Taking over the mountains

I have been thinking about an idea which has been discussed among Mama's colleagues to write a memorial of her life and work, made up of her articles and speeches, and what a difficult task it will be. It must be done-- I've known this for many years, ever since reading the book published in Senelio honor.

I even joked about it with Mama:

liepa suris
Tu turetum pradet jau rasyt savo autobiografija dabar...
4:34 PM
bus man lengviau isleist knyga
4:35 PM

radasta
"bus man lengviau isleist knyga" -cha cha cha
7:38 PM
as gyvenu, kad tau butu lengviau
7:38 PM
myliu

This conversation took place last fall when I returned to the United States to start graduate school, and Sigita Šimkuvienė asked to interview me for a newspaper article, which you can find reprinted here.

She asked me to name a few people with whom I could "take over the mountains" (su kuriais tau butu imanoma kalnus nuversti), so I wrote an answer about my three brothers, my friend who is serving in Iraq, and first and foremost mama:

Mano pirma ir pagrindinė mintis—mama, Vaiva Vėbraitė, kuri dirbo ambicingai (gerąja prasme), kūrybingai, ir su vizija per visokius sunkumus išsaugoti lietuvybę Amerikoje iki Nepriklausomybės metų, ir po to stiprinti lietuvybę laisvoje Lietuvoje. Su entusiazmu sukūrė APPLE organizaciją, kuri suteikė naujausių pedagogikos ir vadybos žinių daugiau negu trečdaliui Lietuvos mokytojų ir mokyklų vadovų ir suteikė jiems progą bendrauti bei diskutuoti laisvoje aplinkoje per vasaros kursus. Tada ji dirbo optimistiškai su būtinomis švietimo sistemos reformomis, pereinant nuo sovietinės sistemos į tikrai laisvos, demokratinės šalies sistemą, raginant ir kitus perimti skaidrius bei aukštus standartus ir naujus poziūrius. Vaiva įkvėpė daugybę švietėjų dirbti su nauju pasitikėjimu savimi. Vaiva taip pat mokėjo dirbti lanksčiai: kai kilo pareigos šeimai, sveikatos problemos, ir norai ją įdarbinti Amerikoje ir Lietuvoje tuo pačiu metu, Vaiva sugalvodavo būdus toliau dirbti bei savo vizija įgyvendinti, dirbdama ir Prezidentūroje, ir Lietuviu Bendruomenėje, tuo paciu metu, ir ji niekada nepasiduoda. Jos nepaprastas lankstumas yra dalis jos charismos, kuri tarnauja toms organizacijoms kuriose Vaiva dirba. Tai skatina visus, kas ją pazįsta, įsigilinti į jos galingus tikslus, kai kuriais atvejais prisijungti prie jų ar perimti juos. Neabėjoju, kad man būtų įmanoma su tokiu žmogumi kalnus nuversti.

My first and foremost thought is my mother, Vaiva Vebraite, who worked ambitiously (in the best sense), creatively, and with a clear vision through all sorts of challenges to uphold Lithuanian culture in America until Independence, and afterward to strengthen Lithuanian culture in the free Lithuania. She worked enthusiastically to create APPLE, which brought the newest pedagogical strategies to over a third of Lithuanian teachers and administrators and offered them the opportunity to meet and discuss in an open environment. She worked with great optimism toward necessary education reform, to ease the transition from the Soviet system to a truly free and democratic system, encouraging others to adopt clear, high standards and become open to new perspectives. Vaiva inspired a number of colleagues to work with new self-confidence and pride. Vaiva also knew how to work flexibly: when she was confronted with family responsibilities, health problems, and offers to work in America and Lithuania at the same time, Vaiva thought of ways to continue working and bringing her vision to life: working for the President and for the Lithuanian American Community at the same time, without ever giving up. Her extraordinary flexibility is a part of her charisma, which benefits the organizations of which Vaiva was a part. It encourages everyone who knows her to take on her powerful goals, to join in her campaign or to take over. I have no doubt that with such a person I could take over the mountains.

And tete, it wouldn't be possible without you, this is all about you too.