Michala Ervin said she felt intimidated about being away from her family, and being in an unfamiliar country.

She left her friends, her boyfriend and her life as she knew it behind to experience what she said to be life changing.

She stayed with a native Costa Rica family while pursuing a Spanish minor through the Study Abroad program.

“My family greeted me with open arms,” she said.

As time passed, the unfamiliarity transformed into comfort and quickly Costa Rica became her new home. When it was time for her to come back to Illinois, she felt hesitant, just as she did before she got on the plane to Costa Rica.

The Office of International Programs put on a study abroad, “myth or fact” informational session, which attempted to answer all the difficult questions students may have had about traveling and studying abroad.

Three hundred Eastern students took advantage of the program in the 2006-2007 school year. The staff at the Study Abroad Office is trying to put to rest the myths about studying abroad.

The majority of college students are burdened with rent, bills, and/or student loans, and the last expense that many would be capable of paying is a three-month trip to another country.

But the presenters, Study Abroad Coordinator Farhan Aziz, history graduate assistant Michelle Lashley and peer adviser Ervin addressed the many options available to students to travel abroad.

“Eastern fosters affordable quality international academic opportunity,” Lashley said.

Scholarships and loans are available to students, and the majority of scholarships are between $500 and $1000.

All three presenters had a personal connection with the Study Abroad program and gave a credible presentation explaining all the doors that can be open.

Ervin spoke about her experience in Costa Rica and what it was like studying in a country, which at the beginning she hardly knew the language. She was knowledgeable regarding the variety of reasons that hold students back from taking the leap out of their “comfort bubble.”

Aziz, who has been a part of the Study Abroad program at Eastern for about six months, said how traveling abroad would make a student more of an asset to employers.

“You need to set yourself apart form others applying for the same position,” Aziz said. “You need a wow factor on your resume.”

Aziz added employers are not just looking for a good grade point average – they want self-sufficient, well educated employees that can communicate on an international level.

The presentation included safety advice, and how to stay away from dangerous situations that may arise. The focal point being, that student should not steer away from studying abroad, because of fears of being in another country. Students need to take the same precautions as they would here in the United States.

“If you are not going to walk the streets alone in Atlanta, then why would you in South Africa?” Aziz said.

All three panelists said a student would gain much more life experience by traveling abroad.

What separates this program from taking a vacationis that a student becomes a resident of the country, which a student can visit, rather being just a tourist, which is perpetual experience, the three panelists said.

Nicole Pauga can be reached at 581-7945 or nmpauga@eiu.edu.