THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Opinions
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TOPIC 6:
A new European alliance?
Some time ago we raised the question about a potential new alliance between Russia, Poland, Germany and France. Below some of the comments we have received.
Hermes Birkins·13 weeks ago
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garmin nuvi 255w review·10 weeks ago
Thanks i love your article about A new European alliance?
beautiful widgets·8 weeks ago
I agree with your A new European alliance?, wonderful post.
Curtis Doak·4 weeks ago
I love you because of your entire work on this website. It has been an push for me personally. I have handed this particular onto a buddy associated with mine.
kahlua recipe·2 weeks ago
I really liked the way you presented this information. It nice to read good information like this rather than to waste your time doing nothing. Great Job! Thnkas for posting it!
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Too long, information given by foreign representatives has been based either on official Lithuanian sources or yellow newspaper articles
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(this is an opinion letter from last Setpember)
I liked very much that you made a summary of the "bad boys and girls". As we know, there is not any source for foreigners in Lithuania to follow those cases or even to be aware of them. This information is valuable in two ways - to show the world that there is some justice in Lithuania and to tell that black forces are still existing. Too long a time the information given by the foreign representatives has been based on either official Lithuanian sources or the (light) yellow newspapers articles. It is very important that you are taking those things into the light in a simplified form for everybody to read. Unfortunately this is only the top of an iceberg and there is still so much to take up and solve until even the most horrible cases are over.
Anyway, Aage, you are again doing something great. But I must admire your brave!
Regards
Krister Castren
Honorary Consul of Finland in Klaipeda
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Vin Karnila, Associate Editor
Today:
CONSEQUENCES OF THE TOTALITARIAN REGIME IN LITHUANIA 1940–1953
My greatest hope is that this story will bring out the information that still to this day is unknown: Where are the people that were executed after 1950 buried?
Look for the first part of our six part story which will be out in a few days…
_________________________________
From
VilNews Forum
Carol Luschas
Thanks for posting this on the forum! These victims need their story heard and remembered!
_________________________________
Arunas Teiserskis
The Tuskulenai memorial is to commemorate the victims of Soviet crimes. It is a fact, that majority of the people killed in Soviet repressions were innocent men and women, who were simply deemed as "dangerous" for the imposition of Soviet rule: community leaders, clergy, other people, who were generally called a national elite or other persons, who sometimes might have even been accused by jealous neighbours for very personal matters, but without proper legal procedures having no chance to defend their innocence.
There were, of course, some who participated in LAF* actions. But make no mistake - if the person was clearly known for participation in crimes against humanity, he or she was given a very public process, just to present him as an evil to the society and make Soviets look good.
The Soviets put a lot of emphasis on propaganda after all. The ones killed by Soviets silently behind closed door there mainly people, which Soviets struggled to present as evil.
There is no denial, that some victims have been active LAF members and have participated in Holocaust, but deeming ALL victims as "a bunch of Jew murderers", makes you very similar to the people who justify the Holocaust telling that Jewish were very supportive in Soviet occupation and some of them even actively participated in deportations just before German attack on the Soviet Union.
We all agree that some very few Jews who entered Soviet NKVD (alongside leftist Lithuanians as well) doesn't justify pogroms on all Jews during WWII, so we should equally agree that some very few Lithuanians, who actively supported Nazism and committed crimes against humanity, doesn't justify Soviet terror after WWII on Lithuanian nation, particularly it's national elite, in order to destroy that nation as separate entity and assimilate it into uniform Soviet nation.
* Lithuanian Activist Front or LAF (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Aktyvistų Frontas) was a short-lived resistance organization established in 1940 after Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. The goal of the organization was to liberate Lithuania and re-establish its independence. It planned and executed the June Uprising and established the short-lived Provisional Government of Lithuania. The Government self-disbanded and LAF was banned by Nazi authorities in September 1941. LAF remains rather controversial due to its anti-Semitic and anti-Polish views.
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Video:
Lithuanian swimmer Rūta Meilutytė takes FIRST place in London Olympics...
Stephanie Samaitis Carnell something to enjoy and celebrate…she's done it! woohooo!
