The Romanian Office

Talking to Father Iustin Parvu

2011-10-27T22:59:00.011+03:00

One of my most surreal yet eye-opening conversations ever took place in the remote land of a forest oasis in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains this summer.

Romanian monasteries are well known for their instant quests into one-self-ness but this time was different. Surrounded by a good handful of people, I was diligently waiting for my turn to talk to and receive blessings from Father Iustin - probably the holiest man in Eastern Europe today.

Solid hours passed by: I took part in the morning lithurgy, then I was kindly invited to lunch by the nuns - food has so much flavour when eaten in simplicity - and then there came the long waiting. Each step was carefully taken, each time a little closer to the Father's humble room. Everyone was getting deeper into their own introspection. Words were useless anyway...And suddenly a group of tourists disturbed this silence - everybody was making way for them (it's tradition, by all means). Without waiting they were ushered next into the unpretentious room. The rest of us were skeptical - they were mere tourists without any connection to the process of self-ness we, the local people, were undergoing. As they were entering I was asking myself - are they gonna make anything out of this experience or just a tick on a sightseeing list of Romania? Eventually they got out - less cheerful and gay, more retained and pensive. Their eyes were alive with insight and meaning, their touristic giggle had turned into a subdued smile. I was proven wrong. They left in silence and respect.

After several hours my turn came. I had prepared my speech - fully logical and quite a mighty lengthy speech - well, such a complete waste of words! Here all was simplified to the quintessential. I got inside and sat in front of Father Iustin. He calmly looked at me and carefully searched inside my eyes - he got closer slowly and turned his head a little to the left as you would do with a magnifying glass to see the subject better - this time right into the furthest corners of my soul. He straightened up then and simply said: ''it's hard!'' - ''yes, it is.'' came my answer. Never had I been so subjected to a minute soul check-up! I spent 15 minutes instead of the five allowed for each one... Father Iustin quickly dropped all my civilisation shields I had been building for years: ''certificates are not important. it's the way you live your living moments that truly matters'', he said...

Here I was, one of the millions of people in a crisis today - the crisis of the soul, fundamentally. If only we could make this constantly our reason to go on - living our precious moments simply the right way.

What will you be reading this summer? Mircea Cartarescu

2011-07-11T20:57:00.005+03:00

The leading magazine Time published the choices of leading world writers about their summer readings - Mircea Cartarescu's choice is among them.
My choice? Cartarescu's Visul ("The Dream") shall be among my readings.

"Antreprenoriada" - Live Up to your Business!

2011-07-09T10:52:00.007+03:00

Antreprenoriada is a most interesting business project, whose aim is to encourage entrepreneurial spirit in Romania, organized by Edurom in Iasi but developed in 9 different cities all over the country. This is an excellent example of what can be done with European funding and people's great ideas in order to build up stronger communities.

Personally, I have been particularly impressed by the attitude and spirit of the two young organizers - Razvan Mitocariu and Adrian Randasu - very professional, inspiring, supportive, informative, with a real sense of 'let's roll up our sleeves' and make a real contribution with our businesses.

While taking part in this project, I strongly had the feeling that Romania is growing.
Thank you so much Edurom team!

Face a Book: The Overcoat, by N. V. Gogol

2010-09-26T17:28:00.014+03:00

Face a Book is the second edition of the successful annual Book Review Contest launched by Humanitas, in an open quest for book adventure and lifelong wisdom. Here's my take on The Overcoat, by N.V.Gogol, the text Dostoevsky referred to with these famous words: "We all come out from Gogol's 'Overcoat"...

Care a fost cea mai solemna zi din viata ta de pana acum? - ziua in care ai simtit ca beatitudinea iti inunda corpul, dar nu datorita vreunui vin moldovenesc, ci pentru ca esti plin de dragoste de viata - delirant, iremediabil, ireconciliabil! - ziua cand slujba sacadata, anosta, enervanta nu-ti mai intra pana-n maduva oaselor reumatic si nevrotic, ci ziua in care te-ai imbracat cu haina noua iar cea veche a iesit definitiv din viata ta - un nou "tu" cel eliberat, in sfarsit...

