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ramen209
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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 Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject: What to pack for Korea: spices/coffee/sheets etc. |
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Ok, so I've seen it on other threads from a few years back, but just asking for any advice on what is difficult to find NOW in more urban areas of Korea.
We have heard that sheets are expensive, chili powder is difficult to find/expensive... what about coffee? please give any verification on this and/or other items that you would pack with you when moving to Korea. Thanks! |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Coffee is heavy. Buy it from Costco. Sheets are a must as the ones here are shoddy quality or not sheets at all. The foreign food marts seem to sell a lot of things nowadays. |
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Straphanger
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: What to pack for Korea: spices/coffee/sheets etc. |
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| ramen209 wrote: |
Ok, so I've seen it on other threads from a few years back, but just asking for any advice on what is difficult to find NOW in more urban areas of Korea.
We have heard that sheets are expensive, chili powder is difficult to find/expensive... what about coffee? please give any verification on this and/or other items that you would pack with you when moving to Korea. Thanks! |
You spend a third of your life sleeping. For the love of god, please do yourself a favor and do it on your own sheets, from home.
Spices - some are hard to find, some are impossible, even with full access to the commissary. Don't pack them in a suitcase though, you won't need them your first day. Ship them to your school or hakwon and they'll be there soon. |
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blade
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I just noticed recently that Homeplus has started stocking 200 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. |
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mmstyle
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: wherever
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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Bring sheets if you are unwilling to pay for shipping, or do not know what size to bring. I agree with others, they can be hard to find. You can get them at Muji, though I was only able to find fitted sheets plus duvet covers and pillowcases. No top sheets. I brought them last time and would have done it this time if I had known what size to bring, but will have them shipped. Also, it depends on quality. I htinkt he quality is not very good, despite the high price you will pay.
Spices-depends on what you use. I don't use any special chili spices, but I like taco seasoning. Would love to get my hands on fresh basil. Otherwise have been able to stock my cupboard with the basics, all dried.
Unless you want specialty coffee, I agree with others, just buy it here. Some of the biggest coffee snobs I have ever met (and I say this as a compliment) are Korean, and make some damn fine coffee. |
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NightSky
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| Xuanzang wrote: |
| Coffee is heavy. Buy it from Costco. Sheets are a must as the ones here are shoddy quality or not sheets at all. The foreign food marts seem to sell a lot of things nowadays. |
coffee is expensive. don't buy it from costco. you will pay three times the price you would back home. at least bring one big tub of it in your suitcase if decent tasting and decently priced coffee is important to you.
sheets are so not a must in comparison. why do people give such bad advice on this website? |
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wings
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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You can get chili powder everywhere, in giant bags, really cheap.
If you are a girl I would make sure to bring some long shirts. If you can see even a TINY bit of skin when you raise your arms or sit on the floor your students will freak out. Koreans wear ver short skirts but don't show their middrift, shoulders or any clevage at all. There are a lot of things I brought with me that I have never worn becuase they make me feel uncomfortable here. |
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oldtactics
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: What to pack for Korea: spices/coffee/sheets etc. |
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| ramen209 wrote: |
| We have heard that sheets are expensive, chili powder is difficult to find/expensive... what about coffee? please give any verification on this and/or other items that you would pack with you when moving to Korea. Thanks! |
I'd say sheets are a yes, at least one set.
There are about 4 billion independent and chain coffee shops in Korea and most of them have really excellent coffee that you can buy ground or as beans. Imported from basically every country that grows coffee. Coffeemakers are a bit pricey here but Starbucks sells a nice french press that I recommend.
Chili powder - the big stores (Emart, Homeplus) have spice sections and you can usually find chili powder or some equivalents, but if you want to bring a few packets from home, it wouldn't hurt.
And agreed about the last poster in regards to clothing - Each school is different but showing any sort of cleavage, knees, or upper arms is very rare at school, so keep that in mind when you're packing. |
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Mochi
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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| If you are going to be a teacher and you think you'll be preparing your own materials, you should bring a few water-based markers with the wide tips. The ones they have here are oil-based and messy. You can't get the water-based kind here at all. |
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refikaM
Joined: 06 May 2006
Location: Gangwondo
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject: what to bring... |
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| If you're picky about your sheets.. bring 'em.. Queen size is the best since the bed sizes are different here. Yes, you can get "chili powder" here.. But that's all it is.. It's not the mixture of chili, cumin, oregano, etc. that you get in a chili powder mixture in North America.. So, if you like to make chili, mexican style beans, etc.... bring some! I always stock up on spices/herbs on each yearly visit home... Go to a store that sells spices/herbs in bulk... MUCH much cheaper... Good luck!! |
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roadwork
Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Location: Goin' up the country
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Xuanzang wrote: |
| Coffee is heavy. Buy it from Costco. Sheets are a must as the ones here are shoddy quality or not sheets at all. The foreign food marts seem to sell a lot of things nowadays. |
Costco sells some nice cotton flannel sheets as well that come with both fitted and flat sheets and two pillowcases for about 20,000 won. |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| 1kg bags of coffee beans can be had at E-Mart / HomePlus from 20-23,000 won. You can pay a lot more for smaller packs. Costco coffee is sold in clear plastic bags, quite expensive and not that good. I didn't bring bedsheets or pillow cases with me, because of space and weight considerations, but I'm really glad my mum has sent me a decent supply. |
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JerBear
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| wings wrote: |
You can get chili powder everywhere, in giant bags, really cheap.
If you are a girl I would make sure to bring some long shirts. If you can see even a TINY bit of skin when you raise your arms or sit on the floor your students will freak out. Koreans wear ver short skirts but don't show their middrift, shoulders or any clevage at all. There are a lot of things I brought with me that I have never worn becuase they make me feel uncomfortable here. |
IMPORTANT NOTE: What most Americans think of as "Chili Powder" and what is sold in most Korean markets as "Chili Powder" are totally different things. If you cook often with American Chili Powder, you must bring it yourself or try your luck at the black market shops in Itaewon. One nice thing is that the ajuma that runs the Red Door either has it or can get it upon request. Best to print out and bring a picture of it for her in case she has to "order" it for you.
Personal Note: I speak from experience as I regularly get a craving for my mom's homemade chili beans which require copious amounts of American Chili Powder.
Personal Advice: Get thee to Walmart before you come over and buy thyself some McCormick's. |
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