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

[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.

[creaze.livejournal.com]

Oh, i got a question. It bothers me, as a hard-edged russian patriot: how did the russian embassy people act and look, as they were arranging the trip? Who came in touch with the Smith family, how soon after the letter from Andropov, how did they handle the visa trip? Did they at least offer a car for the airport?

By the first look at this story, russian officials demonstrated the kind of resolution and directness that they're lacking so much these days.

So please ask her about some small details, how it was, to be invited into a country by its leader. Thanks!!

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

It is easy question for her mom I guess, but the facts unknown for most of the Russian people. Actually Andropov never answered to the girl in spite the letter was published in "Pravda". She wrote second letter to the Russian Embassy in Washington and this time ambassador Dobrinin (as I remember he was envoy) replied. All arrangements were done by soviet Embassy in Washington.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

These are all excellent questions, thanks! I will be sure to ask, and report back. :)