Living the Life

A friend of Helping Hands Korea has so kindly designed a t-shirt to benefit the work being done to aid North Korean refugees as well as those suffering from the current famine. Part of the proceeds of the shirt go directly to people in need. Check em out....

If you ever get so lucky enough to meet my little brother, Ashish, you will quickly realise that he is one of the most amazing kids around. He is completely gentle and a little bit naive but all in all I have never heard him say or do a mean thing to any living creature around. He jokes around with my kids and he just is hands down a quality individual.

Ashish moved to the UK in August. Before heading out to the land which inspires my spelling, I always jokingly advised him that America was a better choice. Colorado has better food, better accent (I know those of you who are thinking of a Londoner accent are probably thinking, "nah Emma, the British have such a lovely accent" - but meet someone from the northern part of England and trust me, you will understand what I am saying), and better weather. Unfortunately for me, my pipe dreams of harnessing all my overseas-bound Nepalese friends to my homestate will probably end with Puja and Sewa.

Now fast forward to today, Ashish is settled into his life in the UK and realising the harsh realities of the world.... and through him, so am I. Last week an Indian man was killed in my little brother's new homeland and since that event my little brother has been continually taunted on the streets. He was nearly attacked by a group of boys he'd never met this weekend. The weird thing is, my little brother is Gurung, which mean he looks more Tibetan than Indian... but I guess if you're not white, you're not white. "F*cking Chinese", "Go back to your country...you piece of dog sh*t" are all things he deals with on a regular basis.

Ashish is permitted to live in the UK because his father has permanent resident status. He earned that right after serving a career as a British soldier. Yes, that's right the Brits not only employ foreigners to be part of their army, they consider this branch of Nepalese Ghorka soldiers as some of the most loyal, dedicated soldiers in the entire system.

I guess there are times when I start to forget that racism is still so strong. It's really honestly something I cannot comprehend. Koreans rarely hire blacks. Young British hating on Asians. White South Africans weary of the blacks and the colored people. Germans disowning the Germany-born Turks.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like not to be white.

Dear young, male, US soldiers living in Seoul,

I know that Time Magazine named you "person of the year" in 2003. I know many Americans applaud your act of sacrifice being abroad and you often get dubbed with the name "hero". I also know that there are many foreigners living in Seoul and the only bad encounters I have had are with young men from the same ilk as yourself.

On Friday and Saturday nights, people still know you are soldiers. Just because you are not on base and not in uniform does not mean you stop representing our country. Many of your civilian counterparts also residing in Seoul are ashamed to be associated with you. Us girls are over the whole walking by you on the streets and you saying, "Hey, wanna have sex with me tonight?" thing. We are disappointed seeing how in clubs you are the sleaziest guys. We are let down by the realisation that it's YOU who are representing our country.

Out of all the men living in Seoul - both foreign and Korean - you have proven yourselves to be the worst. I am saddened when I hear my Korean friends say, "Oh, all the young guy soldiers from the US are a$$holes." I am saddened that some of you are tainting the image of all soldiers.

I know that this doesn't apply to all of you, but it definitely applies to some of you and stereotypes come from experiences. If you are amongst the dignified, I encourage you to persuade your brothers in the armed forces to learn from your example. As of now, I must say that I am less than impressed by your behaviour.

Thanks.
-E

When I wrote my MA thesis, I was blessed to be under the care of a very zealous individual. Although at times I was definitely afraid and/or intimidated by the passion of this man, it was more often that I was inpired, challenged and motivated to always stick by what I believe in - no matter how unpopular.

During the days of the coup, the general Thai population went about their personal lives in an oblivious political slumber. The small number of Thais who actually did voice an opinion were often supporters of the military coup largely because of the distaste many Thais have for the ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin.

When least popular and under-supported, my professor Giles Ungpakorn organized an endless amount of rallies throughout the city. No matter how few the number of attendees, every time Giles spoke with the same conviction and took action for his beliefs. He worked night and day to bring national and international attention to the counter-democratic coup. Despite a lot of negative comments I heard from other academics in regard to Giles' efforts, secretly I thought it was the most beautifully amazing demonstration of commitment. It was an example for me that I really hope to carry with me through this road of life.

