Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)

Memories rushing back ... of Paradise Cove, Samoa.

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trnsz:
Funny stumbling upon this forum, totally randomly.  I'm currently 25 and spent time when I was 17 in Paradise Cove, Samoa.  While I might have been an introvert and quite possibly an asshole I never thought I really had any problems, and I faked my way through the program.  I've honestly blocked all the shitty moments from my memory for the most part, but I felt compelled after coming to this forum to post.

I never knew of the investigations into the place, or even that they were featured on TV shows and closed down.  There are some people I remember there, and after some reading, I was shocked to some of them had committed suicide or (unsuprisingly, really) left there worse off than they came in -- and it was my experience a lot of these kids had BIG problems.

After reading a few threads, I'm tempted to find the exact date I was there, but I don't really want to think about that time so much, and at the moment - I want to be anonymous.  

For those that were there with me, you'd probably remember anyway with what I've said and how I (much) write, and knowing I was on Telefaga (sp?) Beach, can't remember the "family".

Anyway, I do remember that the crappy chicken and bread, but I have fond memories of the cocoa-rice.  That shit was great.  I remember how ironic it was that I never experimented with drugs or really did anything really too "bad" until after getting out, too!  I had some great, totally crazy insane times that I'd not recommend to anyone, but I felt like, if at moments notice you can be abducted and sent to Samoa, you better live it up. =)  I got out of that stage just fine without anyone's help.

Anyway, after PC, I disowned my parents for awhile, moved out, grew my hair back out, dated some beautiful ladies, and for the most part lived the good life in the computer industry until 2001 whenl the market crashed.  

After the dot-com bubble and some unflattering jobs, and another small attempt at management, I was in a car accident and I'm now injured, unemployed, broke, but recovering.  Hopefully I'll get some money from a lawsuit against the guy who rear-ended me at 50mph when I stopped at a light.

Anyway, anyone else out from PC have a site or a registry or any details?  Anyway, what a flood of memories.  Watching crappy movies in the schoolhouse (Anaconda comes to mind), cleaning the damn beach all the time, etc.  

Anyone remember the name of that "father" with the tatoo of the marijuana leaf on his arm?  I hate to drop a name, but does anyone know what happened to Travis?  He was from California, can't recall where.  

Also, did anyone else "steal back" all the letters that you sent your friends and your family while you were there?  I did, but in 7+ (already?!) years I've not really read any of them.  Maybe I can recall some names, dates, specific events.

Finally, anyone out there from Florida, or even South Florida?  Please reply!  Sorry for such a giant first post.  When you haven't though about chunk of your life, it's hard to think of what to say!  

PS - Parents!  Programs like these are a sham, and by supporting them, the only thing that I can see coming out of it is resentment.  I've had family which I have no spoken to since 1996 or 1997 and never plan to because of that place.[ This Message was edited by: trnsz on 2005-11-29 02:41 ]

trnsz:
OK, nobody?? :sad:

Does anyone remember a guy, I think his name was "Jake" and he was from South Florida also, spent time around Deerfield Beach or Boca Raton before going to Samoa.

He seemed to be one of the only people there who had any benefits, at least from what I can remember.  We never really met, but had a few passing encounters before Samoa, at the end of Lox road, out by the everglades.

What about Travis..  I think the last name was Harris.  I'm still sure he was from California - maybe Clovis?  I was actually able to smuggle out his phone number (rolled up on a tiny scrap of paper stuffed inside a pen).  

We had some run plans, and, literally, right before I got home, we were pretty much "caught".  We were using a computer disk to exchange information and they were gonna give us cat 3 theft at a minimum, or so it looked like.  

They were deciding what to do with us when I was told I was going home, but it was looking like that cat 3 and total loss of points.  I was on level 3 probation at the time.  Anyone remember those damn "worksheets"?!

I've lived with tons of guilt all these years.  I was afraid to contact him or his family since I thought it was my fault that he might have had a cat 3 and would have had to spend so much more time there.  It's that kind of stuff that really eats you up over the years.  

Travis, just to let you know, I had your number taped above my phone for nearly two years.  I'm sorry I never called, but I was scared to think about it or be involved.  I've since lost your information. =(

If anyone knows him, make sure he knows, that if something bad did happen, I'm so sorry.  He was really my best friend the whole time I was there, and he was the first guy to run and give me a giant hug when I got to leave.  God, the guilt.  

Also, there was a guy from Alaska in our group.  I'd like to know what happened to him.  

I'd like to throw away the damn yellow lav I've kept all these years, but I can't.

Somebody must remember.[ This Message was edited by: trnsz on 2005-11-28 17:24 ]

Antigen:

--- Quote ---On 2005-11-28 17:15:00, trnsz wrote:

"OK, nobody?? :sad:

--- End quote ---


Sorry darlin'. You might want to click the "start watching this topic" link at the foot of the page. That way, whenever someone does reply you'll get email.

It kinda chaps my buns hearing about kids getting sent from the Deerfield area. I lived there from around 93 till 2002. Never even knew about WWASP till just a couple of years ago. If only...

Anyway, I hope you find your friends.
The right of self-defense is the first law of nature . . and when the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction.

--St. George Tucker, in his edition of Blackstone's Commentaries
--- End quote ---

trnsz:
Thanks for the response (just noticed it after expanding my last post) - I hope I find these guys too.  I'm watching the topic too now.  Thanks.

Is there anything we could do to help?  I see all these posts of suicides, murders, etc.  Is any testimony needed anywhere?  I'll tell the truth about that place, the good and the bad.  Not every moment was horrible.

Reading some of these threads makes me cry, and I didn't even cry on 9/11.  It's been a long time, and I'm not really mad anymore, but there is a lingering sadness. As I've said, I haven't spoken to alot of family since 1996/1997, and I'll never trust them again.  We're not a family anymore.

If it wasn't for the kids there who were my friends, I wouldn't have made it.  I'll forever remember my arrivial, walking down that trail to the beach.  It felt like the walk to an execution.  I was so disoriented and confused.  

I hope someone remembers.  It was the people like those I mentioned here that helped me get through it and they deserve my personal thanks.

PS - did anyone stay with some BIG Samoan guy the first night, before going to the place?  There was other kids with me.  I think his name was Laffy or something.  We rode in the back of his pickup truck.  I'd like to find those kids too, and find out what happened to them.

Sorry I write so much.

Anonymous:
if only WHAT?  The reason WWASP and other programs continue to be around is obvioulsy after numerous investigations, law suits and allegations, they are found to be legit.

If you don't want to remember Samoa, throw away the lava lava.

Travis is doing great and looks back upon Samoa as an asset to his current life.

South Florida has an attorney and engineer that were in Samoa in 1996 with Chriss and they both look back with thanks.  AMAZING, huh????  They have gone on with their lives in a purposeful manner while you all live here day and night dredging up the past and stupid allegations.  May be, you need to get on with your lives.

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