My husband's army career has been so crazy the past few months. He was placed back in the medboard so we decided not to fight it this time...they decided to return him to active duty so we were told he couldn't reenlist until next september so we couldn't go anywhere...that was last week. This morning he is told orders to korea that were supposed to be canceled two months ago when he was in the medboard were never canceled!
We are able to go with him but I need as much information as possible like housing, shopping, hosehold goods, travel expenses (I have a visitation schedule for my kids with their father in Ohio for summers)
My head is spinning and I'm just trying to get a little control and start planning so this is a smooth transition for my family. 

Hmn korea....i dont know of any spouse that has gone except for a visit. Good ljck with it. Maybe look online at the unit info over there.
I know everyone that has been there says it smells funny. Take lysol. 

I WOULD GO BACK IN A HEARTBEAT. Ohhhhhh, I would go back.

Housing can be hard to find. It may have changed but in most places there is no on-post housing so you will have to live on the economy. It can be hard to deal with the landlords there, and the leasing process works a bit differently in some cases.

It can be lonely, but only if you let it. Get out and explore. The Koreans have a rep for being stand-offish, but they aren't; they are just culturally very polite and quiet. Learn as much Korean as you can! It will go a long way with them. Many Koreans don't even like the sound of English and they will appreciate your efforts. Of course, some of the older Koreans are traditionalist snobs who hate foreigners, but that is slowly changing. The younger generation is much better at interacting with other cultures.

The schools of course are DoDDS; DoDDS schools are well-funded and great. I am biased because I used to teach for DoDDS (lol) but they really are wonderful schools with caring teachers and staff.

The only issue I ever had with living there was the Commissary running out of food at certain times of the month and having to do without or with the bare minimum. When I was there you couldn't have a POV and drive on the economy either unless you were an officer, but that has changed. Be careful driving on the economy over there! They're awful, awful drivers in general, and if you get in an accident you will likely be at fault. Period. Even if it isn't your doing, you will be found liable. That's just the way it is.

The shopping off-post is AMAZING. If you can't find it, you can get it made. Getting it made is usually preferred, because Korean sizes run small so it's hard to find things off-the-rack. When I was in Korea I was a size 5/6 and still had a hard time finding clothes, so I had most of my things made. And I'm tall so of course things were too short, so getting things made was great. You can literally find something you find cute in a magazine, go and show them the picture and they will measure it and make it for you in any color you want. Bring your own thread, though; the thread they use is sometimes el cheapo and your garments will unravel if you're not careful.

I am so happy for you and your family; most people detest Korea but I love it--and I wasn't even stationed there full time :)! 

I wanna go back!!!! Have fun and if you have room take me with you. I LOVED IT and the kids loved it too. We are trying to go back but are stuck at Hood for now BLAH. 

Hi silverkitten....can you tell me what it's like there? We're suppose to be heading to Hood next year. Any info you may have would be awesome. Thanks 

I just got home tonight from visiting my husband at Camp Casey, Korea. I went to visit bc our CSP got denied bc they were over their capacity in his area, an also bc the army had already moved the kids and i once this year bc my hubs was leaving for korea from WOBC in Oklahoma and I moved back home to our house in Ga bc our renters moved out. With that being said my husband has the option of getting new orders cut for him, which wouldn't show that we had already been moved, but that would reset his deeros (time), meaning that he would end up giving them 3 years instead of just 2 had we initially gone with him. We've been on the fence about moving the family there ever since he got to Korea, so we finally decided to just let me visit alone and check it out and see If I thought I could handle living there since we would be there for a long time (2.5 years or so)!! Well I know everyone has different opinion on everything, but ill just give you my two cents on it! Being in Korea for 16 days was an awesome experience! My husband and I had a blast together going places an doing stuff, that's of course when he was off from work! I loved going to seoul and shopping and seeing the sights, but up north where my hubs is, there isn't very much to do or see in my opinion! If it were just my husband and I, I'd be there with no questions, but bc I have a 2,4,and 7 year old kids, it would just be too hard to go and do everything I'd like to do! I'm someone who goes off very often and driving to seoul or other places there by myself with all 3 kids would be too hard! The drivers are crazy! They are super horn happy! also riding the way way way overcrowded subways would be too difficult! It was hard for just my hub and I to travel by the subway from the airport to the hotel, I couldn't imagine doing it with my children in tow! The Korean people aren't very friendly, but I just look them in the face and smile, and a few would respond, but overall they kind of just pretend that you don't exist! I think that it is an awesome experience but I could see it getting old very fast! I wanna be with my hubs more than anything but I know we'd just be misserable bc his job is very stressful and demanding and I'd be alone most of the time and camp Casey doesn't have on post housing so I'd be secluded out in the town somewhere and just think its best for my family to just tough the year out since we're almost halfway through it anyways!! If you will be stationed in yongson, then I'd definitely go for it! You would be on a very nice post that has nice housing and you are walking distance from Itaewon and other cool towns in Seoul! There is so much there to do and see, and the people in Seoul seem more friendly and some can speak English very well,and it's very diverse with all kinds of different people! I loved that post bc it felt like I was in America on one of the nicer post here! Well good luck in whatever you decide to do! A lot of people go and as long as you just have a positive attitude about it, you should be fine! I'd be there myself and just tough it out if my hub wasn't so stressed with work and if we weren't already halfway through our year! If there's anything else specifically you'd like to know, I'd be happy to help if I'm able! 

