2018-11-01 A Slow Week at TNKR

Looking at the photos, it doesn't seem like it, but TNKR just had a slow week.

TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee is on a trip to the USA, so we tried to slow things down during this time. But because of some internal planning, it seems that we have still been busy!

PUBLIC SPEAKING: I was thrilled to share the stage with 김성철 and Eunsun Kim. They were both great in a presentation to international students. (see more photos at the bottom of this post)

Then to a presentation of American tourists, 김성철 had the visitors laughing and also in tears as he discussed his story and talked about North Korea. He was in command, the audience was his. They had so many questions, they were even coming after me with questions about North Korea and North Korean refugees.

2020 comment: TNKR has gotten through COVID, but one way we were hurt was the cancellation of these types of events with tourists.

* Refugees could hone their public speaking skills with friendly audiences.
* Speakers could also get paid some pocket money for the speeches.
* TNKR would often get a donation from the tourists.

We had at least 50 confirmed speaking events for 2020, and many more would pop up. All were cancelled this year because of the virus.

www.lovetnkr.org/donate

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Check out my latest Korea Times column about the joy of presenting opportunities for refugees to tell their stories.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2018/11/626_257906.html

One refugee told me yesterday that he is so happy knowing that people want to hear him speak, he never could have imagined that when he was in North Korea.

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TUTORING: Public speaking is great, but it is still English tutoring that is at the heart of TNKR. Janice Kim has fully taken over the running of Track 1. It means that I can become an absentee director. :-)

Eunkoo Lee, Janice and I talk almost every day about ways to improve TNKR. From my part, now that I can observe Track 1 rather than having to manage everything, I can see many ways to tweak things.

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FANS AND VISITORS: I have many meetings that are uplifting.

It is difficult to top the meeting I had the other day with Maria Kim and Praise Changyang JU. One lady calls me a hero, the other calls me "Pretty Flower Man." If you ever want to know what it must feel like to be pancakes having syrup poured on, you should have seen me at the meeting with them. They are absolutely fantastic, so sweet, lovely and caring, and they are fans of mine.

https://www.facebook.com/CaseyLartigue/videos/vb.100004020120914/1308010412676284/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab

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VOLUNTEERS

We have had more than 800 tutors and coaches. It is great when some can volunteer in our office. They can see the reality of life at TNKR--that the co-founders fight, that we don't have enough space to match the level of our plans, that refugees love and admire what we are doing. Josefine Johansen came to us for almost a month, tutoring, coaching, designing flyers, helping at events, and helping around the office any way that she could.

One volunteer who visited said he now feels that he wasn't prepared for how motivated the students would be when it comes to studying. It took him a little time to catch up to their eagerness.

We have another high school student who is organizing a fundraiser for TNKR. She visited with her father yesterday to talk about her plans.

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VISITORS

Two of my youngest brother's friends visited South Korea, they stopped by the TNKR office to talk, for hours!

2020 update: They may not be surprised to learn that the lousy restaurant I took them to shut down recently!

South Korean booster

She is one of the behind-the-scenes boosters that any growing organization needs. She is always to thrilled about TNKR growing to become a stronger organization. One time when we were struggling with a government office, she was calling them almost every day to complain at anyone who would listen--and they did because she would call back!