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Princeton in Beijing
University of Princeton
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Based in Varanasi, the City of Light, our India semester program immerses students in an intensely thriving community located just above the banks of the Ganges River. Part of Varanasi's appeal lies in its diverse blend of cultures and religions. In Varanasi students have the chance to see Hindus walk through dawn light for a ritual dip i... read moreBased in Varanasi, the City of Light, our India semester program immerses students in an intensely thriving community located just above the banks of the Ganges River. Part of Varanasi's appeal lies in its diverse blend of cultures and religions. In Varanasi students have the chance to see Hindus walk through dawn light for a ritual dip in their cherished Ganges, and they can learn as well from the communities of Buddhists, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs and other devoted people who live and practice in Varanasi.
It is in this inspirational celebration of life and transformation that we immerse ourselves. Students live with welcoming families whose members might include world-renowned sitar and tabla players, traditional doctors, university professors, or local artisans. Daily language classes in Hindi not only help students communicate with Indian hosts, but with leaders of community service projects sponsored by schools, clinics, and environmental organizations. Independent Study Projects, another critical component of the semester, give students the chance to acquire new and fascinating skills, develop a fresh perspective on historical and social issue, and practice traditional Indian art forms. While engaging in these studies, students also have the chance to explore some of the subcontinent's most venerated and least-known places. From a trip to the Bodhi Tree and Temple at Bodhgaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, to traditional local villages rarely visited by Westerners, students witness what it means to live in India in the 21st century. In addition, they also have the opportunity to explore the life and culture that has flourished along this most sacred Indian river - from Gangotri Glacier, the source of the Ganges in the Himalayas, to Calcutta, where the river empties into the Bay of Bengal. And throughout the journey, students and instructors collaborate to create spaces in which students discover new aspects of compassion and leadership and grow to better know themselves.
While students may choose not to take the course for credit, the India Semester program is a fully accredited program by Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona. As a participant on this program, you have the option to earn up to 24 undergraduate credits toward your college degree. Four courses with six-credits each will be offered as part of our studies in India:
- Introduction to Hindi
- Cultural Anthropology Life along the Ganges River
- Examining Inequalities: Disparate Social Condition and Initiatives for Change
- Independent Study Project Less
This program was called Visions of India when I participated in the Spring of 2011. WTBD had connections in Varanasi which created a sense of community and a web of safety. For being in a culture which was so drastically different from anything I had ever experienced, it made all the difference for the chai walla down the street to wave to me every day because he knew my program administrator. As with any cultural immersion, the experience you... Read more
The Visons of India course was an incredible experience that has affected me deeply. Any words won't do justice to my experience so I will say simply that this course is fantastic opportunity that I would encourage any friend or family member of mine to do. Before going on course I had read lots of reviews of people who'd done study abroad. I read their glowing reviews about how their experience was life-changing and invigorating. I wanted that k... Read more
This program was called Visions of India when I participated in the Spring of 2011. WTBD had connections in Varanasi which created a sense of community and a web of safety. For being in a culture which was so drastically different from anything I had ever experienced, it made all the difference for the chai walla down the street to wave to me every day because he knew my program administrator. As with any cultural immersion, the experience you... Read more
The Visons of India course was an incredible experience that has affected me deeply. Any words won't do justice to my experience so I will say simply that this course is fantastic opportunity that I would encourage any friend or family member of mine to do. Before going on course I had read lots of reviews of people who'd done study abroad. I read their glowing reviews about how their experience was life-changing and invigorating. I wanted that k... Read more
This program was called Visions of India when I participated in the Spring of 2011. WTBD had connections in Varanasi which created a sense of community and a web of safety. For being in a culture which was so drastically different from anything I had ever experienced, it made all the difference for the chai walla down the street to wave to me every day because he knew my program administrator. As with any cultural immersion, the experience you... Read more
The Visons of India course was an incredible experience that has affected me deeply. Any words won't do justice to my experience so I will say simply that this course is fantastic opportunity that I would encourage any friend or family member of mine to do. Before going on course I had read lots of reviews of people who'd done study abroad. I read their glowing reviews about how their experience was life-changing and invigorating. I wanted that k... Read more
