Mailbox of peace

Section 2. Happiness & Hope Mai lbox of Peace 044 045 Korea Foundation & US Peace Corps KF COVID-19 Survival Box Gratitude Letter Col lection It was an amazing new step on our Korea journey recently to go out to our front porch and discover there the COVID - 19 Survival Boxes - medical sup- plies , the masks , which are such a steadying resource at this very trying and uncertain time , and then also the other lovely gifts . Such a strong reminder of all the help and warm support we and our Peace Corps friends and colleagues received during our times of service in Korea and since then . We feel how the Korean people remember so well and are so generous to those who have been their friends and guests , We are so very grateful . The Korea Foundation Professorship in Korean Literature at Harvard Uni- versity was one of such a number of new positions that the Foundation established in helping to build the field of Korean studies . I feel so very fortu- nate , in 1997 , to have had the opportunity to become the first Korea Founda- tion Professor . My wife Ann and I both served in the first Peace Corps group to go to Korea , 1966 - 68 . She taught at Changdeok Girls Middle and High School in Seoul , while I was teaching at Andong Agriculture and Forestry High School . Our experiences there , in Seoul and Andong , the people we worked with and oth- ers we met , and the many things we learned , have truly stayed with us as an important part of our lives ever since . For the many ways in which Korea and the Korea Foundation have been such strong and positive presences in our lives . “Have been such strong and positive presences in our lives” David McCann , K - 1 David McCann I want to express my deep appreciation for the exceedingly generous and thoughtful gift box of COVID supplies that I recently received from the Ko- rea Foundation . I was profoundly moved by this outreach from the Korean people and the Korea Foundation under your leadership . While I understand that this gift is a recognition of my prior service in the US Peace Corps , I am already in debt for what I gained from that experience in terms of my understanding and love of Korea as well as my own personal growth . No country has been fully spared the tragedy of COVID - 19 , but this gift box is a significant symbol of Korea ’ s stellar response to the pandemic . The capacity , determination , and spirit of the Korean people which have driven your successful path to tackling the virus are truly an inspiration to the world . I am truly grateful for your kind gift but even more so for having had the op- portunity to live and learn about Korea through my Peace Corps experience . Please extend my thanks to the entire Korea Foundation for your very mov- ing gesture . Best regards , “This gift box is a significant symbol of Korea’s stellar response to the pandemic” Brent Burkholder , K - 48 Brent Burkholder