Now my Marxist academic mentor and secret hero has written a book about the coup. It's cheap. Dirt cheap... and I am sure the price reflects the truth that he believes in the message so much that he wants to educate, not profit. I love these kind of people.


Here's how you can buy the book:
The book should be available from Chulalongkorn University bookshops from late February 2007. You can also order the book direct by mail:

1. Within Thailand: send a Thai bank cheque or postal order for 200 baht (cost includes postage) to: Giles Ji Ungpakorn, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand .

2. From Abroad: send a U.K. sterling bank cheque for five pounds (cost includes airmail postage) to: Giles Ji Ungpakorn, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330 , Thailand. OR send cash to the sum of ten U.S. dollars to the above address.

2006.11.08
World Food Program (WFP) South Africa representative Michael Huggins, just back from a visit to North Korea, told RFA’s Korean service that the WFP faces holes in the food pipeline from November, and the situation will get progressively worse until January, when it will run completely out of food.

The situation makes it almost impossible for us to know what is truly going on and how frighteningly high the statics really are, but reports have been made that 40 North Koreans from one village were found dead last week. Without a doubt, the numbers throughout the country are exceedingly higher than this report.

I still cannot believe that less mileage than it takes to get from Dallas to Austin there is such a tragically, urgent crisis fully underway.

God, we need you.

Life transitions always force me to reanalyse who I am and what I am doing with the short blip of time I have here on this earth. Lucky for me, life transitions are more frequent than they are absent.

A while back I realised that I'd become a little more cynical than I'd like... I relied on myself a little more than I should... and I prayed a little less than was necessary.

After my month of leisurely jet-setting around the states and a week in transit in my Southeast Asian motherland, I found myself flung to the southern tip of a well-known peninsula. As I've wandered my way through the 50 years young glimmer of this newly developed land still trying to grasp hold of why I am truly here, something has changed in me.

Many a times I've found my heart laying prostrate in the middle of the monotany of the every day affairs of life. No words to speak, my heart continues to groan... for something more. Not more in the world of tangible reality. Not more things or events or accomplishments. The "more" that is my longing is more of God. I long for the eyes of God - to see how He sees. I long for the heart of God - to let it be broken for the things that break His heart. I long for a hope that is a stranger to despair. I long for more.

God promises us life and life abundantly but still we give way to a small life filled with petty details. I don't know if it is continually hearing the living realities of North Korean refugees or if it is being part of the complacency... but this season of my life God's teaching me to seek after this Abundant life -to grab hold and not let go.

The UNDP-Korea funding Kim Jong Il. Great. UNDP-Thailand backs "sufficency economics". Oh yeah, and the UNHCR and its failure to do anything for North Koreans in China is still lame.

In South Korea, you can take a tour of the DMZ. To be honest, I am a bit interested but I am not sure how I feel about military tourism. Just doesn't set right, does it?

It's dark at the base of a lamp- korean proverb

This is a Korean proverb that means we often don't realise the problems of our immediate surroundings. Is it that we don't know or that we choose to ignore? I live in the brightest light in the picture. See how close it is to the darkness? But we keep on here...harnessing the light and unconcerned by what we know but choose not to see.

MSN has recently posted a story about a new need for a passport to go into Canada or Mexico. It's about time! I have heard that less than 25% of Americans own a passport. Because immigration offices, embassies and consulates are my favourite places on earth (yah right! It's painful, baby!), let me tell you about my lovely second passport. She filled up the naturally included numbered pages within a year. No, I didn't get the joys of going to that many cool places. It's the dang visas that take up a whole page... and another to renew. I think I have 10 pages of Thai-related markings alone. So what do they do after one fills up pages 1-24? You go to the American Embassy and they put in supplementary pages A-Z. Unfortunately, between going here and there and here again over the past couple of years has left me with a mere page to spare!!! What do you think the Embassy will do for me now? The best part about a full passport is that it is a testimony to my life. It documents every jump I've taken - or not taken - throughout my Asian existence. Unlike most dingy western passport stamps, Asians typically give you a beautiful entry visa (at a price of usually $15-100 of course) to celebrate every entry, every trip, every adventure. Every time I sit on a train or plane for a long period of time, I flip through the pages and recount the stories of my recent past.

