To be able to write her book from an insider’s point of view, South Korean-born Suki Kim took the risk of going undercover in North Korea. For half a year, Kim worked as an English teacher at an elite school honing the country’s future leaders. While sensitising her students through concepts based on “seeking the truth” and “critical thinking“, massive doubts arose on her part at the same time: Was she putting them to peril by merely exposing them to usually unspeakable topics? “Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite,” is the memoir of Kim’s stay in Pyongyang during Kim Jong-Il’s final six months. Her work offers unprecedented insights into the psychology of North Korea’s ruling class.
Ambulance on wings for emergencies abroad
It does not take a daredevilish stunt person to find themselves in a precarious health situation all of a sudden. Regular people pursuing their unspectacular routine chores fall victim to unforeseen circumstances all the time: a life-threatening coronary attack may occur during a stressful business meeting or a cervical vertebra get seriously dislocated on a slippery stairwell. Should this happen on familiar terrain with trusted help around the corner, bad enough. But what, if destiny strikes far away from home?
TED Talk. Guy Winch: Why we all need to practice emotional first aid
We are physically healthy but a mess psychologically? We treat ourselves less kindly than we would treat our best friends? We tend to ruminate and cannot stop dwelling on a negative incident? To stop replaying the same event in your mind over again; to develop a positive attitude towards yourselves; to prioritise your psychological health and practice emotional hygiene with the same compassion you would apply if it were your bodies is what Guy gently recommends in this video.
What if…? Mobility and its health risks
In light of a globally mobile workforce, the unique requirements prevailing at a location need to be identified in order to sustain the health of employees and their dependents. The International Corporate Health Leadership Council (ICHLC) – made up of leading global health experts – sees itself as a think tank to help companies oversee the well-being of their workforce abroad. The Council believes that there is significant room for improvement as many companies still do not effectively orient and train their internationally mobile personnel, nor offer first aid training and travel kits. In high-risk environments, both of the latter may make the difference between life and death and must be considered a standard. Below are excerpts of the most relevant recommendations given by ICHLC.
An architectural legacy: Esma Sultan in Istanbul
The shell of a historic structure on the European coast of the Bosporus is lauded as one of Istanbul’s most exceptional venues and the distinguished guest or performers’ list includes Deep Purple, Alan Parsons, Boy George, Chris de Burgh, Elia Kazan, George Benson, actor Kevin Spacey … to name a few. But what is the mystery behind this astonishing building and its eponym?