Oh, Boy!

Let's face it, boys are weird. Then they grow up to be men and are weirder still. Don't get me wrong, I love boys. I better, I have two: 4 and 1. But they already do things that are incomprehensible to me, like peeing on the sidewalk or shoving each other off the furniture repeatedly while screaming with laughter. I have always been kind of a book nerd, so naturally I turned to books to try to figure them out.

Parenting books usually present a wide array of 'expert parenting advice' that conflicts. The cry-it-out or for God's-sake-don't-cry-it-out debate, for example. But, interestingly, the books on boys I've read are generally in agreement, and not very surprising:

Boys are different than girls, and typically more active and aggressive;

Boys may commonly relate to one another through competition, rather than cooperative play;

They don't take in what you are saying as readily as girls; and

It is natural for them to 'clam up' where girls might be more likely to share how they feel.

And, I have already found these things to be true, without question. Great, now what? There is also a high degree of agreement on parenting advice:

When you talk to them, make sure they are making eye contact with you- this may help them absorb what you say.

Encourage them to run around; some boys may even improve learning by practicing spelling, times tables or other tasks while doing something physical, such as jumping rope or bouncing a basketball.

Develop activities to do together; boys are more likely to share their thoughts and feelings while engaged in some other activity: fishing, model building, wood carving, knitting, whatever.

By far, though, the most important thing is time with Dad. I swear, some of the books come thisclose to telling the moms just to get out of the way. If you're a Dad, spend as much time as you can with your boys. If you're a mom, help your husband and sons spend time together, and hit the spa.

Books:

The Men They Will Become, Eli Newberger
Real Boys, William Pollack
Raising Cain, Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson

I'm bored, got any good websites for me?

I figure surfing the web is better than stuffing my face, so that is how I kill some time during the day. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I could be reading the classics, learning Korean, sewing my own clothes, or mopping the six months worth of sticky grime off the kitchen floor. But I'm not; I'm staring at the computer and I need some new sites! Here are some that I like:

http://consumerist.com/

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/

http://www.parenthacks.com/

http://www.etiquettehell.com/

http://www.motherinlawstories.com/

If you have some sites to share, please put them in the comments. I'm dying here.

Services for 0-3 Year Olds

EDIS (Educational Developmental Intervention Services) ~ our primary focus is on early childhood. We do work with kids 3 and older; however, at that time we collaborate with the school. From birth to three, we are kind of the "one stop shop." Any questions or concerns a parent may have regarding development, growth, behavior, toys to buy, sleeping, toileting, etc. EDIS is the place to call.

If parents are concerned with developmental delays, EDIS will do a screening, which briefly looks at the 5 areas of development (social/emotional, adaptive, cognitive, motor, and language) to see how the child compares to other children their age.

If the child appears to be low in one or more area or if the parent would like a complete developmental evaluation that can be done as well. In order to qualify for on-going EDIS services (e.g., speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.), a full zevaluation needs to be completed. However, an evaluation does not need to be completed in order for a parent to ask questions.

Beginning in Jan., EDIS is going to implement "Well Baby Clinics," which will be an opportunity for parents to meet with an EDIS professional to discuss any questions or concerns they may have. They will be once a month at the clinic on base (Osan). I will give you more information on that as it becomes available.

In order to contact EDIS, parents do NOT need a referral from their pediatrician. They can contact at any time for any questions or concerns they may have. For contact information, e-mail coordinator@osanparentnetwork.com.

Elizabeth Schnobrich, Psy.D., ECSE - Licensed Psychologist, EDIS, Seoul, Korea

Directions: Toys R Us

There are two new Toys R Us stores that are attached to Lotte Marts in Seoul and one south of Osan nearer Busan. You can look them up online at www.toysrus.co.kr, but the site is in Hangul so it's a bit tricky. If you know someone who speaks Korean, they can help you translate. The store is really nice and worth the trip. There are Korean and American toys. The toys are more expensive than an American Toys R Us, but they are a bit cheaper than other places like E-Mart and the selection is the best I've seen yet in Korea.

To get there, you can take the train to the Guro station in Seoul. When you come out of the station, look around for Lotte Mart and you've found it. Very easy.

You can drive, but it's a bit more complicated and you're best off confirming the directions with a Korean local before going.

To get there:

• Take the Big 1 North and following the directions to Incheon (Rt. 50 West)


• Take the West Suwon exit


• Go North on the "Little 1" for about 20 minutes.


• Cross over the Han River


• Exit immediately and turn right on the other side of the river so that you are driving along the river road for about 5 minutes.


• Turn right to go back over the river at Guro Station (see signs)


• You'll see Lotte Mart and a Toys R Us sign in front of you.


• Turn left in front of Lotte Mart and turn right to get to the parking lot


• Toys R Us is in the basement. There is an elevator and escalators.

Volunteer for yourself!

One of the great things about Osan is the incredible variety of volunteer opportunities. You can work the phones at the AFRC, walk pets at the vet clinic, price merchandise at the thrift store, pitch mail at the post office, organize holiday parties, or any one (or more!) of a million and one other things. But why? It's kind of a pain to make the effort to get out and find a volunteer position that suits you. Yeah, it helps the base accumulate volunteer hours, which translates into cash for our on-base programs. Of course, it's good to help out a worthy organization if you can. And, sometimes you can get paid child care, which is tempting all by itself.

But here's something you might not have considered: volunteering can provide a huge benefit to you, too. It's a great way to learn a new skill, get some experience for your resume, or make contacts that could lead to paid employment. If you're interested in party planning, for example, OPN would love to have you do some children's holiday parties. Your squadron would probably appreciate your efforts, too, and so would the OSC and some other organizations on base. Take pictures at the party and document your work, and after a few parties, you have a nice portfolio to show paying customers.

Or, if you're interested in business, come to the thrift store and help out! You can gain some great experience in a variety of business and non-profit specialties: operations, marketing, merchandising, customer service and much more.

Almost every office on base can use volunteers, too, and you can make some valuable contacts. Many places on base are staffed by employees of big defense contractors who hire for jobs on bases all over the world, and likely at your next duty station.

There is definitely something for everyone. The AFRC has a list of ongoing opportunities, and there are always more popping up. Or, go out and find your own!

TDY: Temporarily Doin'it Yourself

It must be Thanksgiving because it's TDY time again. And this time, well, it's the same as usual. The house looks like a laundry bomb hit it as my husband "packed" for the trip. The kitchen shows signs of "going away" meals and the last bits of Thanksgiving clean-up. The kids are zooming around on the typical sugar-high and I'm on my own!

Sometimes I complain that I'm a single-parent at times like this, but this offends my husband. I suppose he has every right to be offended because it makes him sound like he's run off on an adventure without any care of what happens back at home. I understand that this literal fact is not true, but on the other hand, when the kids start throwing up, the homework needs to be done, the dinner needs to be cooked, professional responsibilties need to be tended to, the house needs cleaning, and the clothes are all dirty and need washing, for all intense purposes, it is true. I've got no back-up and, for some reason, TDY is often the time when the car starts falling apart or the kids need a middle-of-the-night ER trip. The main difference is that it is, thankfully, temporary.

As military spouses and parents, I think we do live a double-life. We have the life when our spouses are home and the life when they are gone. And, I think, they are two very different lives. Complete and incomplete. I stress out over upcoming TDYs and then stress out about settling back in when they are over. Just when you get the hang of things being one way, it's time for a chance.

While I'm amazingly blessed that Osan provides a unique support system unlike I've ever seen in my many years as a military spouse, the best support system in the world doesn't really change the fact that someone has to get up at three in the morning to change the sheets or if I'm having a spectacularly bad day, there's no relief and that can be a lonely place to be.