"Mantaua" lui Gogol exploreaza tocmai adancimile unei astfel de transformari si consecintele ei comunitare. Functionarul tipic Akaki Akakievici isi face treaba cu cea mai precisa constiinciozitate pe o leafa perfect mizera. Se intampla de ani de zile intr-un minister oarecare din Sankt-Petersburgul eclectic si eminamente injust, pana cand ziua imbracarii mantalei celei noi ii marcheaza definitiv ultima parte a vietii.
Incredibil de actual, Gogol intuieste miezul problematicii urbane - cum poti trai fara demnitate? Fara respect fata de tine insuti si fata de ceilalti? Indiferent si ignorant? Si cu ce pret?
Umbrele noptii pe stradutele orasului ascund voci nebanuite, soapte, franturi - "aaa, asta...", "lasati-ma in pace, de ce ma necajiti?", "dati-mi mai bine sa copiez ceva", "mantaua asta-i a mea", "da-mi-o pe-a ta!"...Orasul le ascunde dar asta nu inseamna ca ele nu exista.

Poate exercitiul nostru de reflectie de la inceput e unul reusit dar ma intreb ce l-a facut oare pe Gogol sa remarce "Sfanta Rusie, totul este contaminat de imitatie!" spre sfarsitul cartii.

Indubitabil, Mantaua lui Gogol e un text acid dar foarte placut prin vocea domnului Razvan Vasilescu, ceea ce este o adevarata incantare si un privilegiu al multor audiobook-uri.

130 Years of Diplomatic Relations

2010-08-13T13:10:00.010+03:00

The year 1880 marked the beginning of the modern Romanian diplomacy, with most distinguished scholars and ambassadors like Ion Ghica in London, Vasile Alecsandri in Paris and Mihail Kogalniceanu in Berlin, who set a high morality and character standard (how seldom can we see this nowadays!) and who succeeded in defining Romania on the map of Europe at that crucial time - all under the careful scrutinizing gaze of King Carol I.
The temporary exhibition "130 Years of Diplomatic Relations from 1880. Partners in Europe" at the Union Museum in Iasi has been set up with the mutual help of the German, British and French Embassies in Bucharest.
It's a unique experience the cool majestic feeling inside the intimate yet imposing House in Lapusneanu Street that used to host so many of the royal and noble family members, while taking a quiet tour of what was and still is a truly remarkable episode in the history of Europe.

TED - in Iasi: What makes you happy?

2010-07-04T19:48:00.010+03:00

Under the well-known motto "Ideas worth spreading", TED began its first edition in Iasi in a very creative and relaxing atmosphere on June, 13th. The audience was young, fresh, smart and distinctive - 99 people who gathered up to share not only ideas but spirit in its youngest form.
Speakers had a difficult task - to try to tackle the ever-lasting question: What makes people happy? and answers were as diverse as the speakers - from Maia Morgenstern, the renowned actress who sparkled around the very concept in full energy as usual to Vali Tatar who shared with us his passion for tennis in amazingly striking images.
But Razvan Crisan was the one who really caught the eye and heart of everyone in the room - with his authentic way of living, of building his time against social prejudices and restrictions and at the same time in a very simple, essential way - by being true to himself.

Celebrated Women in Romania

2010-04-25T20:47:00.013+03:00

The well-known Romanian business woman and teacher Monica Tatoiu has initiated a most inspiring project around the country - to bring to light the voices of many women who are not so famous on TV but who do make a huge difference in their own communities through the way they lead their lives with a great impact on the people around.
The natural result of this was the book titled "The Four Dimensions of Romanian Femininity" - a moving book containing texts written by more than 70 women whose lives are not so ordinary after all.
I personally find this book amazing regarding the multitude of things we can learn from life experiences which, despite being perfect, are so beautiful in revealing realities of life itself.

One Man Show 5th: 281, by Radu Largeanu

2010-04-18T12:33:00.015+03:00

I was pleasantly surprised by the great number of people who came to see the performance under the title 281, by the young artist Radu Largeanu on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Actually, there were not many things to see - but to feel. The audience was invited on stage through the back door. In silence, under a dim light, on stage and in the middle of his audience, the actor Radu Largeanu started his monologue with a list of the names of the people who died in Communist political prisons, while inviting us further into the backstage - the 'prison cell'. Largeanu's monologue was based on the renowned texts written in prisons by Paul Goma and Radu Gyr.
Despite the most effective start of the play, the actor's focus was rather on the postmodern schizophrenia than the salvation through faith, missing thus, too much of the original text message.
Overall, I truly believe that the stage directions were worthy of an Edinburgh Festival presence, as well as the performance taken as a whole. The chemistry among the people in the audience was authentic and remarkably powerful.

