PACKING part 1: Winter Ensemble

Well, here it is ladies and gents! The packing post!



I'm gonna go ahead and say that this post is generally for girls, but that doesn't mean that guys can't get a few pointers for packing as well. like I've said, I've traveled around. The hardest part of getting ready to go is packing because you want to take everything with you! I can honestly say this is something that both guys and girls have in common. that stereotype about boys packing whatever? Depends on the boy. I should be saying man, right? Hopefully people leaving are fine young men off to explore a new culture.

The winter suitcase.

This one is surprisingly simple and complicated at the same time. I would recommend bringing 3 pairs of jeans, but no more than 6 if you're having a hard time choosing. Really, space fills up really quickly in a bag, so try to keep it down to 3. If you feel you need more bottoms, you can conserve space by taking more leggings and thick tights. That way you can bring more variety for the same amount of space. For men, just go ahead and bring a few extra pairs of jeans, as tights and stockings aren't currently a trend or socially accepted. if you wanna bring some, I'm totally cool with it and I will not judge you. Girls, you can also bring a few winter dresses, like sweater-dresses, but only a few. You will need the space. keep it to 5 maximum. Both genders need to bring at least 4 pairs of slacks, but 6 max.

As for shirts, i'd recommend bringing about 5 long-sleeved tees, and 7 semi-formal shirts. Remember peeps, most anything can be dressed up with a blazer or cardigan/sweater and nice bottoms, so pick something that you can wear on the town and in the office at the same time. Especially you men out there. I know plenty of girls who have a thing for guys who look good in (semi) formal wear. This includes me. Don't be shy and just take it. Blouses and button-ups are preferred.Also, Bring about 2 sweaters/cardigans and 2 semi-formal blazers.

SHOES! I love shoes, and I know I will have an extremely hard time with this, but it must be said. This is for both GUYS and GIRLS. You need indoor shoes/slippers, 1 pair of sneakers, one pair of winter shoes (rain boots, snow boots, whatever works), and one pair of semi-formal shoes to wear to work. Sure, you'll have indoor-shoes, but we have to be real, what if we're out after work and we're wearing our tennis shoes with semi-formal work clothes? Like a pencil skirt or slacks? No. Not kosher. Korea is a very visual country and they take looks very seriously. Even for someone like me who has a great many days where I wanna say "fuck it, yoga pants and tennies," there are some things that we should just do. We're gonna acclimate anyway, might as well do it now. In some cases, you can combine two categories. I don't know about guys, but for girls there are plenty of cute winter booties that are water-proof and good in the snow. I'm sure there are options for guys.

For formal wear, girls, I recommend either a women's dress suit consisting of a skirt and blazer, or a sheath dress. I happen to have both, but only one is necessary. Think "that sexy lawyer who still looks completely appropriate." Don't think body-con skirts that are super-short. Formal wear is acceptable for clothes just above the knees. Also, if you're bringing the suit, make sure the accompanying shirt is a nice one, with a soft color, depending on the suit. 

Girls, don't bring anything low-cut. We generally will get the "waegugin" pass in most situations, but even in America, business formal means no bust. If you're so generously endowed it's impossible to keep the ladies from peeking out, cover it with a cute scarf. We're girls. We accessorize. Make sure you have a nice pair of pumps as well. Pumps are a versatile pair of shoes, and you will feel glad you bought them. Unless you are high-heel savvy, keep the height below 3 inches.

For the men-folk, you are stuck with a simple business suit. Sorry. Not much going there. However, for really formal situations, I'd suggest a black suit, white shirt, and a colorful tie (just one color, not multi-color). The tie makes the outfit stand out much more. Also, make sure you bring a nice pair of oxfords, ready and polished. Now a man in a suit is my definition of sexy, so make sure you have a nice one! And you only need one nice suit. The rest of the time, you'll be dressing semi-formal, so you may be able to make due with a nice sweater or shirt with a every-day blazer with some slacks.

Under wear. Bring it. Bring enough for 2 weeks at least. And girls, I don't have to tell you to being your bras, right? Good. And socks. Also enough for 2 weeks. The flyer says 1 week, but seeing as socks seem to vanish into thin air all the time, this will give us some extra comfort.

Extras:

Other things to bring are basic hygiene products, which can be split between the two bags accordingly:

1. Deodorant: I hear it's available in Korea, but not only is the selection terrible, but the prices are what some might call daylight robbery. I suggest bringing a couple of sticks.
2. Toothpaste: Korean toothpaste doesn't have fluoride, and some people find it doesn't work like the one's we're used to. Bring 2 or 3 large tubes with you. Experiment later.
3. Lotion: This is important for me. Koreans simply have different skin types than some of us. I'm a black woman, and my skin tends to get ashy. There is no way that Koreans have the right kind of lotion for me. So I'm bringing a few bottles of Jergens Shea Butter with me. I don't wanna look like snow on christmas morning if there was no snow. If I can find it there (there are a few brands out there, just a few), better. But I'll bet it's expensive.
4. Shampoo: Also for people with differently textured hair. I have nappy hair (like I said, I'm Black), so I need certain products for my hair. Chances are, you may not find your favorite brand out there. Bring a bottle or two, and then search your local stores to see if they have it. If not, ask your family for care packages.
5. Toothbrush: this is optional, but I prefer certain kinds of toothbrushes. until i am certain i can find what I'm looking for, I'm bringing some extras with me.
6. Feminine products: obviously, guys can skip over this. But girls, sometimes certain brands are not there yet. Bring a box of your favorite products, just to be safe. Then you can learn if your product is there or not, and decide whether you want to add it to your care package or not. This includes midol as well. It's good to bring the bottle so that you can
7. Make-up: I don't wear make-up, but for girls that do, this could be important. Darker tones will not be accommodated. Black and Brown girls, bring your own foundation! Even I plan on bringing a little (never know when I gotta get dolled up). Don't assume that they'll have your tones, because Koreans are definitely on the light side of the spectrum, and this is one of the most ethnically homogeneous first-world nations in the world.