Ash cloud grounds Md. students

Think of it as an extended study abroad.

Twenty-eight Mount St. Mary's University students and their economics professor have been stuck in Italy because of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. They are faring well -- except for the missing underwear.

Karl Einolf, an associate professor of finance and economics at Mount St. Mary's has been chronicling the group's adventures via his blog.

One particularly entertaining entry: One student threw away all his undershirts, underwear and socks to get his suitcase under the weight limit for their original flight, which was canceled. Others are running out of disposable contact lenses.

As of Wednesday, the students were scheduled to leave Italy next Tuesday.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.