A Poenari Pen - Your Story Alive

2010-04-11T22:32:00.020+03:00

In various forms, pens have withstood the test of time and they continue to do so, despite the plastic age we're going through. So, if you want a pen with a story - your story - a custom-made personalized pen, then the best choice is a Poenari pen. Crafted in a unique way, going back into deep history, pens created by Lucian Poenari are pieces of art themselves - in fact, the natural result of art meeting cutting-edge technology. And when you read the story of the Poenari inventor and his great character and contribution to people one is bound to experince pure authenticity...

Custom-Made "Maftei" Shoes

2010-04-03T12:12:00.005+03:00

Alexandru Maftei keeps the family shoe-making tradition alive going back as far as the 19th century, when the Maftei family owned a 40-apprentice workshop in Moldova, Romania.
Alexandru Maftei left Romania in 1988 asking for political asylum and, since 1994, he and his wife Lucia, their 2 sons and daughter have worked in Vienna where they started out making footwear for the best custom shoemakers in the city. Now, their reputation for high quality shoe making and individual customer service has grown around Europe and the USA...

Alina Cojocaru - The Good Fairy of the Ballet World

2010-03-28T20:36:00.011+03:00

I first heard about Alina Cojocaru from a Japanese friend of mine in the UK, who had booked a ticket to see Alina perform at the Royal Opera House in London, in the famous Giselle. I can never forget the excitement and the light in my friend's eyes at the thought that she was about the take part in one of the greatest performances ever.
Despite the fact that she has recovered from a harsh accident during rehearsals, Alina works from 9am to 7pm every day and is known to history for being the "Royal Ballet's youngest principal dancers at the age of 19", according to the BBC. And despite the fact that her shoe size is only 34.5, her feet work miracles on stage!
Currently, Alina is touring the world in order to enchant audiences everywhere...

Neagu Djuvara: Nobility and Spirit

2010-03-08T21:23:00.011+02:00

Is there room for an authentic Nobleman in our postmodern world?
By all means, there is!
Mr. Neagu Djuvara gives us all the chance to admire and be inspired by his most exquisite presence, while making us feel both humble and privileged.
The French Embassy in Bucharest officially recognized him as Officier des Arts et des Lettres, regarding him as "a citizen of the world", with moral and physical elegance, high vision and spirit, bravery in good times and hardships.
Mr Djuvara's books ("A Short History of the Romanians as Told to Youngsters", "The Birth of the Romanian People", "From Vlad, the Impaler to Dracula, the Vampire", etc) will forever continue to fascinate young and elderly people alike.

What a panflute can do in Petruta's hands.

2010-02-27T20:58:00.009+02:00

Petruta Kupper has mesmerized the hearts of many when she reached the final of Germany's Got Talent show, with her instrument that may seem exotic to most of us. In fact, she is the very talented student of the renowned Gheorghe Zamfir, continuing a musical tradition that should never die.
Petruta has recently been nominated for the Echo Awards, alongside with intenational celebrities like Lady Gaga and Beyonce.

New Fast Food Era - Taxing and Educating

2010-02-21T09:52:00.008+02:00

A new public debate is currently going on these days - the coming into force of a new law regarding the taxation of fast food in Romania.
Despite the fact that the big fast food chains are complaining, the Romanian Minister of Health and the Prime Minister alike are backed up by the European Union officials in Brussels and even encouraged to set an example to all European countries in this respect.
Even if this measure started from the critical need to collect money for the government budget, it can definitely turn into a new source for education programmes to support healthy dieting and raise awareness of healthy lifestyles.

Do you fancy a chocolate tour?

2010-02-15T21:08:00.007+02:00

Carmen Botez has come up with a most delicious business idea, while turning her old time passion for sweets into profit.
As Los Angeles Times reports, Carmen organizes a chocolate tour in Manhattan, New York advising on the best bites - fruity, boozy, smooth and nutty interiors, mixed with spices, etc.
Chocolate Zoom online magazine is the premier chocolate guide for NY. No matter where you are in the City, Carmen's team can help you locate a quick chocolate fix within only a few street blocks...yummy!

