Packing list for a year in South Korea

I am now packed for my year long contract to teach ESL in South Korea!  Here is a list of what I packed.  I researched a lot of other blogs and websites to find out what I can and cannot find while in Korea.

Find out your baggage allowances

I am flying Asiana Airlines.  Asiana Airlines website has baggage allowances on it, but it was a little confusing to me.  I Googled for more information and found a wide variety of answers, so I was confused even more.  The best thing to do is call the airline directly to speak with a customer service representative.  So, I called (a few times because it was difficult to understand a couple of the reps) the airline and discovered I am allowed 2 checked bags, 1 carry-on and a personal bag/purse.  The checked bags can be up to 50lbs in weight and the carry on bag can be 22lbs at 45 inches.  All of that for FREE!!  Got to love Asian airlines, unlike US airlines which are starting to charge for every checked bag.  This means I am allowed 122lbs+ for my flight, which is awesome!

A few interesting discoveries

A few items I discovered are not readily available in Korea, or if they are, then they are very expensive such as stick deodorant.  Koreans don’t sweat like westerners and especially like me (anyone who knows me realizes I sweat like a 500 pound man, wearing a sweat suit, in a tropical sunny day on the beach), it is gross!  Korean toothpaste is a lot less tasteful than their American counterparts (I don’t think toothpaste is tasteful anyways).  Clothes for a larger person is difficult or impossible to find in Korea.  I am about 6’2″ with a 34″ waist.  Finding pants long enough will be almost impossible.  My waist size is okay, just not the length.  Finding dress shirts or polo’s will be difficult.  I wear a size 11 shoe and that is about the largest size most stores carry, so I should be okay, but if you wear a larger size, then you will have a lot of trouble finding them.  Koreans do not use dental floss as much as Americans do, so it will be difficult to find or expensive when you do find it.  Koreans do not grow hair like westerners, so finding razors to shave with is hard as well.  Also, from other blogs such as Ask the Expat, condoms are smaller, less lubricating and simply different from what Americans are accustomed too.  Ask the Expathas a TON of valuable information regarding everything and anything about life in Korea.  Normal over-the-counter cold/flu medicines are not available (when you go to the pharmacist, they give you the drugs you need, but only for that ONE sickness) but other expats say usually the medicine they get works very well.  If you wear boxers, then bring some because good ol’ tighty whiteys are what they wear over there.

My packing list

Well, here is the gist of what I packed in 2 bags weighing in at about 85lbs and one carry on backpack at about 13lbs:

• present for my director and his wife (candy basket and Bath & Body Works)
• One full size towel
• one washcloth
• a couple travel size toothpastes
• about 10 packs of dental floss
• my netbook, iPod, camera, and any other electronic along with the wires and adapters
• one pair of running shoes
• one pair of sketchers (sneakers that look dressy)
• pair of sandals
• pair of slippers/outside shoes
• electric razor
• Fusion razor and LOTS of replacement blades
• two bottles of shave cream
• toys/goodies for my soon to be students
• bottle of multi vitamins
• leather gloves
• scarf
• winter hat
• 10 pairs of boxer briefs
• 5 pairs of black socks
• 6 pairs of crew cut white socks
• 6 pairs of ankle socks
• 10 t-shirts (I should be able to find some cool ones over there)
• 10 polo shirts (I will wear these to work everyday)
• 5 pairs of pants (2 jeans, 1 nice dress pants, 1 khaki, 1 khaki cargo)
• 3 pairs of shorts (3 khaki cargo shorts of different colors/styles)
• 3 pairs of gym/running shorts
• 5 nice button downs
• 7 sticks of antiperspirant
• toothbrush
• 1 bar of soap
• a couple travel shampoos
• travel size pack of Q tips (not sure if they have them easily available)
• condoms (gotta be safe, right?)
• 2 belts
• 2 neck ties
• one hoodie
• jacket (rain proof and removable inner jacket liner)
• sunglasses
• one fitted baseball hat
• a small variety of OTC medicines
• one pair swim trunks
• personal documents (Passport, immunization card, license…)
• cash, credit and debit cards (opened a free USAA checking account for the worldwide ATM access where they pay for some ATM fees)
• personal grooming kit (tweezers, nail clippers, etc…)
• LOTS of chap stick (I am addicted to a specific kind)
• and a few other odds and ends type things like batteries, gum, Korean dictionary, a few other documents, lots of electronics, etc…

Well, that is what my 97+ lbs of my baggage consisted of.  I know this is a pretty lame post, but it would have helped me if someone posted their packing list that I could look at.  My next post will be from Changwon, South Korea!

Tags: ESL, items not found in korea, packing list, South Korea, south korea packing list, travel blog, what to bring ESL, what to bring to korea, year long packing