. Problems and difficulties that are inevitable in the adjustment process seem to
outweigh any possible, or potential, sense of achievement. The locals you deal with seem
intransigent, the physical environment unpleas ant and class and host family demands
impossible to fulfill.The result can be that hostility becomes a predominant emotion and
homesickness results.
Fulfillment
Although the previous stage can be very difficult to live through, it can eventually come to an
end with the growth of cultural and self-awareness, leading into the final phase in which the
experience becomes fulfilling and rewarding. The onset of this phase stems from a personal
realization and acceptance that, in all its aspects, the Indian and Chinese environment is not
likely to change.Consequently, if the experience is to be satisfying, it is you who must adapt
yourself to your new environmentby learning to operate within it. This will very likely result in
compromises—often many of them, some that you probably thought you would never be
willing to make—but it also results in a realization that conflicts can be worked out, and that
the potential rewards to be gained from the experience are as great as you are prepared to let
them be.
Reactions to Culture Shock
While no two people deal with culture shock in the same way, there are common reactions
shared by many. Some are less affected than others. Some people withdraw from unpleasant
or uncomfortable situations, while others may become aggress ive and strike back.
Symptoms of Culture Shock :



Anxiety
Homesickness
Helplessness
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


Boredom
Depression
Fatigue
CONTEMPORARY INDIA



Confusion
Self-doubt
Feelings of inadequacy



Unexplained crying
Paranoia
Psychosomatic
illnesses
Flight Reaction
You may choose to withdraw from confusing or stressful situations. You may view the situation
as hopeless. You may even question your reasons for wanting to study abroad in the first
place.
Passive Coping Mechanisms
 Physical and/or psychological
 Loss of ability to work or study
withdrawal/avoidance
effectively
 Need for excessive amounts of sleep
 Needing lots of handholding to get
 Spending excessive amounts of time
through a task
reading, listening to music or online
 Quitting and returning to your home
 Only seeing other Americans or
country early
Westerners
Fight Reaction
You may displace angry feelings onto others in the host society. For example, someone going
through culture shock may take his anger out on the shop owner or waiter in a restaurant when
confronted with a confusing or frustrating problem.
Aggressive Coping Mechanisms
 Compulsive eating or drinking
 Exaggerated cleanliness
 Irritability
 Family tensions
 Relationship stress




Excessive chauvinism or stereotyping
Hostility toward host nationals
Verbal or physical aggressiveness
Deciding to stay, but hating the
country and its people
Reflective Reaction
Fight or flight is a survival mechanism that developed to help humans cope during crisis
situations. This survival instinct can be triggered by the stressors of studying abroad in two
challenging countries. Much like an overly-sensitive fire alarm, the body’s stress reaction
system is ready to sound the alarm over a piece of burnt toast. In order to get past the
frustration stage and into fulfillment, you need to find a way to get out of crisis mode and into
reflection on your experience. This will help you to find make meaning out of y our semester
abroad.
Reflective Coping Mechanisms
 Asking questions
 Getting adequate rest
 Making friends
 Exercising or playing a game or sport
 Bringing humor to a situation
 Sharing your culture
PAGE 66 OF 74
 Writing a letter, drawing a picture, or
making something
 Setting goals for yourself, whether big
or small
 Ending your semester with a sense of
accomplishment
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
RESOURCES
SEEKING HELP WITH GETTING SETTLED
When you arrive in India, you will have to adjust to a culture, environment and lifestyle that are
totally unfamiliar. You will be challenged to take on academic cours ework in an unfamiliar
setting, while also wanting to make the most of your short time abroad. You will likely have
some difficult moments, days or weeks. It might not feel “fun” all of the time.
But you have accepted a challenge that not many have taken on. You have chosen to have a
completely unique experience, to push your boundar ies and explore what you’re capable of.
When you need help, reach out to the resources around you. At the same time, look inside
yourself for the strength, resourcefulness and courage you need to see this journey through
and make it a success.
Yourself
Your Peers
Resident
Director
Friends &
Family
• Before you leave home, think about how you handle stress right now. Make a list of some portable
stress reduction strategies to pack with you (deep breathing, laughter, or a journal will all fit in your
carry on!)
• Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity to grow. In what ways do you want to grow when you
go abroad? What are some ways you can pursue these opportunities?
• Your cohort is embarking on a remarkable journey together. You will experience challenges, joys,
frustrations and successes together.
• If you are having trouble, ask for help. If you see one of your classmates struggling, reach out and
lend a hand. Supporting one another will help you through this journey.
• Your Resident Director is here to support you throughout the semester. You may feel you need a lot
or a little help along the way, but in any case, keep the lines of communication open.
• Keep in mind that your RD is working in the same environment that you are. They can help you
problem solve, offer tips and tricks, use their connections, and offer advice--but they 're not a
miracle worker.
• Your friends and family at home can be a great support, but you may find that they can't relate to
exactly what you're going through. Even if they've traveled extensively, their experience may be
different from your own.
• Sometimes they'll be able to offer a helpful perspective and a supportive ear, but for day-to-day
problem-solving, you'll want the help of your RD and peers.
SURVIVAL HINDI
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CONTEMPORARY INDIA
English
Hindi
Devanagari Script
Welcome
Swagat ho!
स्वागतहो
Hello
Namaste. [Or just Hello.]
नमस्ते
How are you?
Aap kaise hain? (M)
Aap kaisi hain? (F)
आप कैसे हैं?
Fine, thanks, and you?
Mein tik hun. Aur aap?
में ठीक हूँ . और आप?
What's your name?
Aapka nam kya hai?
Meera nam …… hai.
आपका नाम क्या है ?
Aap kahan-se aaye hain?
Mein (country name)-se hun.
आप कहाूँ-से आये हैं?
I don't understand
Mein summuja nahin.
में समझता/ ती नह ीं.
Please write it down
Likh dijiye.
लिख दिजिए
Do you speak Hindi?
Aap hindi boltihain?
आप दहींि बोिती है ?
Thoda sa.
थोडासा.
How much is this?
Yaha kitane ka hai?
यह ककतनेका है ??
Thank you
Shukriya, Dhanyavad
शुकिया, धन्यवाि
Where's the toilet?
Toilet kahan hai?
टॉयिेट कहाूँ है ?
Leave me alone!
Jao!
िाओ
Bachao!
Aag!
Ruko!
बचाओ
My name is ...
Where are you from?
I'm from ...
Yes, a little
आप कैसी हैं?
मेरा नाम … है
में … से हूँ
(Literally: go!)
Help! (save me)
Fire!
Stop!
आग
रुको
Check out further language learning opportunities at these websites:
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http://livemocha.com/pages/languages/learn-hindi/
http://www.linguanaut.com/learn_hindi.htm
http://www.loecsen.com/travel/0-en-67-2-71-free-lessons-hindi.html
http://www.avashy.com/hindibhasha/index.asp
PAGE 68 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
SURVIVAL MARATHI
English
Marathi
Devanagari Script
Welcome
svāgat āhe
स्वागत आहे
Hello
namaskār
नमस्कार
How are you?
thū kasā āhes (m)
thū kashī āhes (f)
mī ṭīk āhe
त कसा आहे स? (m)
I’m good.
त कशी आहे स? (f)
मी ठीक आहे
What's your name?
My name is ...
Where are you from?
thujha nāv kāy āhe
māzha nāv ... āhe
तझ
ु ीं नाव काय आहे ?
āpaṇ kuthōn ālāt?
आपण कुठन आिात?
माझीं न ाव ... आहे
mi ...hōn ālo (m)
मी ...ह नआिो (m)
(mi ...hōn āle) f
मी ...ह नआिे (f)
I don't understand
malā samajatha nāhī
मिा समित नाह
Please write it down
krupayā lihun ghya
How much is this?
kitī?
कृपया लिहन घ्या
Please
Krupayā
I'm from ...
Thank you
sandas kuthe āhe?
Leave me alone!
ekānta havāy malā!
Help! (save me)
madat!
āga!
thāmbā!
Stop!
Check
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कृपया धन्यवाि
dhanyāvad
Where's the toilet?
