Two months into my semester abroad, I’m discovering that sometimes the experiences that challenge us most are the ones that help us grow.
For an entire year, I planned my study abroad experience in South Korea down to the smallest details. I imagined exploring new places, making friends from around the world, learning a new language, and becoming more independent. I was excited to experience a different culture and see what life would be like on the other side of the world.
But when the day finally came to say goodbye to my family and sit down at the airport, the reality of what I was about to do hit me all at once. I was about to board a flight that would take me more than 15 hours away from home, and suddenly, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong. What if I didn’t make friends? What if I struggled to adjust? What if the experience wasn’t what I had imagined?
I had spent an entire year looking forward to this opportunity, yet I was already homesick before I had even left.
The anxiety followed me onto the plane, and I spent the entire flight feeling sick. When I finally arrived in South Korea at four in the morning, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. After spending so much time planning for this experience, I wasn’t sure I was ready for it after all.
But I hadn’t come all this way to stay inside my dorm.
A friend from my university and I decided to head out and explore the city. Seoul was busy, full of people, and had something new to look at everywhere we turned. I was still anxious, but being out in the city helped take my mind off everything I had been worrying about. The more we explored, the more my curiosity began to outweigh my fear.
My first day wasn’t perfect. I was still tired, homesick, and adjusting to being so far away from home. But the next morning, I woke up excited. I was finally in South Korea, a place I had spent so long dreaming about visiting, and I was ready to see what the semester would bring.
One of the highlights of my first week was a group hike organized by a professor from the international office. I went to explore more of Seoul, but I also ended up meeting so many other international students. Everyone was welcoming, and conversations turned into friendships much faster than I had expected.
Reaching the top of the mountain and seeing Seoul stretch out in every direction was a moment that really put everything into perspective. I wasn’t just visiting a new country for a few days. I was living here, and I had an entire semester ahead of me to explore, learn, and experience everything this city had to offer.
That hike was only the beginning. As the weeks passed, I continued meeting people and building friendships. Now, I have close friends I spend time with almost every day, and I’ve built a life here that feels very different from the one I left behind.
Of course, adjusting to a new country has also meant stepping outside my comfort zone in smaller ways. Before arriving, I was worried about finding food I would enjoy because I’m a picky eater and don’t like spicy food. Since arriving, I’ve surprised myself by trying so many new dishes and discovering that I genuinely love a lot of them. Between exploring new neighborhoods, figuring out public transportation, and getting used to everyday life in Seoul, I’ve learned that some of the things I worry about beforehand turn out to be much easier, and sometimes more fun, than I expected.
But some of the biggest changes have had less to do with where I go and more to do with how I see myself.
In just two months, I’ve become more independent and confident in ways I didn’t anticipate. I’m learning to trust my own decisions, be comfortable doing things on my own, and stop worrying so much about whether everyone likes me. Instead of trying to make myself fit what I think other people want, I’m becoming more comfortable being myself.
I still have plenty to learn, and I’m figuring things out as I go. But I’m realizing that growth doesn’t necessarily happen in one big, life-changing moment. Sometimes, it happens gradually, through new experiences, unfamiliar situations, and the confidence that comes from realizing you can handle more than you thought.
In fact, I’ve already decided to extend my stay in South Korea for another semester.
One of the biggest reasons is the language. As much as I’ve loved exploring Seoul and experiencing Korean culture, I want to understand it on a deeper level. There have been moments when communicating with people has been difficult because of the language barrier, and those experiences have made me even more motivated to learn Korean. I want to be able to connect with people in their own language, participate more fully in the culture, and understand more of the world around me.
Two months ago, I was sitting at an airport worrying about whether I could handle living so far away from home. Now, I’m choosing to stay longer because I know there is still so much I want to learn and experience.
If there’s one thing this semester has taught me so far, it’s that being nervous doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue something. It’s normal to worry about the unknown, especially when you’re stepping into an entirely new environment. But sometimes, you have to give yourself the chance to find out what you’re capable of.
I came to South Korea excited to explore a new country, learn about a different culture, and become more independent. I didn’t expect to grow so much in just two months, and I certainly didn’t expect to be making plans to stay longer.
I’m still learning, still exploring, and still figuring things out. And with another semester ahead of me, I’m excited to see just how much more this experience has in store.
