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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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 Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 6:55 am Post subject: The current US ambassador to Korea |
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Did you know that she speaks Korean and was a peace corps volunteer here in 75-77? I didn't. My wife says that Koreans love her. I wonder if she knew bluelake when she was here... 
http://seoul.usembassy.gov/biography.html
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| Ambassador Stephens was born in El Paso, Texas and grew up in New Mexico and Arizona. She has longstanding family ties to Montana. She holds a B.A. (Honors) in East Asian studies from Prescott College and a master�s degree from Harvard University. Ambassador Stephens also studied at the University of Hong Kong. She is a recipient of honorary doctoral degrees from Chungnam National University and the University of Maryland, and of numerous State Department awards. Ambassador Stephens was a Peace Corps volunteer in Korea from 1975 to 1977. Her foreign languages are Korean, Serbian and Chinese. |
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Intrepid
Joined: 13 May 2004
Location: Yongin
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: RPCVs rock |
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Yup, RPCVs (Returned PCVolunteers) rock.
Christopher Hill (or North Korea negotiating fame) was in Cameroon about fifteen years before I was there.
here in Korea, I sometimes talk about my African experiences and then mention that there was PC in Korea. Kids are sort of surprised that such a thing was needed. Old timers remember and think that those were some different Americans from the usual soldier lot.
And the RPCV Korea community is huge. The program here was very big, idealistic, effective. UMaryland on base has some professors who are RPCV Korea. |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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She was an English teacher during her Peace Corps days.
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�Yesan is where I learned the qualities I needed to be a diplomat. I had warm-hearted colleagues who were out there for me, and students who studied hard despite many difficulties. I learned how to endure hardships and convince others, which is essential for a diplomat,� said U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stephens on Wednesday, during her first visit to Yesan Middle School in 33 years.
Stephens worked as an English teacher for two years at Yesan Middle School in South Chungcheong Province 33 years ago as a member of the Peace Corps. Once a twenty-something single American teacher who used a Korean name, �Shim Eun-kyung,� she returned to revive her memories -- this time not as a teacher but as U.S. ambassador to Korea.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200810/200810090005.html |
You have an Ambassador that knows where ESL teachers are coming from. |
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Suwon23
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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You know, I was surprised to learn that we have any ambassadors who don't speak the language of the country they are assigned to. I always assumed that would be the very first question on the job application, especially given the huge cultural diversity we have to draw from, and how easy it is for some people to pick up languages. How hard can it be to find an American who speaks Hindi, for example, but our last ambassador to India, David Mulford, didn't speak it AFAIK. Imagine if they sent an ambassador to the US who didn't speak English? India's a bad example, because they do a lot of administration in English, but we've had ambassadors to Mexico that didn't speak Spanish, and so on.
Anyway, hurray for Kathleen Stephens.
Last edited by Suwon23 on Sat May 30, 2009 3:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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I like this quote...
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...{asked} what grade she would give herself on her Korean ability and she humbly replied, in Korean, �it�s enough. A C in politics, or economics, or social issues. My ability to understand is a little better than my ability to speak.�
http://koreabeat.com/?p=3362 |
Be humble, yet let them know that you know what they're saying. Now that's diplomacy.
She was also chief of the internal political unit in Seoul (1984-1987), and principal officer of the U.S. Consulate in Busan, Korea (1987-1989).
And the Director of the State Department�s Office of Ecology and Terrestrial Conservation in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Scientific Affairs--which should come in handy with knowledge of Dokdo issues? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Kikomom wrote: |
| You have an Ambassador that knows where ESL teachers are coming from. |
No, we don't. We have an ambassador who worked in the Peace Corps. She did not work for a hagweon nor was she on an E-2 visa at the whims of her employers. |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Rumor has it that she reads these forums. Her sock is Bram..*mod edit* |
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Suwon23
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Kikomom wrote: |
| You have an Ambassador that knows where ESL teachers are coming from. |
No, we don't. We have an ambassador who worked in the Peace Corps. She did not work for a hagweon nor was she on an E-2 visa at the whims of her employers. |
But neither could she leave. When you join the Peace Corps, they have you for two years, not one-or-less. And you don't always get paid in the Peace Corps, either. Depending on where you are, they might just pay your basic expenses and call it even. Imagine spending two years working, with nothing in the bank to show for it. Oh, and the application process is six months long. Don't kid yourself, the Peace Corps is no walk in the park. |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: The current US ambassador to Korea |
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| Forward Observer wrote: |
Did you know that she speaks Korean and was a peace corps volunteer here in 75-77? I didn't. My wife says that Koreans love her. I wonder if she knew bluelake when she was here...
