I
joined a TNKR class yesterday with a refugee who has gone from putting her head
on her desk so she could avoid interacting with me to now initiating a
conversation with me.
One of the key main things we are hearing from refugees is
that they gain confidence from talking with TNKR tutors 1 to 1. In classroom
situations they get lost in the shuffle, they lack the confidence to try to
speak.
She and Christine Kim are now studying together twice a week.
If I could convince TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee that we needed to start executing volunteers, then she would quickly come up with a schedule with their names and execution times. She would do it fairly and orderly, accepting no exceptions or changes. If I suggested a change, then an argument would start about me being "Mr. Changeable" interrupting the schedule. That is how I have worked with Eunkoo Lee over the past seven years. She must be convinced, but once she believes in something, she charges ahead. What she is NOT interested in is public relations or dealing with media. I say this to people, but they don't believe me. But like the minister said after witnessing a baptism, "Not only do I believe in baptism, but I've seen it done!" * * * It has happened again! Someone noticed that my bio is much longer than Eunkoo's. I have heard a number of gripes from people over the years, ranging from Eunkoo should be featured more to I should step aside