2017-02-07 "TNKR gave me my name"

I used to say, "Today was a special day," but these days, it seems that every day is special. Super special North Korean refugee Eunhee Park had class with one of her tutors. Then we talked about TNKR's upcoming activities and ways that she can be involved.

When we mentioned our new fundraising site, she immediately set one up before she left the office. I have been twisting the arms of our volunteers to set up fundraisers, but Eunhee didn't hesitate at all once she heard about what we were trying.

She is a thoughtful lady, we can be talking about something really simple, then suddenly she will hit you upside the head with a profound thought.

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Eunhee studied with Kaina using the Korea Times. It is the first time she has been reading an English-language newspaper on a regular basis. She is one of the TNKR students who received a free subscription to the Korea Times after competing in TNKR's 4th English speech contest August 2016. (Update: Eunhee later won TNKR's 9th English speech contest and gave a TEDx Talk)

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What could make a great day even better? Cherie Yang also came to the office! She had class with Jennifer Bowman. It turns out that they celebrate the same birthday!

Update: Cherie won TNKR's 5th English speech contest and later gave a TEDx Talk.

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I know that some of the volunteers think it is strange that I want to take photos with them. Years ago, I read about a football player who always wanted to be photographed with his teammates. when I was a sports reporter, one of the basketball players I interviewed told me that he felt uncomfortable with profiles being done on him, that he wanted his teammates to be mentioned by name. I always try to remember to thank volunteers.

This is Jennifer Bowman, an active volunteer with us--tutor, coach, fundraiser and donor!

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Cherie calls me an angel. She doesn't just say this directly to me--she will say it with other people around to witness it.

I don't argue the point, because there are many other things that North Koreans still in North Korea might call me.

Update: It was a fantastic day. Who would have ever guessed that the two students studying with us that day would later become TEDx speakers and that both would win a TNKR English speech contest?

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How not to get your ass beat by the police

The black president of the United States stupidly commented on the arrest of a black Harvard professor in his own home by a white police officer. Some random thoughts and memories: * I'm sure most people are still trying to figure out who Prof. Gates is. As G.K. Chesterton once wrote: "Journalism consists largely in saying 'Lord Jones is dead' to people who never knew Lord Jones was alive." * Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Gates' arrest was "every black man's nightmare." Perhaps. But having a criminal in my house is even more of a nightmare. Also, having the president of the United States talk off the cuff about me about something he doesn't know is pretty bad. And getting shot by a cop after I escalated a situation would also be worse than getting arrested. Anyway, I have had my own dealings with the police over the years: * Back when I was a college student many many moons ago, one of my brothers and I got stopped by police in Bro...

2015-10-09 TNKR tutor flies from Jeju to Seoul

Today is a holiday in Korea, but that didn't mean that studying in Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) had a day off. TNKR co-directors Eunkoo Lee and Casey Lartigue joined a class by the tutor in TNKR who has won the "Came the Longest Distance" award. Afsha flew from Jeju Island to Seoul to tutor one of the learners in TNKR. The only way anyone will be able to top her will be if the person flies from a different country! Her student today has been in our program for several months, all of his tutors talk about what a great student he is! Focused, friendly, eager to learn.

Teach North Korean Refugees--directions to Mulmangcho Human Rights Institute

DIRECTIONS to Mulmangcho Institute=Easy, easy, easy. Almost like they chose the location for the people who get lost within a block from home... * Bangbae station on line 2, exit 1. Walk to the top of the stairs. * Look to your left. There will be a Woori Bank teller machine. * Standing, looking directly at the teller machine location, walk inside the building to the right of it, under the navy blue sign with the telephone number "587-4145-6..." Walk up to the 3rd floor, room 305. That's it. After you leave the subway exit, it will take you about 5 seconds to get to the building. I don't have a Naver map for it, but if you are driving, use the Bangbae subway as a landmark. Bangbae station (line 2) exit 1 Woori Bank Bd (우리은행건물) #305호 I know people won't believe me, they have been lied to so many times by people in Korea who said a location was "easy to find." I have learned that "easy to find" in Korea means: “Sure, just go down ...

Happy Birthday post!

for this fundraiser: https://give.lovetnkr.com/en/casey-bday

Walter E. Williams on Rush Limbaugh

Professor Walter E. Williams will be hosting the Rush Limbaugh Show 8/24/10 from noon-3 p.m. EST. Thomas Sowell will be his featured guest the second hour. In case you can't hear the show or can't wait, you can listen to me interview him back in 2007 (hit the free user button, wait for countdown, then download). We discussed reparations for slavery during one show and the minimum wage on another. By the way, I was really thankful that he agreed to be on my show twice during the three months I was on the air. I interviewed him another time when I was a guest host and he interviewed me on the Rush Limbaugh about a paper I wrote about education in Washington, D.C. When I contacted him and told him that I was going to have my own show and that I would be delighted if he would come on from time to time, he hesitated at first. I waited. He then said it would be okay. I know he won't do anything if it is inconvenient for himself, so I asked if there was a conflict. He said he had...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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