2019-12-18 They didn't fall asleep!!!!

I had a great time speaking today at Daejin Girls' School, those lovely girls cheered and applauded like I was a pop star! Whenever I speak to any group of youngsters below the age of 25, I am never sure what the response will be.

The visit started with me meeting the principal and some of the teachers. It was a nice lovely start.

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Then it was showtime! During my speech I didn't talk much about TNKR. That wasn't the main topic so I didn't focus on it. But that might have been a mistake, because the kids asked me many questions about TNKR during Q&A!

I was on my own without any staff support, so it was a bit difficult handling logistics. I took a camera, tripod, my suitcase with my laptop computer and other items. When I was on my way from a different meeting, I asked the TNKR staff to send some items with quick service to give out to students (I receive the items as I was wrapping up, so the teachers approved bonus time so the students could get some of the gifts).

I need to hire a part-time assistant to help me with such speaking opportunities, so I can focus on the speech and not the logistics.

The students asked me a wide range of questions, including things I showed in my Q&A but didn't discuss at length. It seemed that they might have looked me up, in advance but clearly they were ready to ask second-level questions in English.

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Then it was photo time!

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I received excellent feedback!

1) The kids didn't didn't fall asleep! They have had other speakers who put the kids to sleep. In comparison, they were active today, asking many questions! One time I gave a speech to middle school kids--it seemed that they had passed while they were listening to me. But today? Even the girls in the back rows were paying attention!

That's even though I didn't use any fancy graphics or games to entertain them, just a man with a microphone and PowerPoint.

2) The teachers said they loved my talk. It was for the students, but the teachers said they really enjoyed it! I was delighted when the teachers wanted to take a photo with me. One of them has donated to TNKR. I hope to visit again in 2020.

www.lovetnkr.org/donate

"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 ...

Michael Breen discussion at 10 Magazine

Yesterday I attended a discussion with writer Michael Breen, hosted by Barry Welsh. Very often, when I attend a speech or discussion about a topic I know a lot about, I often think about ways the speaker/facilitator/discussant could have done better. But I didn't feel that way about Breen, it was one of those times that I really felt like I had a lot to learn and should listen more than talk. He's been in Korea for three decades, working as a reporter, commentator, communications specialist. He reminds me of Andrei Lankov in that his analysis seems to be based on observation of how things work rather than trying to get the world to fit his biases. I don't know him, so his friends may say he is a raging ideologue, but that's not the impression I had yesterday and based on his writings. Michael Breen (L) and Casey Lartigue I first read his book The Koreans about a decade ago. It was a delightful read, that was both warm to Koreans but also critical at times. Yes...

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."

Inspiration from a lousy visitor (The Korea Times, December 31, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

2013-12-15 It was a great occasion yesterday. A group of us held a Christmas party in the cancer ward of severance hospital. So many people to mention. The man who inspired it all: Nick Adams. It was his trip to Korea last month that inspired me to organize the party. He had cancer when he was a child, and he insisted that as part of his itinerary that we stop by the hospital. I was so moved that I contacted the best party planner I have ever known. The man behind the motion: Edward M. Robinson! As I've said several times: If you are looking for someone to hold an incredible party for kids, then contact Eddie! I look forward to big things from HOPE now that he has taken an even more active role with the organization (and was smart enough to name me an International Adviser, for example). The staff members at Mulmangcho are still talking about the incredible Halloween party he hosted, and they are looking forward to the Christmas party he has planned this weekend! The lady behind t...

2020-07-24 Pandemic Tutoring

The question comes in various forms, as a request, a recommendation, a plea, an insinuation, an accusation, and sometimes (or most of the time) it is a demand and complaint at the same time. In my in-box yesterday: "And I wanted to know if TNKR also transitioned to online services as any other educational institutions globally under the pandemic." This was from a previous volunteer who is now in the USA, so I took more time to answer him, and will expand it now so I can share it with others asking. As context, TNKR started in 2013 as an informal volunteer group connecting North Korean refugees with volunteer tutors. In 2016, we became an official organization despite lacking funding. Mainly because we have limited resources we keep focused on our main mission, but try to expand based on the needs of North Korean refugee learners. We have developed a learner-centered organization that has a great reputation among North Korean refugees. That means we are not a social club or re...

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