On the other hand, TDY time is also when we really find out what it means to be a support system. While we can't always fix every problem and be there for each other in the middle of the night, I know that, if I asked, someone would come and that helps. When I was talking to a new Osanite recently, she was concerned about what would happen if a medical emergency happened while she was so far from her family and I was able to say, without a second of doubt, that there would be help.

Sometimes I wonder how I can be so weak and dependant, then other times I'm amazed at how much strength I have at just "getting through". And, surprisingly, I do always "get through". Sometimes better than others, but always with new lessons learned and a new appreciation for the love and support around me.

Just Say NO

To a Christmas card list that's as long as your arm, that is. Sending out hundreds of cards is a waste of your valuable time, energy and money. There are two categories of people on your list, right? People you have other contact with, and people that you only exchange Christmas cards with. If you don't like someone enough to talk to them when it's not Christmas, just cross them off your list and be done with it. If you do care enough about them to call, write or see them at other times, hurray! You can call, write or see them some other time! No need to send them an insincere, mass produced card. Since your list is now much smaller, you can send a nice picture or personal note! Or, just tell them you're not sending them this year. Your nearest and dearest will understand. Joy to the World!

Anonymous, Guest Blogger

Farewell, Osan: One Mom's Tour

As our time at Osan Air Base comes to a close, I've been doing a little reflecting. Being our first real assignment after tech school, I didn't really know what I was in for, not including the fact that it is in a different country. What I experienced when I first got here and what I experience daily now are worlds apart from each other. From living off base, to moving on base, then back off base, then finally back on base again, it has been quite a ride.

When I first got here, we didn't have any children yet. It was just the two of us, free to do (almost) whatever we wanted. I quickly noticed that what the majority of people here did was party. Seriously, every night. Now as many of you guessed, these were mostly the single people, with no family to go home to.... or married people, here unaccompanied, pretending they were single. It all seemed a little chaotic to me. Aaron and I would refer to this base as the base of alcoholics.

When we had Lucas, I entered this entirely new atmosphere. Full of mommies, babies, playgroups, breastfeeding, morning coffee with friends, support, community, and for the first time since coming here, friends. I met people I could connect with. People that were going through or had recently been through the same things I was going through. For the first time since Aaron joined the military, I had people I felt that I could really talk to. It was, and has been, fabulous!

I learned what it was to be a military spouse while here too. What it means to really support your spouse. My wonderful husband is serving our country. Though he can't tell me what he does, I know for the most part he really enjoys it, and is good at it. Granted, we have it a lot easier than some because he has a steady Mon-Fri 7:30-4:30 job, but the women here have shown me how important it is to support our husbands and keep our families happy, healthy, and in line, so that they can do their job and come home to an inviting atmosphere.

I love that this is a "walking" base. You walk pretty much everywhere here, or at least we do. The downfall is that there isn't a ton to do, so for entertainment we usually end up walking to the BX, seeing if there is anything we can't live without, and then walking home. Fun huh? This base is such a small community. It is nice walking anywhere and running into at least two people you know. I've lived in a couple small towns before, but I've never felt the sense of community that I have felt here. This might be due to the fact that we are in a different country with a different language, so we cling to our own. We are the minority here, so we depend on each other.

It has been fun and interesting experiencing the culture here in Korea. It has been fun getting to see the old fortresses, palaces, shrines, folk villages, etc. My husband knew quite a bit about this country before we came here, so he already knew the culture, but I quickly caught on. The driving is one of the scariest I have ever seen. I have seen people drive on sidewalks, not stop at stoplights (which is very common), and not pay any attention to crosswalks. Oh and you know how in the states where there is an intersection with yellow flashing lights signaling you to yield and the other side has red flashing lights signaling you to stop? Most times Korea just has yellow flashing lights on both sides, so it is a free-for-all. It gets pretty interesting, and we have experienced some SERIOUS road rage. I have learned that Koreans have a different view of personal space than we do, their men are very feminine and "close" to one another, and most that we have met are very prideful. Aaron has had conversations with Korean teachers both here and in the states that would argue with him for days that their language is completely original, when it was actually based off the Chinese language. Same goes for their architecture. Korea has also apparently built the largest church.... I would have guessed the largest church would be near the Vatican or something. The funniest thing I think I have heard since being here is that the Korean culture believes in this concept called "fan death". Aaron has read published articles on this topic. They say DO NOT sleep with your fan blowing on you (which you totally want in the summer because they don't have central a/c), because it will kill you. Yup, you will die of "fan death" if your fan blows on you while you are sleeping. Uh huh.....riiight. There is also this terrible smell here, which we call the Korea smell. Before coming to Korea we couldn't place what our dogs absolutely disgusting breath smelled like. Well we figured it out, it smells like a Korean alley, yuck.

All in all, it has been a good three year tour here in Korea. We are so terribly excited to go back to the states, and don't plan on coming back to Korea if we have a say in the matter, but it was good for us to experience this. Thank you to all the wonderful people that I have gotten to know while stationed here. Many of you have shaped me into a better woman, wife, and mother.

Disaster: Would You Survive?

Back in my pre-baby life, I worked for the Army Corps of Engineers, running emergency construction projects. In the spring of 1999, I was in Kellogg, Idaho, building a chute to channel some anticipated floodwaters away from the town. This required digging a trench for a large culvert in a narrow canyon. The culvert sections had to be fastened together inside the trench. If you don't know a lot about trenches, they are extremely dangerous. Dirt is very heavy, and someone inside a trench can be crushed to death even without being buried. So, whenever the workers were in the trench, I was watching very carefully, ready to warn them if I saw any movement on the sides. Sure enough, one of the sides caved in. And, I stood and watched the dirt fall in slow motion and said nothing. Why? I had no idea, and it has bothered me ever since. But guess what? It turns out I was in denial, and it's a common, but surprising, response when something disastrous happens. Luckily, that day only a small part of the trench wall fell in, the workers jumped clear and everything was fine.

I just read 'The Unthinkable; Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why' by Amanda Ripley, and it was an absolutely fascinating look into risks and how the human brain and body respond to, well, the unthinkable: plane crashes, shooting rampages, and natural disasters.

The author studied many different incidents, from ferry sinkings to Virginia Tech to fires to 9/11, and found that in every case, survival depends on regular people at the scene, not on professional responders. By the time emergency personnel arrives, it's too late. But there's no training for regular people, so we have to be responsible for ourselves. The good news is that our risk of facing some catastrophic incident is much lower than our risk of say, having a stroke. But for various reasons related to our humanness, we dread disasters much more than the common diseases that we're much more likely to suffer from. So, eat your vegetables, get your exercise, quit smoking, meditate! And there's more good news: there's also plenty we can do to up our odds of survival in a disaster.

Some common reactions are not what you might expect: In disaster after disaster, investigations have shown that many people don't react; they simply fall into a stupor, as if paralyzed. It takes a jolt to snap them out of it and get them moving. For this reason, flight attendants are trained to shriek at people in airplane evacuations to get them moving. 'Milling' and 'Gathering' are also common responses. In the WTC attack, people in the towers were slow to evacuate for several reasons, but many of them stopped to gather belongings, and to discuss the situation with others. Group dynamics are always interesting, but in a disaster, people tend to herd up and wait to be told what to do. And that's fine if there is someone there who knows what to do, but that's not often the case.

When something happens, survival depends on you and those around you. And, like everything else in life, it's the simple things: Read the safety card on the airplane. Find the nearest exits and count the number of rows to get there. When you enter a high-rise, find the stairs and know where they go. Drive defensively. In general, have some situational awareness. Make a habit of looking around you and pay attention to what's going on. And breathe. Studies have shown that the same breathing patterns that help you meditate or soldier through labor can keep you calm in an emergency.

Living here at Osan, I am pretty complacent, but the reality is that there is a constant threat of aggression or terrorism. How would you react? Think about it, and make a plan. It might save your life.

