Winter destination ideas from Osan Parents

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!

Osan Parents Sound Off: Flying with liquids

Question: Hello, I'll be flying back to the States with my 2 month old baby (alone) and I was wondering if I'll be able to take breastmilk/baby formula through security? Also, I'm taking the baby carseat with me since we purchased a seat for baby girl on the plane but I'm still deciding if I should take my stroller with me? I plan to bring a baby carrier along but does anyone know if I would have to take her out of the baby carrier when I go through security at Incheon? We'll be flying with Delta and would like to hear your experience flying with an infant or any advice:) Thanks so much.

Answer 1: We moved here when my baby girl was also 2 months. We took her carseat and the stroller. You will be able to check the stroller right as you board the plane and they will keep it for you until you exit it. It was very handy to have the stroller because we didnt even take her out of the infant seat unless was for diaper changes or feedings.. Since the infant seat locked into the stroller it was easier to have her in it and just stroll instead of having to carry her and the infant seat.

They will allow you have the formula , I had 1 of those 12oz can of formula.I dont know about breast milk. Because I had one bottle of formula that was already made for her and they said I am only allowed 3oz of it . Even then they tested the formula for chemicals.

Answer 2: I brought formula on the plane with no problem. Baby formula/breastmilk as far as I know is fine. I had to take off the baby carrier to go through security. The baby carrier was nice because I had both hands free. My 4 month old did great on the plane. I do wish I had taken the car seat on the plane for him to sleep in.

Answer 3: I just traveled with two babes by myself to the states.

I brought 42 oz of formula with me and it was fine. I would advise bringing the 8 oz ready to feed cans of formula (you can then pour into an empty bottle) Since you can't bring water to mix powder with through security. You can always buy bottled water on the other side of security but it will be cold, and I don't know many babes who will drink ice cold formula.

Also, if you buy a big can of concentrate, you then have to worry about keeping it refrigerated after it's opened, and I'm not sure how to do that.

If you have a paid seat for the baby and the baby is in an infant travel system, I'd just bring the whole thing through security and do what Tally said. That way you basically just leave the baby in the carseat the whole time and just snap her in and out of the stroller at the gate.

If you're carrying her in arms then I'd recommend a sling or moby type carrier where she can stay all curled up. She'd probably sleep through the whole dang flight that way!

I carried my little one (who's a bit older) through security with a baby bjiorn and they didn't make me take him out, but that might have been just a fluke.

I had all of my snacks, formula, liquid baby medicine and toddler food in one carryon and when I arrived at the security checkpoint just told them, "Here are all of my liquids. It's for the babies" They took a look around in it and gave it back to me on the other side. It wasn't a big deal and they didn't measure any of the liquid or test it for anything.

Answer 4: We just did this on Saturday so here is what we did. I took both powder and caned formula, the commissary has Enfamil in packs of 4 8ozs can(I bought 6 packs) I also had the premeasured ready to mix with water also (but didn't use them) We had no problem with the formula at all they even let us thru the security check point with opened bottles of water no testing either. When we came to Osan I had ten bags of frozen breatmilk (6ozs each bag) and kept in in a cooler bag no problems with security. The flight crew would bring me hot water to thaw it out or I would go to the galley to thaw it there. Like everyone mentioned they checked the stroller at the gate and it was right there when we got off the plane waiting for us. The agants at the gate kept asking us to check the car seat because kids under two yrs didn't need a ticket and sit in your lap. We kept our seat and used it for the 9 month old with no problems. It worked well and he "watched the movie" with no sound and wa fine. Traveling with five kids was pretty easy with two adults this time. Going alone wasn't to bad either with four when we were going to Osan but Mommy need a stiff drink afterwards.

Answer 5: I flew over here with an 11 month old on Delta as well.. They were pretty lenient when it came to the formula. There are certain rules on the Delta airline website about formula but they didn't seem to care too much since I had my son with me and I guess they trusted it. I had two 3 compartment formula things from Wal-Mart and that was fine. When I checked in at the gate they told me they prefered for us not to take the car seat on the plane and it was actually a great idea. My son was older than your baby and could sit in the seat fine but when it came to napping it was nice to be able to lay him down in the seat without having to mess with the car seat. With one so young it might be different. We took our big stroller all the way through security and all the way to the door of the airplane where they took it and stored it for us. As soon as we got off the plane they had it waiting for us too. I had to take my son out of the stroller and carry him in my arms through the metal detector but again he was a little bigger. Well I hope that was a little helpful but they do have lots of information on the Delta website if you need more info.

