TNKR's response to the Coronavirus

Greetings! Because of the Coronavirus, we have been considering how to handle TNKR activities going forward. We have been monitoring internally how many classes would be canceled without us intervening, checking to see how things were going with the virus and observing how other organizations are handling things.

These seem to be the main three options for TNKR tutors and refugee learners:

* Take a break! With no clear end in sight as related to this virus, yes, take a break. We don't want anyone feeling pressured to have face-to-face tutoring sessions. We are heartened that so many volunteers, even in the middle of a potential health crisis, are still making themselves available for tutoring. We want to be clear that we welcome tutors and refugee learners taking a break until the coast seems clear.

* Continue. If two brave people want to continue meeting, we won’t try to block it, we will leave that to your own discretion (yes, bring sanitizers and wear masks during classes). We do hope everyone will consider either taking a break or having online classes if either party (tutor or refugee learner) expresses any concerns. Of course, keep following government updates, of which there are sure to be many in the future.

* Help us in creating an online option: Before this virus began wreaking havoc, TNKR was already having a discussion internally about adding online tutoring to our activities. We have tried online tutoring before in 2014, 2016, and 2018, but the results have been disappointing. Apparently we will continue trying this every other year until we get it right. 😊

We are now a stronger organization thanks to more financial support from volunteers and fans (thanks to those of you who donated or set up fundraisers!!!), our academic team led by Academic Coordinator Janice Kim, Volunteer Adviser Dan Cashmar, and newcomer India Meyers is working together so well, and we seem to be attracting more volunteers buying into our process (resulting in us wasting less time chasing and reminding volunteers not to use Korean, not to get too social or interview refugees, eliminating playboys, etc.).

These three improvements mean that we can expand our programming. We have already started Track 3, are hoping to find a good way to implement online classes, and have been planning to relaunch tutoring at our office for beginners and refugees on our waiting list.

If you would like to engage in online classes:

1) Notify us.
2) Eunkoo will be forming Skype groups with refugees who want online tutoring.
3) We will then add their tutors to each group.

We will continue to expect tutoring reports, professionalism, and our process of putting refugees at the center of our education activities. So please help us in creating quality online classes. Some refugee learners will probably be enthusiastic about this, and that's great, but we don't want others to feel pushed into it!

2022-12-09 Seoul Honorary Citizenship (ceremony & media roundup)

On September 29, 2022, I was informed that I had been awarded Seoul Honorary Citizenship. December 9th, I was one of the 18 non-Koreans to receive Seoul Honorary Citizenship. I was delighted to have several colleagues and supporters join me at the ceremony. They all have had a special role in my activities here. Here's the media roundup so far: The Korea Times (English) https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/12/113_341484.html Yonhap (English) https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221211001200320 (Korean) https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20221210022100004 (French) https://fr.yna.co.kr/view/AFR20221211001000884 (Spanish) https://sp.yna.co.kr/view/ASP20221211000900883 K-Odyssey https://m.k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=179556481389320 Newsis https://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20221209_0002118460 Chosun https://www.chosun.com/national/national_general/2022/12/11/S2OA76535FCBHFIQI7R5P7HYYM/ Daum News https://v.daum.net/v/20221211111512898 MSN https://www.msn.com/ko-kr/news/n...

"Who would be free themselves must strike the blow?" --Lord Byron

Frederick Douglass loved that quote. Booker T. Washington would say it sometimes, too. I recently met two women from North Korea. That's right, that North Korea. I asked them many questions but held back somewhat. I suppose they still must be careful and I don't want them to think I'm a spy. Hey, I used to be a host on black talk radio, I was accused of many things then. Plus, if North Koreans are trying to track those folks down I suppose the last thing they'd want would be to have their photos posted on a blog. At some point I will write about meeting those ladies. * * * Yesterday I got interviewed by a Korean reporter about various political and social issues. After I confirm that my interview made it past the station's producers then I'll post the info here. CJL

Race, race, race

On the issue of race: Clinton goes first, (surprisingly) without her Selma accent. Biden doesn’t mention that there is a clean and article black person on the stage. Richardson says the next president must talk about race…we need less talk about race, and more about individual action. Edwards said something, apparently to help us transition to the only somewhat black candidate on the panel. Obama has the home field advantage being at Howard, but doesn’t do much with the initial question. Kucinich says that people are told to raise themselves up by their own bootstraps, but then they steal the boots. He gets the loudest cheers. This will be a long night if that continues... Gravel —who? Dodd —like the 64th team in the NCAA basketball pool, Dodd should be one and done. Brb, I’m checking on the NBA draft… CJL

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

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...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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