Kazys Preikšas LITHUANIAN TORPEDO HITS THE GOALD! THE GOAL! THE GOLD!
you know what I mean
Daiva Repeckaite I love the story - fame for Lithuania is brought by a 15-year-old woman, a daughter of a migrant worker in the UK. In your face, basketball machos :) I hope this will become an impetus to make different sports more equal in Lithuania, to strive for a fairer distribution of public funds for sports, and, finally, to strive for gender equality in the funding and social prestige of sports.
Mark SPLINTER totally. this story is just absolutely perfect in so many ways.
Carol Luschas I love the story too! Lithuanians play with such heart and dedication! I understand the training involved for such a great sport! Remember waking up at 5 AM for morning practice and later in the afternoon for a second. Countless hours putting my body through so much! Butterfly was my stroke! My grandfather would always say: "Niekada Nepasiduok!" He told me to say this to myself whenever I needed a boost of confidence especially during a race!
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Jenifer C. Dillis I'm on my way............
In my mind.
Rimgaudas Vidziunas your photos are making me miss Lietuva. Problem is if I go there, I will not come back to Arizona.
Aage Myhre I'll help you to find a fine Old Town place to live in Rimgaudas :) I'll show you where to shop, eat, drink, find friends... Just go ahead buying your air ticket!
Rimgaudas Vidziunas I have done some architectural photography, plenty of old buildings to keep me busy...and I can always run away to my shack in Pramedziava ;)
Aage Myhre Lithuania has a very special, strong energy...
Jenifer C. Dillis psssst, Rimgaudas Vidziunas, keep it up , and I WON'T swing by AZ to pick you up on my way to visit our friendAage Myhre in OUR Old Town...♥ ;)
Rimgaudas Vidziunas ♥♥
Jenifer C. Dillis Bring plenty of batteries for your camera, Rimgaudas Vidziunas! We'll wander, and shoot whatever our artistic eyes decide to capture! Soooooooooo many great architecture shots in Old Town...I need to go browse my 3000+ photos taken in Lietuva...I miss the calmness my heart felt with each footstep...
Daiva Repeckaite I remember those times when we were often eating ice-cream on this square. That was before the reconstruction, which removed the cozy shade, and eventually the square was surrounded by Armani shops. The paths of posh people driving around in fancy cars and hipsters moving from Cafe de Paris (does it still/already exist?) to ŠMC can still cross. I have a strong dislike for the place now, but there are other nice spaces to enjoy summer in Vilnius: Sereikiškių park, a small park near St.Catherine's church with several cafes, Mokytojų namai courtyard, etc. I'm glad you are enjoying nice weather over there, make the most of it!
Raimundas Ray Laurinavicius Daiva Repeckaite Cafe de Paris still exists and is alive and well, still full of hipsters, Sereikiskiu parkas is under construction, will open again only next year, all other places are buzzing strong, but mostly in the summer months.
Randy Jackson Nice picture. It makes me want to visit right now.
Jola Pasuk eh, jednak ladne nasze Wilno :)
Siga Eidukonis This is a great street where people from all over the world mingle and meet!
Vytenis Folkmanas Va hasta gente de Venezuela !!
Kestas Zak Why wait?....;o)
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Your participation in
international Lithuanian
affairs is very much needed!
Dear friends,
The World Lithuanian Community (WLC) is suffering from what is commonly known as an "ageing population" even if there in recent times has been some amazing enthusiasm from "second, third and fourth generation Lithuanians”, not least here in VilNews. An input of new members and enthusiasts is, however, vital to ensure the long-term continuity of this important Lithuanian tradition and movement around the world. WLC needs YOU!
I have agreed with Regina Nariusiene, the WLC President, that she will be quick to answer everyone who writes her with questions, expressing any sort of readiness to participate in the works of international Lithuania.
So please do not wait, write her an email as soon as you can. Her email address is rbnar213@gmail.com
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Rimas Pileika Aage, is WLC an actual organization? If so, what is their web address? I'm not sure what she (they) do and what I would be emailing her about??
Irene Simanavicius I was just reading VilNEWS when I saw my name pop upt. I am very interested in finding out more info. I am very behind in my reading and will catch up today as i am home this morning. Thank you Aage Myhre for including me. I will be meeting with some other of my friends tomorrow and run it past them as well. :)
Aage Myhre Rimas, Please have a look at today's front page of VilNews...
