My Korea Packing List
my entire life packed into three bags
We're only two days (!!) out now and the idea of carrying all my most vital possessions into a couple of bags is no less daunting. In fact, I feel mostly excitement about leaving for Korea except for the dread of how I'll get my stuff there. I feel like I'm leaving a lot behind, and yet I'm still stuffed to the brim.
I want to share my initial list of everything I'm taking by bag! I've packed one large suitcase, one medium-sized suitcase, a carry-on duffel bag and my backpack.
Important Note:
a) I'm also packing a box of winter clothes (sweaters, coats, sweatpants, etc.) for my family to ship over once it's colder.
b) I used packing cubes and vacuum bags to make life easier. The main goal was to maximize space but I had to keep each suitcase under 50lbs (22lbs for my carry-on duffel bag). The packing cubes made organization SO much easier. I also rolled my clothes rather than folded.
At the bottom is a quick Q&A about my reasoning for packing how I did and about clothes and weather in Korea, so if you're interested, scroll to that. For now, here's the list:
My Packing List
Large Checked Bag:
(the hope is to not have to dig into this one too much during orientation)
1 pair of jeans
2 pairs of pants
1 pair of sweats
2 long PJ bottoms
2 blazers - one black and one grey
2 jackets
1 checkered blouse
4 skirts
4 cardigans
3 long sleeved shirts
1 sweater
11 pairs of underwear
5 pairs of socks
2 pairs of sandals
2 pairs of black heels
1 pair of black flats
Medium Checked Bag:
5 pairs of short PJ bottoms
3 T-shirts
8 lounge shorts
3 tank tops
1 white cami
2 dresses
2 rompers
5 short sleeved shirts
2 off-the-shoulder shirts
2 crop tops
2 bralettes
2 T-shirt bras
1 sports bra
Carry-on Duffel Bag:
1 pair of jeans
2 pairs of slacks3 white blouses
5 casual shorts
6 pj bottoms
10 pj shirts
11 pairs of underwear
Travel deoderant
Soap
Travel sized dry shampoo
Tooth brush
Floss
Retainers
Personal Item (Backpack):
(I'm flying Asiana Airlines, which will allow me to have a personal item, such as a laptop bag or a purse.)
$1000 USD converted to won
Laptop and Charger
Cell Phone and Charger
Adapters
Chapstick
Face wipes
Winter Gear (To Be Mailed)
(update: this was too expensive to send & also unnecessary)
1 pea coat
1 rain coat
Black ankle boots
12 pajama pants
Purse
Black baseball hat
Spices - curry powder, turmeric, smoked paprika
Photos of family
Tapestry
Swimsuit
1 pair of tennis shoes (the other I'm wearing on the plane)
1 full tub of Nivea creme
2 full sticks of deodorant
1 box each of pads, tampons, liners, etc
Medicine - ibuprofen, allergy pills
1 power strip
Drawing tablet
2 drawing notebooks
Copic markers
Copic pens
Small pencil bag
Fridge magnets (sentimental value)
Nail kit
Mascara
Dry shampoo bottle
Extra toothpaste
Playstation 4 + accessories
Hair comb
Tweezers
Shaving Razor
Hair ties, bobby pins
Travel sized Tylenol and allergy meds
Make-up brushes
In clear 1 quart TSA-approved bag:
Travel-sized conditioner and shampooBB creams
Moisturizer
Toothpaste
Documents:
Passport (with visa in it)
Passport Photos
Contract
IRS Residency Certificate
Pre-Orientation Certificate
Original TEFL Certificate
2 extra transcripts (in case I want to renew for another year) (update: this was not needed)
Flight Tickets
8 long sleeved shirts
4 sweaters
7 sweats
Q&A
For right now, this is mostly based off the advice of other blogs (linked below), vlogs, friends, EPIK's Pre-Orientation guides and my recruiter. When I do my six month update, I will be able to better answer from my own experience. Until then, this is what I've learned.
What did you leave behind?
Basically all home appliances, decorations, blankets, etc. I knew I'd buy all over that in Korea. As for clothes, this move made me really consider what I actually wear. I actually ended up donating a lot of clothes when I realized how much I had that I no longer wore. I only took clothes that would be good for summer weather.
Why are you bringing spices?
While I plan to buy almost every kitchen utensil and tool and ingredient in Korea, I've also heard that some spices, such as turmeric, smoked paprika, etc. are a bit rarer and harder to find. I love to cook with these spices so I'm bringing some new bottles.
(update: this was totally unnecessary.)
Okay and the toothpaste?
Like deodorant, I've heard that Korean toothpaste isn't quite the same. I've even heard that it doesn't have fluoride and some contain sugar?? I'm not sure myself, so I'm bringing an extra tube until I get settled.
(update: this wasn’t super necessary)
What's the weather like in Korea?
Korea's known for having hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. But, like always, it depends on where you're placed--and "hot" and "cold" are relative.
Seoul, for example, will have very cold winters (for me, at least. I'm from Texas!) Daegu, another big city, is known for being the hottest city in Korea.
I tried to pack for the weather I was coming into--since I'm Fall intake, I packed cool clothes, like skirts, dresses, and shorts. If you're Spring intake--well, I don't have much winter gear personally, but the advice I've seen is: layer up.
What to wear during orientation?
The Pre-Orientation guide says to wear business casual during lectures, and then casual outfits for field-trips. It also says to bring one business professional outfit for the day you meet your MOE/POE coordinator. My friends from the Kakao intake chat said that, while some people wore T-shirts and jeans every day (except the last day), it's best to dress nicely. We're still being evaluated by EPIK, after all.
(update: most people were pretty casual, but I still recommend against wearing tank tops and such.)
What's the dress code at your school?
Well, the general rule is business casual again, but this really is up to the school. Some schools want you to dress nicely every day, while others are fine with polos and khakis or even T-shirts and jeans. It's best to pack some slacks and nice shirts until you get a feel for how things work at your school. Also, I've heard many Koreans like to be fashionable and dress up. Coming from Austin, which is suuuper casual (think T-shirts, every day, all day), this will be pretty different.
(update: my school prefers to follow a loose business-casual dress code, but I can get away with a t-shirt or jeans now and again. Most of my friends can wear whatever they want.)
What's shopping in Korea like?
This one is definitely one I'm just pulling together based off other blogs and friends' advice, for now. First, the general idea is that if you're a US size XS, S or M, you will probably have an easier time finding clothes. Likewise, if you're a US shoe size 7.5~8ish or lower, you won't have trouble finding shoes. However, if you're above those sizes, it can be difficult to find your size. This is something to keep in mind for packing.
As for non-clothes, Korea is a developed nation and, while I might not have all the brands I'm used to, I'll be able to find just about everything I need or want. I'm leaving a lot behind with the intention to buy it in Korea (like household decor or kitchen appliances, for example). There are a few toiletries and items that I expect not to find easily in Korea (such as spices like turmeric or smoked paprika) or even if I do find it, it's apparently not the same as American products (like toothpaste), but overall I expect to use Korean products. I'm mostly taking toiletries just to get me through the first two weeks before I get to my apartment.
Other Good Resources:
Google "EPIK packing list” if you haven't already and you'll find plenty of packing lists!
But here are some of my favorite guides: