Butterflies: If you build it, they will come

The Girl Scouts have planted the butterfly garden! Butterfly gardens have two different kinds of plants: flowers to attract and feed the butterflies, and host plants to support cocoons and feed caterpillars.

There are many plants that are suitable for butterfly gardens, such as lantana, milkweed, butterfly bush, joe pye weed, and many others. Unfortunately, a lot of well known butterfly plants are not available around here. Lucky for us, a lot of common flowers and herbs will work just as well. Our community butterfly garden has sunflowers, marigolds, fennel, two kinds of parsley, basil, pineapplesage and mint.

You can even make a mini-butterfly garden right on your deck in small containers! All you need is something to attract them, like marigolds or pineapple sage, and something for the caterpillars, like parsley or basil. Put them together in a big container, or just have them next to each other is smaller ones. The plants and/or seeds can be found at the 4-9 market, the greenhouses at the flower market, or sometimes even at the BX and/or commissary (to the left as you pass the ID check lady).

This picture is my deck butterfly garden. The big plant is pineapple sage, purchased at the commissary. You can see some fennel in the foreground and some basil in the background just coming up.

Here are some links to learn more about butterflies and butterfly gardens:

Butterfly Garden Basics

Local Butterflies you might see

Herb Butterfly Gardens

Getting Short

As my time at Osan draws to an end, I can’t help but feel very conflicted about how I feel about leaving. On one hand, I’m so happy to get out of this crazy ops tempo which meant so much work for me just to support it. On the other hand, I’m so sad to leave my friends and the unique bonds that only Osan can create.

While I count the days to our PCS (and I always know how many are left), I wonder what is in store for us next. I know that I will not be going somewhere where the bonds are a close as they are here. I know I get to go back to Target, Barnes and Noble, and a REAL grocery store with non-frozen meat. I know I might actually get to see my husband at dinner time on occasion. But I’ve learned so much here that I don’t know that anywhere else can compete.

Yes, I’ve learned about our place as Americans in the world and a lot about the military and how it works for better and worse. And, I’ve learned a lot about Korea and Asia in general. But most importantly, I’ve learned about personal independence, innovation, support, friendship, and creative, cooperative living. Important lessons for life that many people don’t really get to learn.

I will miss my Osan home because it has enriched my life, even if I don’t miss my Osan job, even for a minute.

Helen, Guest Blogger

Exercise & Nutrition

We all dread the words "Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!" for many reasons. Some times, because we can't actually exercise. Some times because our schedules are dramatically disrupted. Some times because all the noise prevents a good night's sleep. Even meal times can suffer dramatically.

Often, with our spouses working over dinner time, there just doesn't seem to be much point in taking the time to cook a carefully planned and nutritious meal. But, for the past two exercises, a friend and I have been swapping meal time responsibilities. Assuming there are 4 nights that dinner needs to be provided, each family takes the job of cooking a complete meal for both families for 2 nights. The kids get to play. We get to chat through one of the most draining times of day. And, we all get to eat a good meal without wasting food. I REALLY wish we'd thought of it sooner!

So next time you hear our 3 favorite words, partner up with some friends and get cooking!

Directions: Flower Market

If you've never been to a Flower Market, this is well worth the trip. It is unlike anything I've ever seen before. Cut and potted flowers and plants. Baskets and vases of all kinds. Very, very inexpensive. For a total of 5,000Won (about $5), I bought two huge bunches of cut flowers.


To get to the Flower Market:

• Take the "Big 1" north towards Seoul
• Take the exit for "Seoul Grand Park" and get over immediately into the far left lane
• Turn left at the first light
• The Flower Market is immediately on your left
• Take the first left to get in. You have to pay for parking. (About 2,000Won-about $2-for 1.5 hours)

Here's a link to some more detailed information: http://english.kbs.co.kr/life/path/1395704_14466.html

Garden Project: Dirty fun!

If you've been by the garden today, you may have noticed a GIANT pile of dirt by the front gate. More accurately, it's a pile of sandy loam that will be wonderful in the garden when mixed with the existing dirt and some compost or other organic material, such as bagged potting soil.

If you're interested in some dirty fun, come on down and help move it to the garden patches. The areas where the grass has been turned over or removed all need to be covered with several inches of the new dirt. The kid can fill buckets to carry, or bring your wagon!

And, learn some more about dirt! You may not realize that the study of soils is a science all its own, and that there is a big difference between various types of material, depending on the composition. In fact, dirt and soil are not even the same thing, even though we use the words interchangeably. Click here to learn some more about soil science.