Anna, guest blogger

Directions: Dream Depot

Dream Depot is an office/party supply store in Songtan. It would be good for office supplies, wrapping materials, and party favors with some other things thrown in, such as paper art supplies, some scrapbook things, and other random stuff. The top floor is office supplies and the other stuff is in the basement.


To get there:

• Turn R. out of the main gate


• Turn L. at the Triangle of Death


• Go over the bridge


• Turn R. immediately at the end of the bridge


• Turn L. at the 2nd set of flashing traffic lightsDream Depot is on the right on a corner a block or two down. Dream Depot is written very small, but you'll see the word "Stationary" in English.

Confessions from chaos: Stop the Insanity!

My house is a chaotic mess. My dishes are never done, my laundry is piled in the hallway, my kids have runny noses and long, dirty fingernails. My kids watch too much television and I drink too much wine and not quite enough coffee. I never go to the gym and spend way too much time and money online. My husband is neglected and my house plants are dead. My important papers are piled haphazardly in a bin in the closet and I can never find anything I need. I am forever buying new stuff because I can't find the three or four I already have: flashlights, umbrellas, stewed tomatoes, gloves, sunglasses, batteries, whiteout, blank cd's.....

Enough is enough! The new year is coming and I'm considering a radical resolution: To boldly impose order where none has existed before. Trouble is, I have no idea how to go about it. Oh, I've read all the organization books and checked out flylady and all the rest, but nothing has ever helped for long. But this time, it's different. I mean it this time. Really.

So here's where you come in: I need some help! If you can walk through your house without a Lego injury, if you aren't able to collect enough earwax from your kids to start a bonfire, if you can put your hands on your will within five minutes, give me some tips! If not, wanna come over for some wine? Any night is good for me.

Anonymous, guest blogger

Trashing the Environment for the Holidays?

I just read that Americans spend more on trash bags than 90 other countries spend on everything. I knew it was bad, but that's pretty shocking. If you've spent even three days in Korea, it's obvious that garbage and recycling is taken much more seriously here, and I understand that the situation is similar in the rest of the world, where resources are scarcer than we have enjoyed for decades in the US.

But the times, they are a-changing. Our landfills are filling up, our air and water are dirty.There are even contaminants in breastmilk! In the Pacific Northwest, the Orcas are starving to death because there aren't enough salmon to feed them. The list of environmental damage goes on, and on, and on, and it's all a direct result of overconsumption and the manufacturing, packaging, shipping and other activities that support it.

That's all pretty dreary, I know, but there are plenty of steps we can take. With Christmas coming up, I am already dreading the hefty bags full of wrapping paper, excessive packaging (oh, how I hate those wire ties that fasten toys to layers and layers of cardboard and plastic!), shopping bags, and boxes.

Here are some ideas to reduce the Christmas impact on the environment:

1. Consider environmentally friendly gifts: reusable grocery bags (Envirosax makes some really cute ones!), reusable BPA-free water bottles or sippy cups (Sigg, Kleen Kanteen, Safe Sippy), battery-free toys made from recycled materials (Sprig, many more).

2. Request, and give, gifts to charities like World Vision (http://www.worldvision.org/), Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org/) or 'adopt' a penguin, snow leopard or other endangered animal at World Wildlife (http://www.worldwildlife.org/) in lieu of a traditional gift. I have plenty of people on my list that don't need another scarf, pocketknife, toy or pair of gloves, and even kids can appreciate helping animals, or sending a seed kit or a flock of chickens to a family in Africa. You can even send a backpack of school supplies to an American kid in need.

3. Use environmentally friendly wrapping (use foil and then save it for use in the kitchen, or use kids artwork, or the comics from the Sunday paper). Try incorporating the wrapping into the present by wrapping a hat and gloves in a scarf, tucking some little girl's jewelry into a purse, or wrapping baby's presents in a super soft blanket tied with a ribbon. The possibilities are endless!

Add your own ideas in the comments, or send a post to osanparents@gmail.com!

Anna, Guest Blogger

Directions: Star Wallet (Photographer)

Question: For all you mom's that have taken or are planning on taking Christmas photos, can anyone recommend a studio either downtown or kind of close?

Answer: I haven't taken Christmas photos down there, but we ALWAYS go to Star Wallet. We love them! A little tip: If you go there, order a smaller picture of all the ones you like so they touch them up, then order the cd and you can control all the printing from there.

To get there:

• Go down the main strip downton and turn right at the second alley. At least I'm pretty sure it is the second.
• It is on the far end on the left side.

Or, it's probably easier to spot this way:

• Another way to go is to turn left at the triangle of death and then take the alley to the left right before you go up the bridge.
• It will be the second or third store on the right. There is a drug store on that corner too to help you identify it.

Tori, Guest Blogger

Sam Il Bulgogi House

Bulgogi is big in Korea. In fact, it is the national dish. Thankfully, it is also quite tasty and if you haven't already done so, try it. Sam Il Bulgogi is a good and popular place to go. It is an easy place to find in the Sinjang Dong market outside of the main gate and most people know where it is if you ask.

When entering the restaurant, remove your shoes and step up on to the floor of the restaurant without placing your feet on the "dirty" entry-way floor. Remember to wear socks!

You can sit at either at traditional floor level Korean dining tables or you can sit at Western style table and chairs. They do not have high chairs, but will allow you to bring a stoller in to the room for the little ones. Or, you can bring a portable booster seat and sit it on the floor or in the chair at the table.

The restaurant doesn't exactly accomodate children in the American sense of the word, but they love kids and appreciate them being there. Kids enjoy sitting at the table on the floor and watching their food cook at their table. Overall, bulgogi is a pretty kid friendly food because they can eat only the parts of the meal that they want.

The best things to do is order one or two orders of your preferred bulgogi (beef is traditional, but chicken is also very common.) You can pick spicy or "sweet". That should feed 2-4 of you comfortably. Once you've ordered sit back and relax. Enjoy a drink and watch some silly Korean TV. It is an informal place.

The wait staff will start your table BBQ and start cooking the meat which is marinated according to your order. He/She will also bring a myriad of small bowls containing condiments, such as kimchi (pickles vegetables, such as cabbage), rice, and lettuce leaves. The most important part of the meal is the kimchi, so don't put it aside. It would be considered rude. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find at least one of the types you will like if you need help knowing what you are eating, just ask. They are very helpful.

When the meat is cooking/cooked, the wait staff will cut the meat in to (large) bite sized pieces with scissors and now it's time to eat! The traditional way of eating bulgogi is to take a leaf of lettuce, place some rice, kimchi, and meat in the leaf. Wrap the meat tightly around the contents and place the ENTIRE thing in your mouth, so don't make it too big. You can ask for more of your favorite condiments. I particularly like the Korean pancakes. Yummy!

When you are done, you will pay for your bill in the entry way. You can tip. While tipping is not customary in Korea, may of the places outside the main gate understand that this is the way Americans show appreciation for their meal.

Helen, Guest Blogger

The Perks of Being...Wrong?

Shannon is working on her Doctorate in Education and has agreed to provide regular material for our blog that is based on her research. Below is a book review she has written about mindsets that are useful for both parenting and education.

While reading the book, Mind set! Reset Your Thinking and See the Future by John Naisbitt I found myself relating too many of his 11 mindsets but the two that seemed to be the most applicable were mindsets 4 and 10. Mindset four addresses the idea that it is not always good to be right or at least one should not feel the compulsion to always be right. Close on the heels of mindset 4 is mindset number 10 and it states that one should not add unless you first subtract. It is with these two mindsets that I most closely align my thinking and recognize as important for my success professionally and personally.