Dr.Rada Mihalcea: 'Recipe for Happiness'

2010-01-16T20:05:00.013+02:00

Mr. Barack Obama thanked Dr. Rada Mihalcea and 99 other Top Scientists last Thursday in a special White House ceremony: "These extraordinarily gifted young scientists and engineers represent the best in our country. With their talent, creativity, and dedication, I am confident that they will lead their fields in new breakthroughs and discoveries and help us use science and technology to lift up our nation and our world."

Rada's research is vast and delves deeply into artificial intelligence, natural language processing and other computer science areas. One of her papers I particularly find intricate is the one on Finding Happiness related to Blogposts, since "blog entries are nonetheless much closer to what people think, as compared to other forms of public expression."

The words we use can show our own degree of happiness and a language processing program can lead to revealing facts. The thorough study of 10,000 blogposts shows that:

- Wednesday is the saddest day of the week, while Saturday the happiest;

- at 9 pm we are the happiest, while at 12 pm the saddest;

- the happiest words: love; God; father; baby; books; new;

- the saddest words: goodbye; don't understand; I wish; I miss

So, one interesting conclusion is that "happiness in today's society occurs most often around novelty"

Finally, Rada's "Recipe for Happiness":

- Something new
- Lots of food that you enjoy
- your favourite drink
- an interesting social place

Sebastian Burduja: Union of Change

2010-01-13T21:56:00.010+02:00

While being both a Stanford University graduate and a Harvard University post-graduate, Sebastian Burduja is a proactive young man, with great dreams for his career and country.

Interested in politics, public administration and business administration, Sebastian published his research on corruption in Romania quite early:
"The Romanian post-communist judicial system and police force have proved unsuccessful in tracking down and punishing corrupt behavior."

"Paradoxically, corrupt politicians are hierarchically above judges, and hence above the law. In the absence of effective deterrents and mechanisms of punishment, Romanian political elites have weak internal incentives to reduce corruption."

With such a clear insight and also accumulated experience and knowledge in time, Sebastian is currently running The Romanians Abroad Student Union aiming at creating a worldwide network of students and prospective students alike - how I wish this Union had been created when I studied abroad...

Bassam Gemayel: the 2 (K)No(w)s

2010-01-13T13:07:00.014+02:00

I have met nothing but extremely smart Lebanese so far - and Bassam Gemayel is definitely one of them. Invited to make a speech at TEDxBucharest, Bassam - with exquisite accuracy - pinpointed the fundamental errors that lie at the foundation of the Romanian society:

- "I know": the problem with so many of us - young active Romanians - is that we know so much more than we do...or at least we think we know.

- "No": if we ever have a reaction to things, then the first one is a negation...In this way nothing is gonna change or change will be very slow - can we afford it?

One of Bassam's favourite lines seems to be Think Big and Act Small. With much more openness to listen to others and our own consciousness we could be more efficient and we could do so much more...

2009 Nobel Prize: Herta Muller

2009-12-26T18:00:00.011+02:00

Ms. Herta Muller, from Timisoara, wins the Nobel Prize for Literature this year.

Her texts reflect her own biography and the complex situations in totalitarian systems and the human decay and degeneration: "This is not a topic that I chose, but rather one that my life has chosen for me. I don't have that freedom of choice. I cannot say: 'I want to write about that thing, or about that other thing.' I am bound to write about what concerns me and about the things that won't leave me in peace."

Being an advocate for the respect of cultures, Ms. Muller says: "In Timisoara [the main city in Banat] one can hear on the street all kinds of languages: Romanian, German, Hungarian, Serbian, Romany -- that's how it used to be and that's how it should be. Nobody should hide their culture."

Personally, I admire Ms. Herta Muller for her decency, just and noble attitude to life and also for her talent as an international writer.

The 2nd Mourning Day - Bucharest

2009-12-21T13:29:00.008+02:00

20 years ago, people in Bucharest continued what heroes in Timisoara had started - but again the outcome was bloody - 40 new young heroes died in the first hour alone.

