Korean Job Discussion Forums

[driftingfocus]

Does anyone here still have their original packing list?

I'm leaving in a week or so, and starting to get my stuff together, and I'm hoping to see what other people brought.

If you don't have the list, I'd just love some advice on what to bring/not to bring, things you wish you had brought/wish you hadn't, etc. An estimate on item quantities (like, how many pairs of pants, etc) would be an awesome bonus.

I've moved many, many times in my life, but never in circumstances like these, so I just want to make sure my hunches are in the ballpark.

If it makes any difference, I'm going to be in a rural area.

[spliff]

Ask your mommy to help.

[nolegirl]

From what I have seen you should bring deoderant, specific kind of make-up (if female), feminine products (if female). Rural areas scare me!!! I dunno, that is why I am going to be living close to Costco... I can get a 3 month supply of TP and Jump boxes of Tampons!!! Yeah!!!

[driftingfocus]

[crazy_arcade]

It depends how far you are from Seoul.

I can remember all the useless stuff I packed my first time coming here....I actually had hot chocolate and instant coffee in my bag.....

Deodorant and western toothpaste for sure.

Good whole bean coffee if you're a coffee drinker.

Most spices and seasonings are available in the major cities but I still bring some specific things like taco seasoning.

[driftingfocus]

[Mr. Pink]

When I first came to Korea I brought way too many winter clothing items and not enough summer clothing items.

The winters here aren't really that long and cold compared to some areas of USA/Canada.

The summers however, are hot and humid. Having a good supply of short sleeve shirts is important.

Also, don't worry about bringing winter boots.

I find Korean underwear sucks compared to what I am used to using from my home country. So I suggest you bring plenty of underwear. Socks also.

Deodorant as someone said. It is hard as hell to get that stuff here as Koreans do not use it. Count on 1 stick lasting roughly two months.

You can get dress shirts and pants made in Korea for much cheaper than you can buy them off the rack in USA/Canada. You might want to consider that option.

I never made a packing list any of the times I have come to Korea or gone from Korea to my home country and back. So I had a little chuckle at the thought that people make lists and keep them saved or something. Use common sense and pack what you think you will need. If you forget something and you cannot buy it in Korea, buy it online and have it shipped to Korea.

[Chris_Dixon]

things i would bring, Some home spices for making burritos, nachoes or just adding to chicken. Lots of western toothpaste, a few chocolate bars for when your craving home food. Lots of deoderant sticks.

hmmm cant think of much. Im going to go home for a month in Nov, prob will just bring a suitcase of western food back lol.

[nate1983]

A bottle of this for Koreans to try when they say "Westerners can't eat spicy food":



Then watch them spend the next 15 minutes downing a gallon of cold water .

[driftingfocus]

[yingwenlaoshi]

[yingwenlaoshi]

When I first came to Asia (Taiwan), I brought my ties with me. My friend that was already there laughed at me.

Now I wear ties for some stupid reason. Because it's an after-school program in a public school.

I'm dressing down more and more these days.

I miss working at a hagwon...

[AliNZ]

I don't know if you are male or female..

so I'll share from my experience, as a woman and myabe you or someone else will find it helpful...

Clothing:
If you are bigger than a size 10 or 12... bring clothes...I am a small size 14 and know in Korea as an EXTRA LARGEE... it gets depressing but there it is...

bras - being a 36B has me in the HUGEE breast size!!! I wear size 12 and 14 NZ sizes and feel quite respectable with size etc. but in Korea I'm an oddity to the locals.

So bras... don't expect to be able to always get what you want - and they will probably be rather expensive if you can...

Knickers ... never found any cheap enough or anything I would wear there

T-Shirts/Shirts and even jeans and a winter jacket I got in Korea were all from the mens department and I am 5ft 2" and have curves!


Shoes - easy for me - I have small feet - but again - not necessarily the sizes I would wear.

Toiletries:
Deodorant - they don't seem to use it and when you can find it, it's expensive.
Tampons - apparently many bring them
Medications - if you can bring yoru script ones in their original boxes with label and photocopy of your script it will be easier next time
Pharmacies in Korea a re great - so no problem there. ...other than tha language ...but yo'll find ways around that.

Make-up - it's everywhere in Korea - but can be pricey - more expensive thatn I buy in New Zealand.

Bring 2 sheets and at least one decent sized bath towel. You won't necesssarily find those.

Where are you going? Rural is good - I like it! But can be a loittle backward - but the transport system is good and you'll soon learn how to get out and about to a bigger city for stuff you may need.

School supplies
I always arrive with plenty of things - things I'll use in the classroom, from pens, crayons, felt pens, pencils etc. but these are readily available in Korea - just seem cheaper here in NZ

I prepare quite a few of my own teachin g resources , so I have a disk with plenty of ESL lessons and extras on so I can hit the ground running when I get there.

Gift
Gifts for your hagwan director and maybe his family and children...it's considered nice and good to get off on a good foot. Each time I have bought a video of my country, pictorial calendars, or a nice book about NZ. Think touristy.

I also take a few cheap things to use for prizes and rewards in class - pens with NZ on, or pencils or note paper or something.

I am returning shortly for the 4th time and this time have decided no rewards like sweets etc in the class but I usually do a Friday Quiz day with each class and like to present something - this time, I think it will be Aware or Certificates I've made on Publisher, or found online.

A tape of singing is good too... I gave one directors wife a NZ Maori concert...she loved it and I didna't know how involved she was in music till i got there.

But tapes or dvds for use the classroom are great too..
from singing hte alphabet, to the weheels on the bus for the littles type things if you kindy...
Teens like the pop songs - so get something that is easy to sing and you can prepare a whole lesson around one song - they love it. But again - music is cheap in Korea.

I am arriving soon and decided I'll only bring a few winter clothes and supplement that when I get htere.

But then I like to travel like...make it easy for yourself.

[driftingfocus]

[yingwenlaoshi]