For some fun related information and activities, click here for the dirt on soil from Discovery Kids.

Osan, Sweet Osan

It seems like every day I hear one of my friends or neighbors talking about a recent fabulous trip, or planning an upcoming one. If you look under 'labels' on the left side of this page you'll see a category called 'travel destinations' that has reviews of exotic locales by Osan parents. There are tons of interesting places you can easily travel to from here: Thailand, China, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Saipan and more.

While you're here you might as well take advantage of all these opportunities to travel, right? When will you ever have a chance like this again? That's what everyone says, and for a while I believed them. But you know what? I don't WANT to travel around Asia. If I had my choices of continents to travel on, Asia would be on the very bottom of my list, even below Antarctica. I can't read the signs, it's a hassle to travel with my two small children, and travelling costs a lot of money and leave, both of which we'd rather save. I get my fill of Asian culture eating in town and taking day trips to the local attractions.

Sometimes I feel very lame and uncool admitting this to all my well-travelled friends, but no more! I'm embracing my inner homebody. It's okay to stay on base!

Osan Parents Sound Off: PCS Tips

Spring is in the air and that means PCS season is in full swing. The moving crates are piling high and the freight evelvators are packed with the comings and goings of nearly 90% of the Osan population.

This is also the time when lots of questions about PCSing up. There's not too many more things as overwhelming as moving half way around the world. Here are the answers to some of the more common questions:

1. Are grills allowed in base housing?

Yes! Don't forget to pack your grill, but if you have a "mega" grill, you may want to downsize. Balconies in base housing vary, but are approximately 10 feet in length and 4 feet in depth. While you are at it, be sure to bring a few ourside toys for your balcony like a sand and/or water table. They are expensive in Korea and in the summer it makes for good cool play!

2. What child care options are available at Osan?

There are many workable child care options at Osan. The trick is to figure out what you want. Some people hire an ajima ("housekeeper") at about $70 per day (9 am -5 pm) who can clean their home and do some basic child care. Some people take their kids to the base CDC, but the options there can be a bit limited if you are only seeking part-time care.

Other options include doing a child care swap with another mom, joining the child care co op, arranging for another private child care provider to come to your home, or paying a babysitter as needed. For children who are 3 and 4, there is a great preschool program called Part Day Enrichment. This is available on an enrollment basis and lasts for the entire school year (part or full-time is usually offered, but keep in mind things always change).

Osan is also trying to encourage in-home child care providers to become qualified to open a child care in their home. If you want to do this, you would make a very nice income. It is badly needed.

3. What should I bring that is hard to get in Korea?

While the BX does stock some child care items and kids clothes, you can do better to stock up before you come. If you have a baby product you can't live without, get a good supply. One thing that is really expensive here is Tylenol Infant Drops and there is no generic. It can also run low in stock during sick season. Also, child proofing items are virtually impossible to find here. Stock up before you come.

If you have prescriptions that can be tricky to get, set yourself up with Tricare Pharmacy Online and get your current PCM to write you a long-term prescription. Once you are set-up, you can fax or mail your prescriptions to Tricare and they will mail them to you APO. The turn around time is fairly quick, but requires a bit of planning.

Most places will ship most (but not all things) to your APO. Companies such as Amazon and Target are very popular here. (And Fat Brain Toys usually offers free shipping to APOs.)

If you have stroller-aged kids, make sure you bring an excellent stroller. There are many popular brands here so you can ask for specific advice on the OPN Yahoo Group.

Other items people like to bring or wish they did include:

• dehumidifiers (they tend to sell out fast)


• hiking-style baby carriers


• snow boots


• cold weather gear, esp. infant/small child sized gloves


• swim suits


• shoes for everyone


• rain gear (esp. raincoats)


• lamps (they are so expensive at the BX and the selection is not so good)


• microwaves (tend to sell out), high chairs, cribs, toys (again, the BX selection is poor, esp. for babies and girls),


• telephones (limited selection with noisy ringers!)


• computers and computer peripherals (limited selection)


• favorite toiletries (esp. salon brands)

• Air purifiers. The air quality here is not the greatest and the selection of air purifiers is very very limited.
  

4. What about bringing my pets? What is the process and what are the limitations?

Click here for a blog post about this question. Again, please remember to verify information before you come as it does change.

If you have more questions, be sure to join OPN's Yahoo Group to ask. There are lots of people to help you in anyway they can.