2016-09-28 drop-ins, in-house tutoring, orientations, fans

TNKR moved to its first independent office on July 8. For the first month, I didn't post the address. I wasn't sure what would happen and how many gate-crashers we would get. Well, it turns out that lots of people--fans, student and tutor applicants, and curious people--would show up unannounced! It happened twice today, surprising me so much that I was still wearing a sweatshirt and hadn't gotten ready for the day.

In-house tutoring: we have re-started, more organized than ever. It helps that Prof Young Seh Bae taught me a few things during her trip to Korea. So I did a counseling session and also helped a refugee develop a study plan.

Orientation: to get prepared for the October 1 session, I held two more individual orientation sessions.

Office assistant: we had a new office assistant start, she will come in a few hours every week.

TNKR National Director Eunkoo Lee held an orientation with a few of the refugees who are slated to join this weekend's Matching session, Almost midnight, I just sent her the resumes of the tutor applicants. She will format them to send to the refugees tomorrow so they can review them.

Feedback from the refugees during orientation:
* I have heard a lot about TNKR, the way I have been studying English has not seemed effective. I am now focused on studying TOEIC, I am studying on my own, and I hope I can also find three tutors who can help me study in a more effective way. After I heard about TNKR, I read many articles and watched videos about it. It seems that the organization is not strong financially but they have a lot of heart, so I should study hard. I know I can't waste this opportunity, I always remember: "Don't miss this chance."

* I did study English when I was in North Korea, but that was a long time ago. I lived abroad for a few years, so I learned conversational English, but I don't know or understand English. I thought I was too old to learn English, but then I saw a story about a 60 year old man studying English, so I thought I could do it too. I hope that by learning English properly that I can inspire my son as he struggles with it. I waited more than a year before I applied to TNKR, and I'm so glad I did, I am so impressed by what Casey and Eunkoo do. I hope I can get three teachers to help me improve my English.

* I came to South Korea in 2010, I was shocked by the level of discrimination that I suffered. I was embarrassed to tell anyone that I was from North Korea. I did get a job, it didn't take me long to see that English is part of the every day life here in South Korea. I came across TNKR in an Internet search. The words jumped out at me. I am ready to study like crazy, I hope I can get 4 to 8 teachers.

Eunkoo Lee: TNKR's #1 Settler

If I could convince TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee that we needed to start executing volunteers, then she would quickly come up with a schedule with their names and execution times. She would do it fairly and orderly, accepting no exceptions or changes. If I suggested a change, then an argument would start about me being "Mr. Changeable" interrupting the schedule. That is how I have worked with Eunkoo Lee over the past seven years. She must be convinced, but once she believes in something, she charges ahead. What she is NOT interested in is public relations or dealing with media. I say this to people, but they don't believe me. But like the minister said after witnessing a baptism, "Not only do I believe in baptism, but I've seen it done!" * * * It has happened again! Someone noticed that my bio is much longer than Eunkoo's. I have heard a number of gripes from people over the years, ranging from Eunkoo should be featured more to I should step aside

North Korean defector seeks justice (Korea Times)

It was international news when 12 North Korean waitresses and a male manager who worked at a restaurant operated by the North Korean regime in China arrived in South Korea in 2016. The waitresses have mostly maintained a low profile. There have been numerous accusations and assertions, with some saying the waitresses didn't want to escape, some accused the Park Geun-hye administration of playing politics by releasing details of the case, etc., etc., etc. My blog at the Korea Times today features an exclusive interview with one of the former North Korean waitresses who filed a criminal case against the former manager. You can read about it here on the Korea Times website. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2023/02/728_345165.html Keep in mind that there are many more facts to the case and that it is much deeper than this brief excerpt of her comments. She also shared legal documents that I shared with the Korea Times well in advance to give them time to review the case. *

Helping North Koreans 'strike the blow' (Korea Times)

H ave you ever engaged in action not because you were sure it would change the world, but to satisfy your own heart? That, I emailed to an American friend, is why I have joined the effort to help North Koreans who are trying to escape from their homeland. I can’t change the direction of policy in North Korea or China but I can row the boat I am sitting in rather than lamenting that I can’t steer the yachts somewhere else. So I have tried to do what I can: Attending protests in front of the Chinese embassy in Seoul (and I plan to do so when I visit America in April); donating money to the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights ( www.nkhumanrights.or.kr ); educating myself, writing articles and emailing friends; and, as a member of the board of trustees, I recently submitted a resolution to the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association (FDMHA) in Washington, D.C., to try to call attention to the plight of North Koreans. Our organization’s missi

Earth Hour 2013 Man of the Year!!!

In case you missed it, last night was Earth Hour. That's when people around the world turn off their lights for one hour to show concern for the Earth. The idea originated from the World Wildlife Fund. Bouncing off Don Boudreaux, I would like to announce that Kim Jong-Un is the Earth Hour 2013 Man of the Year. Kim Jong-Un, Earth Hour's 2013 Man of the Year I won't read through his resume and accomplishments to make my case, I will point out this satellite photo showing the difference between the two Koreas. North Korea, where every day is "Earth Hour." Not only is the dashing young dictator's regime focused on keeping North Koreans in the dark more than just one hour a year, but he is now leading a government that is threatening to blow up other countries for various reasons. He has ordered his military to strike with "lightening speed"--apparently confusing lightening speed with lightening, and thinking that lightening can bring ligh

Breen's column that outraged Samsung

“What People Got for Christmas” Michael Breen The Korea Times December 25, 2009 At this time of year when Seoul’s bare winter trees are wrapped in beckoning lights ― blue and white are the in colors ― and Merry Xmas signs at hotels and department stores are really saying come-hither-gentle-reveler-and-empty-your-purse, and when expensive restaurants belch noisy year-end office party groups onto every street and the karaoke rooms are full, it is tempting to declare that Christmas has lost its soul. But that would be a mistake. Christmas is a time for giving, and, before they can be given, gifts have to be bought. Commerce is good. Here, as proof, is a round up of some of the gifts given and received today by people in the news. Samsung, the world’s largest conglomerate and the rock upon which the Korean economy rests, sent traditional year-end cards offering best wishes for 2010 to the country’s politicians, prosecutors and journalists, along with 50 million w

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