Fire!
ककती?
सींडास कुठे आहे?
एकाींत हवाय मिा!
मित!
आग!
थाींबा!
out further language learning opportunities at these websites:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=learn+marathi+through+english
http://mindurmarathi.com/how-to-learn-and-speak-marathi-online-for-free-in-30-days/
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/marathi.php
http://kaushiklele-learnmarathi.blogspot.com/
PAGE 69 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
STUDENT BLOGS
Reading the blogs of students who are currently in India can give you a good taste of their
experiences, and hopefully some sense of both highs and lows.
http://www.emilylsadventuresabroad.wordpress.com/
http://www.hindipendantwoman.wordpress.com/
http://www.anne-abroad.tumblr.com/
http://www.jessainindia.tumblr.com/
http://www.iking425.wordpress.com/
http://www.travelswithjps.wordpress.com/
http://www.chancantravel.com
http://www.swindia.tumblr.com/
Also, we have a wide network of alumni who would love to talk to students who are getting
ready
to
head
over—don’t
hesitate
to
avail
yourself
of
it!
Visit
http://www.allianceglobaled.org/about-us/connect-here/contact-program-graduate
to
get
started.
Talking to someone who has spent a semester in India will help you set expectations, begin
thinking about possible challenges, and begin developing your strategies fo r making your
semester a success
PAGE 70 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
THE FINE PRINT
Our Policies& Practices
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PAGE 71 OF 74
Alliance for Global Education Regulations and Policies
Non-discrimination Statement
Student Address and Biographical Data
Disclosure of Student Records
Technology Abuses
Loss or Damage Statement
Housing Policy
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
ALLIANCE FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION
REGULATIONS AND POLICIES
Where applicable, a student participating in an Alliance for Global Education program assumes
a dual status as an Alliance student and a student of the host university . Students are subject
to and should be familiar with, student conduct policies both of the host university and of the
Alliance for Global Education. Students are hereby informed that Alliance for Global Education
regulations and policies may be stricter than those of their home campus because of the
broader consequences of student conduct when a student is participating in a study abroad
program.
This Program Handbook contains the regulations, policies and judicial procedures of the
Alliance for Global Education. The Alliance for Global Education makes this information
available to all students.
The Resident Director, in consultation with the appropriate Director-level staff at Alliance for
Global Education headquarters, is responsible for the enforcement of all policies pertaining to
student conduct at the program site. The Resident Director may impose sanctions as identified
in the behavioral section above whenever this becomes necessary. The Resident Director and
the appropriate Director-level staff at Alliance for Global Education headquarters have the
authority to dismiss a student from the program. Sanctions may be appealed to the Executive
Director of the Alliance for Global Education. The decision of the Executive Director on these
matters is final.
Admissions: The Alliance reserves the right to withdraw students from the program at any time
if your academic or disciplinary record changes.
Program Fee Payment & Refund Policies: Students must agree to abide by the financial
policies outlined in the Payment Information and Options section on the Alliance for Global
Education website. They must also agree to be responsible for all other expenses not covered
by the program fee.
Property Damage and Unpaid Bills: Students are responsible for any damage to their
residence or other program, host institution, or partner property. The Alliance for Global
Education will add any charges related to damage or unpaid bills to the student’s account, and
will withhold the student’s transcript until the account is paid in full.
NONDISCRIMINATIONSTATEMENT
The Alliance for Global Education is committed to assuring equal opportunity to all
persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin,
gender, sexual or affectional orientation, religion, age, or disability in its edu cational
programs, activities, admissions or employment practices as required by Title IX of the
Educational Amendment of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable statutes.
Inqui ries
concerning Title IX, Section 504 and ADA compliance and information regarding
accessibility should be directed to the Executive Director, The Alliance for Global
Education, 1730 M St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036; phone: 202-822-0032.
PAGE 72 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
STUDENT ADDRESS AND BIOGRAPHICAL DATA
Students are responsible for providing the Alliance for Global Education with accurate address
and biographical information, which is solicited initially as a part of the admission and
registration process. Students must notify Alliance for Global Education staff of any subsequent
changes to, permanent home address, emergency contact, or marital status.
