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.

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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