I am so glad u got to c your husband. But i gotta know, does it smell funny there.
I have never gone there. I am just curious. 

Forgot to say that it was around $1800 for me for a cheap ticket, but I've seen them be as low as $1200 round trip- $5000!!! I flew with Delta and Korean Air bc I did some research and that's what most people recommended!!! 

Yard...I'm glad you brought that up. I am considering moving out of housing if I stay...so you're saying the army will pay to move us?? 

When your husband gets his pcs orders for Korea, they should. They moved us and all of the families of the other guys in my husbands class that were going to Korea. One moved all the way to Puerto Rico on the army's dime. I was informed by the transportation office that the army will move you once per pcs on their dime, unless it's from off post to on. I would assume they will move you locally as well. 

I'm trying to decide weather to stay in housing or move closer to family...but I have another question.
What is the best option for cellphones there? Right now my husband and I both have the unlimited plan from straight talk, for $10 more I can get an unlimited international plan but I'm sure he won't be able to use his phone in Korea. We want to keep something cheap so we're not running up more bills while he is there...any ideas? 

My husband had orders to Casey but then he ended up at Humphreys when he got there (go figure!). He said he could apply for CS but we declined because I had already made the decision to move back "home" with my family. Honestly, I miss being near post and I miss my house! But it's nice being here with family. The army moved us because DH let them know we are relocating. I have my own place here. 1 month down, 11 more to go!


I am DYING to know where we are headed next! Squeeeeeee! 

And let me add, DH may not be coming home on leave because the tickets are way expensive and we may save it for a honeymoon we never got to go on! :-) 

Doll what about majic jack or vonage. We use vonage and i love it. I call all over the world. Now they have it where u can connect your cell into vonage as well. 

We thought of that but he "has to have a cellphone for work" in his words...I think it's more for the games on the phone lol but we're trying not to add a lot of bills while he's gone. 

I think if u do vonage cell he can use for work to. 

I can not tell you anything about Korea but I have been told if your husband chooses to go alone on a 1 yr tour if you chose to have the army move you home When he comes back to states to go to next duty station then its in your own to move. Idk how true that is

As far as vonage and magic jack I have magic jack plus here in germany which you can Plug In the computer and even if your computer is not on you will still get your calls but if its not plus your computer has to be on all the time. We like it because we have a stateside number Family can call we have the application on our phone so if we are out it will ring to our cell phone. We have never had a problem with magic jack but I do know someone in Korea that did. He got it and they canceled his services and told him he used it more than he average person. They told him they would not give him a refund nor would they ever let him have services with them again. His wife chose to stay behind in the states and I know when he was deployed with my husband he would Skype with his wife 2-4 hrs a day so He does talk alot But it's suppose to be unlimited so I don't understand. We have never had a problem tho. 

Hmmm scratching my head. I think he didnt pay his bill. And he was to ashamed to say that. So he had to come up with a excuse. It is unlimited calling. No company would ever say that to any customer. 

It's a one time payment for the yr. and you have to pay that when you activate your magic jack so no way he didn't pay his bill. Because he just got to Korea in August and bought it and then like September he had posted the warning about magic jack on fb 

Well then i am not sure. But something doeant seem right. if its a one time year fee unlimited then thats it.
But i guess it is like an all you can eat buffet. They say all you can eat but i am sure there is a cut off point somewhere.