Andrew Huse / Assistant Photo Editor

Last year, I was your average San Diego State student. I lived in an apartment close to campus, I went to school, I went to work and didn’t think much of my everyday routine.

Then, last summer, my life changed – drastically.

I packed my bags and jetted off to live and work in London.

I’m not exactly sure what fueled me to take the College of Extended Studies up on its offer of a summer internship in the legendary city. All I know is that I was not prepared for the challenge of living abroad and the lifelong benefits that I would receive from the experience.

Joseph Shapiro, dean of the College of Extended Studies, explained that my experience in London is the very reason why the Travel Study program was created.

Travel Study takes groups of eligible SDSU students abroad, unlike the Study Abroad Office, which focuses on individual study. However, the two offices work together to make sure the student is able to get the most out of the experience.

“Studying abroad is fun and challenging,” Shapiro said. “Most of all, it is eye opening.

“It is a chance to understand and appreciate cultural differences. The differences are not better, nor are they worse, they are just different.”

Shapiro’s statements mirrored my cultural experience while living in London. Before I dove head first into living abroad, I perceived the world as one-dimensional.

After going to London, I understand the differences between cultures, and more importantly, accept that different ways of doing things, no matter how minute they may seem, are merely just different. This is an important concept in becoming an adult and a member of the global community.

“Going abroad is crucial to where the world is going to be,” Shapiro said. “The world is not getting larger. It is getting smaller.”

With all of the media options today, an international experience is extremely accessible. In an instant, you can e-mail someone in China or you can watch a TV show from Germany.

Being able to appreciate other cultures for what they are is an important part of the international study experience.

“We all have problems in our everyday lives,” Shapiro said. “It is interesting to see how different cultures are making the best out of their world.”

Studying abroad is not only about making connections to an international city and its culture, it’s also about creating relationships with the people who are experiencing the journey with you.

Every year, 300 to 400 students choose to study abroad using the College of Extended Studies Travel Study program. It’s these students who help boost SDSU to the second highest university that sends students abroad. However, the college is hoping to move to number one.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 15, the College of Extended Studies is having a “Gateway to the World” fair to help introduce students to the idea of studying abroad. The fair is located at Gateway Center and will involve dancing and free food from countries around the globe.

-For more information, contact Kevin Carter at travel.program@sdsu.edu.

-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.