Mulmangcho--September 23--They didn't want to stop

Yesterday I had a great time at Mulmangcho. But the others had an even greater time:

Item #1: It was lunchtime, but the kids didn’t want to eat!

Item #2: It was time to leave, but the volunteers didn’t want to go!

* * *

Item #1: It was lunchtime, but the kids didn’t want to eat!

Kristen Alice was our lead teacher for the young kids. She taught the kids how to make pinwheels. And they loved it! After they finished making them, they were blowing them, running with them to make them spin. From Monday-Friday, they are drilled in Korean to help get them ready for mainstream schools. On Saturday, they have hakwon like activities (art, music, dance). Then Sunday, it is their one chance to hear English. It is technically their free day–if we don’t show up then they get to play or study all day.

The kitchen staff gave me the 10 minute warning that lunch was ready. I informed everyone–but everyone continued teaching and learning. I gave a second warning, then a third warning–I returned to the kitchen, alone. Everyone was still in their classrooms. I’m sure the staff was wondering what’s wrong me, why I didn’t just force the kids to come to eat.

Item #2: It was time to leave, but the volunteers didn’t want to go!

Lunch was great. We were able to take our time because Lolu Ayo had his car. We took some photos out front, then the kids did their best to earn free time by singing and performing. Our volunteers were mesmerized, getting a preview of the performances the kids will put on next week when Mulmangcho celebrates its first anniversary.

I mentioned a few times that it was time to go, but the volunteers seemed to lose their hearing as they snapped photos and video recorded the kids performing. Then I suggested to Lolu, “Why don’t you start the car, that may get their attention.” Finally, when the kids took a pause, I announced that anyone who wanted to go to Seoul should join us because we were leaving.

* * *

He wasn’t a volunteer, but Ilnam Park, a teacher at the school during the week, was there again yesterday. He is an intense teacher, but he is so gentle about it. He is so attentive to the kids at all times, making sure they learn both inside and outside of the classroom.

* * *

I had everything planned for yesterday, but as former boxing champ Mike Tyson has said: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

One memorable moment for me: The young adult female walked in, hugging her English book. She hadn’t been there when we divided the teachers and students, so she didn’t have anyone to teach her. She didn’t ask to study, she was just standing there holding her book. So things were turned upside down again. Thankfully we had enough (flexible) volunteers who didn’t mind that I was moving them around like pieces on a chessboard. Lovy Kim and Lolu were role playing and pushing the young man to help get him ready for applying to have a college interview in English. Jinhee was teaching up a storm with the young lady, correcting and teaching pronunciation in such an expert way that I was wondering how correct my own pronunciation was. And, of course, Kristen had the kids so engaged that they ignored the calls to go eat.

* * *

One funny moment: One of the ladies at the school took a picture of me. So I then asked her to take a photo with me, then in the second photo, I had her put my sunglasses on.

* * *

This Sunday the school will be celebrating its first anniversary. At children’s day, Cortney and I showed off our swing dancing skills. I’m not sure about an encore, but I do hope some of our other volunteers or other interested parties will come up with something.

She just joined the school. I caught her taking a picture of me, so I loaned her my sunglasses and took a photo with her.

If you ever want your pronunciation corrected--even if you are a native speaker--then consult with Jinhee. Wow! I was second guessing my own pronunciation after watching her teach...

Kristen wants everyone to know the student taped her own mouth! There are some weeks that I would like to have a mouth-taping class with the students, but not yesterday!

The kid with 1 million facial expressions. He is always happy, making faces.

They weren't just entertaining the volunteers. They were also hustling to earn more free time.

With school staff.

Next week will be the one year anniversary of the school being founded. If you would like to entertain the kids--juggling, magic tricks, dancing, or some other way, then let me know ASAP.

Get rid of that watermelon!

Part 1: When I was a youngster I used to collect Confederate money, posters and photographs with caricatures of blacks, and "No blacks allowed signs." I loved the money because it was a reminder of how far the sorry Confederacy had fallen. I had one poster of a dark-skinned black boy munching on a watermelon. I would look at that small poster and wonder, "What in the world is wrong with anyone wanting to eat watermelon?" Yes, white people, I'm talking to you. Your parents, grandparents, and other ancestors who thought making fun of blacks for eating watermelon were crazy ! Even people who say that nothing has changed in race relations must acknowledge that the many stereotypes of blacks are no longer prevalent. But then, there are also some ready to remind us of days-gone-by by debunking stuff that doesn't need to be debunked today. According to the Washington Post: The sound you just heard was yet another racial stereotype going kersplat ! Some ...

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

Random photos from today

I went walking around today. Whereas some people like to go walking in the mountains, I enjoy walking around in the city. Well, not D.C. or other cities with many homeless, crazy and/or armed people walking around... * * * Here's where I had lunch today. About $1.90 for a hamburger hamberger. * * * Ha-ha! Bet you never would have guessed that Batman is a drinking place in Korea! * * * Man Clinic? The Koreans walking by seemed to be very curious about why I was taking a photo of a "Man Clinic." They may know something I don't know...Actually, I wasn't curious enough to go in and find out what it was... * * * Right down the street from the Man Clinic...there's a Love Shop! I love the euphemism. "Love Shop" sounds much better than Sex Shop. I'm guessing that if you don't go to the "Love Shop" to buy condoms that you may need to visit the Man Clinic a short time later? * * * Nobo...

Why I won't go to North Korea (Korea Times, December 27, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. “Have you ever been to North Korea?” This is the question I am almost always asked here in South Korea when people learn that I have become an activist for North Korean escapees. My response is curt: “No.” “Do you plan on going?” they ask next. My answer remains the same: “No.” When they start to ask a follow-up question, I cut them off: "No." People are often just trying to make conversation, I know, but I am blunt for a reason: I am not interested in going to North Korea as long as North Koreans are held captive. I could go one day, but for now, I can do without a government-guided tour by " men-stealers and women-whippers ," to borrow a phrase from American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. I don’t mean to criticize people who have gone to North Korea for political, educational, business, religious reasons or just plain curiosity. However, some people push me on the issue, ― and I push back. A good friend wh...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

Search This Blog