Care Package Items

Do they have Q-tips?

Do they have towels?

Do they have deodorant?

Do they have toothpaste?

The questions may seem obvious, they may not. For instance, of course they have q-tips here. Duh. Koreans get earwax buildup in their ears as much as the next nationality.

Do they have towels? Hello! How would they get dry after showers? However, the towels here are supposedly more satiny and not as cottony as in the USA.

Do they have deodorant? Yes, but its not to keep them dry and smelling good. It's just for vanity and looks. "Look! I'M using deodorant. I'M cool." In truth, Koreans don't sweat like we do in the US. Or maybe they do and just don't care about B.O. I've sure smelled my share of B.O. in the week that I've been here, and I've been told the hot and very humid summer months are far worse. So it's a good idea to bring lots from home and maybe have some shipped over to you, because the deodorant here does absolutely NOTHING to keep you dry and smelling fresh.

Do they have toothpaste? No, sorry. Just kidding! Yes, they've got that, too. However, the toothpaste here is most likely made with sugar and contains no fluoride, and neither does the water. So while you may scrub and brush your teeth, they're not getting the same nutrients as they do in the USA that we're all used to, and cavities are inevitable. In fact, the 5-year old girl in one of my classes has two caps that I can see. (Caps? Metal that covers the whole tooth. I've never had a cavity so I'm not sure of the terminology.)

Do they have bread? Of course! It's just made using rice flour instead of wheat flour. And it tastes good, but everything that uses rice flour instead of wheat flour (bread, cookies, pizza, etc.) is just a bit 'off.'

Here is a short list of items that you can send me if you were thinking about it. I can always use more of these. However, you don't have to send these at all! Surprise me! I love good surprises. :)

1. Crest Pro Health Toothpaste in the gel form. Or Colgate Total in gel form. Works great and these are my favorite kind.

2. Deodorant: Dove Go Fresh Revive, in Pomegranate. Sorry to be picky, but I've tried all of them and this brand and scent work the best for me.

3. Anything wheat based: bread, cookies, crackers... it's something I never thought I would miss.

4. Clothes. I'm a little larger than the average person, and here in Korea it's no different as everyone here is tiny. (Ok, most people.) A size 6 in the USA is an XL here. And I am NOT a size 6. Just email or comment if you're thinking about this, and I'll give you some ideas. A gift card is good, too - I can buy clothes online and ship them to my parent's house, and then ship them USPS to Korea.

SHIPPING TIP: Take the product out of the original packaging to save space in the shipping box. Also, the USPS offers flat rate boxes for international shipping. The largest box is still quite small, and the weight limit in the large box is 20-lbs.

Of course, you don't have to send anything at all. This is not a solicitation. Some people have asked me what they can send me, what do I need, and this is what I came up with. Other than the things on this list, Korea's got anything and everything under the sun. Including Seoul.