Before coming to South Korea, I had almost no experience using public transport. I grew up in a small village in Austria, where most people use a car to get around. There are only a few buses every day, so I never really needed to use public transport. Because of that, I was not very confident using trains or subways in big cities.

When I arrived in Seoul, I continued doing what I was used to. Whenever I wanted to visit a new place, I usually took a taxi because it seemed easier. I knew that Seoul has a great public transport system, but when I looked at the subway map for the first time, I was completely overwhelmed. There were so many different lines and stations that I did not know where to start. I was afraid of taking the wrong train or getting lost. After a few weeks, I realised that taking taxis all the time was quite expensive. I also noticed that almost everyone around me was using the subway or the bus. One day, I decided that it was finally time to try it myself.

To my surprise, everything was much easier than I expected. The stations were easy to understand, many signs were also written in English, and the trains arrived every few minutes. My first trip went much better than I had imagined. I realised that the problem was not the public transport system – it was my own fear of trying something new.

From that day on, I started using public transport more often. Every week, I became more confident. Soon, it became normal to check the subway app, change between different lines, and travel across the city without thinking too much about it. I also realised how amazing Seoul's transport system really is. It is fast, clean, affordable, and you can reach almost every place in the city by subway or bus.

This experience taught me an important lesson about intercultural learning. At the beginning, I saw Seoul's public transport as something unfamiliar and difficult. Over time, it became part of my everyday life. The system itself did not change, but my attitude did. I simply needed the courage to try it once. After that, every trip became easier.

Looking back, using public transport became more than just a way to get around Seoul. It became a symbol of my exchange semester. It reminded me that many things seem difficult only because they are unfamiliar. Once we give them a chance, they can quickly become part of our daily lives. I think this is one of the most valuable lessons I will take home from my time in South Korea.