2015-05-09 TNKR Double Orientation (Tutors and Refugees)

We had two orientation sessions getting ready for our English Matching session on 5/16.

* We made the decision a few months ago to start holding orientation a week in advance of the Matching session. We weren't sure we could get people to come out two weeks in a row. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we've made. Orientation gives us a chance to get to know both the tutors and refugees in advance of the Matching session. Instead of rushing through the orientation to get to the matches, and to do it all within 2 hours, we set aside time the week before to explain the project in detail, to give them time to answer questions. I have also gotten better at handling these sessions, keeping them on schedule and explaining the project so that the volunteers clearly understand it.

* The refugees who joined today, they were fantastic, too. They have all been waiting more than a month to join us. They are really thankful and ready to get started. Seven of them joined today, they all had different reasons for wanting to join us. One good thing is that all of them were referred to us by others who have been in the project. So word of mouth is working. They say that refugees are well aware of us. One refugee says she will choose 6 tutors, another says she will choose 5. We so far have 12 tutors signed up, so we may need to sign up a few more tutors to make sure they all get several tutors.

* Both the volunteers had plenty of questions in their separate orientations. And we got the question we get almost all of the time from the refugees: Why do the volunteer tutors want to help?

* Oh, but I may have been too dominating at times with the volunteers. Unfortunately, some of the recent volunteers have made me have to chase them, give them reminders, not all have been consistently following the rules. That was mistake for not being tougher sooner. So from now, future volunteers will be on probation for the first two weeks after the matching session. Violators will be booted from the project and not allowed to return. If I had unlimited time, I might be more patient, but no more Mr. Nice Guy. I am now updating the FAQ, with the important question: "What do I need to do in order to get kicked out of TNKR?"

*All of the refugees mentioned clear study goals. After today's orientation, I am confident that the next study term will be one of our best.

*We had one tutor return. She could clearly see that we have made changes to the project.

* Mike Ashley came through with yet another donation to TNKR!

* I challenged the volunteers to come up with an idea for a fundraiser to cover the cost of coffee and study rooms. We should be able to save money for both volunteers and refugees on tight budgets.

"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 ...

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."

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...

Humanitarian with a guillotine (Korea Times, February 1, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan said the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, `` I’m from the government, and I’m here to help .” For many well-intentioned activists, politicians, and intellectuals, that should be updated as: ``We are here to help you. You’re under arrest.” For example, ``sex workers” around the world oppose anti-prostitution laws. Prostitutes may not know the theoretical arguments but they do know in reality that prohibiting prostitution means they lack protection in dealing with abusive pimps and madams, violent patrons and crooked cops. Locally, a Korean woman busted for prostitution recently appealed to the courts pleading , ``I cannot survive without this job. I don’t want to be treated as a criminal for making a living the only way I can.” How should someone who genuinely wants to help her respond? If you say ``arrest her” then you are qualified to be a “harmful humanitarian.” In your desire to help, you have elimin...

2014-02-14 Yeon-Mi Park`s debut

Yeonmi Park, February 14, 2014, making her debut! Yesterday I was one of the speakers at a special session on North Korean refugees at the Canadian Maple International School. Wow, it was a wonderful time! * Yeon-Mi Park delivered her first major speech in English. She was wonderful! She told her story (35 minute speech without notes), discussed different aspects of North Korea, and then handled questions from students for more than an hour. She did seem to be nervous at the beginning-she took a deep breath just as she started, looked at me, then told her story from her heart. * Returning from the speech, I told Yeonmi that she had star potential. She told me that she didn't believe it, but I told her that the way she handled Q&A and told her story, I would be lucky to have her still returning my phone calls within a year. * The students had many questions. They have been learning about North Korea. They are now reading "Escape from Camp 14" featuring Shin Dong-h...

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