Goodbye Korea

A Chapter Filled with Memories

It is unfortunately over. I am currently sitting at the airport in South Korea, waiting for my flight to Frankfurt. It is incredibly difficult to process everything, because even within such a short period of time, I experienced so much. You arrive alone in a completely new country and leave four months later with tears in your eyes but above all, with a heart full of gratitude.

I never expected to build so many close friendships here. And now, from one day to the next, you suddenly do not see each other anymore. You arrive faster than expected and realize that it is especially the people around you who turn a foreign city into a home in such a short time.

Daejeon was the perfect place for me to study. The city is known among Koreans as the “most boring major city in the country", but to me it felt very authentic and genuinely Korean. Very few residents speak English, which was challenging at first, but manageable with translation tools. At the same time, its geographic location is ideal, allowing us before receiving our Residence Card to explore the entire country via its excellent rail network. For hikers, there are beautiful mountains nearby, and in general you experience much more everyday life here than in Seoul or Busan, which I personally found very interesting.

I was also able to take a lot away from my studies. Overall, the system is much more school-like than in Germany. Smaller classes with a maximum of 25 students, a very interactive teaching style, and lecturers who genuinely aim to prepare students for working life. Of course, not everything was perfect, and there were aspects I prefer in the German system, but precisely because of that, it was extremely valuable to experience both perspectives. I also found it particularly fascinating to see how international SolBridge is and how naturally cultural exchange is lived there.

A personal highlight was the university’s annual “Culture Day”, where this year we had the opportunity to represent Germany through a dance performance after three years, which was a lot of fun. Fifteen other countries also performed, and the atmosphere was amazing.

Not only academically, but also in everyday life, I developed a great deal. Through university and especially through constant exchange with friends from all over the world, my English improved significantly. This was one of my main reasons for studying abroad, as I was very insecure during school. Now I do not even notice which language I am speaking anymore, which makes me incredibly happy, as it will be extremely helpful in my future studies and career.

The friendships formed here are truly unique, and plans for future meet-ups are already in progress. It still feels surreal that before this experience I had never even left Europe, and now I have been able to visit six Asian countries in just four months. What a privilege, and I am deeply grateful for all these experiences, insights, and perspectives.

Looking back, my semester abroad was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am glad I took it. I have grown tremendously as a person during these months. I have become more independent, more confident, more open, and more interested in other cultures and life stories. I can even imagine working abroad in the future. My perspective on studying and living abroad has completely changed in the best possible way.

In conclusion, I can highly recommend a semester abroad in South Korea to anyone who is open to new cultural experiences, interested in international exchange, and willing to step outside their comfort zone.