The realization that being wrong can still lead to success is a freeing fact and one that applies all too well in my professional and private life. Mr. Naisbitt (2006) talks of Albert Einstein a well known genius who made tremendous discoveries for Science and the world through the lengthy process of trial and error. I am certainly not comparing myself to Einstein or anything close to that but rather I see the similarity in our mindsets. I have always been a fearless person and at times this has even been to the point of recklessness. In my professional career I have experience in several fields and have often been told that I have “Done it all”, but there is much to do in the life I have left to live. Fear of failure has never been an obstacle to my decisions in life whether it was professional or personal. If I see or hear of an opportunity that I think will be beneficial or enriching to me, I step out in faith and try this new arena.

As a Social Studies teacher I am constantly adding to my knowledge base in an attempt to keep up with the changing times. History is an ongoing subject that grows second by second, hour by hour, and day by day. It is virtually impossible to constantly be aware of all the history going on in the world. As a result of this enormous growth of information I am often unaware of events or outcomes as it relates to my field of study. I am cognoscente that as change occurs old information becomes outdated and simply wrong. Information such as the world being round and not flat or that the Sun does not rotate around the Earth, but the Earth in fact rotates around the Sun.(Granted I was NOT teaching when any of the aforementioned theories were taught as correct…despite how old some of my students think me to be) So when confronted by a student who inquires as to why they have information that disagrees with what I have said, I am not afraid to admit that I may have outdated information and I welcome the new input. If I feared being proved wrong I would do well to find another line of employment as many students live for the opportunity to find a gotcha moment with their teacher.

Having a child creates a whole new set of reasons why not having to be right is powerful. First, there are too many books on how to raise your child and too many philosophies to really decide whose is better. The best method in my humble opinion is to do the best you know how and follow your instincts. This method is at times risky and prone to error. My decision to give my son chocolate and strawberries before his one year birthday was wrong. It turns out he is allergic to both items and would have been less likely to react had I waited until after his first birthday. Though the results of my error had only a minor impact, other choices could prove to have more severe consequences. As parents we cannot abstain from making decisions about the welfare of our children regardless of how afraid we are to make mistakes. So I do not allow the fear of being wrong to prevent my trying to do what is right.

When I start my “to do list” I am often reminded of the expression, the straw that broke the camel’s back. The weight of one straw is rather insignificant when taken alone, but when added to the hundreds of pounds of other straws it may become the crushing blow. After having my son I quickly realized that my priorities had to not only shift but change entirely. The idea of having a spotless home became a memory only to be recalled when family or friends were visiting. In place of the spotless home came a box of toys, a stroller, a diaper bag, a diaper pail, a high chair, a bassinet, a play pen, a bottle of milk, a pump, a monitor, a tube of diaper cream, and a host of other baby items littering the house. I realized that caring for my son meant giving up something else I once did in his place.

As a teacher we have such a heavy demand on our time that it is laughable when I hear people say that teachers only work 9 months out of the year. If you compared the hours teachers put in during the school year, to the hours of any 40 hour a week employee I think it would quickly become apparent that those few months off are little compensation for the over time teachers actually work.(Not to mention that many of us attend courses to maintain our certification during the summer months) Several times I have had Principals ask me to coach one more team or sponsor one more organization when I was already the coach for two sports and the sponsor of the debate team. I know in order to be effective it is imperative that I learn to use Naisbitt’s (2006) tenth mindset, “Don’t add unless you subtract” (p.89). Time is a limited resource and cannot be stretched to accommodate more activities, despite the prayers of countless students over the ages. There are indeed only 24 hours in a day and only so many actions that can be accomplished in that time period. If you want those actions to be successful and not sloppily completed then you must realize that it is better to do three things well than ten things poorly.

Shannon G., Guest Blogger

Osan Parents Sound-Off: Winter Destinations

Question: What is there to do around here when the Winter comes?

Answer:

• In the shopping mall where Lotte World is in Seoul, there's also a large indoor ice skating rink. Just DON'T GO THERE on weekends or Korean holidays. Weekdays / US holidays are best.
• There's a modest aquarium at COEX Mall.
• In late Dec / early January, there will be some artificial snow sliding areas in Seoul.
• There are indoor water parks such as Ocean World - Vivaldi Park (ski resort and indoor water park) in Hongcheon. The trick is to find a Korean friend who can get a discount rate at the hotel. They can be very pricey, even for modest accommodations.
• One of the best known ski resorts - now indoor water park too - is Phoenix Park. Korean winters tend to be rather drab and dry. Much of the snow falls in Gangwon-Do Province - to the east / northeast of Seoul. That's where most of the ski resorts are.

Answer: You could start with Lotte World (indoor/outdoor amusement park) and Tiger World (indoor waterpark/spa and snow hill).

Answer: E-Mart and Lotte Mart both have indoor play areas for the kids while you shop. The supervisor at E-Mart usually speaks enough English to understand what you need.

Answer: Everland has seasonally appropriate activities. The CoEx Aquarium is a decent place to spend the morning. Just get there early or there will be lots of people. It reminds me a little bit of a Korean Manalay Bay (Las Vegas) aquarium. It is definitely an interesting cultural experience. Not just fish!

Thinking about Obesity in American Children

“America has a pandemic obesity problem. Although a widespread overweight condition is present in all industrial countries, the United States now has the highest occurrence, with estimates of more than one half of its population currently overweight or obese” (Tillotson, 2004, p. 617). The trend of obesity in America first came to my attention when the book and movie Supersize Me came out a few years back. Though it was not a book or movie that I actually read I did listen to the pundits as they discussed the substance of the author and film makers’ story. It caused me to pause the next time I had a craving for a Big Mac and some greasy McDonald’s fries. However, the pause was short lived and I like many other Americans have since gone on to gain more weight and eat more junk food with less exercise. Recently I listened in shock as the airline industry announced a plan to possibly consider charging passengers by their individual weight rather than just the single seat they purchased.

When I was a young child we had television and later in my adolescences the emergence of video games came with Atari. I distinctly remember being told by my mother to turn off the television and go outside and play. I also recall being forced to come back inside when the Sun began to set and Mom called my brothers and me in for dinner. About 20 years ago, and some years after my Mom called me in for dinner, I recall babysitting for my nephews and when I told them to turn off the TV and go outside they simply elected to go in their rooms and play computer games. Both of my nephews have struggled with obesity and this struggle continues today. They are in my opinion examples of a growing trend among America’s youth. “A constellation of social changes, including the rise in the use of pre-prepared and fast food as well as soft drinks, the decline in everyday activity such as walking to school, the extensive availability of computers and videogames, and increased amount of television viewing, has been linked to the increase in obesity among children and youth” (Belsky, Bradley, Friedman, Houts, Nader, O’Brien, & Susman, 2007, p.1469).

In 2001 the U.S surgeon general David Satcher claimed that obesity was a major problem and could lead to as many at 300,000 deaths per year and even cause more preventable disease than cigarette smoking(Oliver, 2007). Although the numbers seem to be larger than can actually be possible, it would seem that obesity has increased health risk to Americans. Part of this problem lies in Americans choice of a more sedentary life style and part reflects the growing pattern of eating food prepared outside the home. Fast food was not the only item noted to cause obesity to increase; the authors also drew parallels to the prepared foods bought and then eaten at home after being heated. “Currently, nearly half of Americans’ total annual food purchases are for food that is fully prepared and consumed either outside the home or brought to the home for consumption”(Tillotson, 2004, p. 618).

In addition to selecting poor diet the articles also noted that physical activity had notably declined in America. “The decline in physical activity levels of young children seems to be combined with a high prevalence of obesity and overweight and a reduction in the number of young people wanting to take part in organized sport”(Al-Nakeeb, Duncan, Lyons, & Woodfield, 2007, p. 2). As a coach I have noticed a reduction in the number of kids willing to even try out for a team. My first year as a high school coach we created a middle school team to allow more participation among students interested in playing, just a few short years later we were forced to cut the junior varsity squad because the numbers of willing participants had dwindled to such a small group. When I asked students why they elected to no longer participate the responses ranged from not having enough time to not having any interest in sports; regardless of the reason it was clear that athletics were no longer a priority.

