Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DerJam]

Hi Everyone,
I'm sure this has been covered in a million other threads, but it's so hard to search on here that i thought i would just start a new one. I'm leaving for Korea on the 22nd, Daegu to be exact. And i would like some advice from teachers there on what i absolutely need to bring, or what is hard to get there. Anything Helps!
Thanks

[dogshed]

It has been covered a million times.

I'm glad I have my favorite deodorant, razors, and toothpaste.
The file folders I like are very expensive here.
When I go home in October I'll be bringing back
my favorite shirts, pants and maybe some bed sheets.

I live in a very small town so it's cheaper for my mother
to send me stuff than for me to make a trip to Seoul.

I do believe people who say everything is available here,
but often you have to spend lots of money and time to get it.

I wish I had brought an extra pair of dress shoes. I can't
find shoes I like here at a reasonable price.

[kiwigirl :O)]

bring things like deodorant (you can buy it here buts its really expensive compared to back home) and other "personal items"

i would bring clothes too as its tricky at times to find stuff you like (and for some people the right size)....but places like american eagle do ship to korea if you get stuck futher down the track

i get my family to send me snack food from time to time as kiwi snack food that i like is virtually impossible to find....

cheers
kg

[Davew125]

if your anything like me you'll end up eating alot of junk food when you first get here - i barley touched it back home and it was at least a once a day thing for me for the first few weeks - so some good quality vitamin pills would be a good idea. but on the whole thers not much here that you can t find at home. Theres a US army base in Iteawon and hence most stuff from the US can be bought around that area (if you can befriend a squadie then you can pick stuff up really cheaply as well!!).

[flummuxt]

What's with the deodorant? If they don't wear it, why should you worry? Just take a bath in the morning. I haven't used deodorant for years, and no one has ever said anything to me. I wonder if a diet high in junk food and sugar might lead to more body odor or something? Or is it all the marketing campaigns that have brainwashed us into all believing we have underarm body odor that is offending others?

And we all have dandruff, or course, that is the ultimate embarrassment! Not to worry, they seem to have dandruff shampoo here, if I have deciphered the ad with the soccer player etc. dressed in white correctly. All they need now is a 24-hour 3x an hour ad campaign for deodorant, and every Korean will go out and buy deodorant.

Here's my one bit of advice:

Bring one of those universal remote controls. My place came supplied with a TV, DVD/VCR. But the remotes are all Greek to me, err Korean. And so are the on-screen menus. I assume if you entered the code for a Samsung TV etc. the universal remote would work.

They've got universal remotes here, but they are in Korean too, of course.

[dutchy pink]

I wouldn't go crazy bringing things, you'll eventually run out then switch to the Korean version, and you won't even notice. I personally like Tom's toothpaste so I wish I bought more, but if you hadn't mentioned it, it wouldn't have crossed my mind. The one thing I do suggest, THIN BED SHEETS!!!! I searched and searched and searched and could not find them. Well, i poked around a few local beds stores and never found them.

[flummuxt]

OK, Davesters, someone MUST know where to buy bed sheets on the Web in Korea, right?

I finally found something vaguely resembling sheets at EMarty: A sort of waffle textured sheet made out of some sort of synthetic. At least it wasn't one of those quilted comforter things. But it wasn't wide enough to tuck in either. And it feels a bit weird on your skin.

Where the hell are the bed sheets??

[dutchy pink]

I was seriously considering going into a hanbok fabric store to get fitted, and just getting all paranoid, screaming, forget it, just give me the whole damn roll, I'll do it myself, leave, and go home happily with my new sheets.

but alas, my friend gave my his old dirty ones.

[articulate_ink]

Where the hell are the bed sheets??

After 2+ years here, I haven't seen 'em. I got my father to send some from the US and I bought more at IKEA in Singapore.

Bring:

1. Deodorant and personal care items. This has been mentioned. Don't skimp. There's decent stuff on offer here, and you can get things shipped to you, but give yourself time to settle in and figure out what you like.

2. Basic first-aid stuff like painkiller, first-aid cream, antacid, cold/flu meds, anti-diarrhea medicine, bandages, etc. You might not need this stuff but if you do, you'll be glad you have it. You have to buy most of this stuff from pharmacies, which will entail speaking to pharmacists, which will probably entail knowing Korean. Just bring it.

3. Sheets. You'll probably have a single bed if you're working for a hagwon. Bring flat (not fitted) sheets and pillowcases you like. Decent towels and washcloths are hard to come by, too, unless you like your bathroom things embossed and frilly. (You can get good stuff at Muji and Poly-M, although it's not cheap.) You can get good blankets here, but sheets aren't readily available.

4. A year's supply of whatever vitamins and supplements you take.

5. An ATM card that works outside of Korea. Some people close their bank accounts before coming here. This used to be practical; now it's not, unless you intend to stay in Korea and never travel anywhere else. Keep your bank account open back home so you can wire money back for access to cash while you're travelling.

Some things that aren't necessities, but I highly recommend:

6. A laptop with wifi, if you've got one. PC bangs are everywhere but it makes a big difference if you can get online from home, set up VOIP, IM with your friends and family, etc. You'll probably be able to do this before you can get a mobile phone, and it'll help you feel less isolated.

7. Money. I've seen several people arrive broke, and it's a nightmare for them. Don't assume your employer will your first check when it's due. You'll also need to buy stuff for your new apartment.

8. Books. Unless you don't read for pleasure, in which case, ignore this one. There are English-language bookstores here, but if you're a reader, it's worth knowing you've got a few good books to fall back on. (I shopped 10 or 15 boxes of them to myself when I moved here, but that's another story.)

If all this stuff won't fit into your suitcases (and it won't), box it up and mail it to yourself.

Good luck!

[kiwigirl :O)]

at emart they sell sheets....mine are the valentino rudy brand....they are 100% cotton and are awesome!!!! the colours are a little strange and they were about the same price id pay back home but they are good quality and defintely worth it!!

you can buy them in single and queen size....

cheers
kg

[KimchiExplosion]

Bring a small water pistol for discipline. I can't find any here except for large, Super Soaker style ones. Had to resort to using a Windex bottle filled with water. Effective, but not as cool as having something small enough to fit in your pocket.

[mindmetoo]

Bring your favorite cold meds. Scotchguard? Oi the rainy season. Fourth the notion of deoderant. It's about $4-5 for a little stick here. Books but then What the Book sells used books. See my laptop sticky on the tech forum if you bring your laptop, note the part about bringing all your install CDs.

If you're a fatty, bring all the clothes you're going to need.

[AylaZ]

Bring some food lol. OF all the things it is nice to have easy to mix food sachets for when you feel like something from home. My son loves having some good old gravy lol. Couple treats that you like cus you will miss them.

Sheets you can get, deodarant ( I used to care what brand I used, then just simply worrying about stuff like that doesn't matter now. as long as u have some deodarant who cares right) bring a couple that you like.

A good pair of dress shoes, everyone has small as feet. Trainers/sandals easy to find but not good dress shoes for women with normal sized feet. lol.

Most things are accessible, part of travelling you try new things right so embrace for change and good luck.

[flummuxt]

kiwigirl :O)

[dogshed]