Hope

Why Bucharest for the 2008 Nato Summit??? I just hope it will bring something profitable to this, the dear country of my heart.

Interviewing for placement testing at BC today, I asked every potential student what they thought about the forthcoming event. The majority lifted their eyes heavenwards and groaned, adding that they planned to leave Bucharest at the weekend until it was over. One, however, was very excited about it. She said that it would put Roumania on the map at last as a country to be respected by all the world, and would bring economic profit. I do hope she's right, for this country deserves that so much. Global respect and economic improvements for everyone, starting at the bottom of the ladder, working upwards. Perhaps all the tree and flower planting, turf laying, the painting of everything along the 'corridor', as it's called for those in the 'cortège' to admire, the clearing of cars parked on pavements - perhaps it will make a difference and for once, Bucharest will be seen for what it is in my eyes: a marvellous city of energy, potential and history, a myriad of old and new, albeit rather tattered in places. But what's history without a few frays around the edges and the evidence of hard times that need to be remembered in order for wounds to heal? I cross my fingers, say a prayer and hug Roumania in hypothetical arms as always.

Comments

[Nicole]

Hi! I came upon your blog several days ago and, having left Romania some 39 years ago, I was fascinated by your attachemnt to this country and how well you have adjusted and made friends with Romanians.
I have lived to best part of my life in the US and now reside in a little town, 7 miles north of New Haven, Connecticut.
All your observations regarding people, life in Romania have been very refreshing for me even more so because I have been in Bucharest only thre times since the fall of communism. This was the main reason we left, actually escaped from Romania, "sans laisser l'adresse". Your friends, from pictures, are all young and, therefore, less tainted by the times before 1989. What the people has endured for the last ten years of Ceausescu's regime is hard, probably impossible for us to understand. My fromer schoolmates are still traumatised and wary after all these years, even if all of them had good professions.
Well, I wish you the best and if I decide to revisit the place of my birth, it will be a pleasure to meet you.
Nicole