Michael Bendick, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Class of 2010

Posted on Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Michael Bendick (in white) is a student in the Three-Year Mechanical Engineering Program.

I participated in a student exchange to India in spring of 2009. I attended Manev Rachna International University in Faridabad, India for 2 months. This experience was such an amazing opportunity for me. I was always looking for a travel opportunity like this but was never able to find the time or resources to do such a thing. The international scholarship was a huge help in allowing me to complete some of my education abroad.

My experience there was fantastic. India is not a super tourist friendly country, and we were expecting a big cultural shock once we arrived and we experienced exactly that. Just about everything was different in ways I can’t even describe. Our collaborating school in India was very helpful in making sure we were able to settle in, and tended to any of the needs we had when we were there.

The school experience was very different. I’m glad I had the opportunity to work with people in the international community, and see my field of study without a Canadian influence. While in India, I was given the opportunity to tour commercial sites, and manufacturing plants. I would never be able to do that any other way. The experience I gained from studying there will certainly give me an edge when looking for jobs after graduating. When I return to classes in September, I will appreciate everything my school does for me.

Aside from school, I was able to easily tour the country for as long as I pleased after exams had finished. An incredible backpacking experience was the finale to my amazing Indian experience. I certainly recommend this opportunity to anybody looking to expand their horizons and experience education in a totally different way.

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