The decision to move here with your spouse is pretty big whether you're here NCS or CS. How did you come to your decision? For me, I just really wanted to see Korea and the other countries around here. When would I ever have this chance again? After doing the research, we decided why not. The only major disadvantages to being NCS is that your children are space available for the DOD schools and the medical coverage is Standard. We don't have any children and I am in good health so we didn't think that the medical coverage would be that big of a financial hardship. The other reason I decided to move here was because my husband really wanted me here. He's done overseas tours before alone and he really didn't want to spend a year in the barracks. He wanted to be able to come home to someone who loved him. He knew that he would be happier and that his work would be better also. I've been here since the beginning of July and I think this is one of the best decisions that I've ever made.

I can't really answer because we're trying to decide what the best course of action for us would be. If we do go as a family it would be:

1. to maintain a solid relationship between my kids and their dad - We have an almost five year old son, a two year old daughter, and a baby girl who will be nine months when my husband leaves. He would be gone for over half of the baby's life and would miss big things in our son's life (first T-ball game, first year in Cub Scouts, etc.). Our two year old is very attached to her daddy and it would be hard on all of them to miss him.

and

2. to be immersed in a new culture - What an experience for my kids and myself to be able to learn a new language and customs and live with people who have different perspectives. I think that when kids are exposed to new ideas as youngsters they have a better understanding of people's differences as adults.

I'd love to hear other's reasonings. It would help us greatly to know what those of you who are already in Korea see as the benefits to living there.

Kara

This was a tough one for me at first ,my hubby was NCS ,as a green card holder I could not have joined him. He was lucky enough to get CS at the pennace (sic) of a longer tour of course , therefore it was natural for me to join him , I was 6 mths pregnant when he got his orders ! I also have a 5 yr old ,to me it would of been madness to stay in the States .There have been many instances in his career where his location did not allow the family to be together and those times will come again , so here I am enjoying life in Seoul with my family complete , until of course Uncle Sam decides otherwise ! . I am a traveller so therefore seeing more of the world is fabulous and hopefully my 5 yr old will remember his travels too !

While the decision for me to come to Korea NCS certainly wasn't one I took lightly, it was a decision my husband and I made long before his orders came down. We began talking about the possibility of my coming with him even before he enlisted, so when it did happen, after the initial moments of sturm and drang, and about a week of panic and depression wondering if we could really do this, we had already come to the resolution of going in our hearts and minds.

Like most others who have posted to this thread, I wanted to come to experience life in a different culture, and to follow my philosophy of living every day of my life to the fullest, seeing and doing as much as I possibly can in my time here on earth. How richly rewarding for our entire family the entire experience can be...seeing and doing so many things that many people *never* get the chance to see. I'm a small town girl, from a little place where those who are born and grown up traditionally never see much further than the outskirts of town... and I've always wanted to see and know more of what was out there. I'm also an amateur photographer, and wanna-be freelance journalist...what better opportunity than this to experience a lovely culture at a time when so much is going on historically...?!?!?! How cool it would be to be able to not only provide first hand accounts for my grandkids someday, but also written documentation, along with photos! :)

Add to that the added bonus of being able to spend a year with my husband, building our relationship through all these shared experiences, a year that my son will treasure, and so will we...and the decision to go was an easy one to make for our family.

Dee :)

You know I am Korean, I'm borned here and grow up here.
I have never got overseas. So, I well don't know about a life in other country.
To live as a foreigner in other country, How is it ?
What's a good point and bad point ?
And how do you think about Korea culture and a general citizens ?
And How are you to live in Korea comparison with other country ?
I wanna answer for married woman.
I am Korean man and single yet.
I always hope to your happiness in Korea. and I hope to happy for all womans of the world.

We had planned on coming over to area 1 non c/s but when DH unit moved we got c/s.
For me it was easy he is moving we will go with him. We had both been to Korea before(I was stationed here twice while in the AF and he was here twice before too).
Plus a year away from their dad when it could be avoided was reason enough for us, the girls were 7 years to 10 months when we moved here.

__________________
Michele

I decided to come here half wy through my hubby's second deployment to Iraq. He was gone for 6 months and then was going to be coming here for a year. Frankly I was tired of my kids having to adjust to their dad not being around, and since I had the power to actually do something about it, I decided too.

More power to all of you... My wife would've been command sponsored, but she decided she didn't want to be there for 2 years and believe me, there's NO convincing her. I guess to her, living apart for one is better. I only wish my 2 kids could've had a vote! Can you tell I'm bitter? :-)

Well, I'm not there yet but the biggest reason for us coming over NCS is to keep the family together. My kids both have issues when Dad is gone and where we are right now he is gone at least half the year and we have been doing that for the last 3 yrs. I just really couldn't stomach the thought of a whole year apart when we have a choice. Do I have concerns? YES! Fortunetly, I found this site and with the knowledge you have all been willing to share it doesn't seem as scary anymore!

I wish move to korea with my husband in Camp Humphreys, but he going to be only want year. I hope he resist everything. I'm very proud of him, he knows he have my heart and my soul, my kids and I miss him a lot. Good luck to everybody and I wish everybody the best.