Packing for South Korea

Here I am about two weeks out from my study abroad trip to South Korea! I can't believe I am going back. 
I have been working toward this for a while now and although things haven't been so easy here, 'tis too late to back out now, so I best be on with it. I am planning on working really hard (STOP LAUGHING) and improving my language skills, because they really do need improving. I truly need the immersion. 
I am anxious, and nervous and excited. 
I am happy to see everyone I have missed - and now I will be going.  
Let's get to it. 
This is what I am packing for South Korea for a year~

 

So I am a bit of a weirdo (yeah like this is news). 
I have a bunch of mini-bags all with their own separate purposes. 
 I really don’t know if this will serve to help or hinder me, but I have this odd need to compartmentalize my stuff

In my carry on
Passport 
Bank information
Insurance card
Medical information
Important paperwork for school (in a folder) 
Laptop
Ipod

A mini pharmacy bag (약):

·         Anti-allergy meds + severe allergy meds

·         Triple antibiotic

·         Band aids

·         Q-tips

·         Ear plugs

·         Stomach relief

·         Mole foam (happy feet)

·         Powder (small)

·         Inhaler (breathing is good)

** These are small things that I can get there, but I don’t want to hunt them out, because I’m lazy.< Yes that is why

Anything that may leak, put tape on it and seal it TRUST ME

Shower Caddy bag

·         Mini Shampoo & Conditioner

·         Mini Body wash

·         Mini lotion

·         New toothbrush

·         Mini toothpaste (2)

·         Razors

·         Soap (mainly because I need to use it)

You can get pretty much all this there, no reason to over pack it, just get enough to hold you over until you get a full size. Do I need 4 razors? NO! Why do I have 4, they fit and I like the colors.

+Bathroom Bag

Perfume

Febreeze * It keeps clothes smelling good longer-

Deoderant 

*Antiperspirant (lots of it) It is difficult to find in the S.Korea. I managed to find deodorant, but it was mostly perfume and about $5 for a small thing of it. It worked (sorta) my arm pits smelled good~

Teeth cleaners

In Addition

2 Towels. Full size towels are difficult to find. Most are no bigger than a hand towel.

4 flat sheets, (taking one set shipping the other) Most beds don’t have sheets, but something else, I don’t know what to call them, but I want sheets. 

So I am bringing them. One set in my bag and one set will be shipped. Why flat?  Well at the university I may have one size bed, **(UPDATE**) but if I move to a goshiwon later I may have another size, so buying 4 full flat sheets works better than worrying about a fitted sheet, and they fold easier too. 

<-- A shoe organizer for socks and underwear since space will be limited and I can hang it up to save space. 

Goodies along photos to hang up.

*Specialty*

Décor bag

WHY? 
Because I definitely want something that is ME where I live~ all removable

Something interesting.

This is a craft box my friend gave me. I decided to make use of it for my jewelry (because I have a lot) the caveat was – it doesn’t fit in the box it doesn’t go. But I had all these open spaces, so there is now a sewing kit, some office supplies, and safety pins.

Do I recommend this, not really, but in this case I had something that worked in my favor. 

I will also be having a box shipped to me when I leave the USA with additional items the extras I don’t need right away. My 2^nd sheet set, extra clothes, additional deodorants anything that is not of immediate need and would make my bag too heavy.

CAN’T FORGET 

My contacts (I ordered a year supply because it was easier.) 

My CAMERA!! (and cords)

Power converters. Get converters before you go, they're small and it is easier than hunting them out. I ordered 3 from Amazon for less than $20.  

Your electronics WILL NOT WORK over there!

For women take tampons! They are difficult to find over there and far more expensive when you do. 

What I am not taking with me.

• Blow dryer/ hair straightener:

1.    even with the converter I’ve heard they blow up

2.    they take up too much room

3.    easier to simply buy new ones over there.

•  School supplies

Wait. Aren’t you going there for school!?

Yes, but I can get everything there, for about the same price. There is nothing special here that I can’t get there~

•  Extra shoes.  Because I have really small feet and can get what I need there.

• Winter clothes. No point yet (no room). I will have to have them shipped at a later date.

**UPDATE**

So I was supposed to live in the dorm on campus, however I got an e-mail saying there is no room for me, and I have been offered a place at 3X the cost of living in the dorms. I said no thanks and I will be finding my own housing. So it is a good thing I planned to go early to get comfortable with the surrounding area, because it looks like I will be using that time to find a place to live.