Highly-trained snipers were shooting civilians from the top of the buildings - mercilessly.

But people would shout: "We shall die, but we shall be free!"

The 1st Mourning Day - Timisoara

2009-12-17T12:44:00.011+02:00

December, 17th 1989 - the day when shootings against civilians start.

More than 200 children grow up without their fathers - like Monica Silaghi who sees her father's blood on her 15-year-old hands.

More than 100 families are forced to live with traumatic memories all their lives.

The "Romanian-Romanian war" starts. 'Securitate' people close the doors of the Cathedral so that civilians cannot seek refuge inside. Young heroic people die on the steps of the Cathedral...

The Silent Force

2009-12-11T19:34:00.013+02:00

They were betrayed. And they were caught. The mountains had covered them for long but it hadn't been enough.
"The Americans" never came, as hoped, and the communist regime enforced its unifying destruction... But the year 1989 brought about the much needed change.

The force of the resisting spirit cuts through time. They have won!

Whenever I think of the resistance groups of brave men and women, Toma Arnautoiu is among the first leading figures who speaks to my mind and heart and whenever I see his daughter, which is a miracle in itself, I cannot help feeling the silent force of the look in their eyes - the force of justice and truth...

The BBC reveals in an article titled "Romania Securitate legacy 20 years after revolution" the haunting effects of a regime that lasted for too long.

Gheorghe Dinica: "I am from Romania."

2009-11-11T21:10:00.012+02:00

Gheorghe Dinica will always enchant audiences - with his endless talent as an actor but, moreover, with his spirit that will continue to live with us forever. Personally, I could never forget his melancholic deep voice or his roles in so many films and plays - especially "Take, Ianke and Cadar", which lies at the very basis of my own identity belonging to this culture.
The New York Times, in the article today, relates "his modesty, humor and his refusal to praise the country's late Communist dictator", in a time when many actors did this, and also his passion for life and people so that, quite often, when dining in restaurants he would spontaneously break into song...When asked abroad if he was Robert de Niro, he would simply say: "I am from Romania."

JCI National Conference - Success and Young Spirit

2009-11-02T18:44:00.014+02:00

The 1st JCI Conference in Romania was held in Iasi these days, organized by JCI Iasi - Mr. Mircea Giosan and his fantastic team - and gathered over 100 participants nationwide, as well as the renowned international trainer, Mr. Filipe Carrera.
The event was a real success due to the business and cultural focus of the conference activities and its networking feature proved to be invaluable for everyone...

Silvia Pintilie: Visual Artist

2009-10-25T18:42:00.007+02:00

Silvia is the Winner of Salermo Talent of the year - Italy, the Winner of History of Contemporary Art, Marche – Italy and exhibits in Notre Dame de Sion Gallery - Paris. And she fully deserves all the praise when you have a look at all her fantastic paintings and drawings and work...

Creative Photography: by sergio

2009-10-25T18:22:00.007+02:00

A few days ago a friend of mine recommended bysergio and I've been hooked. Sergio's concept of "creative photography" implies raw emotions transcending the visual and feelings of unique moments lasting forever...

Iasi Book Fair - Style and Freedom

2009-10-18T22:53:00.006+03:00

As a huge fan of books, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the CAMUFI book fair in Iasi these days enchanted its visitors not only with selected good books, music and films but also with a special kind of tranquil stylish atmosphere. Whether you wanted to enjoy an international bestseller, an IQ game or a Discovery documentary and an organic cup of tea, you had all the space to do it - and the space was not accidentally one of the most interesting in Iasi - the famous Hall of the Lost Footsteps.
In a time when we are under the pressure of larger-than-life book fairs with their addictive rush and tension, a book fair like this one can re-invent the original idea of an exquisite book meeting with good taste.

Iasi International Film Festival - A New Beginning

2009-10-18T21:32:00.007+03:00

Iasi International Film Festival took place in the cultural capital of Moldova between the 25th September and the 3rd of October and marked the first edition of a new film festival - young, dynamic and energetic.
I particularly admired the documentaries section, which proved to be extremely new and fresh, and the special vibe of the energies of a new beginning. I can hardly wait to see this film festival grow in the years to come.

