2017-02-21 People are everywhere at TNKR!

Sometimes people ask, "What would you do if you had $10 million?" My answer is: "Pretty much the same things now, except that I would do them first class."

www.patreon.com/fsi21

So it is with TNKR (now FSI). If we had more money, then we would be doing the same things, except that we would do them first class. Hire staff, get a bigger office. and other things that would make us a more stable organization.

February 21, 2017 was another reminder about our lack of space. As one of our staffers said, "Wow, there are people everywhere!"

Unfortunately, they also don't believe in whispering, which was a problem with a small space, three classes simultaneously, phone calls, media, guests, staff. With so much chaos, the only reason I didn't leave is because I'm the co-director.

* * *

Yes, we do serious work, but we can also have fun, as TNKR Special Ambassador Eunhee Park demonstrates.

Studying in the kitchen area, I thought they would have trouble concentrating, but it almost seemed we didn't exist as Eunmi and Arrooj studied despite all of the people and noise going on around them. It is cute, but it does make me wonder if they will return. Studying in the subway or on the city bus might be quieter.

Writing time! Dave is focused on helping Cherie improve her writing ability.

Dave hit the ground running, then took off flying! He is a tutor, fundraiser, donor, and he is now focused on helping us with strategy and outreach.

Am I an invisible man? They were focused, working, and studying, it seemed I wasn't there. Almost all of them said they are shy.

Eunhee studying on her before her tutor arrived. People are everywhere at TNKR, even on computer screens.

Eunhee studying with camera shy Kaina. Kaina joined us recently, but she tutors at the office even though she knows I will be taking photos.

TNKR Special Ambassador Cherie Yang studying with her coach, Hannah. This was definitely the loudest room in the entire building.

Youngmin helping out in yet another way, this time tutoring a basic level. It helps that he only uses English, despite his incredible translation skills.

Invisible no more!

Chansook is one of the few South Koreans studying in TNKR. She brings us gifts very often to share with staff and refugees in TNKR. She is always cheering us on and has also pledged to try to introduce us to South Koreans who can help us.

Super Special Ambassador Cherie Yang. She has been studying so hard during the winter break that we should charge her room and board. She always brightens up the office, so I guess we can also save money by turning off the lights when she visits!

Where would TNKR be without National Director Eunkoo Lee? Let's see... we would be behind on the rent, electricity off, unorganized with students and tutors meeting at the wrong places, as a start!

People are everywhere at TNKR, and I'm always ready to jump into the middle of the action!

TNKR Special Ambassador Ken Eom introduced two colleagues to us.

So many people hide when it is time to take a photo. But not this lady!

www.patreon.com/fsi21

In addition to all of this activity, Eunhee Lee and I also slipped out for a meeting with the mayor of Mapo. 2017-02-21 Leaving the TNKR cave to meet the Mayor of Mapo-gu (caseylartigue.blogspot.com)

Manufactured cases

My former Cato Institute colleague Bob Levy is profiled by the Associated Press for his role in the challenge to the DC gun ban. One great thing about Levy is that he tells it like it is. As the article quotes: And Levy freely admits the case is manufactured, not one that bubbled up by chance from the district's steady flow of criminal cases involving guns. He wanted presentable plaintiffs to make a case for gun rights, not criminals. "We didn't want crack heads and bank robbers to be poster boys for the Second Amendment," he said. Is there a problem with this case being manufactured? I heard a talking head on the radio complaining a while ago that this case wasn't from real DC residents, that it was from outsiders. What's wrong with that? There may be some times that it takes an outsider to challenge an injustice or bad law. Did DC residents claim that Martin Luther King Jr. was an outsider who should have minded his own business? And about the case being ...

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."

"Yoegi Anjuseyo!"

* I have a short reflection in today's Korea Times about an encounter with an unfriendly looking Korean man on the subway. It was a reminder not to be too quick in judging people in Korea. 09-13-2011 16:47 'Yeogi Anjeuseyo!' By Casey Lartigue Jr. The recent incident in which an American English teacher bullied an elderly Korean man and other passengers on the bus reminded me of a more pleasing incident from years ago. I was on the subway, taking the train outside of Seoul for a work assignment. I have the habit of standing on the subway to strategically position myself near the doors in case my stop magically appears. On that particular day, there was a Korean man STARING at me. Not just looking at me, but intensely staring at me. He had an incredible frown on his face. Not just for one stop, but for several stops the guy just kept staring at me. If I had known more Korean then I would have been able to curse him ...

2014-02-14 Yeon-Mi Park`s debut

Yeonmi Park, February 14, 2014, making her debut! Yesterday I was one of the speakers at a special session on North Korean refugees at the Canadian Maple International School. Wow, it was a wonderful time! * Yeon-Mi Park delivered her first major speech in English. She was wonderful! She told her story (35 minute speech without notes), discussed different aspects of North Korea, and then handled questions from students for more than an hour. She did seem to be nervous at the beginning-she took a deep breath just as she started, looked at me, then told her story from her heart. * Returning from the speech, I told Yeonmi that she had star potential. She told me that she didn't believe it, but I told her that the way she handled Q&A and told her story, I would be lucky to have her still returning my phone calls within a year. * The students had many questions. They have been learning about North Korea. They are now reading "Escape from Camp 14" featuring Shin Dong-h...

2020-11-26 My basketball story

This photo was uploaded today by my aunt Annette. This was back in the day, when 1) I had a head full of hair and 2) played basketball a lot. That first year of playing organized basketball, I focused on playing defense. It seemed that everyone wanted to shoot the ball, so I passed the ball and played defense. I probably led the league in steals, rebounds and blocked shots. I enjoyed taking on the best player from the other team, I felt like I would get better, quickly. The second year, I was a different player. I will never forget the first game that second year--we lost 29 to 26, I scored 18 points. I probably led the universe in scoring that second year, although we didn't win much. One thing I learned from that experience is that one great player 9 (at least in his own mind) can't beat a team. An eye injury ended my pro career before it began, to this day I still have floaters in my eyes because of the injury. I started wearing glasses, but the problem never went away. On t...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

Search This Blog