Rimas Pileika Anyone aware of a link to this organization?? Aciu
Aage Myhre Front page of VilNews
:) http://plbe.org/
PLBE | PASAULIO LIETUVIŲ BENDRUOMENĖ (PLB)
plbe.org
PASAULIO LIETUVIŲ BENDRUOMENĖ (PLB)
Michaela Maestas Thank you Brother ! Love my community in all its forms ! Yeah !
Irene Simanavicius I have just emailed Regina. :)
Carol Luschas Thanks for posting Aage! I will send her an e-mail.
Rimas Pileika Unfortunately, although I plan on partially retiring in LT one day, my knowledge of the language is probably not strong enough to carry the ball here. Yes, how does this group become relevant to the younger people who have chosen to leave LT vs those who were forced to run??
Warren Thompson Thank you for this Aage - I will most certainly consult her. I am a third generation Lithuanian. There are I believe many challenges to those like me who would like to see their future in Lithuania but are met with many obstacles. A friend once remarked to me "Lithuania is a country that people leave, not go to". Time for a turnaround. Valio Lietuvai!
Aage Myhre Rimas, I think there are many like you out there... Please write directly to Regina - in English or Lithuanian... Ask her exactly this question...
Aage Myhre Warren, I believe this is exactly the kind of attitude Regina is looking for!!!
Gail VanWart I just sent an e-mail.
Rimas Pileika I'm a little confused by this. This is a very open and (mostly) confirming forum for all participants. Why doesn't Regina come on here and tell us what she is looking for, etc? Better than dealing with individual emails that we will never get to see....I think, no???
Rimas Pileika OK, guess I'm scratching my head on this one. Seems like it would be easier to discuss general topics on this type of forum then to try and respond to 000's of emails. But those who write, keep us posted.
Ray Janus Posting this on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lithuanians-Of-Arizona/270499819659130
...hopefully we can get some input from Lithuanians here..
More than national pride, being Lithuanian is a state of mind.
Irena Dzikija Regina is great :)
Odetė Abromavičiūtė Dear Regina, please come on Facebook!
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New concept for seniors, planned in Vilnius
A new concept for senior apartments, with focus on warmth, dignity and joy. Custom apartments around an outdoor, enclosed patio - plus a large, common 'lobby' for food, reading, music, good talks, therapy, training and more.
This is what now might be develop in the outskirts of Vilnius, about 20 minutes drive from the Old Town and less than five minutes from the Le Meridien Hotel, with its beautiful pool, spa complex, and a great new 18-hole golf course.
The plan they have under consideration right now is to build an elegant senior complex on the site, for potential buyers both in this country and from abroad.
Quality and service will be very high, still at prices one can hardly dream of the United States, Western Europe or Australia.
The planned complex will consist of around 50 apartments and a large public centre-building that can best be compared with an international hotel lobby.
All apartments and common areas will be wheelchair accessible. The latest of 'welfare technology' will be installed, and there will be an extensive range of health care measures, safety, activities and a good, warm relationship with other seniors in similar circumstances.
If sufficient interest from potential buyers, the project is expected completed in 2014.
When will this project be completed?
When will this project be completed? What provisions will there be for handicapped, when we grow older and unable to participate in sports or other activities?
Vytas
_________________________
Sounds like a great project
It sounds like a great project hope to hear more about it.
Irene
_________________________
I think something like that could be very welcome
Actually, I think that something like that could be very welcome. What it will need is an inexpensive and convenient form of transportation to and from Vilnius center and old town. So, I hope that the organizers will think about that. Today, it is quite expensive to get to Le Meridien Hotel and the hotel shuttle bus only goes as far as the White Bridge for some strange reason. Public bus is just to going to be acceptable for residents. A taxi ride costs over 100 lita round trip today and that will be much higher by the time this opens.
Without a convenient, affordable form of transport, residents will feel very isolated out there. With that problem solved, I could see a good interest in it.
Gene
_________________________
Many "seniors" prefer to not be alone. They are still active "seniors," and a place like this offers safety, security, a sense of community
Many "seniors" prefer to not be alone. They are still active "seniors," and a place like this offers safety, security, a sense of community, and if I were anywhere near retirement age, I would surely consider such a residence!!! Great Idea!!! :)
Jenifer
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TOPIC 1:
We will be soon be presenting some stories about the victims that were executed in the NKGB–MGB internal prison here in Vilnius between 28 September 1944 and 16 April 1947, buried in secret mass graves in the territory of the Tuskulėnai Manor (picture).
