Teaching English in Thailand: What to Pack

Congratulations! You are about to begin your journey to Asia, to the beautiful country of Thailand.  But wait! What are you going to pack?!

Enjoy this great guide for what to pack while teaching English in Thailand. 

You'll see amazing temples like this while teaching English in Thailand. But what should you pack? 

Important Items to Remember:

• Passport and other important documents (bring copies as well)
  ATM/Debit/Credit Cards (Be sure to tell your bank to let them know you will be using your card while teaching English in Thailand!)
• Cash to exchange or Thai Baht
• List of emergency contacts
• Any daily medication (bring copies of prescriptions), Contacts/Glasses
• Laptop and Chargers

Work Clothes:

Men

• 5-8 dress shirts
• 3-5 pairs of dress pants/trousers
• 1-2 ties
• 2x belts (1 brown, 1 black)
• 2x pairs of shoes (1 brown, 1 black)
• 5-8 dress socks

Women

• 3 -5 long skirts (covers the knees)
• 4-6 blouses that cover shoulders & chest
• 1 – 2 dresses (covers the knees, shoulders & chest)
• 1 pair of black dress pants/trousers
• closed-toe shoes

***Please Note***

• The number of clothing items listed here is all based on how often you want to do laundry/ need for the item.
• Cheap Thai stores are geared toward small people, so it may be hard for Westerners to find larger sizes.
• Remember, when teaching English in Thailand, it's going to be HOT, so you want comfortable and breathable clothes.
• Comfortable clothes and shoes go a long way when teaching all day (you will be very active in the classroom, so make sure you can reach, bend and move around freely in your work clothes).
• Thai culture is modest, so it is important to remember that when packing clothes.

Casual Clothes:

Men

• 5-8 t-shirts
• 2-4 tank top
• 3-5 shorts
• 1 pair of jeans
• 5-8 under garments
• 5-8 pairs of socks

Women

• 5-8 t-shirts
• 2-4 skirts
• 2 sundresses
• 2-4 tank top
• 3-5 pairs of modest shorts
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1-2 pairs of yoga pants
• 5-8 pairs of socks

Sizes in Thailand: The sizes in Thailand run very small. Westerners often have difficulty finding size XL and above. These larger sizes can be especially challenging to find in small towns, but are more present in big shopping malls in cities at a higher cost (H&M, Forever 21, Zara, TESCO - the Thai version of Walmart). Large shoe sizes (Women's size US 8/EUR 38, and Men's size US 9/EUR 42 and above) can also be difficult to find for cheap.

Other apparel to remember when teaching English in Thailand: sandals, casual shoes, a sweatshirt (bus rides can get a bit chilly!), a hat, a rain jacket, sunglasses, etc.

Toiletries Needs: Larger cities and towns in Thailand will have most of the toiletries that you will need. A few things that can be hard to find in Thailand include:

• Deodorant
• Sunscreen & lotions (most sunscreen & lotions in Thailand has a whitening agent for your skin)
• Feminine Hygiene products – sanitary pads are widely available in Thailand; however, some tampon brands can only be found in major cities
• Toothpaste

(If you are picky, bring extra toiletries as reliable name brands can be difficult to find and/or more expensive)

Electronics: North America uses 110-volt outlets while Thailand uses 220-volt outlets. Bring a converter/adapter so your electronics don’t get fried. The plug-in style is the same type you would bring to Europe and normally to North America.

Gifts for the School: When teaching English in Thailand, bringing a small gift from your home country for your school makes a great first impression and starts the conversation about different cultures. Some nice gift ideas include:

• Local food – Maple syrup, saltwater taffy, chocolate, etc.
• Local book – with pictures of your area
• School supplies – children’s books, magazines,

Optional (but a good idea):

• Tablet/books
• Camera
• Headphones

Avoid overpacking: While Thailand is still a developing country, you should be able to find most items or extra clothing in major cities. It is much easier and less stressful to travel with a manageable amount of luggage through the airports and taxis. Our advice – don’t overpack! You are heading out to teach English abroad. That means you'll be getting a paycheck. As your wardrobe changes, you'll be able to afford a few new things.

Thanks to The Cultural Exchange Project participant Ethan Parrish for sharing these amazing photos of Thailand.