Directions: E-Mart

Try some local shopping this holiday season! E-Mart is the closest equivalent to Target in Korea. In fact, E-Mart stores used to be Wal-Mart stores, but Wal-Mart failed in Korea. You'll see why when you go to E-Mart. It has a whole different feel.

When you get to E-Mart, you can "rent" a shopping cart for 100 Won. Put the coin in the coin holder on the handle of the cart and separate it from the line of carts. When you return the cart, plug it back in to the line of carts to get your coin back.

Also, Korean stores do not provide shopping bags unless you ask. They also do not back your merchandise. Take shopping bags with you or expect to pay a small fee per bag. If you take bags, you get a small credit back on your purchase per bag.

Finally, E-Mart does have a frequent shopper card, but to get it you may have to take someone with you who speaks Korean. They do take your American credit card.

There are two E-Marts in the vicinity of Osan AB. Here are directions to each.

To E-Mart in Osan:

• From the main gate, turn left out of the gate.


• Follow the road until you see a building that seems to sell toilets on the first floor and a sign reading "Hospitality House" on the second floor.


• Turn right at Hospitality House (this takes you to the Beta/Morin Gate on the left)


• Go past the gate and keep going until you get to the stop sign. (Note: This intersection is a notorious accident spot, so look out! Especially for traffic that doesn't expect you to stop at the sign.)


• Turn right at the stop sign


• Drive over the over pass and to the "Little 1"


• Turn left on the "Little 1"


• Follow the little one north (as though you are heading towards the "Big 1" for about 15 minutes.")


• Look for E-Mart (yellow and black sign) on the left.


• To park-drive to the light past E-Mart and turn left. Take the first left you can take down a small road. Then take the next left to get around the block back to the road next to E-Mart. There is an underground parking deck with a parking attendant waving you in on the right.

To E-Mart in Pyeongtaek: (This is the easiest way for most people, but there are many possible routes.)

• From the main gate, turn left out of the gate.


• Follow the road until you see a building that seems to sell toilets on the first floor and a sign reading "Hospitality House" on the second floor.


• Turn right at Hospitality House (this takes you to the Beta/Morin Gate on the left)


• Go past the gate and keep going until you get to the stop sign. (Note: This intersection is a notorious accident spot, so look out! Especially for traffic that doesn't expect you to stop at the sign.)


• Turn right at the stop sign


• Drive over the over pass and to the "Little 1"


• Turn right on the "Little 1"


• Follow the "Little 1" south for about 15 minutes.


• When you pass under Route 40 (major interstate/highway overpass), you will see E-Mart on the left.


• Do a U-turn at the lights


• Turn right down the small road on your right


• Turn left when the small road intersects/ends at another road. This takes you in to the E-Mart parking lot.

Oh, NOOOOO! It's holiday shopping time!

It might seem pretty early, but if you're internet shopping at Osan, you better get clicking. Items shipped parcel post routinely take 6-8 weeks, and could take longer in the holiday rush. Bigger items, especially, can be slow, and you don't want to have to try to explain why Santa didn't make it this year! Likewise, if you're sending Korean goodies back home to the states, ship them as soon as possible; you won't be sorry!

Do check out the BX before you start shopping online, to make sure they don't have what you want. If you see something you want, snap it up because it won't be there long. The same goes for Christmas decorations and other items.

If you're having trouble, here are some ideas that might help. Try buying smaller items, or items with less packaging to cut down on the size of the box. Priority mail will get here much faster, but there is a size and/or weight limit on the box. Click here to see eco-friendly toys from Amazon. These toys often have less packaging, and Amazon does a great job shipping here in a timely manner. The OSC has a list of companies that ship APO here; just scroll down to the section called 'Internet Shopping'. You can also get an account at APObox or Ship it APO. They will provide a U.S. street address for shipping, then forward your purchases to your APO box for a reasonable fee.

And, if you're looking for other alternatives to the usual toy orgy, click here for some other ideas.

Updated Osan Hacks

Here are some handy Osan Tips you might not know:

*You can shop online at Gmart Korea: they deliver!

*Check with the BX about ordering AAFES items and having them shipped to the BX. They will also send things here from the Yongsan PX. Give them a call if our BX doesn't have something you need.

*To get e-mail notification that you have a package, sign up at the package window.

*Mailing packages is faster if you use cash. The post office only has one line to run cards, so if someone else is using a card in another line, you'll have to wait.

*If you're having trouble getting items shipped APO, try www.shipitapo.com or www.apobox.com.