TOPIC 2:
TOPIC 3:
TOPIC 4:
says the new President of Lithuanian Industrialists' Confederation, Robertas Dargis, about the government’s handling of the financial crisis in Lithuania.
TOPIC 5:
TOPIC 6:
TOPIC 7:
COME HOME, YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU
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Absolutely awesome little campaign bringing friendliness to Vilnius
Mark SPLINTER
LGBT friendly Vilnius
Vilnius' spots that aren't afraid to declare they're LGBT friendly
By: LGBT friendly Vilnius
Grant Gochin Is it safe for people to be out there?
Mark SPLINTER it's safe in the tourist areas, the sticker is about celebrating and advertising the friendliness that already exists. But even in the tourist areas a gay kiss causes a scandal and if some knucklehead sees it then you might get into some trouble. also there are some horrible violent comments on the internet, but that's inevitable.
Rimas Pileika What is? Store, bar?
Hannah Shipman Something positive for tolerance.
Mark SPLINTER so far, restaurants and bars are participating. Latest news - the council have invoked a law - You have to put the sticker on the inside of the door not the outside. This law doesn't seem to be enforced very strictly against other door stickers. Anyway they will just change the stickers to inside and that's all.
Hannah Shipman Cafes and restaurants are displaying stickers to indicate that they are LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) friendly. It is refreshing to hear something positive on this subject rather than the tirades of Petras Gražulis.
Mark SPLINTER
https://www.facebook.com/lgbtfriendlyvilnius
LGBT friendly Vilnius
LGBT FRIENDLY VILNIUS - spontaneous social cause aimed to make Vilnius a better place. ; ]
Kenny Kaunas Sweet! DJs and a beer garden, perhaps?
Grant Gochin It's a pity that people have to put up signs saying they are NOT homophobes.
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Healing wounds between
LT-Americans and homeland Lithuania
Our debate topic in VilNews Forum, with the above headline, has now attracted more than 200 comments. Here is one of the posts, written by Rūta Bražiūnienė.
By Rūta Bražiūnienė
While I noticed that the above 156 comments argue about passports, I just have an issue with the first post, that I have not noticed be addressed, yet. "Many here in Lithuania still believe that those who left, whether for economic or political reasons, had very comfortable lives compared to those who stayed behind and had to fight through several decades of inhuman oppression and abuse by the Soviet occupiers."
I totally assume, based on my own previous experience, that people who think that those who left Lithuania had a comfortable life, are sadly mistaken. My parents fled within hours of occupation. They saw close relatives, neighbors, friends be killed by Soviets. They fled to save their lives.
It's hard not to generalize, as we all seem to do that quite well. That generation, who had to make decisions to flee, thought that they would be back in days. Then weeks. Then months. And before they knew it, years passed. They lived in DP (displaced person) camps. There was no luxury there.
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Dear Aage,
Seems all you have been highlighting in VilNews is all the problems Lithuania is having.
I'm tired of seeing it and don't read 'bad news" any more. "Bad News" depresses me.
Anything "good" going on in Lithuania. For the next 30 days, I challenge you and the writers to post positive articles about my "motherland".
Rimgaudas P. Vidziunas aka "Rim"
Mesa, Arizona, USA
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Šokių Šventė
Boston, USA, 1 July 2012
I have just returned from Sokiu Svente and it was an incredibly beautiful and exhilarating experience which reinforced my pride as a Lithuanian. The dances, songs, costumes, art, all of it validates the creative spirit that keeps generations connected and inspired. And kudos to the Boston for putting together an incredibly smooth and successful event.
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We may be “just” American Lithuanians, but our ancestors have entrusted us with a heritage which we cherish with every ounce of our being
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May our spirit and energy and LOVE for Lietuva make its way in a POSITIVE direction to the streets, farms, dunes of Lietuva. We may be "just" American Lithuanians, but our ancestors have entrusted us with a heritage which we cherish with every ounce of our being. "I SVEIKATA!":)
Jenifer C. Dillis
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OPINIONS
Have your say. Send to:
editor@VilNews.com
Ph. D., Chicago
A wave of unity sweeps the international Lithuanian community on March 11th every year as Lithuanians celebrated the anniversary of the Lithuanian Parliament's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. However, the sense of national unity engendered by the celebration could be short-lived.
