Just a little food for thought. Maybe the pediatrician is doing some extensive training/work in Yongsan. We have one pediatrician here at Humphreys and we were told that he was no longer here...that he had went to Yongsan. The catch is that he lives in our building and drives a little mini-cooper. So he's hard to miss. He's definitely been gone a lot more but he's still around sometimes. Maybe that's also the case in Osan. PAK might have gotten lucky and caught the pediatrician on a day that he was in Osan. Maybe it's not Korea that is the problem...maybe it's the military in general that is the problem but it's so much easier to pin it on a foreign country...especially when you don't like it here.

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Have a Blessed Day!

Michelle

That might be the case but the very first pediatrician that we saw when we got here was PCSing after our initial appointment. He told us that the next one wouldn't be in for another month. So a month passed and then we starting asking again for our daughters 2 month check up. We were told that the pediatrician hadn't arrived yet and my wife called like everyday trying to make an appointment. Well I guess when my wife had her first check up at Osan after giving birth she told the OBGYN that she hasn't been able to make an appointment for our daughter and next thing you know we had our appointment set for us.

I hope everyone else gets there appointments like we did, I know we were really stressing about getting an appointment.

Good Thought. Quite Often the Army phone answering system is staffed by people who don't understand or don't have the latest word. It is frustrating to all of us. Always ask to speak to a supervisor if you are not sure of the answer you get. I do that a lot.
(And I don't for a minute believe paying $20,000 to buy new recruits, and $2000 to the recruiter will improve anything except the numbers of recruits...)

I'm not blaming it on Korea-- it is because its the military. They need to make sure they have the dr's available if they have children here. The ped. that was here did PCS-- the dr. we saw in the ER was talkong about it when she was trying to call him. But if I was in the states, I'd have more options. It is much easier when I can just decide to ask family members what ped. they have and go see that one. It really has nothing to do with how I feel about Korea. I don't hate it here. Its definitely not my first choice, but either was Minot, ND-- our last "home." I'm glad there are so many people who like it here, but I'm not going to sugarcoat it and give people the impression that everything is wonderful for everyone here. I imagine it is much easier for those without kids, older kids, or fewer kids :) That way its a lot easier to get out and explore, or even just get around the general area. I told Matt this place would have been great for us if we came before we had kids.

I'm excited to be going back to the states-- Beale afb where we just purchased our first home.

some of my husband's friends returning from their year at Osan warned him about our family joining him on this assignment. they were concerned about the area not being safe. also, they gave him the impression it wasn't the cleanest to live in either. neither of us has ever been, so we don't really know. what do you guys think?

Not being safe? Maybe not safe for the drunken Soldier.

But a family, I have NO problem bringing my family to Osan and going downtown Songtan...

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CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

I feel perfectly safe out with the kids in town. The people here are great. Just don't walk alone at night!

Korea isn't one of the countries I would worry about being safe in day or night. Try South Tucson, Central Los Angeles, Oakland just to name a few that isn't safe day or night. Having spent 5 years in Korea and traveling extensively I have never had to fear of being attacked by anyone. Get to know your host country. The Korean people will go out of their way to make your stay an unforgetable one. There is alot to see and do. Get away from the base and enjoy yourself.

I have to tell you straight- the Koreans have never had to wash their hands much because they have built up an immunity to bacteria from childhood, dropping food on the floor and then eating it. There is generally no concept of "Germs" as we have been taught. Generally street vendors leave chicken cooked or uncooked and fried items out in the hot sun for as many hours as it takes to sell it all.
Garbage is often piled on the corner, and if not packaged as required by local law in the proper bags sold by the local government, the trucks will leave it there for days.
There is not as much a problem as in some areas in Europe, where the attitude is "Toss it out the window and it is no longer my problem". Still, it is a problem. Most toilets leave a lot to be desired, with the possible exception of Subway toilets, which have good facilities. There is generally no health inspection in restaurants. Glasses and plates are mostly washed in cold water with no soap. Don't drink tap water. Ice is generally made from tap water. A canned soda is best. Unopened bottle or can. You wipe the top! Lots of folks love to eat out, and the larger westernized places, like Outback or KFC are comparatively clean. But remember, employees seldom wash their hands.

Yikes, their employees don't wash their hands?
Ice is made from Tap water?

So that means I shouldn't order an Ice water or anything that is not bottled or canned when I go out for a bite?