“(On Tuesday), we (were) praying to make it home by (Wednesday) night, but (we are) not very optimistic,” La Torre wrote in an e-mail. “It’s pure chaos over here.”

Eyjafjallajökull, a volcano in Iceland, erupted April 14 and on April 15. A high pressure system forced the volcanic ash to spread over European skies, causing the closure of almost all airspace in northern Europe.

After two flight cancelations, La Torre said she and her travel mates considered a 2,500-euro cab ride — more than $3,000 U.S. dollars — to get back to France.

“We debated taking it because at that point, it was our only way out of the city,” she said.

Because the natural hazard does not create a direct safety risk for MSU students, the MSU Office of Study Abroad isn’t actively contacting students, said Julie Friend, an international analyst for travel health, safety and security for the MSU Office of Study Abroad and International Studies and Programs.

“In this case, while people are uncomfortable, they are generally warm and safe and dry,” she said. “There is not much we can do in this kind of natural circumstance.”

Final exams and the academic aspects of study abroad programs are controlled by the department or university hosting the program, so if an unforeseen event or natural hazard hinders academics, the department or university would deal with it, Friend said.

La Torre said the school she is enrolled at has been “helpful,” but she realizes there is very little they can do to help the situation.

Although airlines are beginning to fly again in Europe, Friend said the Office of Study Abroad is concerned about subsequent eruptions that could affect summer study abroad programs.

“Right now, it is settling down, but there is no guarantee that it won’t re-erupt,” she said. “That could affect the programs scheduled to leave in early May and June.”

MSU geological sciences professor Grahame Larson said the last time the volcano erupted in 1821, it erupted for about 13 months.

“The eruption could cause more problems,” he said. “The volcano that has erupted has erupted about two or three times within recent history, and Katla, another volcano nearby associated with another ice sheet, has often erupted soon after this particular volcano.”

Mathematics and Spanish junior Erica Shugart is studying in Valencia, Spain and is scheduled to return to the U.S. on May 7.

“I’m not too concerned. … As far as I know, everything is back on schedule again now,” she said in an e-mail. “Everything seems to be settling down now, so I’m confident everything will be fine in two weeks time.”

La Torre finally made it back to Lille on Thursday after 18 hours of train rides through Europe.

She said some airports and train stations still were chaotic.

“Milan was still a nightmare and required hours of standing in line,” she said. “But once we got our tickets, everything went smoothly. It helped that the first airports opened back up today.”