Teachers Share their Experiences While Living Abroad!

As I was packing to come to South Korea to teach English I had no idea what to expect in terms of: food shopping, clothing or toiletries. So to be safe, I packed enough toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant and necessities to last me six months. Little did I realise, however, I could buy all of my favourite brands and more right here in, from Colgate toothpaste to my favourite brand of dill pickles – South Korea really does have everything. This blog will give a quick overview of the best places to shop in South Korea, from groceries to clothing.

I love shopping, and at home in the U.S., if I ever need a mood boost I know where to go to find the perfect uplifting outfit. Buying new clothes always makes me feel like a brand new version of myself, ready to tackle the new week. So, I was a little bit worried about what shopping in Korea would be like. Would it be an open market? Would I have to haggle for things? I was definitely thinking of a different country. South Korea is full of malls and superstores that carry tons of items that can fit your style from head (hats) to toe (shoes).

When I became a teacher in Korea, just about everything was new; new foods, new friends, new place to live and of course new students.  Living and teaching in Korea has been and continues to be an adventure.  There are tons of things to do and lots of new people to meet.  I’m making strides on completing my bucket list in Korea before I head home in June.  However, it’s nice to find some familiar things in Korea that is reminiscent of living in the U.S.  One of my favorite places to shop for knick knacks in New Jersey, was The Dollar Tree which is a huge 99c store.  At The Dollar Tree, you could find everything from food to furniture and even clothes for relatively low prices.  I’m glad that Korea has a store like that, it’s called Daiso.