Yes, save money to buy cases of mosquitoe repellent. Purchase and ship at least ten cases of surgical masks to keep the odor of Kimchi and garlic breath from reaching your brain, and yes, it is Everywhere, no where to run, no where to hide. Learn where the anti American demonstrations are being held each day and avoid those areas whenever possible. Go to the Dragon hotel and get your butt kicked by thirty korean women when you want to play a slot machine. Learn to enjoy two TV channels, AFNK and Sky News network. When your husband finally arrives home after work you will get used to the phone ringing telling him to come right back, its another alert, ergo a self sufficient wife you will become. Learn how far to stray up Itaewon hill, there is shopping and then there is prostitution. (See penalty for playing slot machines). Other than that it is a great time. The fun I had during my last tour made me put in my retirement papers the moment I got to what turned out to be my last duty station in the States.Any advice for a new wife heading to Korea?
Everything is in English/korean, I only got lost on a the subway once. Watch out for the korean liquor So-ju, you think you are still sober and you stand up and you can't walk. Watch out for the pakistans down there, I never trusted them, I thought they were gonna steal me and put me in the sex slave industry. Otherwise you should already knwo about the red light districts and never go there anyways, there should be great things to buy just off each post, they had a great bus system on base that went to each post. Great diving thru MWR. In Yongson I walked ot the tower to eat. You will see it when you get to the post at yongson. There is MCdonalds and KFC there in the city of Korea and I loved to taste the korean food a bit spicy so watch out for that.
If authorized put really big items into storage except for things you will need right away.
Make sure that you do have power adaptors (for the plugs and for converting) as things in Asia are usually 220V not 110V. Some places will give you adaptors in your house or even can be 110V there but if housing is crowded you might need to live out in town. They will give you some adaptors. Things like TVs, DVDs are alright usually, just check the back. One other thing is make sure your TV is NTSC/PAL that way it can work on any system.
Stock up on certain canned or boxed food products that you can find where you are. Sometimes at the overseas commissaries you can't always get stuff.
Clothing can sometimes be a problem as well if you are a larger size, so can shoe sizes as Asians are smaller. This doesn't though happen in all places and if you have an exchange it does help but sometimes it can be frustrating as there is limits.
Make sure you have an up to date Driver's License before you go. You cannot always renew it online with some states so if it expires you can be screwed. A US Driver's License is usually required to get a International DL. Be careful when driving there are some people who throw themselves in front of vehicles to chase away demons and it can be a mess. If you have a car, make sure you have a camera with you so if there is damage to either car in an accident you can show it. Sometimes people will try and take you to the cleaners.
Go with an open mind, you can have a great time if you take the chance to really see the country and take in the culture. Try things at least once when it comes to food. You never know you might like it. Get out and see things, don't just stay home. Visit not just Korea but go to Japan, China, Thailand, Philippines, etc.. if you can. Learn some basic Korean words at first then see if they offer classes on base or somewhere close by. It can help out a lot and it is showing them respect.
NWIP has the best and most practical advice. There might not be enough space for all your things, so yes put as much as you can in storage. If you have a big truck or SUVs, make sure there's enough space (driving and parking). Good luck and have fun!
um... i'm assuming you're going to Seoul? (definately South Korea?)
i grew up in Seoul, South Korea and came to the US 7 years ago. Seoul is an AMAZING place. it's like New York with less people. learn korean, if you don't already, and engage in the society. it's not that much different than US if you can understand what's going on
Have a great and safe trip it's beautiful over there .The Korean peoples are very friendly just don't drink the water and watch what you eat .
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