Cheryl in Korea: Big Decisions, Babies, and Blossoms!

9 April 2014

I know, I know. It's been almost an entire year since my last blog post. I'm sure many of you were beside yourselves, in anguish, not knowing what was happening over here on this side of the globe, wondering if we would ever surface again. Well, here I am, reader. And let me tell you... A LOT has happened since the neverending winter of 2013.

One big thing that happened was our decision to stay for one more year in Korea. We just loved our jobs, our school, and our students so much (not to mention the opportunity to save some more moolah) that the decision was a pretty easy one to make. Yes, we have definitely missed some people and places back home, but we have really enjoyed the last seven or so months with our transplanted family, which is quite the international smorgasbord. Our close friends here are from all over the place - Canada, Scotland, England, the States, South Africa. And we have been so lucky to have them here.

Another HUGE reason we're glad we decided to stay in Korea (drumroll, please)...is that we are expecting the birth of a sweet baby girl at the end of June or beginning of July! Whenever she decides she's ready to make her debut, really. "Why would you be so happy to have your first baby in a country across a vast body of water from your home, you crazy woman?" Well, friend, let me tell you.

1. We already were planning to start a family, and it's a sweet baby girl!!!! How could I not be ecstatically over the moon about that, no matter where she makes her entrance into the world?!

2. The prenatal care here is absolutely amazing! They take really good care of expectant moms in Korea, and our doctor, Dr. Lee, is pretty awesome. She's been delivering babies quite a while. She actually got her license the same year the Hubby and I were born. :) And the huge bonus is...she speaks English!

3. The government HELPS you financially. I know that sounds like an oxymoron for some of my American friends, but hear me out. In Korea, when the doctor verifies that you are, indeed, pregnant and not just suffering from a weird bout with the stomach flu and/or some sort of disease which leeches away the last remaining energy you had (seriously, there were times for a while there when I fell asleep trying to put my shoes on)....anyway, once you have certainty from a medical professional, the doctor's office gives you a little piece of paper with a customary red, official looking, stamped seal on it. You take this little piece of paper to the bank, and the bank in turn, registers you for a little pink credit card called a GoEun Mom card. There are butterflies on it. Once you have registered and received your card, the government then puts 500,000 won (roughly 500 bucks) on that card for you to use for doctor's appointments. "Say what?!" I know, right? It's pretty awesome. $500 free of charge to help defray the cost of prenatal appointments.

4. The doctor visits here are much, much less expensive than they are in the States, for equal quality as what we would get at home. A regular check up with an ultrasound costs us (with the national health coverage we receive since we work here) around 35 to 50 bucks a visit, depending on if other tests were needed at that particular visit.

5. Korean people are super sweet and sensitive to the needs of moms-to-be. Now that people can actually see that I am pregnant at a glance, I have never had to stand in a crowded subway car in Seoul. Without fail, someone always offers me a seat.

6. Three words - decent maternity leave. Women in Korea are actually allowed to have paid maternity leave that is mandated by the government. For me personally, I have 60 days completely paid maternity leave and can choose to have another 30 days unpaid leave on top of that without fear of losing my job. It's a pretty sweet deal.

Have there been challenging issues with expecting a baby in another country? Of course. Language barrier (more stories to come on that later), different cultural practices when it comes to choices in the delivery room, having to trek all the way up to Seoul for a birthing class in English (although it was well worth it), the smell and taste of kimchi and this baby just not mixing in any way whatsoever, being so far away from family, items for baby being a lot more expensive to purchase here, general I'm-gonna-have-a-baby-yikes-what-am-I-doing type feelings, etc. But ultimately, it has been an amazing experience so far. And my little acrobat baby is currently doing a flip of enthusiastic agreement to emphasize that last point. :)