To start off, this is not my first time to Korea—it is my second and I could not be more excited. Coming a second time gives me a better chance to know what to bring, what to do and what not to do.
My trip begins even before I get to Korea—with the process of packing. I am fortunate that this is my second time to Korea so I know what I should bring. Korean fashion is a lot different from American fashion and what is considered inappropriate there is not considered inappropriate here and visa versa. Consider shorts; short shorts are usually a little taboo here in the states for they often represent promiscuity, but in Korea, short shorts and mini skirts are all the rave and are actually so short, many westerners find themselves gawking at the lack of length.
On the other hand, showing shoulders and too much chest represents a “loose” woman in Korea, so girls, make sure that you shoulders are covered and that you are not showing any cleavage.
As a foreigner, I will have a little wiggle room when it comes to the shoulder department, but I will not get wiggle room when it comes to the cleavage department, people will stare—a lot.
Koreans also dress in very neutral tones: grey, black, and white, is the general color palette so I’m going to dress accordingly. I have found that the one color that Koreans are ok with is pale pink, and as someone who loves color in their wardrobe, I have a feeling that there will be a lot of pink in mine. Also, Koreans dress a lot nicer than we do here in America, so I’m going to pull together the nicest clothes that I have. This is not to say that I’ll be going to class in my Sunday best, but I certainly won’t be going in my pajamas.
Now, what to pack? Nice clothes—name brands would be best, but since that’s not in my budget, I’ll have to make due with what I have. For the summer months, it is hot and humid like Houston so I have to dress accordingly. Shorts and cotton shirts are great when it comes to staying cool in the heat. Skirts, shorts, and dresses are great for girls so I’ll be packing a lot of those. While I’m tempted to pack an umbrella, I’m not going to because I’d rather just get one in Korea since you can find a pretty nice umbrella for a great price. Mosquitoes are a big problem in Korea so I’ll definitely bring some bug spray. The mosquitoes have a nasty habit of getting into rooms at night, so I need to pack some spray that doesn’t feel too gross or smell bad so that I can wear it at night. And of course, the most important thing is shoes. I will be doing a lot of walking in Korea—a lot, and I need to be prepared. So I’m going to bring a few pair of comfortable flats and a pair of tennis shoes. Almost all Korean girls wear heels, but since I’m not comfortable in walking in them for long distances, I think I’ll just bring one pair of shirt heels in case of a formal occasion (Korean men are short relatively speaking and often times feel awkward or offended if a girl is taller them than, though they won’t say it aloud. Since I’m 5'9" and the average Korean man is 5’8”, it’s really not a good idea for me to bring heels for everyday use).
Summer lasts until from May to about mid-October. It is here when it starts to cool down a bit and it’s not so horribly humid. For this, I’m going to pack a light jacket or two and sweater as well as pants for this month.
Autumn does not last long in Korea. At all. It will be winter before I know it, so I’m going to pack a thick, waterproof coat and gloves, thick sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, and a snowcap. I’m also going to pack a pair of boots to keep my legs extra warm in the winter.
The last thing that I’m going to pack is gifts. Giving gifts is a big part of Korean Culture. When you visit someone else's home, it is important to bring a gift such as wine. Wine and other types of alcohol such scotch, whiskey, and cognac make great gifts, especially if they’re foreign brands (but never bring food to someone else’s home unless asked to, because otherwise it’s rude). Also, when visiting your professor for the first time, it also important to give them a small gift like a nice pastry or pen. I’m going to pack simple things, nice, decorated notebooks and earrings for girls, Texas themed shot glasses and t-shirts for boys. For my male teachers, I’m also going to pack some Texas Tech themed golf balls (Korean men love golf), and some American perfume for my female professors. When I get to Korea, I’m going to buy American wine to give as gifts as well (I would buy it here in the states, but I’m under 21, so I can’t do that legally). I have also packed some Texas themed wrapping paper to put the gifts in.
Now that I have what I want to pack, it’s important for me to put it into a suitcase that will be easy to transport. My airline allows me to have two check-in bags at 50 pounds each and one carry-on, and I’m going to maximize this. I’ve chosen 1 large suitcase that rolls and a large duffle bag with the idea being that I’ll put the duffle bag on top of the rolling suitcase’s handle bar for easier transportation. I have chosen a large over-the-shoulder bag for my carry-on. For me, it will work great because my carry-on will only be holding a few days worth of clothes and my computer, so I can just sling it over my shoulder and use my other two hands to pull my other heavy suitcases.
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