Osan Parent Sound Off: GPS

Question: Can anyone tell me what the deal with the GPS's is here?
Do you have to buy a Korean GPS or can you buy a Garmin and just have
to buy the maps here?


Answer: We had a large Garmin Nuvi when we got here. So we thought we would just buy the map and put it on, but the maps cost $220 US dollars to buy from the Garmin dealer here and you can't get it anywhere else. So we opted to but the Garmin Nuvi 200 that the Garmin dealer in Songtan is selling. I checked the price and he sells it for the same price you would get in the USA plus the $220 for the map so I think around $350 US dollars is what we paid him for the unit with the maps. It is the best deal around unfortunately. I even spoke with Garmin about it and they don't sell the maps directly.

If you want to go check him out, he is the guy who was in Seoul, but opened an office in Songtan a few months ago. Walk out the main gate, go across the street and down the little alley to the right of the main walkway. It is the alley with the car dealership, BMW I think? His store is right across from the car dealership. It has a large Garmin sign above it. I don't think it is open on Tuesdays.

There is a large screen $400 unit you can buy from the PX up at Yongsan, but we heard not so good reviews on that one and you can't use it in the states. But it is huge!

Hope this helps, $350 is a lot of money, but totally worth it. We used it to go to Daechon beach and it took us right there.

Travel Tips: Ins and Outs of Okinawa

Upon arrival at Kadena:

Once you get to the terminal at Okinawa, the MPs will put you (and other travellers) in vans and drive you to Customs and then to the immigration office where you will be stamped into the country. You can not drive yourself because the MPs have to escort you; plus, it would be a $40 cab ride!

Military members do not need to be "stamped in" or out since you can travel with your ID card. They get extremely confused if you show them your ID or orders. So to avoid a 1/2 wait, only show your family's passports (unless you have a passport and want to be stamped in). If your spouse and/or children do not have an AMERICAN passport, they MUST have a VISA! The immigration folks made us wait for 3 hours while they figured out what to do with one family and almost made them leave!

Once immigrations is done, the MPs will drive you back to the terminal and you will need to have your passports stamped by the Kadean Customs officers! After you get that done, you can call the base lodging shuttle at 632-1010 to pick you up and take you to the lodging office. There is a car rental agency right in the lodging reservation room.

Lodging:

We stayed at the Shogun Inn on Kadena. To reserve a room, go to the the Kadena Services lodging website to reserve a room. I got emails from the hotel right away, confirming our reservations. If you are not going to have a car, you will want a room closer to the BX food court area. We stayed in bldg 437 next to a small food court and behind the BX and across from the library. Unforuntately, the last day we were there, they tore out the playground that was there.I am hopeful they were putting a new and improved one in. It was right at Bldg 437 so it was handy for antsy kids.

When making your reservation keep in mind:

• There are no elevators at the lodging so pack lightly or ask for ground level.
• The suites are large with a full kitchen set up.
• There is no WIFI or computer connections in the rooms! They have WIFI in the lobby of the lodging reservation office only! They will tell you that they have free WIFI on the 3rd floor of every building, but it is not connected yet and they are having issues. You can get WIFI at the community center, library and the Banyan Tree (NCO Club open to all ranks).
• The Banyan Tree sells the best Yakosoba on the island!

Other things to keep in mind on Kadena:

• Currently, the base pools are closed except for one lap pool.
• You will need a card to get around on the base and especially off or really deep pockets. The fares start off at $5 and the base is huge!
• I would advise you to go to ITT in the community center and check on trips. They have some good ones. We went to "Manas Beach" one day and it was worth the money. We had an excellent time. They have a cool "glass bottom" boat which is actually more like a submarie that does not fully submerge. When you get to the beach, you will each get $1,000 yen ($10) to spend on some of the things and you will get a free ride on the glass boat and free BBQ lunch. Their idea of BBQ is not ours! They have a lot of things that looked very Korean...no burgers/hotdogs nothing like that! However, amongst the kim bap and rice and noodle and fish dishes....they did have french fries (but soggy) . But they had kayaks, canoes, aqua bikes, snorkeling. It was wonderful.