DISCLOSURE OF STUDENT RECORDS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law that requires educational
institutions to maintain the confidentiality of student records. In accordance with the Act, no
one outside the Alliance for Global Education shall have access to, nor will the Alliance
disclose any information from your education records with out your written consent, except to
personnel within your home school or other institutions in which you seek to enroll, to persons
or organizations providing you with financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying out their
accreditation function, to persons in compliance with a judicial order and to persons in an
emergency in order to protect the health or safety of yourself or other persons.
At its discretion, the Alliance for Global Education may provide directory information in
accordance with the provisions of the Act to include: student name, address, telephone
number, program, major field of study and dates of attendance. Currently student addresses,
telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are not included as directory information but are
included in lists of program participants for internal use.
You may withhold either all or any part of the above information by notifying your Student
Services Manager in writing no later than three weeks from the date of your acceptance. The
law provides you with the right to inspect and review information contained in your education
records, to have a hearing if the outcome of the challenge is unsatisfactory, and to submit
explanatory statements for inclusion in your file if you feel the decision of the hearing pa nel to
be unacceptable.
The Alliance for Global Education has been designated to coordinate the inspection and review
procedures of student education records, which include admissions, disciplinary, academic,
financial, cooperative education and placement files. If you wish to review your education
records, make a written request to your Student Services Manager, listing the item or items of
interest. Records covered by the Act will be made available within 45 days of the request. You
may have copies made of such records with the following exceptions: a copy of the academic
record for which a financial “hold” exists, or a transcript of an original or source document
which exists elsewhere. Copies will be made at your expense at the appropriate rate.
Educational records do not include records of instructional, administrative and educational
personnel which are the sole possession of the maker and are not accessible or revealed to any
individual except a temporary substitute; records of the security unit; stud ent health records;
employment records; or alumni records.
You may not inspect or review the following as outlined by the Act: financial records of your
parents or any information contained therein; materials to which you have waived your right of
inspection and review, including confidential letters and recommend ations associated with
admission, employment or job placement; or education records containing information about
PAGE 73 OF 74
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
more than one student, in which case the Alliance will permit access only to that part of the
record which pertains to the inquiring student.
TECHNOLOGY ABUSES
When there is indication of any of the following abuses, or any other abuse which either
interferes with the proper functioning of Alliance’s or a host university’s computer, telephone,
or other systems or impinges on another user’s right s, the Resident Director or his or her staff
are authorized to investigate and bring charges. The student’s privileges to use any computer,
telephone, or other resources may be suspended by the Resident Director until the outcome of
a judicial hearing. Students may also be subject to sanctions for violations to the Code of
Conduct.
Examples of technology abuse include but are not limited to the following:
1. Unauthorized attempt to, or threat to modify, or the modification of, computer
equipment or peripherals.
2. Unauthorized attempt to, or threat to add/delete/change software, or the
addition/deletion or change of software, such as games, graphics, operating systems,
compilers, utility routines, etc.
3. Use of an account without proper authorization fr om the owner of the account.
4. Reading or use of private files, including Alliance’s or the host university’s
administrative or academic files, without proper authorization, or changing or deleting
private files belonging to another user without proper a uthorization.
5. Violations of property rights and copyrights in data and computer programs.
6. Use of software to communicate offensive or obscene messages to other users of the
system or anyone else on the internet.
7. Accessing offensive or obscene materials.
8. Violation of host university technology policies.
The use of any Alliance for Global Education computer for copying licensed or copyrighted
software is strictly prohibited. Also prohibited is copying Alliance-owned, licensed, or
copyrighted software on any other computer.
LOSS OR DAMAGE STATEMENT
The Alliance for Global Education is not responsible for the loss of students’ property due
to fire, theft, water damage, or other causes. It is suggested that the students obtain
insurance against loss by fire, theft or other causes before attending the program, and/or
before moving into living accommodations overseas.
HOUSING POLICY
The Alliance for Global Education-arranged housing is not optional. All program participants
must live in Alliance provided housing. It is not possible to make your own housing
arrangements.
PAGE 74 OF 74