Remembering Samantha Smith - Journey to Maine

[peacetraveler22]

Hello dear readers! I know many of you voted for me to travel to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, but unfortunately finances are tight and airfare there too expensive. So, in a week, I'll return to my beloved Maine and go on another road journey to New England. During the trip, I plan on meeting with Samantha Smith's mother in Boothbay Harbor. What questions do you want me to ask her?

I've had no time for the blog recently due to a hectic work and life schedule. :(  However, next week I'll show you "good Russia," with stories about Kazan and Ples from the winter journey. In the meantime, please let me know what questions you have for Samantha's mom. I'm happy I can finally leave the office for a week, meet with her, and relax in the beautiful surroundings of cozy New England. Does the younger generation in Russia know about Samantha's legacy? How do they learn about her? Or, is she mostly known to those who grew up during the Soviet period? I think her mother will be interested in knowing these facts. :) Have a nice weekend!

Comments

Re: о помню эту девочку

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Almost all children are naive. This is part of their beauty and innocence. They see only people, not policy or nationality. It is for this reason that I always gravitate toward them in my travels.

[real-marsel.livejournal.com]

I remember her and had stamp with her pic.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't think many people in the USA know about her, esp. the younger generation. I only learned about her from my Russian friend during one of his visits. I was amazed when he told me the story of this little girl.

[fesma94.livejournal.com]

Please ask, if Samantha said about living conditions in Artek , if were something no comfortable for her .

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I remember seeing photos from when she visited this camp. :) I will ask her mom if Samantha shared impressions about her visit there. It's a good question, thanks!

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

Адвокат жалуется на нехватку денег - видимо в США совсем кризис в экономике :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You think all lawyers make a lot of money? This is a huge stereotype that is entirely wrong! Most lawyers working for the government or in small firms don't earn very much (around 50k - 60k). On top of that, they have huge student loan debts to pay off. Do you know how expensive a doctorate in law is? Usually well over 100k. The only way to earn a lot of money is to be an ambulance chaser, or work in a huge law firm like me, representing corporate clients. You can read a good article about lawyer's salaries here http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/09/law-school-myth-1-lawyers-make-a-lot-of-money/. However, the cost of living in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC is very, very high! When you're paying over $2,0000/per month for a one bedroom apartment, plus student loans and other bills, the high salary is moot. This is why I moved back to the boondocks, to try to save money. Now, I have a horrible commute each day, but I can't live without travel in my life. So, I had to make sacrifices to pursue my dreams. :)) For me, this means sitting in traffic almost 2 hours each way to work now.

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

Она не знала русского, а русские английского, как они общались?
И вопрос лично тебе: в совем письме она написала "русские не надо начинать войну". Что, в США тогда русских считали супер злодеями? А сейчас? Ты достаточно старая чтобы помнить то время :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I never thought of Russians as the "enemy," not during my youth or even now. Ordinary people can recognize that people are almost always separable from the policy of their nation. I assume Samantha communicated with the young Soviet girls through an interpreter. I can't even remember fearing a nuclear war with Russia during my childhood. I think this was a more real and serious threat for those who lived during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which was before my time. I'm old, but not that old!! :)) I remember my parents having nuclear drills in school, where they prepared for the dropping of an atomic bomb. This definitely must do something to a young person's psyche and fears.

[anna-sollanna.livejournal.com]

Oh, I thought you would go there later... I wanted to read Samantha's book she had written about her visit to USSR and the fictional book "You Are One of Them" by Elliott Holt that is based on Samantha's story but has the different ending...
As for questions for Samantha's mother... I am not sure whether it is good to ask her about her long ago deceased daughter... But if it is possible would you please ask her what she thought about the USSR the time she visited it and whether her opinion has changed from that time, what she thinks about the USSR now?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I also have that book, but have not yet read it. Yes, I will ask her your questions and let you know the answers. I think she will be happy to talk about her daughter, and remember her legacy, although it is certainly painful and emotional. There's also a museum in Samantha's honor and a statue, but they're located in different parts of Maine. Not sure I will have time to visit all the places, but I'll try.

[berdal.livejournal.com]

У меня есть книга про ее поездку в СССР. В детстве я мечтал с ней познакомиться (если бы не трагедия) -- такая замечательная улыбка у этой девочки))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, she was a great light and spirit in the world! :) It's a tragedy such remarkable people die so early, while so many assholes live into old age and contribute only misery and hurt to the world. One of the great mysteries of life.

