Lady Irwin Students at MSU, June 2007

The post-graduate short course, "American Family and Community Lifestyles" at Michigan State University is offered each year to Master's level students from Lady Irwin College (University of Delhi), New Delhi. The program is specially designed as a four week exposure to American culture, the issues faced by American children, youth and families, and programs designed to support them.

The 2007 Group of eleven students were hosted by Coordinator, Dr. Mary Andrews and Assistant Coordinator, Chandra Sproles. Dr. Meenakshi Mital accompanied the group from LIC. Also included in this picture is Meenal Rana, a PhD student in Family Ecology from Hisar. Meenal provided hospitality and support while the students were here.

Students visit the Andrews' residence early in the program and again toward the end.

A highlight of the program is week long internships with either local community agencies or county extension offices in out-state Michigan. To the left, students Tinny and Kanwalpreet are standing at the home of their host, Diane Blain from Mecosta County.

To the right, students Preeti Gulati and Supriya Sharma are seen with hosts Phil Durst and Pat Ecola from Oscoda County just having returned from a canoe trip on the famous AuSable River.

Alison and Conrad Heins hosted Kiran Chauan and Sunaina Batra in Grand Traverse County.

During the first weekend of June, the City of Lansing conducts a special openhouse for all the tourist venues in the city called "Be a Tourist in your own Hometown". Included are free bus passes for the day and free food at the Lansing City Market.

The LIC students enjoyed their first CATA bus rides and interactions with fellow "tourists". Of special interest was a visit to the State Natural History Museum below.

Visits to various community agencies are the focus of week three. Here students are learning about grocery shopping for fitness with Dr. Jenny Bond or learning about American Agriculture at the Don and Judy Fogle Farm .

But the primary focus of the program is academic. Below, Dr. Deborah Johnson, Chairperson of Family and Child Ecology welcomes the group.

Also pictured to the right are students poising in front of a bike rack on-campus, in the Human Ecology Lounge and in front of the building.

A special event was a weekend trip to Niagara Falls. Students are getting wet, but enjoying this spectacular sight!

Miscellaneous images....