Studying abroad is often romanticized as an endless parade of new friends, exotic food, and weekend getaways. But what does it mean to leave the familiar behind and build a temporary life in a country where everything—from the street signs to the social norms—is different?

At the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, a group of exchange students from Denmark has spent the last few months navigating thisose very questions. In this article, we step away from the typical exchange student narrative and dive into their experiences through a different lens.

This is a candid look at the small victories, the unfiltered culture shocks, and the unexpected ways that travel quietly reshapes us.

Let’s start with you — if you had to introduce yourself without mentioning your name, country, or what you study, how would you describe yourself to a stranger at a late-night convenience store in Seoul?

Nicolai Dybro Sørensen, Aarhus University

I am an exchange student who has traveled to Korea for the experience of living and studying in a place that’s very different from what I’m used to.

Mathilde Lund Krebs, Aarhus University

Hello, I am visiting Korea as an exchange student. I love Korea, its diversity, food, nature, and people. I am a very open-minded and curious person, and I love exploring new countries - especially like this, where I have an opportunity to get to know the people, the culture, and not just the tourist attractions. So, thank you for having me :)

What was the most unexpected culture shock you experienced here in Korea, not necessarily a bad one, just something that made you stop and go, “Wait, what?”

Mathilde 

I went on a homestay and asked my friend what I could bring her parents - flowers, chocolate or something like that. “Toilet paper” was the answer. I thought she was joking when she told me, but apparently, that is a custom. Or the fact that Koreans put their cars in neutral gear when parking because then they can push the cars around in the parking lot.

Nicolai

How much age matters here. Because your age dictates a lot of social situations it will often be the second question Koreans ask you after your name. Because of the huge respect for elders here, your age becomes very important. Even if I am just one year older or younger than someone in Korean culture this would dictate my behavior in social contexts, how to speak to them, what I call them etc. To be honest I like the strong culture of respecting your elders, which is something we don’t practice to the same extent back home. I know that this might mean less and less for the new generations here, but it is still something you feel a lot. 

They say travel changes you — what’s one subtle way you think you’ve changed as a person since arriving at KDI School?

Nicolai 

I would say that I have already become more tolerant of people from different cultures than my own. The unique part of KDIS is how diverse the backgrounds of people are, so you are in a very nice way forced to get to know and work with people who in many ways are different from yourself. 

Mathilde 

Just getting to know myself better. Stripped off from the people who know you best, and in a new environment. I think I see myself differently, but it is clearer.

If you had to recommend KDI School to a friend back home, what’s the one class, professor, or experience you’d tell them they absolutely can’t miss?

Mathilde 

I found the POM class very interesting. But I guess it depends on what you are interested in, because the professors are all good in their fields.

Nicolai

To sign up for social experiences here whether that is field trips, sports day, different sports clubs, or student associations. This makes the school special as these are opportunities for you to get to know your fellow students well, also outside the classrooms. To me, being an exchange student, being here is more than just academics, it is also a social and cultural exchange to get to know people and the cultures of other places. A good and fun way to do this is to engage in some of the good opportunities provided by the school. 

Is there a Korean word, phrase, or expression you’ve picked up that you find yourself using even when you’re speaking Danish or English? What does it mean to you?

Nicolai 

The one that comes to mind is “진짜” which comes in different versions but in this version, of my understanding, means “Really?!”. When you sit in class and you hear Korean students talk to each other, even though you don’t understand much, you will always hear “진짜”. It has now become a way I try to get into a conversation with Koreans because there is a good chance that it might be fitting even though you don’t understand what is being talked about. 

Mathilde 

Unfortunately, not. But hopefully, I will catch up on the Korean slang.

We often talk about challenges when studying abroad, but what’s a small, quiet victory you’ve had here that no one else probably noticed — but meant a lot to you?

Mathilde 

Standing up for myself and voicing how I - in a specific situation - felt belittled.

Nicolai

Probably taking Korean classes and only now getting to a point where you, now and then, will be able to use it practically to a point where you are understood, e.g., when ordering in a restaurant.

Imagine you could send a single photo to your friends back in Denmark that perfectly captures your exchange experience. What would be in that photo?

Nicolai 

Me sitting in a Korean restaurant surrounded by some of my new friends and a table full of food, soju, and beer.

Mathilde 

Me, Nicolai, and Kalle went on a hike in Gyeongju. Here we met a middle-aged hiking club. They had a picnic and invited us to join. This would never happen in Denmark. Koreans are very friendly, welcoming and generous. This was also the experience I had when I went on a homestay. These are some of the highlights so far, and memories I hopefully won’t forget. It also made me realize how reserved Danes can be - so I hope that I will learn from the Koreans.

Exchange experiences aren’t just about ticking tourist spots off a checklist. They’re about the little things—the convenience store introductions, the inside jokes in mixed languages, and the fleeting yet meaningful connections made over late-night Korean BBQ.

For these Danish students, KDI School wasn’t just an academic destination, but a stage for personal reinvention, cultural curiosity, and a few unforgettable “wait, what?” moments. Perhaps that’s the true triumph of studying abroad: not just surviving the challenges, but finding yourself subtly, beautifully changed in ways no syllabus could prepare you for.