One study looked at the link between community parks and the activity level of residents residing within one mile. What was concluded was that the amount of activity depended on whether there were organized sporting events or whether it was merely an open park with any number of sedentary activities such as chess or picnic tables(Cohen, Golinelli, Lurie, McKenzie, Sehgal, & Williamson, 2007). Increased physical activity was a key in keeping me healthy and in shape as a young person and an adult. It appeared in the articles I researched that this aspect of life still holds true but that fewer children are electing to become active. “The increasingly robust evidence that emerges from recent research findings indicate that physical activity is an important preventive measure for avoiding unhealthy weight gain”(Al-Nakeeb, et. al, 2007, p. 3).

One really does not need to read lengthy studies completed on the obesity epidemic to find evidence that American children and adults are growing to an unhealthy weight. All that would be required would be a look around in the mall or the local restaurant to see that our waist bands have expanded beyond a healthy measure. The question at hand would be how to deal with the problem of obesity. “Considering the prevalence of the overweight condition today in the United States and its predicted future social and economic costs, obesity can no longer be considered as just the individual’s problem, but rather should be seen as a broad population problem requiring attention by government”(Tillotson, 2004, P. 638). It appears that once again Americans may find that their salvation will come at the hands of the federal government or can we for once take responsibility for our own actions and shake off the excess pounds?

References:

Al-Nakeeb, Y., Duncan, J., Lyons, M., & Woodfield, L. (2007). Body fatness and physicalActivity levels of young children. Annals of Human Biology, 34, 1, p. 1-12.

Belsky, J., Bradley, R., Friedman, S., Houts, R., Nader, P., O’Brien, M., & Susman, E. (2007).The ecology of childhood overweight: a 12-year longitudinal analysis. International Journal of Obesity, 31, p. 1469-1478.

Cohen, D., Golinelli, D., Lurie, N., McKenzie, T., Sehgal, A., & Williamson, S. (2007). Contribution of Public Parks to Physical Activity. American Journal of Public Health, 97, 3, p. 509-514.

Oliver, E. (2007). Fat politics: the real story behind America’s obesity epidemic. Journal ofHealth Politics, Policy and Law, 32, 1, p. 132-138.

Shannon G., Guest Blogger

Seven Ways Osan is Better than the States

1. Spa pedicures at rock bottom prices
2. Commissary is way cheaper than Safeway
3. Shopping is fast with no annoying choices to slow you down
4. A tank of gas lasts 6 weeks instead of 3 days
5. No need to try to keep up with the Joneses because they have to buy the same stuff at the BX that you do
6. 'Overseas COLA', aka 'Handbag Allowance'
7. There's always a great explanation for a bad hair day

Anna, Guest Blogger

Osan Parent Sound Off About Travel Distractions

Question: We are planning to hop to the states in October with Weston and Shane (3 and 1) and I am wanting to make some little travel activity packs with things for them to do on the way. Does anyone have any suggestions for travel-friendly things that will occupy them for as long as possible?

Osan Parents travel A LOT! Here are some of their tips for keeping the kids distracted and happy en route.

Answer: When Austin was younger the V-tech books kept him busy. They are hard plastic and have lots of things to push to make noise. Coloring worked good for him this last trip. Go for color wonders, Austin colored on the tray table with crayons last time. Of course the portable DVD player with fav movies is a must have. Books are nice too. They take up some time.

Answer: Model Magic Clay and Color Wonder markers with coloring book. Both from Crayola. Portable DVD player (they even have one with games that we got for Jack when he was 3. That one is by Colby.)

Answer: This is going to sound weird, but Charlie loved it. Buy a box of tissues and let them pull out every single tissue in the box. Also buy little cheap-o toys and wrap them individually. Then let them open and play with them one at a time. Using a tissue box (perhaps the one that they ripped all the tissue out of?!) throw in a few different textured items and without them looking in let them try to figure out what it is (yarn, rubber bouncy ball, safety pin, matchbox car, etc). I bought an aquadoodle that works great and you don't have to worry about them coloring on anything they shouldn't. The crayola color wonders do the same thing.

Answer: I packed the travel size magna doodle, they aslo have a mini version too. Crayola has this packet you can buy that has black paper but you use they special marker and what ever the kids draw show up in rainbow patterns or sparkly some are plain others have batman and the like. We also couldn't leave without the favorite stuffed animal, a small one though. I packed flash cards for all the kids, 9,7,3 and baby at the time. For the little ones we used a hole punch and put the cards on a ring.

Answer: I know this sounds hokey, but I took fruitloops and cheerios and a ball of yarn (small ball) and my kids made bracelets and necklaces and even gave them away to other kids on the plane. They had a great time and it was a great snack since they did not particularly like the menu on the flight! I got them making patterns and we did it for a long time. Also, you might want to take your own plug in headphones. My kids do not like the earbud style they gave us on the plane.

Answer: Be sure to ask for kid friendly meals on your flight. That made such a difference for us. Some of the meals were better than what was served for the adults.

Answer: Bring a mixture of things they're familiar with that they like (books, writing materials, etc) as well as some new "surprises." They get bored easily, and of course have short attention spans. They also can get anxious being stuck in such a confined space (like who doesn't). Let them roam around a bit when it's okay to do so, but stay with them the entire time. It may be appropo to bring a travel seat for the 1-year old, but don't bother with the 3-year old. Be sure to pay for them to have their own seats; it's worth the extra cost. A favorite small pillow may be useful. The 1-year old may have trouble with ear pain as a result of changes in cabin pressure during altitude changes, especially during descent / landing. So a pacifier may come in handy if still using one. Something appropo to chew on can alleviate the discomfort, at least to some extent. A lightweight foldable stroller is good to bring along; usually checked before boarding but brought to the jetway upon disembarking. The 3-year old might like to look out the window and see what's happening; can sometimes alleviate frustration.

Answer: Crayola Color Wonder has gotten us through many, many international flights. If your not familiar with them, they will only write on the color wonder paper/coloring books, so you don't have to worry about a huge mess! Our BX carries them too!

Thailand: An Asian Adventure

Thailand is a common trip for military families stationed in Korea. We took our trip in December during their high season and thoroughly enjoyed the weather, sites and relaxation Thailand had to offer.

Bangkok:

Many people skip over Bangkok and head straight for the beaches of Phuket. This would definitely be the most relaxing option as Bangkok with small children can be exhausting and terrifying when you’re flying down the wrong side of the road in a taxi that may or may not be legit.

Regardless of the intensity of a big city, we were so glad we didn’t miss out on all it had to offer. We stayed at the Holiday Inn and took advantage of its close proximity to eateries and shopping.

Scary longboat rides, beautiful palaces and Wats (temples) made our 3 days in Bangkok memorable. Just make sure you bring pants or a long skirt and something to cover your arms when entering temples (some places will rent shawls so you can go in, but don’t rely on that).

Sites we visited:

Grand Palace

• 2 Hours
• Whenever I go to Bangkok I always go to the Grand Palace. OK you have to wear long trousers in the tropical heat but the sights make it worthwhile. By the way, you can't wear jeans, three quarter lengths, track suits plus a couple of other things (don't worry, you can hire clothes if you turn up in jeans etc). If you're prepared to abide by the rules (you have to remove shoes/hats before entering temples etc) you're in for a great time, as my photos testify. After you've been to the Grand Palace you can visit nearby Wat Pho with the Reclining Buddha
• Bring an umbrella for shade, and water of course.
  

Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha)

• Reclining Buddha is near Grand palace (behind it)
• 50 Bhat admission (Kind of a walk from the Grand Palace, because I couldn’t figure out a way to get there more easily, but not bad)

Standing Buddha

• Cool if you have time, but not necessary

Golden Mount

• Great view of city, but lots and lots (and lots) of stairs so if you’re tired, don’t bother!

Lumphini Park

• Nice for a break from tourist-y stuff. Very pretty, but warm so bring water and sunblock. Just a pretty park with playground
  

City Tips:

• If you spend time in Bangkok and have little ones I recommend you use a backpack type carrier as it is not a stroller friendly city
• Find a nearby store to stock up on water as the tap water is not potable (even for brushing teeth) “Big C” is like a Walmart and has pretty much anything you’d need
• Never trust someone who tries to tell you that a site is closed. There are a lot of people who will try to lure you away from popular points of interest by telling you that something is closed or being renovated
• Make sure the taxi drivers turn on the money meter or at least determine the cost upfront.
• Take advantage of the concierge in the hotel. They have fabulous information and are friendly and can give you great tips
• Always carry a card with your hotel name on it so you can show it to the taxi driver
• Tuk-tuks – 3-wheeled open air taxis. Fares must be bargained in advance. Beware some try to take you to extra stops along the way and scam you
• Most hotels don’t have microwaves

Phuket:

Phuket was fabulous and after the stress of Bangkok we wanted nothing more than to lay on the beach and dig sand forts (well, my husband dug, I sat). Laguna Beach Resort was isolated and beautiful and had supreme service while our last 3 nights were spent at the Katathani where we once again were impressed by the accommodations and stellar care of the staff. We didn’t do much other than the beach and pools while we were in Phuket, but you can sign up for Elephant rides and scuba diving and other adventures if you’re up for it.

If you want to see pictures of our trip, visit http://www.whereiskermit.com/ and go to the December 14, 2007 blog posts of Phuket and Bangkok. Sawatdee Ka/Krub

Anna Jane, Guest Blogger

Tiger World: It's Grrrrrrr-eat!

If you haven't been to Tiger World, check it out! It's a bit of a trek but worth it!

On one floor is an indoor snow skiing/sledding hill (my husband took our 9-yr old--perfect for a beginner) and on another floor is an indoor waterpark/spa. We have been to the waterpark/spa three or four times and plan to go back another couple of times before we leave.

When grandparents were here, our 9-yr old chose Tiger World over everywhere else to take them. The waterpark side is nice (little kids' area, wave pool, lazy river, slides, lap pool), but we spend the majority of our time on the spa side (through the food court).

The spa side has several pools with varying temps, saunas, a pool bar (no alcohol served, but that is where we eat our Dippin' Dots ice cream!), a large pool with a mushroom fountain and water jets along the edges, outdoor hot tubs, and the famous Dr. Fish pool (something like 3,000 Won for 20 minutes--worth the experience, even our 3-yr old tried it).

You get a bracelet when you check in which serves as your 'key' for your locker and also serves as your credit card. You place everything in your locker (wallet included, but keep out your towels and/or cooler) and you charge everything while you are there with a swipe of your bracelet. You pay on your way out.

We eat at the food court (the kids like the pork cutlet set), but we supplement with our own fruit and crackers (drinking water is free).

It's on the way to the airport and it's about 75-90 minutes away depending on traffic.

Here’s how to get there:

• Take Big 1 North to 50 West (opposite Everland on 50, might say towards Ansan)
• Take 15 North (under 5 minutes' time on 15N) to 100 West/North towards Incheon Airport. Tiger World is on your left--huge blue and gray odd-shaped building.
• Exit at the Jungdong Interchange and make a couple left turns and look for the signs.
• Parking garage is underneath Tiger World.

Bring and show your military ID for a discount!!

The website shows what it looks like www.tigerworld.co.kr/eng/ Click on the 'About Facilities' button at the top and then on 'waterpark/spa' for some great photos. Enjoy!!

Linda, Guest Blogger

Looking for a Church? Consider Mission Baptist

Mission Baptist Church is an easy-going contemporary church just off base. They utilize drums, guitars, and piano during their praise and worship time, but also enjoy singing traditional hymns, too.

Pastor Mike Ivey and his wife, Jill, have been in Korea for 20 years (now, that's a calling!) and lead the church in solid Bible teachings.

MBC (http://www.missionbaptist.com/) has an active youth group, a children's choir, Bible studies, Sunday school classes for preschool through adults (with a great nursery) and many opportunities to get involved.

They also have a parking lot with 3 hours of free parking near the church.

Walking directions:

• Walk out the main gate and straight down the pedestrian mall.
• Walk until you reach actual pavement (you will have been walking on the cobblestone ped mall sidewalk).
• Turn RIGHT.
• You will see Mission Baptist Church (in gold letters) facing you at the end of that street.

Linda, Guest Blogger

Kid Friendly Recipe: Yum Yum Rainbow Pasta

Yum Yum Rainbow Pasta:

3 C uncooked pasta (I use half whole wheat rotini spirals and half veggie rotini spirals)
2 C veggies (examples: mixed veggie pack, broccoli, etc. Whatever you have on hand works)

Cheese Sauce:

2 tbspn butter
1/4 C flour1
1/4 C milk
pinch ground nutmeg
1 C grated cheddar cheese (packed)
1/2 C butternut squash puree

Topping:

2 tbspn fresh grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tbspn fresh bread crumbs

Butternut Squash Puree:

1. Cut butternut squash in half, scoop out seeds
2. Place halves face down in a pan and cover with an inch of water
3. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes to 1 hour - be sure the "shell/skin" puckers and halves feel soft then scoop squash "meat" out of the shell
4. Place squash "meat" into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
5. I freeze in 1/2 C jars and then put one in the fridge the day before I want to make this.
6. I heat it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds so it is ready to use.

Directions:

1. Preheat to 350 degrees if you want to bake
2. Boil pasta according to directions, drain, mix a tiny bit of oil in to keep from sticking, and set aside.
3. Steam veggies, when done be sure to dry out with paper towels to keep pasta from getting soggy.

Sauce:

1. Melt butter in medium saucepan, add flour to make a paste, stir over low heat for 1 minute.
2. Gradually wisk in milk, bringing slowly to a boil on medium heat, cook until thickened, stirring constantly with a wisk.
3. Remove from heat and add butternut squash, nutmeg, and cheese (stirring after each addition).

Final Directions:

1. Pour pasta back in the empty pot, mix in veggies and sauce. From here you can serve if your child is starving. But I think it is better baking.
2. Pour into greased casserole dish
3. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.
4. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
5. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge or the freezer.

Laura, Guest Blogger

Edible Play Doh & Other Tasty Treats

Here are some fun recipes to make with your kids.

Everyday Playdoh

Mix 1 cup of flour, 1/3 cup of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter in a bowl. Meanwhile, bring to boil 1 cup of water, one tablespoon of cooking oil and a few drops of food coloring. A little flavoring essence could be added, too. Pour hot mixture into flour mixture and stir. Add more flour if necessary.

Kool-Aid Playdoh

Add a packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid to boiling water in Everyday Playdoh recipe to strengthen the color and scent.

Self-Hardening Playdoh

Mix 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of flour, and add cup of water. Use the same day, air dry for about 48 hours, and paint if desired.

Peanut Butter Playdoh (edible)

Mix together 1-cup peanut butter and cup honey. Blend in powdered milk until mixture is not sticky, and a playdoh consistency. Double the recipe if necessary.

Fudgy Chocolate Playdoh (edible)

Mix together 4 tablespoons softened butter, 1/2 cup white corn syrup, 6 tablespoons cocoa, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 cups powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup powdered milk. Knead well.

