I would like to share my experience here too. I am a YIC student (June 2011).
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I got sick twice during my stay there, some of the plate/cup is not clean and no spoon is provided; fruit was not often provided, I only had 2 mangos during my stay (2 days before I left, they changed the International dining room to a new room, and they started providing fruit.) I also heard that drinking water provided is not safe, so I bought bottle water most of the time.
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At the first night of my stay, in the middle to the night a guy (he was fierce) came to knock my door, luckily I was staying with a local Indian, and my roommate told me that he is a mental patient from the hospital(the university and hospital share the same premises). I think they should have a guide in every building at night;
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A camera which belongs to a student was stolen, but finally it was returned.
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A foreign lady student was molested in the middle of the night in her room; I heard that she didn’t lock her room. Students were advised to go back to room after the last class(9:30pm); is that the only thing they can do???
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A student was locked from outside his room by robbers, so that he would not able to come out to ask for help; there is a village nearby our campus, our campus is so big and isolated;
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For the lectures, there are different teachers came to teach something and go, I find it very messy; you can’t tell who/what is coming next. Professor H.R.Nagendra only came to the class once.
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I think their exam is so… They may ask Swami Vivekananda’s father name!! Date of birth???
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Trataka (practical) was not guided by qualified teacher, some students joking and playing with hand phone, mosquito everywhere…
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The lecture/asana hall… is so warm, no fan, no air-cond, I felt so sleepy in most of the lecture. No chair is provided.(Not complaining but for info only)
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The Yoga Coordinator, Sumant, I personally think that he is a yoga teacher with NO LOVE. I lost my luggage(the airline lost it), I was in the campus with 2 set of clothes, for 14 days. I went to airport twice for my luggage. Every time I ask for permission to go out, he always talked VERY unfriendly. He shown no concern about HIS student AT ALL.( A lot of my same batch friends, always asked me about my luggage and shown concern, and one even help me to call the airline…they show so much of LOVE). I booked my returning ticket on 29th Jun; I asked Sumant on the very 1st day whether I can go on 29th, the first question he asked is?Had you paid the course fee?? Before the final exam, I asked him again for the permission to leave on 29th, his reply was terrible(so rude), and I never see a yoga teacher like him. I was told ?No certificate if you leave on 29th?. I left on 24th, before the exam, without certificate. I am not a yoga teacher, I don?t need a certificate! For me the learning process is more important than the certificate!!
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This university is very famous in India. I think a lot of local people attend the YIC, is because of the certificate, for their career;
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During the morning asana class, there are many organiser came to assist (I think it is part of their course), but I think sometime they actually disturb the class; some of them just do nothing. They did give wrong info sometimes!!!
The daily schedule:
5-7am ? Asana/Pranayama/Meditation/Kriya (weekly)
7-8am ? Seva (Normally finish in half an hour)
8-8:45am-Praying
8:45am-Breakfast then rest
11am-1:15 pm-Lectures
1:15pm-Lunch then rest
3pm-5pm-Lecture
6pm-7pm-Praying
7pm-8pm-Vivekananda? story
8pm-Dinner
8:45pm-9:30-Game/Trataka
I hope this is helpful for those who are thinking of going there for courses. Also hope that this could bring some improvement to the University.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti