Despite the war in the gulf and the State Department's travel warning, two Penn State students would like to have stayed in Israel to finish their year at Tel Aviv University.

Amy Eckhardt (junior-biology) and Lee Lochbaum (junior-international politics) were enrolled in a yearlong program at Tel Aviv University through Penn State's Education Abroad program.

The Office of Education Abroad suspended the Tel Aviv program for the Spring Semester for students' safety, Michael Laubscher, director of the office, said. On Jan. 11, the American Embassy in Jerusalem advised Americans in Israel to return to the United States, Laubscher said.

"We follow State Department advice and policy," Laubscher said. "When they advise Americans to leave the country, it's a good idea that we get them out."

Eckhardt and Lochbaum, though aware of the travel advisory, did not know their program was suspended until they arrived home in December for the holiday break, Eckhardt said.

"I got off the plane and my mom told me that we weren't going back," Lochbaum said.

The program was suspended in time for the students to register for classes at University Park, Laubscher said. The students lost no tuition money, nor did the University lose money by halting the program, he added.

Only the study abroad programs in Tel Aviv and Cairo, Egypt, have been suspended, Laubscher said. These programs will resume when the University and the State Department deem it safe for Americans to travel to the Middle East, he said.

About half of the foreign students at Tel Aviv left when Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, Eckhardt said. But Eckhardt believes Israelis looked down on those who "ran away."

"It was almost like they expected us to be afraid and were waiting for us to leave," she said. "Those of us who stayed were respected, because we were the survivors."

Eckhardt and Lochbaum said they felt secure in Tel Aviv. Their everyday activities continued normally, including trips to the beach and hiking, in addition to classes, Lochbaum said.

"I was more worried about my classes than a war," said Lochbaum.

The study abroad students' families and friends seemed more concerned for the students than they were for themselves, Lochbaum said.

"I got letters that made it seem like I was already dead and they should start mourning now," Lochbaum said. "I felt horrible that they were so worried, but I can't live in a closet," she added.

As soon as they are allowed, both students intend to return to Tel Aviv, they said.

"It was home for five months and we left without knowing we weren't coming back, so we didn't even get to say good-bye," Eckhardt said. "I feel like I left a part of myself there."