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Showing posts from February, 2013

Casey Lartigue cited by NKNews.org

I like the quote Tad Farrell uses, but just to be clear, I am not opposed to tourism in North Korea and I support more interactions by people who want to engage with North Koreans now. I'm just saying that I won't go there as long as the current oppressive state is in charge. Anything I learn about North Korea is focused on helping people to escape or to resettle when they successfully escape. From the NK News article: Those who are against travel to North Korea tend to focus on the moral implications and belief that visitors could be fueling the government’s sometimes illicit activities. For his part, Casey Lartigue Jr. says  that because of the high price, he won’t go. That’s because he points out that the $2500 price of some tours could be otherwise used to fund a human rights organization’s attempt to rescue a North Korean refugee. He adds, I am not interested in going to North Korea as long as North Koreans are held captive. I could go one day, but for

There's no place like home (Korea Times)

Many Koreans have asked me if I ever suffered from culture shock. No, I tell them: “Why should I have been shocked when I expected things to be different?” As I explain it: “Culture shock” is a polite way of saying, "Some people aren’t mentally or emotionally prepared to live or travel abroad.” The late curmudgeon Paul Fussell argued that there are three kinds of people who travel: Tourists, travelers, and explorers. Briefly, tourists stick to the familiar. Travelers get somewhat involved in the local culture. Explorers dive right in, often "going native.” (I confess to being a traveler. I have been mistaken as being an explorer, although "unorganized” is more accurate.) What about those who live abroad? Some of the complaints make sense and can improve things, but some border on paranoia. I have heard more than a few expatriates complain that Koreans avoid sitting next to them on public transportation. I wish I had that kind of magic repellent. For