Instead of sitting in Coleman Hall learning about English authors, Eastern students have the opprotunity to travel to England and visit their homeland.

The study abroad department located in 1207 Blair Hall held an informational Thursday afternoon for perspective students.

Kim Bunitz, Senior Political Science and Spanish major lead the informational as a peer advisor for the study abroad department and is primarily a spokesperson for Latin America and Spain.

“Senior year in high school I studied with the rotary program in Odense, Denmark, and with EIU I studied at the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina” Bunitz said. “I am now fluent in Spanish and developed my accent and vocabulary there”.

Eastern offers three different types of study abroad programs. One type is the the exchange program where students trade schools. Students tuition for the program is the same as their tuition for Eastern.

“This is an awesome benefit”, said Emily Bruseke, assistant coordinator for the study abroad department, “It locks in your tuition and if you receive financial aid or scholarships here, it applies there as well”.

In the one-way program students pay the over sea’s school tuition rather than Eastern’s. The third program is a faculty lead program and lead by Eastern faculty, which Kim Bunitz recommends if you are a perspective student yet skeptical of being over seas and of being homesick.

“You really get over your fears once you’re there, it all fades because it’s such a great experience”, said Bunitz. “This is also a good choice because you will be with familiar faces of peers as well as faculty”

The English department leads a trip to Harlaxton College in Grantham, England.

“I heard about it through the English department and from the posters on the walls. Many of my favorite authors are from London, which is what got me interested in studying there”, said Christen Smith, a freshman English major.

“I’d like to go to Europe, particularly Italy. I’ve been to Europe before and had such a great experience and would like to go back to have an experience somewhere else”, said special education major, Mackenzie Varek.

Varek also stated that she’s open to study anywhere in general to pick up the language and meet new people and to observe the architecture and tourist attractions.

When studying abroad, generally students stay at university housing such as dormitories, or on campus apartments, however the study abroad office will help you set up places to stay, even if you are interested in off campus housing.

Bruseke said, “You can choose wherever you want to go, it’s your personal choice. You just have to think about what’s most important for you personally, whether it’s location, and cost. “

Some of the most popular areas of choice, do tend to be Australia or the United Kingdom because there is no language barrier. Burnitz continued to state, said Bruseke.

“It is kind of sad though because it is a great benefit to learn another language,” said Bruseke.