Human beings have a strong tendency to overgeneralize and succumb to stereotypical us-them distinctions that can shatter even the strongest bonds. We need only search the internet to find examples of divisive thinking at work:
- "Those who fled Lithuania during World II were cowards -- and now they come back, flaunt their wealth, and tell us 'true Lithuanians' how to live."
- "Lithuanians who work abroad have abandoned their homeland and should be deprived of their Lithuanian citizenship."
In Lithuania Christmas Eve is a family event and the New Year's Eve a great party with friends!
Lithuanian say "Kaip sutiksi naujus metus, taip juos ir praleisi" (the way you'll meet the new year is the way you will spend it). So everyone is trying to spend New Year's Eve with friend and have as much fun as possible.
Lithuanian New Year's traditions are very similar to those in other countries, and actually were similar since many years ago. Also, the traditional Lithuanian New Years Eve party was very similar to other big celebrations throughout the year.
The New Year's Eve table is quite similar to the Christmas Eve table, but without straws under the tablecloth, and now including meat dishes. A tradition that definitely hasn't changes is that everybody is trying not to fell asleep before midnight. It was said that if you oversleep the midnight point you will be lazy all the upcoming year. People were also trying to get up early on the first day of the new year, because waking up late also meant a very lazy and unfortunate year.
During the New Year celebration people were dancing, singing, playing games and doing magic to guess the future. People didn't drink much of alcohol, especially was that the case for women.
Here are some advices from elders:
- During the New Year, be very nice and listen to relatives - what you are during New Year Eve, you will be throughout the year.
- During to the New Year Eve, try not to fall, because if this happens, next year you will be unhappy.
- If in the start of the New Year, the first news are good - then the year will be successful. If not - the year will be problematic.
* If New Year's night is cold and starry - look forward to a good summer!
* If the during New Year Eve trees are covered with frost - then it will be a good year. If it is wet weather on New Year's Eve, one can expect a year where many will die and dangerous epidemics occur.
* If the first day of the new year is snowy - the upcoming year will see many young people die. If the night is snowy - mostly old people will die.
* If the New Year time is cold - then Easter will be warm.
* If during New Year there are a lot of birds in your homestead - then all year around there will be many guests and the year will be fun.
Christmas greetings
from Vilnius
and epic battle for the
future
Philosopher, political theorist, historian of
ideas, social analyst, and political
commentator
Ukraine was and continues to be perceived by the EU political class as a sort of grey zone with its immense potential and possibilities for the future, yet deeply embedded and trapped in No Man's Land with all of its troubled past, post-Soviet traumas, ambiguities, insecurities, corruption, social divisions, and despair. Why worry for what has yet to emerge as a new actor of world history in terms of nation-building, European identity, and deeper commitments to transparency and free market economy?
Right? Wrong. No matter how troubled Ukraine's economic and political reality could be, the country has already passed the point of no return. Even if Vladimir Putin retains his leverage of power to blackmail Ukraine and the West in terms of Ukraine's zero chances to accede to NATO due to the problems of territorial integrity, occupation and annexation of Crimea, and mayhem or a frozen conflict in the Donbas region, Ukraine will never return to Russia's zone of influence. It could be deprived of the chances to join NATO or the EU in the coming years or decades, yet there are no forces on earth to make present Ukraine part of the Eurasia project fostered by Putin.
want to learn about the
new, scary propaganda
war between Russia,
The West and the
Baltic States!
believe their government
is corrupt
students say no to
bribes for doctors
During Soviet times, government was administered for the people in control, not for the local population, court decisions were decreed, they were not the administration of justice, and academia was the domain of ideologues. 25 years of freedom and openness should have put those bad experiences behind Lithuania, but that is not so.
Today, it is a matter of expectation that court pronouncements will be governed by ideological dictates. Few, if any Lithuanians expect real justice to be effected. For foreign companies, doing business in Lithuania is almost impossible in a situation where business people do not expect rule of law, so, surely Government would be a refuge of competence?