[laughing-magpie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I read the book about Samantha in the library 25 years ago. That time I thought she was brave and heroic girl!)))
It is unexpected to hear about this girl again. Thank you for this post!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :)

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

I remember her... Tell her mom that in Russia remembers Samantha!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I will! She will be grateful to hear it, I'm sure! :)

[letberg.livejournal.com]

Samantha is a part of my school age - a bright and clear one. I traced that story in the newspapers. It was the hope the future will be happy. I was seriously scared with risk of nuclear war, sometimes I had nightmares about it. We had trainings at school, we were taught to march to the shelter, to weary a gas mask, to use a medicine set. Mirroring Samantha I believed the American President could start a war. That time I was sure the Russians wouldn't.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

We didn't have nuclear drills in my school, and the first time I put on a gas mask was in Latvia, when I visited an old Soviet military prison two years ago. I could not have imagined the horrible feeling I experienced with that thing on! Such people like Samantha are very important in the world, we definitely need more of them!

[jon-quille.livejournal.com]

Don't know if I can be defined as a younger generation (31 so far), but at school we had a few texts about Samanta in German lang classes. Though when I was at school the USSR had already ben over and all this stuff was like from another planet. Guess nothing changed since that time.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You don't remember anything from Soviet times? You are about ten years younger than me. :)

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

I remember her story in the development, it was great demonstration of good will and simple effort to change things for better. Unfortunately, she was writing to Andropov only. From my point of view ( well confirmed by recent decades) she should be considering of what her country was doing wrong as well. Now, her legacy - unfortunately, things did not change much. I am deeply concerned, for instance, by the activities of the organisations like this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Endowment_for_Democracy
They are spending out tax money to support a very questionable organisations abroad with no public control over the spendings, goals and personalities receiving these grants. It is government, tax money, laundered over private fund... Soft power in action to promote democracy or corruption? What do they bring to these countries? Chaos, I think, pursuing a single world power influence everywhere, dressed in democracy suite. Leading should be done by example, not by bribing or enforcement.
After all these years, it would be very interesting to know her mom thoughts, thanks for doing it. I may also suggest to ask your reader what questions they would like to be asked...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Children can't begin to understand the intricacies of foreign policy and global affairs. They mostly see only good and bad. In the post, I did ask readers what questions they want me to ask. :) Personally, I'm curious if Samantha's mom follows current events in Russia, so many years after her daughter made an impact there. You don't think think any country should serve as "world" police to try to maintain stability?

[sineglazzka2301.livejournal.com]

I remember reading about Samantha at school (in English coursebooks, mostly). I suppose that nowadays young people don't know her name, but then, they don't know much about the USSR as well. I think, it would be almost impossible to explain this to my children, how it feels when other countries are like other planets.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

The Soviet Union was not so long ago. :) It seems strange that children have so quickly forgotten about it, but I guess it's common in all countries for kids to focus only on the present realities. I still feel like Russia is "another planet" sometimes, despite my numerous visits to the country. :)) But, it's good that we live in a much more open world now. I can't imagine that only a few decades ago it would have been almost impossible for me to visit there.

[seadevil001.livejournal.com]

Are you driving up there? Or flying into Augusta?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

We're driving, but staying in Portsmouth New Hampshire. :)

[jenden-bm.livejournal.com]

Hi Shannon.
Planning on visiting North Carolina at some point?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hi! I was just in North Carolina last month, because I have a client in Greensboro. Is it near where you live? I travel to this city a few times a year.

[belgena.livejournal.com]

In our time, worsening relations between Russia and the United States , just needed a "new " Samantha !

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, most kids today are too busy playing video games and staring at their iPads to worry about world peace. :( It seems the worsening relations between our countries will only continue. It's a pity, but the reality in which we live.

Off. About salaries.

[liver22.livejournal.com]

Good day!
Earlier we discussed the question of the salaries of lawyers in the US, and you said that many lawyers in the US do not earn a lot of money. Just above you mentioned salary 50 - 60k a year.
I will give approximate figures for annual salary for lawyers in Kazan on fresh vacancies and today's exchange rate.

1) Lawyer - work with contracts, customer consultation, participation in court sessions - maximum salary per year 7.953 USD.
2) Lawyer - legal maintenance of activity of the company, working with government agencies, working with contracts
the maximum salary in a year 6.959 USD.
3) Lawyer - full legal support of company activities, Methodical management of legal work' the development of local normative acts and other legal documents. - minimum(with a probability of 94% and the maximum wager is not much higher + / - $ 150) salary per year 7.953 USD.
4) Lawyer - legal counseling and adoption of a package of documents from the client. Writing claims, writs, motions. Representation of interests in court of the plaintiff - the maximum salary in a year 3.976 USD.
5) Lawyer - legal support of business activities of the Company. Administration of claims, mostly collecting debts is the maximum salary in a year 4.971 USD.

Perhaps this is enough, the rest of the vacancies are not much different in terms of wages.

