Stephen Finlayson / Staff Photographer

For students who think San Diego State isn’t far enough from home, they may choose a tour of the Mediterranean Sea before walking by the campus Mediterranean Garden. Those who feel the urge to study abroad have many places to choose from, but with so many options, it can be difficult to pinpoint the ideal destination. Sure, London, Paris and Barcelona are interesting places to experience, but there is a broad range of other countries that can provide just as much of a rewarding educational and cultural experience.

The SDSU Study Abroad program offers 52 places to choose from, but students should find their “niche;” a program that can accommodate their major requirements as well as a place to satisfy their inner adventurer.

“Part of it is niche because we have programs for specific majors, but there are places that fit a lot of students’ needs; it’s just that people are unaware of them or haven’t thought about those places,” Lynn Eddy-Zambrano, an SDSU exchange and education abroad adviser, said.

Students at SDSU are encouraged to look at all of their options before making their final decision.

“Students think they know, but we open their eyes to new possibilities,” Eddy-Zambrano said.

Non-traditional destinations such as South Korea, Latin America and Botswana are some of those new possibilities because they cost less and their programs are not as competitive, Education Abroad Adviser Adrienne Fusek said.

Students looking to immerse themselves in Asian culture might enjoy taking a plunge into South Korea. SDSU has two exchange programs located in Seoul, and both programs focus on small classrooms and providing individual student attention, Fusek said. Housing is free, and depending on the program selected, students could also receive a stipend for teaching English classes.

For students weary of traveling to a place where they have to speak another language, Hong Kong and Singapore are also niche destinations that allow students to take all of their classes in English.

“Singapore is very friendly to U.S. students with only one language,” Eddy-Zambrano said.

Singapore-bound students would study at Nanyang Technological University, one of the top universities in the Asia Pacific region that boasts state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms.

Technologically advanced cultural experiences can be found in Latin American countries as well.

“Culturally, students come back so enriched; there’s a lot of really interesting history and cross-influence in Latin America,” Eddy-Zambrano said.

Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Costa Rica are just a few among many Latin American countries where students can participate in the culture that surrounds their learning environment. Both Latin America and Spain offer homestay programs where students can live with families and attend classes in order to experience the country’s culture firsthand.

“There is a misconception that there isn’t enough freedom in the homestay program, but if you want an in-depth approach, this is the best,” Eddy-Zambrano said. “You’ll be living with families and see how they celebrate holidays.”

Whether living with a family or on their own, on campus with Americans or off campus with students from other countries, study abroad students are offered a variety of travel programs to accommodate them; all they have to do is choose a destination. Until all options have been exhausted and all nooks and crannies have been searched, keeping an open mind to new and exciting opportunities will help students find their “niche” abroad.

For more information, visit the SDSU Study Abroad website at sdsu.edu/studyabroad.