Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tman · Joined: 24 Sep 2007

Ok... My Korean ESL Teaching experience is about to begin - heading to Korea next week - some basic questions for anyone who may be inclined to answer:

1 - Do I need to bring slippers for my 11.5 size feet? I know I need a pair for work/home - so I assume at least two pairs there (or does the school give you a pair like at the bowling alley?). Do y'all carry a pair in your backpack for the restaurants, homes, temples you may encounter during your day? Or do western big feet just tiptoe around in size 8 loaners all day? This is seriously keeping me up at night. A wise man once said, the key to happiness is comfortable footwear.

2- Is the deodorant/towel/bed clothes/pillow thing as bad as it was a few years back (as the thread on "what to bring" indicates?). Or can I save the packing room for other things... like spare slippers, and coffee.

3- Is it worth shipping winter clothes from home over in a few months, or can you find affordable XL winter stuff in Korea (I'm in California... so finding winter clothes in Spring is a challenge.)

4- How easy/hard/expensive is it to get books in Korea? I have a collection of old friends that I hate to leave behind, but they must be boxed up. Just wondering how many I should bring with me, or can I scale it back, as literature is readily available in Korea (I'll be in/around Gwangju).

5- Same above, but replace books with DVD's. I'm bringing my laptop - US region.

6- I know I need a plug adapter, but how hard is it to find the gidget that deals with the current conversion from Korean to U.S.? (My technical knowledge is limited... my books are all fiction).

... Thanks, and any other advice you may have for a pack-rat in Cali, surrounded by years worth of acculmulated crap that he is trying to sift through and decide what he should put into 2 check ins and a carry on would be greatly appreciated.

... and if I do see you on the street, I will do my best to say hi:)
- Tman

bondjimbond · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Location: Seoul

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

you should bring a pillow and bedsheets. AND coffee.

as for deodorant, i've seen it pretty much everywhere on sale here (Olive Young, Lotte, E-Mart, Beautiplex), the brand Nivea mostly. so don't bother too much about it.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

smurfetta · Joined: 03 Oct 2007

1 - You can find 11.5 sized slip on sandals at shops such as Everlast or Converse. You just have to really look. Probably best to bring your own just in case.

2- Bring sheets, pillows, and deodorant. You can find deodorant here but you may not like the brand. I brought sheets and pillows with me and I am glad I did. You can buy pillows here but I find them uncomfortable. I know that you can get sheets here but I think you need to order them online. Flat sheets are hard to come by. Muji (Japanese shop) in Lotte mart at Seoul station sells nice bedding products if you decide not to bring some. They sell cotton fitted sheets and matching duvet covers instead of flat sheets. Their pillows are much better than the pillows I've found in Korean department stores. You can buy coffee here but it can be quite dear. Someone mentioned before on this forum that Costco sells good coffee at a reasonable price.

3- You will be able to get XL winter clothing here but you may have an issue with sleeve length. Korean men's shirts tend to be too short in the sleeve for western guys. So, I would bring a couple long sleeve dress shirts just in case. An outdoor shop called Black Yak sells men's clothing with western sleeve lengths. Although, I wouldn't call the place affordable.

4- There are a couple used English bookstore in Seoul. Plus, the chain style bookstores in Seoul usually have an English section. You can order new and used books from www.whatthebook.co.kr or visit their shop. I wouldn't bring bulky items like books with you. Save the room for your favourite food.

5- As someone else said- Yongsan for DVDs.

6- Not sure about this one. Sorry.

Tman · Joined: 24 Sep 2007

Thanks everyone!

saybanana · Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Location: LA

My advice is to bring things you already own and you like. and get the rest here.

I brought over my own pair of slippers : memory foam slippers (Sharper image).
I also brought over high thread count cotton sheets: From Target. (I have a twin bed now but have queen sheets. (dont know the prices here)
Also my memory foam pillow: Bed Bath Beyond. ( you can get similar ones here for about $30-40

If you have winter clothes bring those. They can get expensive here if you bought a whole new line ( I would buy 2 pairs of long johns from back home, and heavy socks from like Big 5)

I wouldnt bring any toiletries, unless you really need that brand, weight too much.

More and more they have a greater choice of coffee here. Black, Decaff, and those sugary sachets of hazelnut, vanilla, and mocha.

Books I dont bring anymore. Exchange books with friends.
DVDs I put them all to an ext hard drive.

Also if you are restricted on space or weight just pay for the extra baggage if its affordable. The stuff in that extra luggage will more than make up the price of having to buy all new things.

Binch Lover · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

Just so you don't get confused, when people say slippers, they don't mean slippers like the ones you wear around the home but rather flip flops. You can easily find size 11.5 flip flops in Korea. I found a pair of size 13s in a Nike store. Size 11.5 should not be too hard to find, in any style of footwear.