The Basics:
Clothing
As far as clothing is concerned Korea has 4 distinct seasons, winter and summer being the longest and most brutal. You will need a very warm winter coat. I have 4. You will be living in coats for at least 4 months. Layering is a way of life here and there are tons of street vendors selling, gloves, mittens, scarfs, hats and ear muffs. Winter is very cold. Prepare and you will be a much happier, warmer expat.
I was happy that I brought tall socks and my UGG boots. Speaking of UGGS...
WARNING: Designer brands here are nearly triple the price! If you love brands like Coach and UGG be prepared to spend a lot of money. I bought a pair of UGG boots at home for $119 and the same boots here were over $300. Don’t worry though they have lots of generic brands that look the same for about $20.
WARNING: Here in Korea they love fur and you will find bits of it on lots of accessories. If you are a vegan or animal rights activist, beware. More on being a vegetarian or vegan later.
Summer is no joke. Prepare yourself for a hot muggy season full of stagnate air and yellow dust. Ladies embrace the frizz and just enjoy the dewey fresh face look.
Quick Tip - Lots of ebayers ship to Korea for pretty cheap. Its a great way to shop for the little things, including clothing, that you need but can’t find here.
WARNING: Korea is a boobie free zone. In the summer months you will shorts and skirts so tiny that your Grandma back home will blush but boobies are never to be shown. If you have an ample bust be prepared for stares (and gropes if you work with young children). I have fond that a v neck top is like an open invitation for unwanted attention at school.
WARNING: If you were blessed with more than a B cup make sure you bring enough bras with you from home. It is nearly impossible to find a C cup here let alone a D or above. Be prepared.
As a whole Korean people are but smaller than the average Westerner. You should know that if you are over a size 8 you may have trouble finding clothing to fit you here, especially pants. If you have some junk in your trunk it is even harder. Luckily oversized is in style so you can find larges at some store that will fit up to a size 14. You don’t see many overweight Koreans so don’t be surprised if you are called fat even if you are just a size 6. I’m overweight and I get called fat about once a week at school. It's not considered rude here so do your best to deal with it.
Packing Tips:
- Make sure to bring tights & leggings if you are tall or over a size 4.
- If you have large feet (above a 9 for women, 9 for men) you may have a harder time finding shoes. Also shoes here are more narrow. Wide feet be warned.
- Guys and gals please bring underwear with you. It’s tiny and very expensive here. I haven't seen a thong.
- Bring gym/yoga clothes with you unless you like to wear snug highwaters pants.
- Bring a brand new pair of comfy work shoes with you. You need "indoor" shoes for working at a school.
I will be adding a amending this list as needed. If you have some advice to share please leave a comment!
Love,
B
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