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

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

I remember Samantha. She was so nice girl

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I only learned about her from Alexander, when we traveled to Maine together a few years ago. It's great that her legacy remains alive in small town Maine, with museums and statues in her honor.

[aavenger.livejournal.com]

It's nice to know people remember Samantha. For me she and President Reagan's initiative exhibition "IT in the USA" became first impressions about American people - just people and not enemies :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

We are still just "people" not enemies! I promise. :) I don't remember this Reagan initiative "IT in the USA"?

[aavenger.livejournal.com]

I know, Shannon :) And the exhibition was pretty large and travelling all across the USSR with the last advancements with the IT field, also demonstrating capabilites of computer graphics for movies - showing fresh scenes from "Back to the Future" and other movies of 80's :)

You can read a brief synopsis here (http://habrahabr.ru/post/249651/) and it seems that the entire magazine is also available for download across the net :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks! I'll take a look at the link tonight.

[aavenger.livejournal.com]

Hope you will enjoy this flashback :)

[creaze.livejournal.com]

> Does the younger generation in Russia know about Samantha's legacy?

Me, i practically learned that name out of this blog.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad I could teach you something new. :)

[iamschik.livejournal.com]

I was living in Moscow in those years but Samntha's story passed by me. I was so digusted with politics back then that I tried to type SAMIZDAT books, instead on listening to news.
So, I just read about Samantha in wiki. I am struck by the contrast bewtweeb the beauty o0f her soul, and her tragic and untimely death. I would give my condolences to her mom, on her losing her beautiful child and her husband,- of course, if you find it appropriate.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I will be sure to pass along your condolences. I have always been disgusted by politics, that's why I prefer to focus on ordinary people in this blog. :)

[bezumynnay.livejournal.com]

I'm 22 year old Belarusian girl and I know who Samantha Smith is. I knew about her when I was a child, I found an old magazine dated, as I'm not mistaken, 1990 or smth. like that. I've never heard even the name of Samantha before, but I really was petrified, shocked with her story, her journey to USSR and especially ARTEK, and I remember that I can't stop crying...
Samantha is my hero. I'm really really really glad to see the photo of this brave girl here and I'm proud of being aware of her story.
..While writing this I've recollected that a diamond has been named after Samantha..
She herself was a real diamond.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, she was an amazing child! It is always good to bridge cultural gaps and try to build peace with others, no matter the nation. I try to do this in my blog, but am not always successful.

[imur.livejournal.com]

This post brings back my memories! I grew up during the Soviet period and I remember Samantha very well, she was about the same age as me. I followed her story on TV very closely and was really shocked when she died. I remember, I even wrote a little poem about her (naive, kids’ poem):

Саманта. Саманта. Саманта.
Ты маленькой, право, была,
Но сделала ты ведь, Саманта,
Больше добра, чем зла.

Ты мира хотела и счастья,
И жить чтоб всегда без войн,
И светлыми ручками детства
В сердцах зажигала огонь.

Огонь правоты, справедливости,
Улыбок и ярких цветов,
Бессмертья огонь, добродушия
И вечной весны огонь.

From my understanding, Smantha was better known in the USSR, than in the USA – is it true? For example, my husband who is American knew nothing about her at all. Did you know about her in early 80s?

By the way, there was another girl, Katya Lycheva, who, I believe was a “soviet response to Samantha” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katya_Lycheva & http://beautifulrus.com/katya-lycheva-dove-peace/ Did you know about Katya? Was her trip to the USA covered by US media at all?

Regarding Smantha’s mom, I can only imagine what a tragedy it was for her to lose her daughter and her husband. Just please tell her that many Russians (I’m sure thousands, if not millions), myself including still remember Samantha and that her life had a big impact on their lives (at least on mine).

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What a sweet poem! I love it. :)) No, I have not heard of Katya Lycheva and I didn't know about Samantha until my Russian friend told me. Katya was probably covered in the media, but back then I was younger and not so concerned with news or world affairs, so I don't recall her name. It's very tragic that this girl died so young. :(( But she leaves behind a very important and purposeful legacy, and accomplished something great in her short years on Earth. This is more than most people achieve.