Essentials for Study Abroad
When getting ready for your study abroad there are many resources that CIEE provides that can help you figure out what to pack. However, I thought that a more personal experience could help as well. During the fall semester, you will experience three different seasons in a short four months. This can be very overwhelming if you don’t know what to pack. Here I can provide a list of clothes and other accessories that have helped me as well as what I have bought while staying here. I can also share a list of clothing items I have regretted bringing.
For clothes to be worn during those humid times in Seoul, it is much easier to pack lightly. I brought a single pair of denim shorts and focused more on dresses and skirts. More specifically I brought:
- 5 jeans
- 2 midi skirts
- 4 dresses
- 8 going out tops
- 4 or 5 tank tops
- 7 or 8 more everyday tops
- 2 hoodies
- 3 belts
- 3 purses
- 5 pairs of shoes
But, there was a lot I didn’t have to bring. When packing my dresses, I thought I would wear them out more often because I wanted to try something new abroad. In hindsight, I should have stuck to what I normally wear and if I really wanted to wear a dress then there are a lot of cheap stores in Korea that offered this kind of look that I was going for.
Packing for winter in August was much harder. I packed only two sweaters and a puffer jacket. I decided that I could buy most of my winter clothes while I was here. But, after experiencing a little bit of winter, I wish I packed one more pair of boots for the snow, one more jacket, and a couple more sweaters.
At the end of the day, there will be items that you wish you had brought and items that you wish you didn’t. When it is your turn to pack, it will be best to under pack and only bring the items that you actually wear every day at home. In Seoul, you can find many cheap stores and clothes that you will love. If there is an essential you absolutely need, then Seoul will have it.
Related Posts
Travel Tips
When you study abroad, there will typically be some traveling involved during your semester. Before leaving for Seoul, I had family and friends tell me to travel out of the... keep reading
Last Month in Seoul: Making the Most of it
It’s that time. I’m haunted by visions of my bed at home as I lie in my mattress-topper-less bed at SK Global. I have started to crave the familiar flavor... keep reading
Volunteering in Korea with CIEE
Through CIEE, I had the opportunity to teach English to a young student for five weeks, during which I also took on the role of head teacher for one week with two other students. Initially, the experience was challenging due to my limited Korean and my student's minimal English skills. We relied on translation help and body language to communicate, and my student was quite shy at first, making our interactions awkward. However, over time, my student became more comfortable and began to open up. I was amazed by her progress, as she grew more confident in speaking English and revealed a playful, observant side. Watching her improvement was incredibly rewarding. Reflecting on the experience, I gained valuable lessons in patience, flexibility, and cultural empathy. It taught me how to adapt my teaching methods to different ages and language levels, while also learning the importance of persistence. On our final class together, I hoped she would continue to build on the English skills we worked on during our time together.