2015-10-27 Sharon at Sungkyungkwan University

Five years ago, on October 27, 2015, Teach North Korean Refugees Ambassador Sharon Jang spoke at Sungkyungkwon University. We have suddenly had several speaking opportunities, arranged by volunteers in TNKR. It was one of our most active times for public speaking. We had recently launched the public speaking program and we weren't yet an official organization so we had fewer Organizational responsibilities (meaning, I could then freelance a bit and organize more of these freelance events). 

Of course, COVID has changed everything, but in 2021 we hope to be more active again with the public speaking program.

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Here are my notes from five years ago:

* Dead men can ask questions: Sharon spoke in Korean today, so it meant she could tell her story in more detail. A few of the students remarked that it was the first time they had concentrated that hard in class. The students, a mix of international and South Koreans, had many questions during Q&A. Korean students are known for being bumps-on-a-log during Q&A, but they had many questions today. That means: If you present something interesting or different, even Korean students can rise from the dead...

* Click your heels three times: So often people ask me how they can help. I count to 10 before answering. Then I meet others who just do it. They read, listen, observe, then come up with something to do. Today's event was set up by international students who visited my office last month. Rorry Ambers Late and Maaike de Jong set up the event, the first of two, by finding professors willing to accept us (many think the words "North Korea" are automatically political and avoid anything to do with it). So many people want to save the world, looking for the BIG THING that requires the UN to get involved, rather than doing what they can do with the resources they have.  Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. These days, when people ask what they do, I tell them to pretend they are Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz--click your heels three times, the power is within you...

* They laughed, they cried... Last week, the translator cried during Sharon's speech. Today, Ingue Chun almost had the crowd in tears, with his humorous translation performance. I won't mention details, to protect his reputation as an interpreter.^^

* Dance at the revolution: Somehow, even though we are talking about serious topics, it seems that we still have a great time at these events. I'm sure some blame me. I blame Emma Goldman, and a quote attributed to her: "If I can't dance then I don't want to join your revolution."

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Rorry adds:

https://www.facebook.com/rorry.late/posts/10206961858939329

So happy and proud to have finally brought TNKR to SKKU to educate & raise awareness among the students with Maaike's valuable contribution. Big thanks to our professor Lee for the generous donation & being a kind host. I can't wait for the next two events of TNKR involving international students and SKKU!

Thank you Casey Lartigue for your support and this well written post. Thank you Sharon for your informative and interesting speech. Thank you Ingue for your entertaining translation. & last but not least. Thank you Maaike for being a lovely and committed team partner!

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Ingue Chun writes:

https://www.facebook.com/ingue.chun/posts/10206403282218753

This day was a good day with Casey Lartigue, Sharon Jang, Rorry Ambers Late, and Maaike. We helped raise awareness of the hardships North Korean Refugees go through to young Korean students.

Big shout out to all who helped organize and I thank them for having me! ^^

Sharon joined TNKR in April 2015, then gave several speeches within a short time.

I introduced about TNKR and encouraged attendees to get involved.

Note to the judgmental People of the Internet: Ingue has Lasik surgery shortly before this event. Despite that, he came out anyway. One Person of the Internet a few years ago had suggested he was being rude by wearing sunglasses. 

Another pose, then I suggested Sharon should be at the center, and we should take a fun photo.

Some of the audience members were in tears as they listened.

The professor was one of the first to ask questions.

Speeches in classes don't always work out well, there is usually a difference between students who join an event as compared to those who have us show in their class. They are probably wondering, "Is this gonna be on the test?" But this group really did have a lot of questions.

Rorry ran down the street looking for the shuttle bus!

I think Rorry was complaining that I am too tall, and that was her way to make us the same height?

Rorry and Maaike made the event happen! Rorry started it all when she started volunteering with TNKR, then brought more international students with her.