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

[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.

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.

[fesma94.livejournal.com]

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

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

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

[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]

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 :)

[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]

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.

[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.

[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!

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

Did you mean 50-60k in a year?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, per year. It is nothing, when you count in living costs and repayment of student loans.

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

A man who lives in NYC wrote me that if you earn less than 40k per year you can't survive there. If you earn 40k it will be enough to buy food and rent a shitty tiny apartment in Brooklyn.
BTW, is there a sinlge word for a shitty house or apartment? In Russia it's called халупа. You saw them in villages when visited Ярославль

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

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

[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]

In English, such apartments are often called "hell holes." But "shitty" is also a good word. :) Sure, you can survive on 40k, but it depends on many factors. Most people who have law degrees have to fork out around $1,000K per month to pay back student loans. This is a huge cost, on top of rent and ordinary bills. Some lucky lawyers had rich parents who paid for their graduate school, but this was not the case for me and many others. I regret the decision to go to law school. It was a bad financial choice, esp. since I went later in life (in my mid-30's).

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

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

[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!

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

Good!:)

[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.