Lithuanian Government has not emerged from Soviet styles. In an attempt to devolve power, Lithuania has created a myriad of fiefdoms of power, each speaking in the name of the Government, each its own centralized power base of ideology.
Chepstow, Wales
Doesn't that sound suspiciously like Lithuania? Ah, but I didn't mention the mountains of Snowdonia, which would give the game away.
I'm talking about Wales, that part of the UK which Lithuanians used to call "Valija", but later named "Velsas" (why?). Wales, the nation which has welcomed two Lithuanian heads of state to its shores - firstly Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, who has paid several visits and, more recently, President Dalia Grybauskaitė who attended the 2014 NATO summit which was held in Newport, South Wales.
ENGLISH VERSION OF THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS.
Although Lithuanian activities have thinned over the decades as that postwar generation died out, the Lithuanian Martyrs' parish hall is crowded with many, many hundreds of visitors who come to the Lithuanian cemetery for All Souls' Day. Similarly, the Franciscan parish has standing room only for Christmas Eve mass.
Although I am firmly embedded in the literary culture of Canada, my themes are usually Lithuanian, and I'll be in Kaunas and Vilnius in mid-November 2015 to give talks about the Lithuanian translations of my novels and short stories, which I write in English.
If you have the Lithuanian language, come by to one of the talks listed in the links below. And if you don't, you can read more about my work at
www.anatanassileika.com
http://www.vdu.lt/lt/rasytojas-antanas-sileika-pristatys-savo-kuryba/ https://leu.lt/lt/lf/lf_naujienos/kvieciame-i-rasytojo-59hc.html
"My love and best wishes to all. As long as VilNews exists, there is hope for the future,"" she writes.
Irena Veisaite means very much for our publication, and we do hereby thank her for the support and wise commitment she always shows.
You can read our interview with her
Facing a new reality
Dear readers of VilNews,
For a number of years, the EU and Russia had assumed the existence of a strategic partnership, based on the convergence of values, economic integration and increasingly open markets and a modernisation agenda for society.
Our agenda was positive and ambitious. We looked at Russia as a country ready to converge with "European values", a country likely to embrace both the basic principles of democratic government and a liberal concept of the world order. It was believed this would bring our relations to a new level, covering the whole spectrum of the EU's strategic relationship with Russia.
The likelihood of Putin
invading Lithuania
.jpg "lithuania today")
Founding Director at Summer Literary Seminars
Are all Lithuanian energy
problems now resolved?
Lithuania as a country does not have significant energy resources. Energy consuming infrastructure after WWII was small and totally supported by energy imports from Russia.
First nuclear reactor begins power generation at Ignalina in 1983, the second reactor in 1987. Iganlina generates enough electricity to cover Lithuania's needs and about 50%.for export. As, prerequisite for membership in EU, Ignalina ceases all nuclear power generation in 2009
The Klaipėda Sea terminal begins Russia's oil export operations in 1959 and imports in 1994.
Mazeikiu Nafta (current ORLEAN Lietuva) begins operation of oil refinery in 1980.
Have Lithuanian ties across
the Baltic Sea become
stronger in recent years?
The two decades that have passed since regaining Lithuania's independence can be described as a "building boom". From the wreckage of a captive Soviet republic, a generation of Lithuanians have built a modern European state, and are now helping construct a Nordic-Baltic community replete with institutions intended to promote political coordination and foster a trans-Baltic regional identity. Indeed, a "Nordic-Baltic community" - I will explain later in my text the meaning of this catch-phrase.
Since the restoration of Lithuania's independence 25 years ago, we have continuously felt a strong support from Nordic countries. Nordics in particular were among the countries supporting Lithuania's and Baltic States' striving towards independence. Take example of Iceland, country which recognized Lithuania in February of 1991, well in advance of other countries. Yet another example - Swedish Ambassador was the first ambassador accredited to Lithuania in 1991. The other countries followed suit. When we restored our statehood, Nordic Countries became champions in promoting Baltic integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. To large degree thanks Nordic Countries, massive transformations occurred in Lithuania since then, Lithuania became fully-fledged member of the EU and NATO, and we joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2015.
Have you heard about the
South African "Pencil Test"?
But that is exactly what happened to me when I came back from South Africa. I will tell you how.
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