The life-changing experience of studying abroad

What would you do if you had no obligations, no ambitions to chase, and unlimited money? Personally, I’d set out to explore the world, discovering every corner of it. There’s nothing more fascinating to me than meeting new people and experiencing new places. But it wasn’t always like this. Today, I want to reflect on my semester abroad in Taiwan ‒ the moment that sparked my wanderlust and changed who I am. And if you’ve never quite found the courage to take that step yourself, I hope this inspires you to go live abroad for a while. It will change your life!

💎 How It Shapes You

Without a doubt, the five months I spent studying at National Taiwan University had the biggest impact on who I am today. It was the first time I ever lived outside of Germany. While I had the privilege of traveling quite a bit during my childhood, living abroad is something entirely different. When choosing the destination for my exchange semester, I thought: “Sure, the US would be great ‒ but if you’re going to do this, why not go somewhere that will push you completely out of your comfort zone?” So I went to Taiwan ‒ halfway across the world. I didn’t know anyone, I had never been to Asia, and I knew nothing about the culture or the language. It turned out to be the best decision of my life.

I arrived after 13 hours in a cramped airplane seat, exhausted, and the reality hit me immediately. I was completely alone and had to somehow make my way to my new apartment ‒ with nothing but an address written in Mandarin. Fortunately, airports have cab drivers who are experts at helping clueless newcomers like me (and occasionally overcharging them), so I took the easy and expensive way out. When I finally arrived at the dorm, I ran into a few other international students checking in, and together we quickly realized that if we wanted to be able to stand up the next morning, we’d need to find better mattresses. From there, it was one small challenge after another. But those first days of navigating a completely foreign country felt magical. It was a truly liberating experience.

Months later, after settling in, adapting to local customs, and becoming something of a professional Taiwanese in daily life, I could feel how much I had changed. I became more open and optimistic about new experiences, more confident in my ability to handle the unknown, and more emotionally grounded. The moment I fully realized this shift was on my flight back to Germany. The plane was nearly empty. A Taiwanese man sat in front of me, when a German passenger with a thick accent approached and rudely insisted he move, claiming he was in the wrong seat ‒ despite dozens of empty rows. I sat there thinking: “Here we go again ‒ back to the toxic culture of the country I was born in.”

Returning home was, ironically, a bigger culture shock than arriving in Taiwan. It felt like stepping back into a life I had just begun to outgrow.

❤️ The People You Meet

When I arrived in Taiwan, I assumed I wouldn’t be speaking a word of German for the next five months. I was proven wrong within minutes. Of course, the first person I met at my student dorm was a massive German rugby player ‒ a guy I’d end up forming a hilarious friendship with. In that moment, I learned a simple truth: no matter how far you travel, you’ll always run into a fellow German. I quietly promised myself to keep some distance ‒ if I wanted to hang out with Germans, I could’ve stayed in Germany.

Soon after, I started meeting people from all over the world, many of whom became lifelong friends. The beauty of studying abroad is that you barely have to try ‒ everyone is just as lost as you and desperate for connection. Meeting locals takes a little more initiative, but once you break the ice, they’re warm and welcoming. What I appreciated most, though, was being far away from my usual “business bubble.” Back at the University of Mannheim, everyone ‒ including me ‒ was more or less the same: ambitious, overworked, career-focused. At NTU, people came from completely different worlds, with different goals, stories, and perspectives. They were just more interesting.

And still, without even looking for it, I ended up becoming close friends with “business people” who now work on Wall Street or study at Harvard. The more open you are, the more life surprises you in the most unexpected ways.

💭 How It Changes Your Views

Alexander von Humboldt once said, “The most dangerous worldviews are the worldviews of those who have never viewed the world.” (it’s probably misattributed, but let’s be honest ‒ it’s a great quote either way) And I’m inclined to agree. I’ve always been a very opinionated person, and I don’t believe you need to see something with your own eyes to form an opinion. But if you do, your opinions become broader, more informed, and far more grounded. You also become a more interesting person to talk to ‒ someone with stories, perspectives, and experiences that go beyond the usual.

Living in a completely different culture, navigating unfamiliar customs, and talking to people with radically different backgrounds made me question a lot of things I had previously accepted as universal truths. (Why are German stores closed on Sundays? 😉) Just seeing how other societies approach the same challenges in entirely different ways can be incredibly eye-opening. What used to feel black and white suddenly becomes a blur of nuanced greys. And I genuinely believe that’s a good thing. It makes you reflect more deeply ‒ and appreciate the things you’ve always taken for granted.

📝 Todays Key Takeaways

If you’re reading this thinking: “Damn, I missed the train” ‒ don’t worry. There are countless ways to live abroad. While I mostly talked about studying, you could just as easily work in another country, volunteer for an NGO, join a multi-month language program, or become an expat for a while. It'll be worth it!

And a quick piece of advice for all the overly ambitious students out there: when choosing where to go for your semester abroad, prioritize fun, free time, and the overall experience over reputation. In my experience, recruiters and professionals care far more about the stories you bring back than the name of the university you went to. After all, it’s just one semester. And if you can, try not to fill it with job interviews or endless side projects. Let yourself be free.