08/11/2026
Amanda Sullivan shares with us her study abroad experience through the “Winter: Rutgers-Rooted in Change: Immersive learning for Rural Agro-Food Development in Southern India” program in India:
---------
“When arriving in India, I promised myself I would keep an open mind, wanting to fully immerse myself in every opportunity and understand the cultural practices. I have traveled within the United States before, but never abroad, and I did find traveling to be the most challenging part of the journey. The 16-hour flight and canceled trips created stress upon arrival and departure. That being said, I found the stay itself at Amrita College absolutely wonderful, and the hospitality amazing. I wanted to study abroad to expand my knowledge and take a week to explore my love for agriculture and begin a spiritual journey. I wanted to take that time to dive deep into why I am pursuing a path in farming, and explore how farming is defined in other cultures. One such factor was the market culture that shocked me. In the U.S., farmers’ markets have become associated with status, now having a connotation of expensive produce and fancy products. In India, markets are a livelihood where the majority of families have farms that are passed down. What I found most impressive was that Amrita University prepares students to take over their family farms and establish their own businesses through more workshops and hands-on experience. At Rutgers, most of the coursework consists of slide shows and research, whereas in Southern India, their schooling focuses on growing food and creating products with grades based on how well they sell at markets.” (1/2)
Amanda Sullivan
Winter: Rutgers-Rooted in Change: Immersive learning for Rural Agro-Food Development in Southern India
India | Winter 2026
