Barb Dunlap returned from an MSU study abroad program 28 years ago, but she’s reliving the experience as her daughter prepares for her own.
The East Lansing resident graduated from MSU in 1975, a year after studying abroad in England.
“I absolutely loved the program,” she said. “The long weekends were great and after the program ended, I stayed in Europe for three weeks just traveling.”
Dunlap said her daughter, Kellie Dunlap, a physiology sophomore, is planning to go to the United Kingdom as well.
“I can’t believe the variety of offerings,” Barb Dunlap said. “I don’t know what else you could ask for.”
The second MSU Study Abroad Fair of the academic year was held on Wednesday.
Maria Thompson, an interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore, said she would love to study abroad - but she might need financial assistance.
Her first choice destinations for foreign study include Hawaii or Costa Rica, she said.
“Anything warm and tropical,” she said. “It really depends if I can get financial aid. I’d love to but I’m worried about the money.”
Inge Steglitz, assistant director of the Office of Study Abroad, said despite Wednesday’s dreary weather, the fair attracted more than 1,000 students, more than was expected. Last fall’s fair brought about 2,300 students.
“Students started arriving before it began,” she said.
John Schwartz, extension specialist in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, will lead MSU’s first study abroad to Belize.
The summer semester program, “Tropical Biodiversity and Environmental Management in Belize,” will balance its focus in the jungles as well as the countryside of Belize, Schwartz said.
“It’s a pretty neat place,” he said. “It will be a wonderful adventure but it’s not for the faint at heart.”
Psychology junior Nate Hillila said although some students and parents said they are concerned about going abroad after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, he is not.
“I’m not worried about it,” he said. “Maybe if I were going to a Middle Eastern country I would be, but I am interested in going to the Western European countries.”
Ken Williams, associate professor of political science, will be leading this summer’s program, “Political Science in England and Scotland” for the fourth time. Williams said he thinks enrollment in his program is down because of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
“I think enrollment is down in every program,” he said. “But I think it will go up next year. A lot of people are skeptical about going abroad.”
