Babies in two countries - compare & contrast

Having a baby in Korea was quite an experience, but it was hard to make comparisons before having one in my home country. Granted, having one in an Army hospital is a bit different than in a civilian one, but hopefully the comparison is still relevant.

1. The biggest difference was that we didn't have to pay a cent this time. In Korea, the final charge was about $2,000.
2. In Korea, photographers did a "glamour shot" style photo package; it was very professional. Here, the photographer came around and offered us a series of prints -- but of just one photograph. I said no thanks -- there was no reason to spend $50 for prints I can develop at Walmart for less than $10.
3. In Korea, the style of care was a bit different. We spent the first night in a private room, then moved to a six-person bay with curtain separators. P stayed in a nursery, nurses took care of his diapers, and when he needed to be fed they'd wheel him in. We stayed a total of seven days there. Here it was 48 hours. We had a private room the whole time, and C stayed with us in the room. We changed her diapers, and SY was always available for feedings.
4. One source of irritation was the construction work outside our room. The hospital on post is expanding, and even though they warn you against loud noises around infants, there was no stopping the banging. In Korea, that stuff just would not be tolerated.
5. This being an Army hospital, we were required to attend a "shaken baby" lecture and bring in the car seat we were going to use. There was nothing like that in Korea, where we held the baby in our lap during the ride home. The Army also felt a need to properly label everything they didn't want you to take. This, for example, wasn't just a funny T-shirt; they really meant it.
   
6. The cultural differences were very apparent in the food that was served. In Korea, the new mothers don't get anything even remotely cihlled to eat or drink, and every meal features miyeokguk (미역국), the quintessential post-partum food. This time around, the fare was much better -- chicken marsala over spaghetti, beef brisket with a grilled cheese sandwich, etc. -- and drinks like iced tea were an option.
7. Finally, this time around I get paternity leave. In Korea, there's no such thing -- I still had to work while she was in the hospital. I gotta tell you -- it's so much nicer to have ten days off to spend with the family to get better adjusted.

I'll go back to work on the 21st, but until then, I'm trying to balance the needs of my recovering wife, my newborn baby, and my "adjusting" son.

That's plenty enough.