We’re down to 4 days before our departure and as the date gets closer we have no time to waste. The past few days have been hectic and
they have all involved last minute preparations. We have a bad habit of procrastinating
so we still have a lot to do. One thing is for sure, all our documentation is
finally done and in order so all that is left to worry about is the little
things such as PACKING. We don’t want to over pack but is it really possible
not to? Last night we went shopping for essential items, but everything we saw all
of a sudden we need it. Although we were on a ‘buy
everything mode’ we managed to avoid throwing everything insight into the
shopping cart and focused on the items that were on our list with the help of our beloved sister who kept us in check. (*Thank you Daigoro!*) When traveling to
a foreign country it is important to check for items that your destination
might not have, are hard to obtain, and/ or can be very costly. It is also
important to check what is allowed and prohibited by your airlines to avoid any
mishaps at the airport.
Packing list
- Deodorant (deodorant is very expensive in South Korea and comes in smaller sizes so I suggest you stock up on deodorant before traveling to Korea.)
- Toothbrush/ travel size toothpaste
- Bed sheets (Western style sheets are impossible to find and can also be expensive, but it is ultimately more of a personal choice.)
- Aspirin/ Ibuprofen
- Anti-nausea pills (I tend to get motion sickness easily)
- Eye drops, contacts, contact solution and glasses
- Full size towels (These can be found in Korea, but are a bit pricier.)
- Copies of our passport, visa, insurance, university letter and other important documents.
- Originals – passport, debit / credit card, print-off of e-ticket, etc.
- Stock up on make up! Especially if it’s a brand that cannot be found in .
- Birth control. Bring enough to last your stay. Talk to your gynecologist or insurance although it can be easier to get it from your doctor. They can give you sample packs!
- Other female toiletries (pads, tampons) Tampons are rare in Korea so it's essential to pack your own.
- Laptops, cameras and SD cards
- English/ Korean dictionary
- Bring about $300 in cash for emergencies and things you might need to purchase the first week.
Clothes
1.
1-2 winter coats
2.
1 Spring jacket
3.
Various shirts
(about 5-7 long sleeve/ short sleeve)
4.
One formal outfit in case of any formal
occasions such as school events and dinners etc.
5.
Thermals ! We packed at least 2-3 thermals each.
6.
3 pairs
of shoes. Casual, formal, and our boots for the rainy weather
7.
4 pairs of jeans
8.
Sweatshirts, cardigans
9.
Enough underwear to last 2 weeks
1.
2 weeks’ worth of socks
Miscellaneous (Optional)
1.
Favorite movies
2.
Snacks ! (Both salty and sweet. Chances are you
might not like the food served on the plane so always bring snacks.)
3.
Favorite books/ magazines
4.
Family pictures
5.
Journal to write about our experiences
6.
Calendar to keep track of our schedule
Since we will be there for half a year and through seasonal changes
we’ve decided it be best to buy our clothes as seasons changed.
We will definitely revise this list once our stay in Korea
is over and let you know if we over packed or not and what items we missed or
did not need. Overall we spent about
$500 dollars for all the necessary things, but remember since it’s two of us it’s
double the items and we did stock up on some clothes as well.
*Other important info: Make sure you call your bank to let them know you will be traveling abroad so you can use your debit/ credit cards without any problems. Also call your phone carrier to learn more about international calling plans. Most likely we will need to get a phone in Korea, but having that international plan can be very useful for the first few days or until we get a phone and prevent any extra charges.*