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75-77 was a few years before my time here (1984). However, it's possible I could have met her when she worked at the Busan consulate (when there was one). I'd like to meet her sometime; she sounds like she'd be an interesting person to talk with about Korea "back then". Maybe Bassexpander can at least get a podcast lined up with her 
Teaching English in Korea back in the 70s and 80s was a lot different than today. The teachers were either volunteers or paid little more than a stipend (my case). Still, it was an interesting experience. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Suwon23 wrote: |
| CentralCali wrote: |
| Kikomom wrote: |
| You have an Ambassador that knows where ESL teachers are coming from. |
No, we don't. We have an ambassador who worked in the Peace Corps. She did not work for a hagweon nor was she on an E-2 visa at the whims of her employers. |
But neither could she leave. When you join the Peace Corps, they have you for two years, not one-or-less. And you don't always get paid in the Peace Corps, either. Depending on where you are, they might just pay your basic expenses and call it even. Imagine spending two years working, with nothing in the bank to show for it. Oh, and the application process is six months long. Don't kid yourself, the Peace Corps is no walk in the park. |
Peace Corps volunteers never have been under the restrictions E-2 visa holders are nor were they subjected to the abuses so rampant in hagweons. How about you not kid yourself? Also, it's called volunteer for a reason. E-2 holders are supposed to be treated like employees. |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Kikomom wrote: |
| You have an Ambassador that knows where ESL teachers are coming from. |
No, we don't. We have an ambassador who worked in the Peace Corps. She did not work for a hagweon nor was she on an E-2 visa at the whims of her employers. |
Read the article I linked to, CC. The last paragraph:
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| Stephens later attended an English class taught by a native English teacher. She donated some 120 English books on history, philosophy and science, and planted a pine tree marking the long-held friendship. |
Besides having taught in a PS for two years, she's had a chance to meet at least one of you. |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Central Cali, why are you so confrontational all the time dude? Chill out man, you don't have to argue all the time ya know.
Bluelake, that would be cool. You and the ambassador trading stories from the old days. Now that's a podcast I'd look forward to. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Forward Observer wrote: |
| Central Cali, why are you so confrontational all the time dude? Chill out man, you don't have to argue all the time ya know. |
I'm not. You are mistaken.
Wow. She attended a class. Big whoop. She did not experience the abuse so many native English teachers experience in Korea. Furthermore, her employer was an American entity, not a Korean outfit.
To the poster who wondered why ambassadors don't speak the language of the countries to which they're posted: A fair number of them are careerists in either the State Department or other political positions. They can and are posted to various places. It's just not that feasible to train someone in the language of the country of assignment each time they're posted to another country. By the way, the American Consul in Busan, Tyler Allen, speaks Korean very well as he served a mission here.
As an American, I'm not all that concerned with how much the Korean people or their government love either one of them. I'm more concerned with their ability to represent the American government and Americans while serving as Ambassador or Consul. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Kikomom wrote: |
| You have an Ambassador that knows where ESL teachers are coming from. |
No, we don't. We have an ambassador who worked in the Peace Corps. She did not work for a hagweon nor was she on an E-2 visa at the whims of her employers. |
CentralCali is right. She may have "volunteered" to teach some kids or something, years ago, but she cares little about Americans who are currently teaching English in Korea. When has she EVER made any effort to improve things for Americans teaching in Korea? No, some of you are confusing issuing press releases with real action.
As for "speaking the laguage"- more often than not, being an Ambassador to a foreign country is a political payoff for large donors to the winning presidential campaign or a position held by well-connected State Dept officials just before they retire so they can improve their pension.
One more thing- these people are supposed to work for YOU. Don't treat them like celebrities. |
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