Korean Job Discussion Forums

[8minutepopsong]

how much is everyone taking or have taken? i'm trying to trim everything to 2 checked bags but it looks like i'm going to have to add a 3rd smaller carry-on suitcase AM I THE ONLY ONE? ;_;

[losing_touch]

I brought one and a carry on. I am leaving with two!

[8minutepopsong]

man, this freaking sucks. am i overpacking?

[oldtactics]

I brought two checked and one carry-on travel bag + a big purse.

I brought way too much stuff. Didn't need any of the shampoo or other toiletries, and I haven't worn at least a quarter of the clothes that I brought.

I'd recommend bringing a lot of office stuff and almost no casual stuff besides a couple pairs of pants. Even if you're overweight, you can get casual stuff basically anywhere here, for cheap - work clothes, not so much.

[prideofidaho]

I had two large suitcases and a carry on (coming from Canada). I packed wayyy too much.

A year isn't that long, and for the most part you should be able to buy what you didn't bring here.

Oh, and if you're a chick like me, they'll let you get away with a very big 'purse' so basically plan to bring two things carry on.

[losing_touch]

In reality, I brought too much stuff. I have a bunch of clothes that I pretty much never wear. I guess it comes down to the dress code where you will work. The dress code for me is extremely laid back. I show up to work in a t-shirt and shorts. I am encouraged to dress this way to contribute to a comfortable environment, so I have no need for khakis and polo shirts.

We will see how the packing goes this weekend. I will be packing up one of my two suitcases and seeing how that goes! In an ideal world, half of this crap will be packed. Packing is a terrible, terrible task.

[Clockout]

Yeah.

One large suitcase and carry-on is good.

I brought two large suitcases and I have a bunch of stuff I don't use/wear.

[iammac2002]

A duffel bag and suitcase checked in, and a backpack. Mostly winter coats, as it rarely snows in Africa! Wish I had brought heels!

[Kikomom]

Get yourself some space bags and be prepared to pay for overweight luggage. And pack some bedding. Take a set of sheets, at least a flat sheet to cover an average size mattress since you really won't know what you'll need till you get there. Zippy took his feather pillow, pillow cases, and even a down comforter--they flatten down pretty good in the space bags.

[8minutepopsong]

okok i'll try to trim it to one checked bag and one carry-on or two checked bags
buhhhh

[Forward Observer]

There is also a wealth of information in the 15 pages of threads here:


http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewforum.php?f=7

[furtakk]

I brought 2x23kg suitcases plus a carry on and one of my suitcases was overweight by about 10kg. I had to bring a lot of formal/business casual clothes because the place I work at has a pretty strict dress code and I also brought a shit ton of books, but I don't really feel like I brought too much.

Like someone else said though. Go easy on the 'casual' clothes. There's a lot of shopping here and you should be able to find stuff you like. Worst comes to worst you can always plan a shopping trip to Japan or Hong Kong .

[Kikomom]

Whatever you do, take a carry on with any valuables, important papers, a change of clothes, and some basic toiletries. Your laptop if you're taking one, can usually go in a separate carry on too. Do this just in case your luggage gets lost and doesn't get to you for a day or two--not too uncommon if you have a flight change or two. The airlines will deliver it if it doesn't get to your destination when you do.

Put the address to your school in your wallet, and their contact numbers too, in case you have to make a claim for lost luggage. That address should go on your luggage tags too. If someone isn't meeting you at the airport, that (written) address will help a taxi driver get you to where you need to be. Better yet, have your recruiter or someone from your school send it to you in hangal so you can print it off to carry with you.

And lastly, leave a copy of your school's address and phone number at home in case your family needs to contact you.

[bixlerscott]

Definitely bring 5 pairs of high quality pants and 2 pairs of high quality shoes. You'll also want high quality shirts. Coats and other Winter gear are available in Korea, but often tough to find until about 2 to 4 weeks after it's already turned cold. You can wear a coat on the plane to prevent packing it regardless of season and you'll probably be glad you did as plane rides get chilly willy sometimes downright cold often times. One time it got freezing cold with freezer fog coming out the luggage bins and air ducts for the 1st hour of a flight which just put us on ice like an hour on a polar ice cap. It does normally get uncomfortably chilly on 747's, so even if it's scorching hot humid August, wear your coat onto the plane.

You don't want the cheap Korean stuff which is worse than Wal-Mart's quality nor pay 2x to 3x more for Western brands designed for Asian fit and taste not to say that's bad, it's just different and probably doesn't best meet your need in what you have in mind nor worth the exorbitant cost to only half arse meet your need. Do youself a big favor; bring good shoes, clothing, and white Fruit of the Loom underwear. Forget bringing common food items as it can be bought in Seoul. No don't do something silly like I did 2 years ago: pack 10 cans of Libby's pumpkin and 5 cans of Bruce's yams along with cinnamon and brown sugar, because they can be had in Itaewon, Seoul. Forget packing 5 to 10 sticks of deodorant; just 1 as it can be had in Seoul. I do entertain the idea of freezing deer and wild caught fish in containers since it could easily last 25 to 30 hours in your luggage before thawing. You're technically not supposed to bring animal parts, fruits, vegetables, and plants, but packaged food seems to be OK. I got away with bringing in a big bag of limes from Thailand last February! LMAO! . If you like long grain wild rice, bring some. Mmmm deer jerkey...

Don't worry about what your shoes look like at work as you probably will only be wearing slippers at work, but do know you're going to be a walking/stair climbing/mountain hiking fool like me who's hard on shoes. This is not a 25 foot walk from the car to the door kind of lifestyle like many Americans do, it's a long walking journey. You'll see what I mean when you visit Seoul, but you'll be hoofing it wherever you go though more so in Seoul despite Seoul having much more public transportation. Shoes, shoes, shoes. I can't say it enough times. Good high quality shoes. Should you really need business style dress shoes, they're fairly inexpensive, but low quality. No need as you don't wear these due to taking off outdoor shoes for slippers upon entering schools and restaurants. Even a $100 pair of hiking shoes bought in Korea at Emart wore out in only 6 months for me just walking to work, 3 day hiking trips, and around a small town. Suckers fell apart and I was a desparate poor sucker fool for buying them. A $30 Payless pair from America lasted over a year of walking and threadmill workouts as well as many Seoul trips involving miles and miles of subterraneum tunnel walking and a bookoo load of stairclimbing. You haven't seen a staircase yet...

If you're leaving America, you're priveledged as you get to check on 2 bags weighing up to 44 pounds each, but if leaving another country, you only get 20KG or about 44 pounds total check on before having to pay more.

[Oreovictim]

If you still have time, just make a list of everything you've packed. We'll help you trim down.

Maybe you're bringing unnecessary items. Don't bother bringing school supplies, stationery stuff, candy for kids, your 20 favorite pairs of shoes, etc. Honestly, it doesn't sound like you're getting carried away. You have an average amount of baggage.

I brought two big suitcases, one small carry on, and my laptop. I have a special guitar that I won't be able to get in Korea, so I'm tempted to pay extra and have that checked in, too. Anyone have a general idea what the average cost of checking in a solid body strat with a hard shell case?