BootsnAll Travel Community

Okay - I'm heading off to South Korea in February to attend Yonsei University for an academic term. My birthday is coming up (and Christmas!), and my mom's asking me what I'm going to need for the trip, etc. I'm also backpacking in China after Korea, so I'm trying to keep stuff to a minimum.

Has anyone here gone on exchange? I'm planning so far to get a big backpack (one of the larger ones, I think) and to bring that and maybe a duffel bag if worse comes to worse. Travelling from Halifax to Toronto was a hassle with a rolling suitcase, a carryon and another bag, so I think that Toronto to South Korea would be far worse.

Plus, the dorm has free laundry - I can wash things often! Does anyone have suggestions? This is what I have so far:

-camera (Rebel 2000 w/ two lenses), film, extra batteries
-minidisc player and a few minidiscs
-a pair of sport sandals
-a pair of dark sneakers/hiking shoes
-a pair of short, black Walmart heels I can abandon if necessary
-brown linen business suit: skirt, jacket, t-shirt for underneath
-little black dress
-bathing suit
-2-3 dark coloured t-shirts
-1-2 sweaters
-2-3 pairs of pants
-1-2 pairs of shorts
-1 long skirt
-1 old tshirt + shorts for bed
-socks, underwear, etc.
-fleece
-Goretex shell
-toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, deoderant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, facial moisturizer
-pocket knife (Leatherman or Swiss Army)
-guidebook (LP Korea)

Is that too much? Is that not enough? I know it's early, but I'm trying to figure out what will need to be bought, and what I already own.

I find a mistake that many travellers make is to bring everything with you. Now, I do not know anything about your destination per se nor the exchange rate, but I am assuming they sell things like toiletries, clothes and the like. So don't stress on what to bring because they will surely have items there that you will not be able to do without!

I figured I'd bring enough shampoo, etc. to last me for a couple of weeks. Just enough time to get me settled into the university - apparently they have a really comprehensive orientation program, so the last thing I want to do is miss something because I need to find toiletries.

As for clothes, I was concerned that South Koreans have a smaller build than I do so finding stuff to fit would be verging on the impossible...

I think your list looks pretty good. One lesson - don't bring anything you'll be sorry to lose or trash or get rid of, with maybe the exception of one suit or something. When I studied abroad, everything got a little dingy and I bought a lot of new, cheap stuff anyway Even though the orientation is comprehensive, I'm sure you'll still have time to go to the store (that's one of the most fun things to do!)...whether you can read the labels is another thing....

Court

<------ Jealous

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I'm with stupid

Hey meagicano,

Care to tell us of your revised packing list? Any updates to your plan?

Hey Meagicano,
This is going against the general drift, but when I went on a year-long study abroad program, I took TONS of stuff with me. I took a lot of books and music and art-supply kind of stuff, and I remember that when I was settling into my new bedroom it felt good to see my own junk set up around me. Also, people there were curious to see stuff from far away, so that was kind of fun. But it's true that I was in South America, which isn't quite the shopper's paradise that Asia is. And I agree with everyone else that it's better to bring stuff you don't mind parting with, because you can give it all away at the end, and travel around as light as you want to.

Also I agree with everyone else that I'm jealous!

Enjoy your adventure,
Rose

I did the same thing when I lived in Germany one year. I dragged 2 suitcases full of clothes, photos, various items I could've lived without, and TONS of books (although most were language books which I used while studying German--and would've cost twice as much to by there). Lugging the suitcases from the airport to my dorm (via several trains and buses) was a pain, but it was nice to have mementos from home. The best part was that since I lived in Europe, I didn't have to carry everything I owned on my back--I could just take what I needed for the trip, whether it was a day trip, overnight, weekend, etc.

Plus, if you bring personal things, like photos or books, you can use them as a conversation starter, as people who see this stuff will be curious.

And, of course, you can always mail things you won't need right away. Granted, it's still best to travel light overall (especially if you don't know how big of a space you'll be living in), but having the home base allows you a little more flexibility than if you were just backpacking.

