Program Details

By the time students depart New York City in mid-August, they will already have met one another at an intensive weekend orientation program conducted on one of the NYSICCSI campuses.

"It's beautiful! I am half way around the world yet I flew here in less than a day -- that, in itself, astounds me. I have a desire to do something wonderful -- perhaps I am."

Students arrive in Delhi, India's capital, for the in-country orientation, introductory lectures, and visits to points of interest in Old and New Delhi.

After students become adjusted to the new sights, sounds and tastes of India, the group moves to Mussoorie. Mussoorie is known as a "hill station," a summer retreat in the green and misty Himalayan foothills, where NYSICCSI students undertake an intensive, five-week course in Hindi language at the Landour Language School.

Mussoorie also serves the program as a base for field trips -- for example, to pilgrimage sites such as Hardwar and Rishikesh, Tehri Dam, Yamnotri and an organic farm -- with the scenic beauty of the foothills along the way. Most students take mutiple treks around Mussoorie.

When we went to Hardwar the thing that most affected me was the Arati . . . . You launch your [flame] down the Ganges . . . . You pray for your parents . . . . It really made me stop and think.

The group passes through Delhi on the way to Jaipur, capital of the northwestern desert state of Rajasthan. Students have ample opportunity to hone their Hindi skills in this beautiful city, with its centuries-old pink sandstone walls and proud tradition. They live approximately five weeks with families, with whom they take most of their meals and celebrate the major annual festival of Divali.

"A place to call home for some time." ""Good food!" "One of the family." "They are probably the best and most valuable part of this experiences."

Hindi Language instruction continues in Jaipur, and courses on Indian culture, history, and contemporary issues are arranged by the program director. Students continue to do work on their independent fieldwork project, proposed and approved prior to arrival in India, that they work on throughout the semester.

From its Jaipur home-base, the group travels to nearby sites to see some of the incredibly rich and diverse villages and cities about which they are reading and hearing. These site visits and "hands-on" experiences, including a visit to the Barefoot College in Tilonia, leave a lasting impression on students.

From Jaipur the group travels to Varanasi (Benares), one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India, on the bank of the sacred Ganges. During the 10- to 14-day stay, students experience "the eternal city" on foot and from the river, and also from the perspective of a nearby village, from which they gain insight into urban-rural dynamics as well as the dynamics of caste and class. Also included in this segment is a visit to Banwasi Seva Ashra.

The program comes to its conclusion in Delhi, with approximately two weeks for concluding fieldwork, completing course projects, presenting independent fieldwork projects, and reflecting upon the term’s experiences.

Normally, a week of free time is scheduled during or after the Jaipur phase of the program. Students may work on independent fieldwork projects or travel independently (in small groups).

"I'll be back to India, for both academic reasons and personal ones."