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!

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 ...

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."

Random photos from today

I went walking around today. Whereas some people like to go walking in the mountains, I enjoy walking around in the city. Well, not D.C. or other cities with many homeless, crazy and/or armed people walking around... * * * Here's where I had lunch today. About $1.90 for a hamburger hamberger. * * * Ha-ha! Bet you never would have guessed that Batman is a drinking place in Korea! * * * Man Clinic? The Koreans walking by seemed to be very curious about why I was taking a photo of a "Man Clinic." They may know something I don't know...Actually, I wasn't curious enough to go in and find out what it was... * * * Right down the street from the Man Clinic...there's a Love Shop! I love the euphemism. "Love Shop" sounds much better than Sex Shop. I'm guessing that if you don't go to the "Love Shop" to buy condoms that you may need to visit the Man Clinic a short time later? * * * Nobo...

To be a good volunteer, use your brain (Korea Times, December 5, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. There is probably an unwritten rule that a celebrity offering to do volunteer work for a good cause should immediately be embraced. Well, that’s not what happened to Jeong So-dam, the glamorous Korean cable TV announcer when our paths crossed on Nov. 29. Ms. Jeong was the MC of an event about American political philosophy hosted by the Association for Economic Evolution. During my speech about American libertarianism since 1940, I discussed my volunteer work for North Korean refugees. After the speech, Jeong approached me, asking how she could help. I gave her the same tough love I give to potential volunteers by asking: “Who are you?” After all, if you are Bill Gates, then open your wallet. If you speak four languages, then help with translation work. So I first stress to potential volunteers: Use your brain. Tell us about your skills and interests so together we can figure out your initial role. Jeong was good-natured about it, rather than c...

Last weekend: Suicide, Kim Young Ha, NK

Credit: Joanne Cho Event 1: Friday night I went to a talk given by Fulbright junior researcher Joanne Cho. She did a great job putting together statistics about some of the most commonly cited reasons that so many Koreans commit suicide. Probably the most provocative tidbit: Cho watched 86 dramas from the spring of 2012 to now, she says that 63 had "scenes depicting or discussing suicide" in a favorable light (as a way to solve problems, that troubled people can be forgiven for their sins and are even seen as sympathetic). Another interesting tidbit: While it is often cited that Korea is number one in the world in suicide (among countries reporting reliable statistics), what I had not realized or had forgotten is that Korean men are number 8 in the world compared to men in other countries with reliable statistics, Korean women are #1 in the world when compared to women in other countries. My questions for the speaker: 1) What was a finding in your research th...

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