Just a random post for those of you moving to Yongsan this summer, or anytime really... 

SHEETS - if you like anything nicer than 200 thread count, bring your own!  Beds are still not that popular in Korea, so sheets are hard to find on the economy & the sheets at the PX, well, they are a polliy-cotton blend, 200 thread count.  If you are good with cheap and stiff, you are good.

FANS - housing does not turn the air conditioning on until late May, early June, and the fans at the PX go fast, so if you are arriving during the summer, bring your own.  You can buy them on the economy, but they use 220, and on post we use 110. 

AREA RUGS / CARPETS - The furniture store carries them, but in high season (summer) they can be hard to come by.

OK, you guys might think I am crazy, but I have been looking for a griddle since I moved here (almost 1 year ago), and I just found one this week, so if you like to cook on a griddle, bring your own.  I left mine at home, because I was told not to bring anything I did not find 'essential' for the kitchen.  I didn't think a griddle was 'essential', now I do. Same goes for the ice cream maker....I now have one here and one back in the states in storage.  An ice cream maker is 'essential' in my opinion.

Along the same lines...specialty food items, buy extra and bring them with you. Vanilla bean paste, can't find it here, my friends and family have been so gracious as to send multiple bottles to me (remember I like to make ice cream...I also use it for other things).  I haven't been able to find tahini either, I'm sure it is out there, but I cannot find it.  If you are moving here and you don't love tahini, you can still bring some for me please.  ;)  You can find most basic spices & Asian spices you can find here, but if you want things out of the realm of 'basic' bring extras to last.  (Example of out of the realm of basic, Chef Paul Phudhomme’s – any of the magic spices)  However, Penzey’s spices will deliver here, and they are pretty fast, spices typically arrive within one week.


Oh, another thing while we are on the kitchen.  I entertain just as much, or more here than any other place I have lived.  Bring things for entertaining!!  Party buckets (for ice & drinks) are hard to come by.

 


Comments

Lara

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:21:32

My buddy Trish, the US Army's one-woman welcoming committee. Somebody needs to put you on the Army's payroll and have you right a Seoul guidebook for recently relocated Army families! Wow! You sound like you're having a great time and learning a lot and seeing it ALL! That's awesome! OK, and also...this is gonna sound weird, but I used to babysit when I was in high school for a woman that had a lot of parties and she would use her washing machine to ice down drinks. Just throw in the drinks and then load it up with ice. When the party is over, just run a rinse cycle (or drain) to get the water out. I don't know if you have a laundry room or if you have communal laundry rooms and the washing machine would make it hard for little kids to get their own drinks (maybe put the beer in there? and kid drinks/sodas somewhere else?), but...I had to pass that idea along, just in case it's something that you (and/or any of your readers) could use. XOXO,
L.

 

Staci

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:29:39

You really are awesome. I remember you looking for info when you found out where you were going. Look what you have done, and done well!! I cannot imagine a person going there that has been reading your blog not be excited and prepared!! Great job!

 

Trish

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:58:04

Thanks guys, this is why I pay you two to be my friend.

Seriously Lara, I laughed so hard when I read about the washing machine, I am TOTALLY going to do it! If for nothing else, the pure fun of it! People will have to go upstairs ( I LOVE that my laundry closet is on the 2nd level), but people want to see the whole house anyway, this can give them an excuse... thanks for the weird suggestion. I love it!

 



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