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Artris
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:45 am Post subject: Helping NK defectors? How? |
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I have a friend who is interested in helping NK defectors adjust to life in South Korea. He is a male English teacher who works in Seoul. What are his options? Are there any aid organizations specifically for foreigners looking to help refugees in SK?
Any suggestions are appreciated. |
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Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:48 am Post subject: |
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| What special skills does he have that would make him suitable for such work? |
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Artris
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:07 am Post subject: |
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Well he's an English teacher, has an actual teaching degree with certification to teach back in the states (specifically history though, not English). Free time?
I think he may be looking for the typical 'soup kitchen' type setup or something that would put him in contact with people directly. He wants to help people on a person by person basis rather than donate money to a charity etc. |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| Artris wrote: |
| I think he may be looking for the typical 'soup kitchen' type setup or something that would put him in contact with people directly. He wants to help people on a person by person basis rather than donate money to a charity etc. |
"Here's your soup, Nork! Eat up."
Yeah, I think that's more how you keep homeless people from dying and not how you help undereducated, brainwashed citizens from a background that you can't possibly relate to adjust to a completely different social and economic system that you yourself only have a vague understanding of.
"Umm...I was hoping for a little job training? Maybe some advice on how the banking system works or something?"
"Shut your mouth, Nork! Eat yer soup."
It's nice of your friend to want to help, but I think that there's more to it than that. |
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Artris
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:26 am Post subject: |
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What I meant was he wants to personally be involved: I suggested donating money to a charity and working overtime if he wanted to give his time. He wants to be there in person helping people.
I'm just not sure what he could do as a foreigner and am looking for suggestions. |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:45 am Post subject: |
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| Artris wrote: |
What I meant was he wants to personally be involved: I suggested donating money to a charity and working overtime if he wanted to give his time. He wants to be there in person helping people.
I'm just not sure what he could do as a foreigner and am looking for suggestions. |
Does he speak fluent Korean? To the point of being able to train or educate said defectors?
I am not saying that these people don't need help...but it sounds like your friend wants to "feel" like he's helping these people more than he is actually capable of doing anything beyond providing some free 'token' English classes that would do absolutely nothing to help North Koreans adjust to life in South Korea.
My guess is that if he speaks Korean well enough to be involved in such a program that would help defectors that he'd be able to make a few phone calls and get involved with an organization that does just that....however, as he can't even bother to sign up for his own Dave's ESL account, my guess is that his Korean language skills are far inferior to those of Tomato. |
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sheriffadam
Joined: 10 May 2010
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:13 am Post subject: |
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I think a lot of those 'help the north' groups are all churched based and the poor norks go from one brainwashingearbashing to another  |
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Nester Noodlemon
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:18 am Post subject: |
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| Artris wrote: |
Well he's an English teacher, has an actual teaching degree with certification to teach back in the states (specifically history though, not English). Free time?
I think he may be looking for the typical 'soup kitchen' type setup or something that would put him in contact with people directly. He wants to help people on a person by person basis rather than donate money to a charity etc. |
uhh, maybe he can teach them history.
share his apartment? |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:18 am Post subject: |
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| sheriffadam wrote: |
| I think a lot of those 'help the north' groups are all churched based and the poor norks go from one brainwashingearbashing to another |
Yeah, but at least the Christians have got fruit. |
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Artris
Joined: 09 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:01 am Post subject: |
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I sort of agree with the majority of you here: what exactly does he have to offer? Still I figured a posting here could be fruitful once I sorted through all the typical swill. He speaks far more Korean than I, but I doubt he is on the level where he could provide more than basic instruction.
RE: His own account
Nobody has been any more helpful than I was yet, so I fail to see how his or my starting the thread would make any difference. |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:11 am Post subject: |
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| Nester Noodlemon wrote: |
uhh, maybe he can teach them history.
share his apartment? |
Have you always been here Noodlemon? You crack me up.
Can you imagine chillin' on the couch, teaching your 3 nork roommates how to play XBox? |
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Nester Noodlemon
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:19 am Post subject: |
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| air76 wrote: |
| Nester Noodlemon wrote: |
uhh, maybe he can teach them history.
share his apartment? |
Have you always been here Noodlemon? You crack me up.
Can you imagine chillin' on the couch, teaching your 3 nork roommates how to play XBox? |
Yes, I have been in Korea a long time... much, much longer than my register date. Heck, my wife is Korean...
I get a laugh out of some of the serious posts. So, I sometimes keep some of the posts moving along with a little humor or innocent/devilish^^ prodding... |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:24 am Post subject: |
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| Nester Noodlemon wrote: |
| I get a laugh out of some of the serious posts. So, I sometimes keep some of the posts moving along with a little humor or innocent/devilish^^ prodding... |
I just hope this dude finds a good organization to volunteer with....it sounds like he's poised to make a real difference. |
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Nester Noodlemon
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:27 am Post subject: |
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| air76 wrote: |
| Nester Noodlemon wrote: |
| I get a laugh out of some of the serious posts. So, I sometimes keep some of the posts moving along with a little humor or innocent/devilish^^ prodding... |
I just hope this dude finds a good organization to volunteer with....it sounds like he's poised to make a real difference. |
You have to give the guy credit, his heart is in the right place. Help is help. |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| Nester Noodlemon wrote: |
| You have to give the guy credit, his heart is in the right place. Help is help. |
Fair enough...but he's pretty naive as far as I'm concerned. |
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