Finger Paint

Pour about a tablespoon of liquid tempera on laminate surface or large piece of shiny paper. Add a few drops of mild dish soap.

Pudding Finger Paint (edible)

Add food coloring to prepared vanilla pudding, and finger paint on a paper plate.

Egg Yolk Paint

Separate the yolk from the white of an egg. Put the yolk in a small cup, and save the white for another use. Mix a few drops of food coloring and teaspoon water with the yolk. Make several colors with more yolks. Use a small brush or cotton swab to paint. This paint dries with a glossy finish on paper. It can be used to paint cookies before they are baked.

Buttermilk or Condensed Milk Paint

Mix drops of food coloring with cup buttermilk or condensed milk. This creates pastel colors. Corn Syrup Paint Mix drops of food coloring with a small amount of corn syrup. Mix in small glass cups to see the translucent colors. This is sticky and glossy.

Bubbles

Mix together equal parts of water and Joy dishwashing soap. Make a wand by twisting a pipe cleaner into a circle with a handle.

From http://www.everythingpreschool.com/recipes/index.htm

Heather, Guest Blogger

Itsy Bitsy Spiders & Other Local Creepy Crawlies

If you're like me, when you PCS'd here you've found lots of little critters running around in/outside of your home. Since my son has no fear of anything creepy and crawly I decided to try and identify some of the most common ones we see in our home (We live in Hallasan Tower). The good news, it looks like all of them are more or less just scary looking.

Tent Caterpillars:

In the spring, the caterpillars took over the playgrounds (and our balcony). There was a lot of confusion and worry among the kids and parents over whether they were "stinging" caterpillars or not.

From what I've been able to find, these are a version of Tent Caterpillars. You can read about them here .

In general, the following seems to be a good rule of thumb that I found in a few different places:

"Many species of caterpillars are variously armed or clothed with setae and spines; however, only a relative few actually possess venomous or urticating structures. Thus, there are "stingers" and harmless "look-a-likes", and distinguishing one from the other solely on appearance is difficult. Determining which is which by "hands-on" personal bio-assay is foolproof but could be foolhardy and painful."

However, my husband, 2 year old, and I all handled these things all summer (even without washing our hands after wards) and never had any adverse reactions to them. So, I personally believe our Osan Tent Caterpillars are harmless. It did make our dog sick when she ate one though.

Earwigs:

I've found several Earwigs (they look like beetles with pinchers on their butts) in the house and unfortunately they meet an untimely death when we cross paths. Here is some general information and pictures.

"Earwigs are considered harmless to people, though they may emit a foul smelling liquid when disturbed. Larger earwigs might use their abdominal "pincers" to "bite" someone, but no venom is present. Though potentially unpleasant and perhaps disconcerting, no harm is done. Because earwigs hide during the day in dark places, they often get transported along with the object they hide in, and are easily overlooked. Most of our species are introduced, and new ones are constantly being introduced."

Seed Bugs:

Seed bugs are the bugs that look like stink bugs. A kind of slim body with triangle head. Here is a picture of a similar one.

"These bugs do not bite, sting, feed, carry diseases or otherwise cause harm to people, pets, the house or its contents. They cannot reproduce inside the house, as egg laying and development are restricted to the host plants during the summer months. They will, however, give off a pungent odor if you handle them, which is part of the insect's defensive strategy. They also may make a buzzing sound when flying."

We have personally squished these and they do stink when squished.

House Centipede:

These are by far I think the scariest looking. I can't stand to even get close enough for a shoe stomping. Here is a picture.

"Indoors they are likely to be found at all times of the year provided they have warmth and available prey. To the North they will only be found outside during Summer. Predatory on other arthropods, including cockroach nymphs, flies, moths, bedbugs, crickets, silverfish, earwigs, and small spiders. In short, they'll eat many things you'd probably much rather not have in your home. Consider these beneficial in your home, since they rid you of other pests.House centipedes are aggressive predators to things their own size but are not considered dangerous to humans. Their small jaws (actually modified front legs) cannot easily pierce human skin. In the rare event you were bitten, pain and swelling may result, but it would probably be no worse than a bee sting."

Golden Orb Weaver Spiders:

You know those big nasty green spiders hanging all over the place that seem to get bigger and bigger as the summer goes on? They seem to be a kind of Orb spider (named because of the types of webs they make) and, while they will bite if provoked, they aren't dangerous to you or your dogs.

For great info and pictures go to whatsthatbug.com or bugguide.net

Lauren, Guest Blogger

Hafa Adai! Saipan: Where the US Starts Its Day

If you want to take the kids and go to the beach for a week, Saipan is a great place to go. The primary language is English and Saipan is a US protectorate. As they say, it’s where the US starts it’s day. Coincidentally, it is where many Koreans go on their honeymoons so you’ll see a lot of couples in matching T-shirt and a lot of Hangul, too.

Keep in mind, there is nothing but sun and sand in Saipan so don’t go for the shopping, the entertainment, or the food. The resorts have decent restaurants, but they are a bit pricey because they are resorts. There is a McDonalds, Subway, Tony Roma’s, Hard Rock Café, and that’s about it for US chains. There are also a lot of excellent Japanese and Korean restaurants.
You don’t need a car in Saipan. The resorts will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. Most of the things “to do” are at the resorts or in the streets around the resorts. Once a week, there is a street festival with food vendors. Good food, cheap prices. We ate it and remained healthy.

It is worth renting a car from the resort for a morning to drive around the island. This is where you can really see the beauty of the Pacific islands and also take in some of the history.
There is a huge World War 2-Pacific Theater history in Saipan and it is one of the sites where the US defeated the Japanese in these battles. The history is somewhat of a touchy subject, but only because the wounds are still fresh. There is a museum run by the US National Park Service that tells you more about the history of Saipan.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency, but there are other resorts as well, such as the Pacific Island Club. The beaches are great for kids because the water is shallow and warm. The beaches are soft and pleasant. There is a water park at one of the resorts that is well worth the trip. There are places to Scuba, such as The Grotto. So if you are a scuba diver, you may be able to take advantage of that.

We booked our trip through ITT. The main thing about the trip is that the flights from Korea are terrible schedule-wise. You leave in the evening (around 8pm) and arrive around midnight. You catch the return at around 2 in the morning. With kids, this is not so great. However, I have a suspicion that if you fly through Japan, you can get a better itinerary, so ask and see.

Here’s a link to the Saipan Tribune: http://www.saipantribune.com/ There is not a whole lot of information online. It is a VERY SMALL place, but we loved it.

Helen, Guest Blogger

Osan Parents Sound-Off about Jet Lag Recovery

Question: We got our tickets for the end of the month and I can't wait! We'll be leaving from the west coast in the mid-afternoon. Does anyone have any tips for dealing with the time change?


This is one of the most common questions asked of OPN members. The following answers are Osan parents' actual responses to this question.


Answer 1: My son was born in this time zone but has flown to the states 3 times as well as the UK once (all before 22 months). I recommend looking at the time zone and only shifting bed times by a few hours. This is what I have always done when I go back to the states. When we arrive in Seattle I would generally work to get my child in bed between 11pm and 12am (about 3 hours earlier his time than normal). This worked well as he would generally sleep a bit on the plane. The next night I would work for 10 and 11 pm then the following night 9 and 10 pm. I would follow these up with letting him sleep no more than 12 to 13 hours in a row and then only for about 3 hours for nap. It has taken him only 3 days max each time we travel to adjust.


Answer 2: It took about a week before me and my daughter got totally adjusted to the time difference. I was actually quite surprised how quickly she adjusted! I think our plane left California in the afternoon, too, which put us in Seoul late afternoon/early evening. I remember letting Kami sleep some on the bus ride to Osan, but once we got to our apartment, we tried to stay up as late as we could. Then for about a week, both Kami and myself would wake up around 3am-ish for a couple of hours and then go back to sleep. But, like I said, it didn't last very long. The plane ride over wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, too. I was really nervous flying over with a one year old and myself, but I had lots of help from a Korean couple nearby!


