Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stormy]

Yes I have taken the search option but couldn't find anything specific on these items:

1. Public Schools - do you wear shoes inside when you teach? I'm trying to decide which work shoes to bring but have seen in other threads that sometimes one has to wear slippers inside the classroom. Is this the case for PSs too or is it a school-by-school thing? If so are we supposed to provide our own slippers?

2. Bedding - I've seen the bring your own sheets threads; what about quilts/doonas/eiderdowns etc? Worth bringing my own or easy to find decent ones in SK?

I'm going to be going rural in the west somewhere, so no "...in Seoul..." answers thanks!

[Donkey Beer]

It depends on the school. I would always wear my sandals when i worked at one school. In other schools i would wear boots and sneakers. You should ask your school if they have a dress code. Run if they do!

As for blankets, that also varies. Some schools had a clean room with a blanket and pillow waiting for me upon arrival. Other schools have had a dirty apartment that smelled and looked like an unwiped �sshole waiting for me upon arrival.

What you find upon your arrival will sum up what they think about you. Koreans are very superficial people and you will quickly find out if they liked the picture attached to your resume.

[nicholas_chiasson]

I can't find size 300 slippers so I always wear my shoes.

[OiGirl]

In my experience, shoes are not worn in the classroom in public schools. I always bring my own slippers because I don't want to wear the grotty public slippers.

I bought an AWESOME down comforter at Homeplus. I love this thing so much and sleep with it 9 months out of the year. Western-style sheets are easier to find these days, with a limited selection.

I really thought you were asking whether you could bring your blankie to school...and the answer is yes, you can and may need to bring a blankie to keep you warm at your desk during the winter.

[Darashii]

I haven't heard of any requirements for SLIPPERS, but they may prefer "indoor" shoes, i.e. footwear specifically worn only on "clean" surfaces. Those can be anything, as long as they're "clean".

I've actually taken to and gotten away with wearing my street shoes. In Japan, I was compelled more often because the floors were noticeably cleaner than the street, but in Korea I can't tell the difference, which makes it difficult for me to take them seriously. I look on the bottom of my Timberlands and they're sterile compared to the mud in the hallways. It's sad.

[sargx]

[Stormy]

Thanks for the info....I'm finding shoes the hardest thing to pack. I have big feet for a chick so will be bringing everything I need with me. Problem is I keep thinking "right I'll need work shoes, winter shoes, runners, something for hiking, thongs for summer"....now will have to add slippers or some sort of 'indoor shoe' to the mix!

I'm going to need a whole bag just for shoes at this stage. Man I hate packing.

Did other people bring heaps of bags to Korea with them? I've got a backpack & another bag about the same size. One minute I'm thinking I have too much, the next I look at it & it doesn't seem much for a year!

Also going to pack a work blankie while I'm at it, thanks for the tip OiGirl!

[mindmetoo]

See rather common for Korean men even to pad around in a suit and shower sandals.

[OiGirl]

Are you bringing lots of bags, as in luggage, or just spare bags? I have bought tons of tote bags, messenger bags, etc. in Korea, some of good quality.

I bring back 3 large duffels of clothes, toiletries, medications, and groceries every time I return to Korea from the US. You can certainly make do with less, but I know what I want to make myself comfortable.

[OiGirl]

I have seen people who has as their school shoes a pair of Birkenstocks or other sandals that have never been worn outside.

However, we also wear "indoors" shoes to walk on the sidewalks from the classroom building to the bathroom building and the cafeteria building. Yuck!

[Darashii]

I brought 4 suitcases of varying sizes. I'm not particularly big or small, but I like the clothes I already have, and one suitcase was pretty much only toiletries.