Aashish Lakhani cannot afford to make the trip across the ocean to his home in Kenya for spring break. Instead, he and a group of friends opted to drive to the eastern Smokey Mountains to conserve money and have a good time.

This is the first time I’ve been there, said Lakhani, a freshman in computer science. I want to see a new part of the United States and experience nature.

Unlike most American students who can choose to either visit their families at home or make exotic spring break plans, many international students do not have both of those options. Many are not able to return to their homes because of the expense. Traveling across the United States to see the sights can be a better alternative than remaining near campus.

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But even when traveling, homesickness can engulf international students.

Missing home is the worst part of being here, Lakhani said. It gets very sad when I start to think about it.

Exploring the county is one thing international students do not have the time to do when school is in session. Breaks provide a rare chance for international students to travel.

Kittipong Supornipradit, a graduate student in economics from Thailand, is visiting friends in Chicago.

You get to see something different from what is here in this town, he said. Everything here is totally different from the way things are in my country.

For Supornipradit, a visit to Chicago will be something he can brag about later.

We have tickets to see a Bulls game, he said. I’m really excited that I will be able to see Jordan and Pippen play basketball.

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Carla Coppi, associate director of International Student and Scholars, said spring break is the most popular time for international students to travel in the United States.

International students go everywhere anywhere from Disney World to Texas to Cancun, she said. They use it as a chance to experience the United States away from campus.

But not all international students are able to pack their bags and fly off to new destinations.

Mildred Magut, a graduate student in agriculture business from Kenya, has not been able to return home since she arrived in the Untied States two years ago.

I can’t afford all the money it would cost to buy the plane ticket, the money I’d spend there, plus coming back and facing these bills, she said.

Magut passes her time watching movies of her homeland with friends who also remain in Carbondale. But even though they are together, loneliness can consume them.

We go out together and talk about home a lot, she said. Sometimes we even cry together.

The worst part of break for international students can occur once Carbondale becomes a ghost town. It is hard for them to watch other students embark for their journeys and then happily return home.

You get so lonely and homesick. Carbondale is empty, Magut said. When you see people getting on the train with suitcases, it just makes the loneliness worse.