* Clearly, the pictures are not my own and thus do not reflect my own travels/personal information (even though I do have both those in my own!)

The sun isn't even up all the way. I'm briskly walking home, bundled up in defiance of the unrelenting cold Korean air with my little box of soy milk in one hand and my other hand in my pocket. A Korean man of about 40 also walking along the road spots me from the corner of his eye. Removing the scarf covering his mouth he says in a thick accent, "Excuse me, I would like to ask you if you believe in Jesus?"

What the? My eyes aren't even open all the way yet. I just nod my head out of politeness. He continues, "You are going to church here in Korea?" I nod again. "Okay thank you!" He speed walks off ahead of me.

This, my friends, is why the world thinks Christians are annoying. I think Christians are annoying. I've decided that my new response will be something along the lines of, "Yeah, I do. Do you believe in loving your neighbor? Do you believe in helping North Korea?"

I know, I know, Dad. Those are the things that are going to get me in trouble in life! With my lack of diplomatic speech, I don't know if I will ever really be able to run for senate. :)

I just talked to my Bollywood Director friend a few days ago and told him that since he is just a bit shy of 30, it was high time for him to find a wife. His response was something along the lines of, "You think India has all these customs we have to abide by, but you are wrong! Times are changing, babe" (but apparently it's still acceptable to call friends who happen to be females 'babe'). He continued to fight his case by saying, "Look at Ash. She's not married and she is two years older than me."

Well, my friend... Aishwarya Rai being single is yesterday's news because my favourite leading lady in Mumbai is getting hitched to the son of movie veteran, Amitab Bachan. Okay, Abishek is an actor in his own right, but being the son of a man who has been in more movies than five Hollywood actors of the same age combined sure doesn't hurt.

The TomKat of India - minus the whole scientology and 16 year age gap business - is sure to grace the cover of many gossip magazines around South Asia... Congrats!!!!

My thesis is coming true! The Maoists in Nepal are entering the political mainstream..... and because I am such a dork, this is one of the most exciting things that could be happening right now! In the other homeland, the bird flu is still persevering around Thailand, a train taking the wrong track to Hua Hin left three dead, and the coup is leaving investors weary of the Thai Stock Market. Here in So-Ko, 2,000+ activists are busy trying to end FTA talks with the United States. And Colorado? Still cold.

She said life's a lot to think about sometimes
when you're living in between the lines
and all the stars are sparklin' shine... everyday...
-three doors down

Please pray for the refugees who escape oppression only to meet new danger. It's a cold winter and every night hundreds are setting out on a terrifying voyage across the frozen Tumen River. Pray for those who literally live between the lines. Pray for China to abide by the UNHCR Convention on the Status of Refugees, to which they are signatory.... Please pray.

The Shenyang Six-Wall Street Journal, January 4, 2007

Ban Ki Moon got off to a good start at the United Nations this week when he declined to criticize the execution of Saddam Hussein. Here's another way the new Secretary General could outshine his predecessor: Demand that Beijing live up to its international obligations to let the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees help the tens of thousands of North Korean refugees hiding in northeast China.

As a fellow Korean, Mr. Ban has special moral authority to address this little-known humanitarian crisis. A good place to start would be by making a public plea on behalf of six refugees who tried, but failed, to obtain sanctuary in the U.S. consulate in Shenyang, China, last month. The six are in jail in Shenyang, awaiting deportation under China's policy regarding the North Korean refugees it tracks down.

China's treatment of the North Koreans violates the International Convention Regarding the Status of Refugees, to which it is a party and which bars "refoulement," or the repatriation of refugees to places where their lives or freedom would be in jeopardy. North Koreans who are sent home by Beijing face execution or a term in one of Kim Jong Il's prison camps, which can amount to a death sentence.

