She said they are able to come back and see the greatness of the United States, while seeing where things could be improved. Everyday there are new challenges, and there is a tremendous sense of empowerment knowing after the program is done, that you ve made it through these countries, you ve taken care of yourself and you ve done it well, Goldman said. Chris Vick, a former student, said the tour is still relevant in his everyday life. What I really learned through the ECHT is the context and roots of our society, Vick said. Those lessons appear in every facet of daily life, and because of them, I will continue to learn from my ECHT experience every day that I spend in our modern culture.
Students also can hope to gain an edge in the workplace.
Goldman said studying abroad can help students get ahead of the pack when preparing for a career in the global economy. Graduate schools also look favorably on students who study abroad because it shows their ability to succeed in a demanding environment, Goldman said. The tours also offer the chance for EMU students to interact with students from other American colleges, as the program is open to students at other schools. Dave Geherin, an English professor at Eastern who teaches on the European tour, said that because the students are together for much of the time, many friendships are formed. He also said that as a result of the closeness of the people on the tour, students want to do their course work.