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2015-10-22 Even the interpreter cried!^^ TNKR@Osan Air Force base


Teach North Korean Refugees presented today at the Osan Air Force Base to an overflow crowd of at least 500 air force personnel and spouses (more than 300 were military personnel).
  • One speaker delivered his talk in English, another speaker spoke in Korean. It was quite a sight to see the interpreter lose his composure while he was translating. Then I looked in the audience, and many of those tough soldiers were also crying.
  • Getting it done! An awesome lieutenant got this done. Many people talk about arranging events for us, then, nothing happens, or we keep talking. The first time was slightly smaller scale, maybe 150 to 200 attendees. But today, it was an overflow crowd, at least 500, plus some high-ranking people joined us.
  • Many people came over to thank me for TNKR presenting their stories. They are military people, so they appreciated hearing the human side about North Korea, about the people inside the country, about their escapes and adjustment.
  • For our speaker who was in the North Korean military, he admitted that was a bit nervous looking at all of those U.S. military people. He had been taught in North Korea that he must try to kill U.S. soldiers anytime he saw them. But he met the “enemy” today, and they were friendly, respectful, gave him congratulations, and even gave huge gift baskets to both of the speakers.
  • * If he is ever questioned by North Korea about the event:
Q: Comrade! Is it true that you gave a speech before the enemy US soldiers?
A: Yes! I made them cry, that’s how tough I was.
Q: Then what happened next?
A: Oh… they applauded me, hugged me, and gave me gifts… But I made them cry, I promise…
  • After the speeches, we joined them at a casual discussion over pizza and soft drinks. So many people wanted to talk with our two speakers today, take photos with them, and also asked me how they could volunteer for TNKR. I recommended a couple of things, and they are military people, so one thing they apparently believe in is following up, getting it done!
  • I will post more photos, I will need to mosaic them first…  
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French version, translated by Alexia Andrieux
TNKR à la base aérienne d’Osan : même le traducteur a pleuré ! ^^
Aujourd’hui TNKR a pris la parole à la base aérienne de Osan devant plus de 500 soldats et épouses.
  • L’un des intervenants a pris la parole en anglais et l’autre en coréen. C’était impressionnant de voir le traducteur perdre son sang froid au fur et à mesure de sa traduction. J’ai donc regardé dans  l’assemblé et un grand nombre de ces soldats étaient, eux aussi, entrain de pleurer.
  • Agir ! Un formidable lieutenant a permis que cela se fasse. Beaucoup de personnes nous disent qu’elles vont organiser des événements pour nous, puis rien ne se passe, ou nous nous contentons de parler. La première intervention avait été réalisé à plus petite échelle, quelque 150 ou 200 personnes étaient présentes. Mais aujourd’hui, un grand nombre de personnes étaient présentes, au moins 500, dont quelques personnes haut placées.
  • Beaucoup de personnes sont venues à ma rencontre pour me remercier du fait que TNKR ai partagé leurs histoires. Etant militaires, ils apprécient d’entendre évoquer par des nord-coréens les conditions de vie dans leur pays, l’histoire de leur fuite et de leur adaptation à leur nouvelle vie.
  • Notre intervenant qui faisait partie de l’armée nord coréenne nous a confié qu’il était un peu nerveux en voyant tout ces militaires Etats-Uniens. En Corée du Nord on lui a appris qu’il devait essayer de tuer chaque militaire Etats-Unien qu’il voyait. Mais aujourd’hui il a rencontré l’« ennemie », un « ennemie » amicales et attentionné le félicitant pour son intervention, et offrant même un énorme panier cadeau à chacun des orateurs.
  • Si le gouvernement Nord coréen l’interroge un jour au sujet de l’événement :
Q : Camarade ! Est-il vrai que tu as prononcé un discours devant nos ennemies les soldats Etats-Uniens ?
A : Oui ! Je les ai fait pleurer, voici à quel point j’ai été pénible. Q : Que s’est-il passé ensuite ?
A : Euh … Ils m’ont applaudi, m’ont serré dans leurs bras, et m’ont donné des cadeaux … Mais je les ai fait pleurer, je vous le promets …
  • Après les discours, nous avons rejoint les soldats afin de discuter autour de pizzas et de sodas. Aujourd’hui, beaucoup de personnes voulaient parler avec nos deux orateurs, prendre des photos avec eux, et même leurs demander comment ils pouvaient aider TNKR.
  • Je leur ai donc adressé plusieurs recommandations et comme ils sont militaires, l’une des choses en lesquelles ils semblent croire est : agir !
  • Je posterais plus de photos une fois que j’aurais terminé d’en faire une mosaïque.

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