The six refugees in jail in Shenyang include two orphan boys, ages 16 and 17; a 22-year-old woman; and three women in their 40s. One of the older women is the mother of a 19-year-old who made it to safety in the U.S. consulate last year and is awaiting resettlement in the U.S. along with two orphan boys -- if China lets them leave. One of the women has relatives in Hawaii; another has family in South Korea.

The six were captured just before Christmas along with two Americans who had been sheltering them in safe houses in another city and were accompanying them to the consulate. Their rescuers -- young women who don't want their names used -- belong to Liberty in North Korea, or LINK, a U.S. non-profit dedicated to helping the refugees. LINK's director, Adrian Hong, was also arrested -- pulled out of his hotel room in Beijing and taken to a prison cell in Shenyang. The three rescuers were deported this week.That's progress of sorts. Steve Kim, a Huntington, New York, businessman who provided funds to house and care for refugees, was tried, convicted and has been in jail in China since September 2003. Phillip Buck, a pastor from Seattle, was released in August after serving 15 months in prison for helping North Koreans.

Beyond the six jailed refugees is the larger tragedy of the tens of thousands of North Koreans in northeast China and the thousands more who may flee if famine hits North Korea this winter, as expected. The humane solution would be to allow the UNHCR to set up processing centers in China for the refugees, who could then be transferred to transit camps in neighboring countries before being resettled elsewhere.

South Korea's constitution requires it to accept escapees from the North, and North Korean asylum seekers are welcome in the U.S. under 2004 legislation. In one of his last acts as Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist introduced a bill that would authorize $10 billion for the relief and relocation of North Korean refugees. That's a good idea that other Senators could adopt.Meanwhile, the six refugees incarcerated in Shenyang await a decision from Beijing. As he was being escorted from jail this week, Mr. Hong says he passed the cell where several of the North Koreans were being held. "There is nothing like looking in the eyes of someone who thinks they are going to die," he says. "They all had that look - like there was no hope."

Lord you have my heart.... and I will search for yours...

Yes, my friends - be jealous. While all of you were doing whatever it is you were doing on New Year's Eve, I was one of two westerners in attendance at Mr. Son Ho Young's concert. Gifted free tickets directly from his drummer on Christmas day, my fellow Coloradan and I just couldn't resist a chance to indulge just once in the KPop hype. We checked him out via myspace before making any commitment and we found him palatable enough and maybe even at times 1/2 entertaining. Boy, we were right - the boy was entertaining. Entertaining in that "is this even for real, I can hardly breathe 'cos I am laughing so much" kind of way, that is. Between the strange pairing of screaming girls going wild and silent signs of admiration shown by the good ol' two thumbs up, the wacky outfits, the girl next to us getting busted for illegally taping the whole deal, the Norah Jones tunes playing before the show got started (seems like an odd fit, I must say), and the incessant need to interject Christmas carols despite the under-celebrated holiday being a week ago, Son Ho Young's show might be one of the most memorable Korean experiences I will have... and for free! One of my favourite parts was definitely his rendition of "Isn't She Lovely". His intermittent winks and points at random girls between every sung 'isn't she lovely' while saying in an overly dramatic, falsely deepened voice, "Yeah, darling, you are wonderful" just about threw me into hysterics.

Fortunately for Son Ho, the boys that brought him KPop stardom helped his concert from being a total flop in the eyes of this American. What Backstreet Boys was to Justin Timberlake, G.O.D. (aka "groove overdose") is to Son Ho. G.O.D. joined their mate for a few songs near the end of the show for a little G.O.D. pre-comeback reunion. While the rapping boy band may have been a bit cheesy at times, they definitely threw down some rhymes worth admiring. The boys have got skills. Oh yeah, and so does our friend, Johnny Wha, the drummer. And get this... since my gym happens to be at the epicentre of Korea's hi-so world, yesterday I realised that another G.O.D. boy was working out by me for at least 40 some minutes. I'm star struck* wink wink.

Happy 2007!