Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Oreovictim]

You'll have to excuse me. I have that song stuck in my head.

I'm leaving for Korea in about three weeks. After you were here for a while, did you say, "Why did I waste luggage space packing THIS? I could have just gotten it here!"

If so, what items? I'm trying to get an idea on stuff NOT to pack. (By the way, can you get Oreos in Korea? I'm serious.)

Thanks!

[casey's moon]

Yes, you can get oreos in Korea.

It's hard to say what you'll regret packing because it all depends on your neighbourhood, and how good you are at finding stuff. I wouldn't bring a lot of snack foods -- they've got plenty here, and many are things you'll recognise from home (like Oreos).

We can buy most things here now, but some are hard to find so for that reason, I'd go ahead and buy enough toiletries, etc. to last you for at least a few weeks or a month. By then you'll be better at getting around and finding everything.

First time you come here, expect to make some packing mistakes. I never quite get it right, and I've been home 7 times in 6 years of living here.

[gang ah jee]

"There's nothing ironic about being stuck in a traffic jam when you're late for something. Unless you're a town planner. If you were a town planner and you were on your way to a seminar of town planners at which you were giving a talk on how you solved the problem of traffic congestion in your area, couldn't get to it because you were stuck in a traffic jam, that'd be well ironic." - Ed Byrne.

I've got that shitty song stuck in my head now, so don't expect any help from me.

VVVVV I know, but it was fine on my monitor. Sometimes I forget that some people are using lower resolutions.

[casey's moon]

Hey 강아지...

Did you know that you can resize pictures on photobucket?

[okokok]

OP,

I think you are the most over-prepared person to ever come to Korea. Just relax man and wing it. It's not really that big of a deal. Stop worrying. Just come and climatize.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[gang ah jee]

[grainger]

Other than oreos what are you thinking. Give us a specific item and we'll give you a clear answer. Here are a few of the common items I've heard about.

Coffee: Very common here now. Koreans drink it cold, hot, and a few ways I've never seen anywhere else.

Tampons: (don't know it you're a woman but oh well) You can get them in almost any pharmacy and they're name brands you'll recognize.

Deodorant: Yes they have it.

Food: If you go to a cosco you can get a lot of western food, (granola bars, fajita seasoning, etc. ) but otherwise there's not a bad selection and you'll learn to love the Korean options. Fruit and veggies are seasonal. They lack the same consistent level of varity I'm used to in Canada but this is small town, maybe Seoul is different.

My current gripe is Hand Sanitizer, I'm a little relieved to find that it can be gotten but it's difficult if you're not in a major city.

Books and Movies: English material is fairly easy to get. You can't bring your movies from home unless you are also bringing a laptop to play them on. NA DVD's won't play in Korean DVD players and vice versa. If your apartment doesn't come equiped with a DVD player there's usually someone on this site selling one cheap and it's only about a dollar to rent a movie here.

Hair / Skin products: There are some product lines that can be found here (Dove, neutregena, etc) I was really excited a few weeks ago when I found Vitchy products. However, unless you want to cart over a years supply you may have to experiment a little to find a new product line that you like.

If you are a woman I would suggest bringing over a years supply of any birth control pill / patch that you might be on. They do sell it here but if it's only a one year stay why bother trying to find a new brand that works for you.

Sheets / Blankets: Bring a pillow. You can get them here but that's not something you want to be worrying about until you've gotten over your jet lag. Bedding in Korea is different than in NA. A bed set comes with one padded undersheet, a quilt or comforter, and a pillow case. The western sheets and blanket, mix and match thing, that you would recognize does not exist here (or at least I have never seen it) but the local option is very comfy. Just make sure your employer will supply this.

Bra's: (women only) If you are of a larger build. Bring extra. Heck bring extra anyway. I think most of the bras that you see here are bullet proof. Also, as a recent thread here has pointed out, the underwear can be something other than what you are accustomed to.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

[ChopChaeJoe]

I actually brought tea.

[Qinella]

[Oreovictim]

The only reason that I was considering Oreos is because I wanted to show my students. I have a bunch of pictures called "When Oreos Attack." Yes, that's me in the picture getting attacked by Oreos.

[Oreovictim]

Over-prepared? Yep, that's an accurate description of me. But think of it, if I didn't write this question, I would have never seen that interesting picture of Alanis Morrisette. (She has a nicer figure than I thought.)

[Cage Kennylz]

Dude yer students are not going to be impressed by OREOS! You are not moving to Cambodia or Darfur for christ sakes. That have cookies in Korea.

Honestly Canadian/American gum always seemed to go over well. They mostly only have lotte gum there.

[djsmnc]

Bring a gun. The North is always planning attacks, and sometimes westerners just disappear at random.

You also may want to bring some boards to practice chopping with your hand, because there are often karate chopping competitions on the street.

If you have a generator, it will be useful, because the grass huts we have to stay in don't usually have electricity. I had to bring sandals the second time around because I got tired of going to bed with dirty feet!