Mailbox of peace

Section 2. Happiness & Hope Mai lbox of Peace 038 039 Korea Foundation & US Peace Corps KF COVID-19 Survival Box Gratitude Letter Col lection It was a pleasant surprise to receive the large COVID - 19 Survival Box a few weeks ago . Before I opened it , I thought , " what will I do with so much protective equip- ment ?' So it was a second surprise to find the lovely momentos of ‘ Our Coun- try ’. I must say , the most touching items were the pamphlet with thank you notes from Koreans and the video . I was able to participate in one of the Peace Corps revisits in 2010 , and was amazed at the country the Republic of Korea has become . I regret I haven ' t taken the time to say thank you for that experience until now . As we watch how well the Korean government and people are managing the COVID - 19 virus , we have all the more admiration for " Our Country ." Because to returned Peace Corps Volunteers such as myself , Korea will always be ‘ Our Country ’. Again , thank you so much . Respectfully , “Korea will always be ‘Our Country’” Catherine Sharpsteen , K - 46 Catherine Sharpsteen Special Education, Ewha Women's University, 1978 to 1980 I served in Peace Corp I arriving in Korea in the fall of 1966 , 54 years ago . < omit > I feel that Korea gave me 10 , 000 times more than I gave Korea . It moved me deeply and caused a deep reorientation of my life that has lasted into my old age . How can I ever thank Korea enough . It is impossible . Korea changed my core beliefs and identity . I visited Korea and Suwon where I taught English again in 2014 invited by your group , I believe . Many things had changed , yet I recognized the underly- ing values and grace of the culture . When I received the notification that I would receive the Covid Care Package , my immediate reaction was , " We have come full circle ." America now faces political and cultural challenges at least as severe as Korea faced in the 1960s . We are a broken land . To have received this gift from Korea moved me deeply . This gift from you may heal in a small way the deep trouble America is in . One pebble in a pond sends ripples throughout the universe , so the Buddha and life teaches us . Thank you again for this gracious gesture . I appreciate it deeply . “To have received this gift from Korea moved me deeply” Garry Katsel , K - 1 Garry Katsel