Now imagine such a situation. Young and beautiful Shannon arrives in Kazan in 2015, she takes a job as a lawyer, with a maximum salary per year 8.000 USD. If Shannon can buy an apartment on credit, with such salary? The probability of this is hard to predict, but I would rate the probability of denial of credit (in different banks) in the region of 40 - 50 percent, because Shannon for these banks can be unreliable client, and it is a small apartment with an area of 350 sq ft, no parking, with neighbors alcoholics, etc. Other things (clothes, poor quality food, electronics, etc.) will be more accessible to Shannon, maybe someday she'll even be able to buy cheap (by "Russian standards") Korean car, because salary 8.000 USD is a relatively good salary for Kazan.
By the standards of western countries Shannon is quite poor lady who lives in a poor country.
The main point of this post is that the standard of living in Russia is relatively low (at least to look at salaries above), and when you say that many lawyers in the USA receive little salary, you are not talking about the fact that they have very tight(or am I mistaken?), but when we talk about a lot of lawyers in the RF who receive low salaries, the issue here is more about survival (example with Shannon in Kazan, it is rather an example of a successful lawyer in the RF).

Thanks!

Re: Off. About salaries.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

First, thanks for calling me young and beautiful! :)) Second, it's quite interesting to compare the salaries. To work and live in Russia has never been a dream of mine, even in a nice city like Kazan. :) My life in the USA is very good, though not extravagant. And, yes, when I spoke about attorneys in the USA making low salaries, I mean that it is sometimes difficult to survive and pay all bills on their lawyer income. This is because they are burdened with huge student loan debt and repayment! Did you receive a free legal education in Russia? If not, how much did it cost?

[belka-teleutka.livejournal.com]

I can't write a lot, because my English is not good.
I'm 43 now, so I remember Samantha very well. That period we was very scared of America. In school we have special lessons, even in primery school, what we must do, if nuclear war starts. Samantha and her parents opened American people for us. I want you tell Samantha's mother "Thank you" for your daughter.
And, if it will not indelicate... After Samantha's and her father's death there were rumors, that it was not just an accident , the CIA is quilty of it. Probably, it is stupid?..

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

"Samantha and her parents opened American people for us..." I love this! I'll be sure to tell Samantha's mom what you wrote. I also have read some of the conspiracy theories. I think they are just the stupid creations of very bored people. :) Btw, the English in your comment is fine. Do not be scared to write. :)

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

I can say the same - hectic life and tight schedule - even for home tasks... So I just try to read posts accumulated in my Inbox...
Sorry I didn't comment your previous posts in a good time. I saw that you wrote several posts but still didn't have time(((

As for the question - Isn't she sorry that Samantha wrote a letter to Mr.Gorbachev? because perhaps if she didn't write perhaps she wouldn't be in that plane that crushed...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You did not miss much. I have not had time to write recently. :( Thanks for the question for Samantha's mom. I hope you at least get to spend some weekends at your dacha to relax. :)

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

Beautiful child. I felt sorry for her even before she perished when I saw as soviet propaganda machine turn her into a show girl to promulgate communist's ideas. I'd asked her mom if someone from the U.S. government talked to them about Soviets just use or even abuse their daughter. Or maybe themselves understood this but just don't care about.
Recently I read a very interesting article http://www.wired.com/2015/07/secret-cold-war-maps/
Amazingly how the same guy, who denied USSR wants to destroy US and who invited her to visit the best Russian children camp Artek in Crimea, General Secretary of KPSU Andropov was preparing to destroy it anyway. He was head of KGB before he became leader of the country.
KGB created millions of maps of the foreign countries including U.S. with extremely sharp details. Obviously it was done with purpose to invade this country and facilitate the movement of the troops.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm curious also to know what she thought about life in the Soviet Union at the time her daughter visited. And how was the visit arranged? What did they promise or assure her about safety, etc. ? These are all questions I'll ask.

[narcolog59.livejournal.com]

In 2000s a lot of young graduates dreamt to be a lower!) It was very prestigious to became a freshman at juristic faculty. At the same time, there were more abilities to pass exams at medical academy. Now, we have a lot of lowers, but there are not almost these who are eager to be a medical worker due to no financial stability at all(((
Now, for example, I am one of the younger specialists at my hospital. The basic ones are over 50 yo.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Good medical professionals are a huge benefit to every society! Very important work you do. :) It's a pity you're not well compensated for it.

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

Hello Shannon!
who is this girl?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hi! How are you? :) She was a schoolgirl and peace activist during Cold War times. You can reab about her here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Smith.

[naysayer15.livejournal.com]

I have no idea who this girl was and what she is known for.

PS

BTW, If I am not mistaken, I remember that you are lawer and you are making around 10K per month or so according to your own words - and it doesn`t fit well with your phrase "finances are tight and airfare there too expensive" - with such an influx of money you can fly to Europe every weekend.

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

120K makes a very poor lawyer.

[whenawake.livejournal.com]

For statistics: I've heard about her first time now

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Okay, good to know! I'll tell you about her after my visit to Maine. :)

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

Go ask the mother if they really have collected any tetradrachms from the Kremlin Empire.

BTW, what about that girl herself? Is she alive or moved to the land of her adorators?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sadly, she died at only 13 in a plane crash. :((