I'm usually the lightest packer I know, but when I studied abroad for a year I took tons of stuff. I only had to move it twice (to and from Germany) and didn't have to buy anything. I had photos from home and favorite t-shirts which made life a little cosier. If you're going to be in one place the whole time there's no reason not to take what ever you can. However, if you're going to have to lug that stuff on your back at anytime, pack as lightly as possible and buy cheap stuff there as you need it. You can get by with next to nothing for eons and avoid a bad backache.

Have an awesome time!! I sure loved it when I studied there. Be sure to have a pair of indoor slippers for the dorm. They always take their shoes off. (And it seems like Koreans never pick up their feet when they walk so it was a constant "slap,slap" on the ground with their damn slippers) Bring a pack of tissues with you to for the toilets, because most of them are squat style with no tissue (even on campus I encountered this) I also seem to remember that tampons were a bit hard to find. Enjoy the kimchee!!!! mmmm

Jenna, you studied in Korea? I didn't know that.

I'm a Canadian - I always take my shoes off as soon as I step in a door. It's funny because at my school dorms you would see a pile of shoe right beside the door of someone's room.

I'm trying to stay as light as possible... I have to get it to Toronto, check it... pick it up in Tokyo, check it when I'm done in Japan, and then when I get to Korea I know I'm going to have to haul it around Sinchon until I get to my dorm. Then, I'll pretty much be settled in until I head to China, which will be more of a backpacking trip.

I figured I'd take a small photo album of friends and family with me. I was also concerned about space since I was told the rooms were pretty small.

I bought the Eagle Creek TransContinental Journey backpack (in Navy), a few weeks ago. The guy at the store fit it for me and everything. For my multi tool, I have the Leatherman Juice kf4 which was a Christmas gift.

Ahhh... so much left to do before I go!!!! I need to do some serious shopping. I do, however, now have a place to live since I was accepted into the dorm. So, my major things have been taken care of completely!

I understand about wanting to pack light, so this may be completely unhelpful, but I just thought of a couple of Canadian friends of mine who live in Thailand. One returned to Thailand from a visit home with a bag of pancake mix, a tiny bottle of maple syrup, and a little bag of toothpicks with Canadian flags on the ends (maybe for cake decorating or something? No idea.) Anyway, I know it sounds stupid, but she made a pancake breakfast for a bunch of us, foreigners and Thai, and stuck a flag in the top of each pancake stack, and it was really fun. The other friend brought (most of) the makings for, damn, nai-something-mo bars? No one else had ever heard of them, but everyone loved them. I know, why bring food to Asia when they make the best food in the world there already, but slipping something small into your bag that's from home that you can share can be really appreciated.

Rosemary, that is a really good idea... especially the nanaimo bar and pancake mixes. Mmmm.... I've also heard to bring along some packets of Kraft Dinner.

When I lived in Germany, we found stores that sold American goodies like Kraft Mac n Cheese, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, even Jiffy Pop Popcorn. We made a mac n cheese dinner for our international friends, and most enjoyed it, even if only for the experience. Some were astounded that we made something so packaged and instant. Others loved the taste of the powdered stunt cheese. The next week, someone made an authentic Japanese meal, and other nationalities followed suit in later weeks. (Ah, the benefit of living in a dorm with other international students and a functioning kitchen...)

one thought on clothes -- definitely pack light. I studied abroad in Europe, and I brought just two pairs of pants, a pair of skirts, and a few shirts. Dark clothes are better because you can cycle them. Also, I'm sure you've left already, but if you haven't, be reassured that you can find clothes in your size in Korea. I wear a US 12/14, and I found plenty of clothes when I went to Korea. They've got a lot of American stores there.

Enjoy backpacking through China. I'm quite jealous!

Elay, haven't left yet!!!!! I've got 4 days to go. Eek.

I had actually decided four pairs of pants - two pairs of jeans, a pair of khakis and a pair of black pants. One pair of jeans is really really light, so that's good. I'll probably abandon the black pants and a pair of jeans by the time I hit China, and will ship those suckers home.

*sigh* So hard to pack...

meag -

if i don't run into you on the boards again before you leave, HAVE FUN!!!!

Yeah, ditto! Have an amazing time

(Not that you won't be coming on here as soon as you get here though... )

Have a great time!!! Last I spoke to you, you were just about to head out the door to go to the airport