Some more tips about Okinawa:

• Food and drinks in Okinawa are expensive! We mostly ate on base. Downtown, a beer was 8,000 yen and water was 5,000! You can buy drinks on the many vending machines downtown so take yen if you walk around....cheaper than in the restaurants.
• We also highly suggest you make reservations at Okuma Resort which is a military resort. You will need to drive a couple of hours to it but you can get directions and it is very easy to get to. You will need 7,000 yen (each way) for the toll booth ($7) and they take credit cards but not american cash! Make reservations early. Tell them you want the "Suites Plus" (or better) but not just the suite...too small for a family. They run about $70 a day and they are not glamourus but since you will be sandy and sweaty from playing all day...they don't need to be. All the rooms are a stones throw from the beach! They have several rental items and I love the bikes for 4! They even have a small golf course. Make sure you go up to lookout point! You will want a sunset picture there!
• The restaurant at Okuma is priced very well and for dinner you can get a great meal (including soup and salad) for as little as $5!! We started going, eating the soup and our fill of salad and taking our entree in a to go box for lunch in the room (they have microwaves and a fridge).

Getting home:

When you are leaving Kadena, you will have to "stamp out" of the country once you are manifested at the terminal. That ride is on you and it is about $50 round trip, I am told. You will go to the same immigration office and "stamp out".

However, if you proceed to another Japanese base, such as Yokota, you can "stamp out" of the country there much easier! At Yokota, we took all the passports and made about a 15 minute walk outside the gate (no taxi will go there) and got them all stamped and we were on our way.
HOWEVER, if you get your passport stamped when you arrive at Kadena, you may not have to worry about that 15 minute walk because the SPs at Yokota told us we only had to make the walk because Kadena did not take us back to the terminal (there was an accident at the terminal) and have the SPs stamp something in our passport. Had we made the trip back to the terminal on our day of arrival at Kadena....Yokota's terminal folks could have stamped us out!

MeLissa, Guest Blogger

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.

Need to ship your pet?

I do not claim that this is perfect information; it I just what I have heard and
verified by talking to pet owners and the animal transport companies. Airports
& Airlines can and do change their policies at any time and often without
notice. Always check with your specific airline.

Inchon airport (and the airlines) have changed their prices and policies for
leaving Korea with a pet.


1. To be in the cabin with you (under the seat), the new weight is now 10
pounds maximum - that is, pet + carrier cannot exceed 10 pounds. I do not know
the price for this.



2. Animals up to 70 pounds may be checked in as excess baggage. (NOTE: Please
double check this with your specific airline; some carriers may have different
policies). However, to check a pet as baggage:
a. the price is extreme.
b. some airlines may have different weight limits. Again, please check
with your specific carrier.

One family at Osan is paying $1,100 to fly their two cats with them to the
States ($550 per pet). They are on Korea Airlines. Another Osan family was
also quoted by Korea Airlines $550 to fly their 14 pound dog to the States.

United is cheaper; the family with the two cats was quoted $380 each to fly on
United. However, United has apparently limited their number of flights out of
Korea. Transportation seems to be booking people mainly on Korean Airlines.



3. Large pets (approximately 60 pounds+) must be shipped via a private pet
transport company. I know of two:
a. Korea Animal Transport
b. Pet Airline company

Korea Animal Transport just quoted $1,620 to send a 100 pound dog to Texas. My
understanding is that the price starts at $1,000 minimum.

Pet Airline is cheaper. It has has quoted a teacher $1,827 to send 3 dogs.
However, they will only handle pets up to 66 pounds. If your pet is above 66
pounds you must go with Korea Animal Transport.

Contact info for these companies is at the end of this email. They well may be
other companies, but this is all I know of so far.



Important:
1. These are prices for going to the States; I do not know prices or policies
for travel directly to Europe.
2. I do not know if requirements for entering Korea have changed; I have not
heard they have.
3. Please always check with your individual airline; their policies may vary.
Airport and airlines can and do change their policies & fees at any time and
without notice.
4. Again, please pass this onto everyone possible. People need to plan ahead
to take their furry family members with them.



Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.


Monica Hoagland
Information Specialist
Osan American Elementary School
Osan Air Base, South Korea
DSN 784-6912



Contact info on the pet transport companies:

Korea Animal Transport c/o Chungwha Animal Hospital
Sohee Yoon, Manager
email : soheeyoon@gmail.com
Address : 21-1 Itaewon-Dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
website : www.cwhospital.com
tel. : +82 2 792 7602


Pet Airline Company
gina@petairline.co.kr

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

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!