Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Tym]

I realize that this question is posed all the time but it is my turn now.
I am a 24 year old male currently living in the states. I will be moving to Seoul after the first of the year to begin my ESL career and am beginning to accumulate supplies. What I have gathered from Dave's and other sites is that I need to bring deodorant and condoms; somehow I think there might be more. Ok so I'm 6 feet tall and around 150 pounds usually size 32 waist and small-medium shirts 16.5 by 35 for dress shirts; how hard is it to get clothes that fit? How many sets of clothes would one recommend bringing? I wear a size 11(US) in shoes, will I ever be able to find shoes? What is the weather like in Seoul? I am an avid cook and was curious if I need to bring spices with me, if I am able to cook at all. As for apartment living what would you guys recommend bringing that you had at home but cannot find in Korea? Are there any teaching supplies I should bring besides Scrabble? Did anyone get any shots before coming to Korea; typhoid, malaria, hepatitis series�? How hard is it to get contacts (lenses)? Well that is all for now but I�m sure I will have more questions later as departure time approaches. If anyone can provide any info I would be much obliged. Thanks

[Swiss James]

you're pretty much the same height and weight as me- and will have no problems buying clothes.
Shoes *might* be a bit more of a problem- I'm only a US 10 and occasionally the range won't go up to my enormous canoes ( )

Bring spices you're used to cooking with- you can get chilli powder, garlic, mustard, lemons and ginger everywhere. Other stuff takes a bit more tracking down.

Contact lenses? Just bring your prescription (rip the bit with all the numbers off the box you have right now)- you can buy them frigging everywhere- 8pm on Christmas day? No problem.

I didn't get any shots before I came here- but then you don't want to take that as a recommendation.

[RACETRAITOR]

[peppermint]

What you'll want to bring kind of depends on where you'll be. In Seoul, you can find lots of western stuff fairly easily, but away from a major center and/ or a military base, you might have more of a challenge.

Bring the spices that you're used to using, because even though you can find most here, they don't take up much room in a suitcase, and it will save you the headache of looking.

Contacts- available everywhere, unless you have astigmatism. Personally, I'd probably get the prescription and fitting done at home and then buy the contacts here.

[Hater Depot]

If you've got all your basic shots then you don't need anything else. My doctor worked in Korea for a decade and didn't have me get anything extra.

[denverdeath]

Wrt the shots, I guess it's up to you. I've talked with people who had nothing done before coming here other than what their pediatrician gave them when they were kids. I've talked with other people who had everything done. I just went with what the public health clinic's nurse said as my family doctor didn't have a clue. I got tetanus, diptheria, typhoid, Hep-A, Hep-B, and even a TB test. I think most were boosters. She also talked about Japanese encephalitis, but I didn't get it at the time(I think there might be between 0 and 3 deaths by this reported each year). If nothing else, I'd recommend at least getting the Hep-A and Hep-B done as the numbers for both are fairly high here when compared to NA. Hep-A for possibly tainted food or water or someone who's infected coughing in your face. Hep-B for if you run outta domes. I talked with an older fellow here who had Hep-B, which I think he got in Canada, and it sounds like something you really wouldn't want even if the treatments for it are better these days.

[ausloretta]

Awesome advice on the shots we need. thanks

Hey did anyone bring a laptop, PDA, IPod and other electronics stuff or is it best to buy that stuff once you're there?

[peppermint]

Computer parts are cheaper here I think, but electronics in general aren't. If you've got it and can't live without it, bring it.

[southboca]

Chances are you'll do a lot more walking here than at home. Only bring comfortable shoes. Tennis shoes in size 11 won't be a problem. If you want brand name, like Nike, they're expensive (approx. $60-150). If you're teaching business English, bring comfortable dress shoes. A comfortable pair is more difficult to find here.

First snowfall here was Dec. 1st this year. It's now Dec. 7th and the snow hasn't melted yet. Brrrr. For someone 6 ft., I'd recommend a couple pairs of long underwear. The stuff here seems to be tight and short. But what do I know, I'm from Florida. :)

From one cook to another -- BRING YOUR SPICES WITH YOU!!!! If they don't fit, mail yourself a care package. You probably won't have an oven, so bring lots of stovetop recipes with you, too. Or, if you want to splurge, pick up a countertop convection oven for approx $160 at the Costco here.

You probably won't need anything for the apartment that you can't find here. But, if you have any favorite medicines, you might want to stock up.
O.T.C. medicine is only sold in drugstores and they tend to close pretty early. You can easily pick up Tylenol and Ibuprophen in Seoul, but it's more expensive. For stuff like Theraflu, Nyquil, Benadryl, or Icy Hot, you'll probably need to hit a million little mom and pop shops in Itaewon and then pay a premium price. Who wants to do that when they're sick? I haven't been real impressed with Korean medicine.

The one thing I couldn't live without is my laptop. Other than that, teaching supplies are hard to guage until you meet the students and find out school policy. Some hagwons are anti-game. Unless you have favorites you can't live without, save the space in your suitcase. You'll probably end up making new materials anyway.

I got all the shots so my mom wouldn't worry. At $50 plus an hour off work for an exciting visit to the public health clinic, it didn't seem like a bad investment.

[The Tym]

Thanks for the info it is very helpful. I think I will by extra shoes and bring them with me.

[billybrobby]

I don't think you need to bring condoms. I never had any problems with the brands they sell in all the convenience stores. Some dudes might talk some tough guy sh*t about how they're too small, but they're lying because I got the biggest cock in the world.

Furthermore, I think some English teacher showing up with a big grin on his face and suitcase full of condoms is the last things anybody needs.

[RACETRAITOR]

[Swiss James]

you guys know that if you pay an extra 10,000 they don't make you wear a condom right?

[billybrobby]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agree about the condom issue. Bringing them over off the bat is overly optimistic. If you later get in a relationship you can always call your mom and ask her to send over what you need.