Answer 3: I just made the trip myself from LAX to Seoul Sept 19th. My daughter is almost three. We boarded our LAX flight at noon. I got Alyssa up at 6:30 am(she usually sleeps until 8:30) so she would be tired by the time we got on the flight. It was great she napped for the first two and half hours. When she woke up we watched movies until they served dinner. We flew Korean Air. The seats had individual TV screen. It was great. They had kid moves and adult moves to chose from. I had brought my portable DVD player but I never used it. Alyssa was fine with the movies the airline had. Once dinner was over we watched another movie until she was ready to sleep again. I had to wake her up to get off the plane. I did not bring my stroller but I wish I had. I just had to many things to carry on the plane(car seat,back pack, and small suitcase). I let Alyssa walk the entire time once we got off the plane, went threw customs, and met Daddy. She was really loving the running around. Once you get to Seoul you have about a 1hour and 45 minute bus ride. Alyssa slept for the last 20 minutes. Once home I let her run around for an hour or so and then I put her to bed. I only let her nap for one hour the next day and put her to bed an hour earlier then normal. She was completely switched. From then on she was back on her schedule. I wish I could have. It took me a week. I know this is alot of personal info but this is what worked for us. They say it usually takes 1 day for each time zone you cross to get adjusted.


Answer 4: I agree with everyone that it is no big deal. I moved from Phoenix in July. I expected a really bad travel and adjustment experience, but it was not a problem at all. The planes are well equipped and I didn't need half the stuff I brought on the plane. (Be sure to ask for a bassinet for your little one.) It took about a week before we settled in time wise. We'd be tired late in the afternoon and then my son (4) woke up at 3 AM for the day, but that faded away. My 10-month (at the time) just fell in with everything else. I was told not to sleep on the trip, so I didn't, then crashed when I got here. That pretty much instantly put me in the right time zone. (While the time change is really 16-hours from the West coast, it really only feels like an 8-hour change. e.g 16+8=24 hours) The general rule for jet lag recovery is 1 hour a day.


Answer 5: For us, every time we have come West (several times back and forth to Okinawa and once here so far), we made sure we stayed awake the last few (1-3) hours of the flight. Then when we got here (it was around 5pm local), the trip from the airport and getting settled in our room. By that time it was 8-9pm and we were all exhausted and ready to go to sleep! We did wake up very early (5am) the next morning, but we just made sure we didn’t go to bed the next night before 9pm local and our 4 kids at 7pm. We let our 2 youngest take short naps (less than 2 hours) that first day, and it was tough to wake them up, but we just took them to the BX for ice cream or to the playground and they woke up pretty easily. By doing this, it only took us about 2 full days before we were completely on local time. The biggest thing is just don’t allow yourself to sleep more than 1 hour during the day (kids 2 hours), and don’t go to bed too early and it won’t be too bad. Otherwise I’ve known some people who took several weeks to get over the jet lag. My 4 month old daughter was the only exception. She got her days and nights mixed up again (she’d been sleeping through the night for about 2 months when we moved), so that was a bit difficult.


Answer 6: A neat idea my husband came up with (after we adjusted to the time) was to take a ball to the basketball court inside the gym and let the little ones play ball. It is inside, the gym is open 24 hours and not too many people will be using the court at 4am. Why didn't he come up with this great idea a little sooner?!!!! Hope this helps you guys out :-)


Answer 7: I've been back and forth from the states twice so far since I've been here, and each time, it takes me and my 2 year-old daughter about a week to fully recover. My best advice is to stay awake as long as you can, which is pretty easy, because most of the flights when you come arrive in the early afternoon to evening. I wouldn't stress too much about this. Just know it takes some time...longer for some, shorter for others. But....it will eventually happen!

Osan: Off the Beaten Path

Just a mile or so out the Main Gate is Buraksan State Park. This is a great, close place to get out in the woods and play, and the weather is so great right now. There are miles and miles of hiking and biking trails at the park; some paved and some rugged. To get there:

-Go out the Main Gate and turn right
-Take the next left (at Century 21)
-Cross the bridge
-Go straight through 4 traffic lights (the 2nd one is a flashing yellow)
-Take a right onto Little 1 at the fifth light (0.7 miles from the Gate)
-Get in the near left lane
-Go through one light
-Turn left onto the street before the next light (if you miss it, you'll have to wave off and come around)
-Turn right onto one of the narrow roads that ends against the trail and look for a parking spot. There is a small lot at the end of one of the little roads.
The trailhead is near a church with a bright orange steeple (see photo)

Some other outdoor fun on base you might not have considered:

On the backside of the flightline is a huge concrete field, perfect for biking and skating. There's also a big dirt and gravel lot there, and after it rains there are always big mud puddles, complete with water bugs. Of course, it's not without hazards- it's near the perimeter so there is razor wire to watch out for, and the vegetation around the fence may be sprayed with a defoliant.

The grass and rocks in front of Turumi is great for running, playing, climbing and collecting pinecones.

The playground and grass over by the ball fields has a lot of room for running, and some good steep hills for sliding or rolling for older kids.

If you have some ideas to add, put them in the comments or email osanparents@gmail.com

Kids Activity: Treasure Hunts at Osan!

Here are three 'Treasure Hunts' around base, suitable for clue finding fun for 2-5 year olds. Just hide a 'treasure' in the hiding spot, and then give the clues.


1. Hospital (hiding spot is behind the standing rock in the little courtyard behind the ER stairwell)

Clues:
-enter the hospital lot by the noisy brown box
-find the red cross across the parking lot and look to the right of it
-climb up 6 curvy steps
-count 3 circles
-turn left and follow the red brick path
-count 5 benches
-stand on the 5th bench and look in the direction the sun comes up
- a rock points into the sky
-look behind it

2. MVV playground (Hiding place is behind the end of the little stone (not concrete) wall in the brick courtyard where the riding animals are)

Clues:
-stand at the green gate where the little ones play
-turn left
-hop to the corner of the green fence
-turn left
-follow the path to the end
-turn around 3 times and then turn left
-find the silver garbage can and get back on the path
-follow the rocks down the hill
-find the brown fire hydrant and jump up and down 6 times
-turn left
-walk straight ahead to the big, curved, brown pipe
-take the lower path and start following it
-walk by some diamonds
-find some purple U's and stand right in the middle of them, facing them
-look to your right and walk to the square rocks
-walk on the rock wall to the end
-jump down
-jump up on the other rock wall and wakl to the end
-look down

3. MVV brick pavilion near the pool (Hiding place is on the back (pool side) of that big barbecue thing)

Clues:
-Head up the road towards the pool
-turn right at the orange mirror on the cinder block wall
-pass bldg E
-turn left before the big ivory candy cane
-pass the purple and white roof
-look for the pumps in a cage
-turn right and follow the brick path
-count 14 bushes
-look for a silver garbage can
-jump up and down 3 times then go up the hill
- look for a forest hideaway
-turn around 5 times
-look around for a big brick square
-circumnavigate the square and find a little treasure cave in the back

Welcome to the OPN Blog!

As you may already know, Osan has an active community of bloggers. OPN is jumping on the blogwagon. To paraphrase the Gettysburg Address, this blog is by the parents, for the parents. So, Osan Parents, we need your posts! If you have something to talk about, this is the place to do it.

Do you have words of wisdom for newcomers, fun kids activities, parenting tips, health or nutrition advice, consumer education, a little known skill, or just a point of view to share? Content is completely up to you! Controversial topics are fine to tackle, but please keep it clean and be respectful of others.

Please send your contributions to osanparents@gmail.com; we look forward to hearing from you!