Thankful for TNKR
Happy Thanksgiving! I was fortunate enough to attend a local KOTESOL chapter fall event in Daejeon and hear a message from Eunkoo Lee and Casey Lartigue, co-founders of the Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) organization. TNKR is a life-changing program that raises money and helps North Koreans, who are able to escape the country, adjust to life in a democracy and tell their stories as a form of healing. Listening to these two passionate speakers caused me to reflect on my summer introduction to North Korean person who had only been out of the country for less than two years. During this summer tour we visited the DMZ to see the double-fenced, wildlife barrier that exists at the point where South and North Korea meet. *This person explained the difficult adjustment that occurs when one has NOT had access to 24-hour electricity, processed food in numerous commercial stores, ridiculous amounts of outlets for entertainment - including the Internet and smart phones. List