2020-01-02 Do your New Year's Resolutions include TNKR?

Yesterday was the calm before the storm. We had no meetings held at the TNKR office yesterday New Year's Day.

After a day off, today was meetings from start to finish.

If you forgot to include TNKR in your New Year's Resolutions for 2020, no problem! No one will remember which resolutions you pledged. So you can add TNKR to your list, then jump in to get something done!

www.lovetnkr.org/donate

Are you eager to get involved with TNKR this year? We are growing as an organization. We have grown to the point that we have expanded our programming for 2020. At one point in our history, our only activity was tutoring. Our name, Teach North Korean Refugees, came from our concern about being able to recruit enough tutors. Now we have to worry about our various programs bumping into each other, with volunteers hopping around the three different tracks.

www.lovetnkr.org/tutor
www.lovetnkr.org/mentor
www.lovetnkr.org/leaders
www.lovetnkr.org/members
www.lovetnkr.org/donate

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Joining TNKR means engaging with some fantastic people who escaped from North Korea!

The following is just from today!

Eunsun Kim dropped by the TNKR office to sign copies of her book, "A Thousand Miles to Freedom." She has been with TNKR on-and-off since July 2014, she was the winner of TNKR's third English speech contest. I have known her for five years now, heard her give many speeches, shared the stage with her many times, and never heard her say a critical thing about anyone.

She was at a high level before she joined TNKR, but continues focusing on improving her English.

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It is always great to see Chanyang Praise Ju! I met her in 2012 just as I was getting involved in NK refugee issues. She was one of TNKR's first students, in 2014 she was our first students to give an international speech, she gave an absolutely incredible testimonial about me in 2014. She has remained with us during that time, always bringing her energy and smile.

Here's her YouTube channel.

We have some students we don't identify publicly. One has been with us since 2014, and another since 2016.

It is always fantastic seeing Songmi! She is joining TNKR in numerous ways, bringing her BIG smile and fantastic energy.

A touching moment is that after our official work hours, we met with local leaders, they are looking for an office for TNKR. It is fantastic that our humble little organization has come to their attention. One, we must thank Sue Choi, owner of the local Isaac sandwich shop. She has kept my business card and an article about me on the wall and also introduced Eunkoo to some of the local leaders in our area.

The latest boost in TNKR's reputation is that I was recently featured on Channel A's "Eye Contact" TV Show. (The full version is blocked in some countries).

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She didn't visit the office today, but today was a special day because it is the birthday of Sharon Jang!
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"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 ...

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...

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."

Inspiration from a lousy visitor (The Korea Times, December 31, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

2013-12-15 It was a great occasion yesterday. A group of us held a Christmas party in the cancer ward of severance hospital. So many people to mention. The man who inspired it all: Nick Adams. It was his trip to Korea last month that inspired me to organize the party. He had cancer when he was a child, and he insisted that as part of his itinerary that we stop by the hospital. I was so moved that I contacted the best party planner I have ever known. The man behind the motion: Edward M. Robinson! As I've said several times: If you are looking for someone to hold an incredible party for kids, then contact Eddie! I look forward to big things from HOPE now that he has taken an even more active role with the organization (and was smart enough to name me an International Adviser, for example). The staff members at Mulmangcho are still talking about the incredible Halloween party he hosted, and they are looking forward to the Christmas party he has planned this weekend! The lady behind t...

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...

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