Author: Suki Kim
Publisher: Crown (2014)
How did I get to this book?
I first got to know this book in early February when I was reading through an online article that highlights new books released in 2014. This book caught my attention instantly as I read through the brief summaries of all the books. This book is a reported memoir where Suki (the author) talks about her real-life experience being a teacher in North Korea. Real life experience, teacher, North Korea. Enough said. I was already hooked.
I checked on Amazon for the price of this book, and it was 25 dollars. I thought of buying it right away, but I decided to wait for the Spring semester to be over first because I knew I would not have time to enjoy this book during that hectic period. Fast forward to end of May, after I came back from traveling, I checked the IU libraries website and I realized the school has a copy of this book in the Columbus, IN university branch; so, I requested for the school to ship this book to Bloomington. After waited for less than a week, I got the book!
I started reading it right away and I finished it in less than 3 days. I was controlling myself not to read too fast and I purposely stopped after I was done with certain chapters so that I can take some buffer time to really think about what Suki has gone through. In this era where anything can go viral within seconds, time at NK was frozen, impeded by constant fear and sorrow.
What was my impression about North Korea (before I read this book)?
My impression about NK was it is a mysterious, scary yet poor country. Before this book, I had read maybe only 3 short articles about NK: 2 of them from Readers’ Digest (magazine), which were written in the 1980’s or 1990’s or even earlier, and 1 from Sin Chew (newspaper) around 2009 or so. The first article was about the highly synchronized group dance routine performed during the celebration of the Supreme Leader’s birthday. The second article was about the kidnap of famous South Korea movie director and actress into NK by the Great Leader. The third article was some footage from a guided travel tour to NK.
All the pictures about NK that I have seen from these articles were dull and un-lively. And during the first few chapters of the book, Suki helped to strengthen my imagination about NK, that it is a bare land, the sky is always gloomy or stained yellow, and the place is filled with dead silent that makes you either want to scream or cry.
But at the middle of the book, Suki talked so much about all the fun times the boys had in school and all the silly things they did; for a slight moment I felt as if she was directing a NK version of Hanazakarino Kimitachihe ** in front of a greyscale backdrop with the lomo effect on the camera turned on. The contradiction was so strong I had to pause reading for a moment. Even at such bare and needy land, there was at least a group of youngsters tasting a tiny bit of fun and true friendship. Though I bet that taste was easily turned bland by the truth.
Contradiction. That’s the summary of what I feel and know about NK.
What does being a teacher mean to me?
Being a teacher means you are putting yourself out there, being vulnerable as you are bombarded by both joy of seeding and disappointments. As I was reading through some of Suki’s teaching experience, I recalled my brief time as a first aid and home nursing trainer in high school. It was such a joy seeing my trainees performing better, getting fluent at their skills; however, there were times I was led to the verge of tearing up by their stubbornness.
As Suki wrote in the prologue, she was a “sole writer disguised as a missionary disguised as a teacher” in the university. But please allow me to daringly hypothesize, that for at least a moment or two, she felt the pure joy (and frustration) of just being a teacher, a guide, a mentor. It is a heavy responsibility, yet an addictive one. And as far as I have experienced, it does not take a classroom setting to turn a person into a teacher.
Suki mentioned an incident where a student gave her silent treatment because he was mad at her for giving him a B in an essay assignment. He consulted her before the essay submission, and she said “okay” so he expected higher grade. Suki did break the ice at the end, and she teared up a little at the end of her conversation with him.
When I read that part, I was emotional too. I wish I can tell my students don’t do this or do that because I have lived it through, but I know sometimes the best way for them to learn, to start thinking independently is to let them commit the mistakes, even if it means they will get mad at you for allowing them to fall. Worst still, the student could be your boyfriend, your friend or anyone you genuinely care about.
When you are held accountable for playing a role in shaping your students’ perspectives, I believe, you have no choice but to share all you know, all you have, all you are with them. So, no disguise, can’t disguise.
Quick closing thoughts
When I was reading through some of the restrictions faced by Suki when she was teaching in PUST, I could not help but to recall my 2 years stay at my previous on campus apartment. I had to wear long sleeves and long pants everywhere I went on campus. Boys and girls had to sit separately during events. Did I feel chocked by the change in environment? Maybe a little. However, I pondered more on how easily I adapt and conform.
I reflected on a lot of other things when I read this book. Especially because I am a Christian and Suki talked a lot about the tensions she faced dealing with some more traditional Christians. But I will save those from now.
** A popular drama in 2006 about a girl in disguise studying in an all-boys high school.