*Try Hide My IP Address if you're unable to access websites you want to see; Korean IP addresses are blocked from many sites you might be interested. There are multiple free options for this.

*Click here for a links to online South Korean newspapers and news sources in English.

*The commissary sometimes has reduced prices on perishables on Sunday night, because it's not open on Mondays.

*There are book swap shelves at the library, one for adults and one for children.

*There is an awesome sports facility on top of the commissary parking lot: a soft-surface track, four tennis courts and a basketball court.

*There is a laundromat by the Main Gate with big washers for comforters and etc. They also have bathrooms in there if you need to go before you head-off base.

*Two options for getting your car washed: The Auto Hobby Shop has a new automated car wash, and there are business owners on bicycles around base that will come to your vehicle and clean it up.

*The O'Club has an email list that they use to send out their activities and events. Stop by to sign up.

Got some more? Add them to the comments!

2009 Sunscreen Guide

Summer is here! For the past few years, the Environmental Working Group has been studying hundreds of sunscreens. Surprisingly, many of the most popular name brands don't provide the protection they promise and/or have dangerous ingredients. Click here to find the safest and most effective sunscreens, and check out EWG's main site to find information on many cosmetics and other household products.

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

On base housing information

There are three housing towers at Osan: Hallasan, Jirisan and Seorksan (named after Korean mountains). All are less than three years old and are very similar. They come equipped with all the standard appliances, including washers and dryers.

Everyone gets a storage cage, but these are not very big (approximately 5x8, but may vary some). The decks vary some in size and configuration, but the one in the photo is approximately eleven feet wide and five feet deep.

Hallasan and Jirisan have three and four bedroom units that are 2000 sf plus. Seorksan has some two bedroom units.

The apartments have some climate control but the AC is regulated by the base and is turned on and off on certain dates.

The door handles are all the push down handle types (instead of knobs). They lock with a push down button and can be unlocked from the outside with a skewer or other skinny implement. Most, if not all, of the patio doors have kid-proof locks.

On base residents, please add your comments!

Photos from Hallasan Tower:

Off base housing information (Switzen and Life Apts)

Switzen Apartments, courtesy of Jessica:

We live in Switzen Apartments. It's about a 5-10 minute drive to base (about 45 minutes to walk, yes, I know this for a fact!), 5-10 minutes from Happy Quilt, backs up to some fantastic walking/biking trails and lots of great shopping (4&9 Market is very close!) within walking distance. There are 8 buildings in our complex each building has 15 floors (we live on the 5th) and about 60 apartments in each building. It's beautifully landscaped with two tennis/badmitten/korean volleyball courts, a gym, a daycare center, two parks (and more parks within walking distance and lots of parking both above and underground. It is gate controlled (most of the time) with pretty good security. Our apartment (according to Drew's very rough guestimate) is about 900 square feet, 3 bedroom (with a potential 4th), 2 bath. Two rooms have AC units and most of the plugs are 110V, and yes, we do have a dishwasher! Each of the apartments in our complex (and it's my understanding this is the way it is with all off base apartments) are individually owned; they are purchased in "blank canvas" form, so you can walk into may apartment and then into my neighbors apartment and it could (and most likely will) look totally different (flooring, appliances, doors, lighting, etc.).

And, click here for info and photos for Life Apartments, courtesy of Cammy.

Do-it-yourself toasty baby sack!

Maybe you’ve seen Anna Jane and Jane tooling around lately in a fabulous new black and green coat. What you might not know is that Anna Jane made the coat during a single naptime with a coat she got at the thrift store! The thrift store will be open this Saturday, and there are plenty of coats still available, as well as fleece jackets and pants that can be cut up to add the baby sack. Choose a contrasting color for a fun visual effect, or make it match. Veteran Osanites tell me we’re probably in for weeks or months of bundling up weather, so don’t worry about having to put your coat away too quickly.

Here is a link to the directions, and here are Anna Jane’s tips after successfully completing the coat:

• Definitely use a coat with a silky lining so the baby slides through easily!
• Measure out where your baby's head will actually come out of the coat. I pinned it a few spots and tried it on without Jane, but with the "image of where she'd be" in my mind until I got the hole for the head in the right place.
• Make sure the fleece "stretches" width wise not length wise so that the baby is hugged when you put it on.
• Stretch the top panel taut when you sew it so that the back of the coat is more snug.
• Stroll around ‘town’ showing off your toasty tot and your sewing skills!

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.

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.

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