Irina Predescu - The Butterfly Business

2009-09-13T00:38:00.008+03:00

Irina Predescu is 23 and already manages a 4 year successful business - with butterflies.
For your wedding or even corporate events, Irina can make your celebration stand out by releasing hundreds of butterflies into the air at the right time...

"Gruber's Journey": The First Small Step

2009-09-12T18:24:00.016+03:00

Gruber's Journey, directed by Mr. Radu Gabrea, is a well-documented film that tries to do justice to a tragic historical event, silenced for too long.
Curzio Malaparte, as written in his own journal 'Kaputt', recounts how personal life mixes with grand history and how he himself turns into a key witness of the event. While coming to Iasi in June 1941 and looking for the Jewish Dr. Josef Gruber to treat his allergy, Malaparte finds himself involved in the dramatic event of 12,000 Jewish civilians being mass murdered at Podu Iloaiei.
Being present at the official premiere last night in Iasi, I was wondering why government funded films lack the brightness and the vibe to propel them to international heights. And also how embarrassing ass-kissing can be during these presentations...
I believe the film - as perceived sitting near probably the most elderly Jewish man in the audience - misses the point of revealing the deep tragedy and launches on an overrated narcissistic criticism of the inability of the local people to organize things (an image, in fact, that neither my friends nor I recognize ourselves in).
However, Mr. Marcel Iures is absolutely brilliant, indeed, in portraying Dr. Gruber and also notable are Florin Piersic Jr., as Malaparte, and Claudiu Bleont - highly talented young actors.

Oana Pellea - A Different Kind of Journal.

2009-09-07T16:22:00.010+03:00

Oana Pellea is not only the most beautiful actress I have ever seen, but also a truly inspiring person who has the mysterious ability to make us see insightful things in a lasting way... Memorable is the time for me when I saw her in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" some years ago when I was a student in Iasi. Her force as an actress is mesmerizing and her recently published Journal is a gift of emotions and life essence. I read her Journal as I read the Bible - before bedtime and opening the book at random and read - everything makes perfect sense with our own searching, and contradictions and tension and needs for answers and Light...Simply inspiring!

Violeta's Vintage Kitchen - Organic Slow Food

2009-09-03T17:20:00.018+03:00

Great Passion and Honesty are the two key words that define Violeta's Vintage Kitchen - the new 'out of the box' kitchen in Bucharest for those of us who want to enjoy organic home-made food.
Being a Jamie Oliver's follower, Violeta turned her great personal cooking ability into a small but successful business because of her desire to share with the others high quality food.
And if we want Violeta to cook especially for us - no problem! Or if we want to learn from Violeta the secrets of her recipes for success, we can sign in for one of her workshops... For sure, my next trip to Bucharest will imply a visit to Violeta's Magical Kitchen...

"George Enescu" Music Festival 2009: The Legacy

2009-08-30T20:17:00.023+03:00

George Enescu Music Festival and Competition - the 19th edition - is already a cultural brand with international recognition. Between 30th August and 26th September, classical music lovers are spoilt for choices in Bucharest at some of the most beautiful and impressive locations in the capital (National Opera or The Romanian Athenaeum).
There are also additional concerts in Tescani, Sibiu and at "Mihail Jora" Classical Music Concert Hall in Bacau.
Divided into 8 sections, the Festival and Competition will be attended by great musicians of the world: Joshua Bell, the pianist Christian Zaccharias, Martha Argerich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Alexandru Tomescu, Diana Rotaru, etc. and orchestras: "The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra", from Amsterdam, "Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks", "Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse" and many more.

Searching for Bucharest...

2009-08-27T23:23:00.016+03:00

Mrs. Tessa Dunlop, journalist for The Independent British newspaper, writes from an interesting perspective on the Romanian capital after 20 years since the downfall of communism.

Married to a Romanian man, she seems to be well-acquainted with the country's problems but I bet she does not like to live here much.
Mrs. Dunlop reminds me of the English playwright Caryl Churchill who came in the early 90's for a project-play on the Romanian revolution in 1989 - with the critical eye of the outsider, unemotionally involved and probably with the perspective of both sides - she could exactly pinpoint the critical issues.

Just like Mrs. Churchill then, Mrs Dunlop speaks about the chaotic architecture, poor management of local attractions, too many casinos in Bucharest, but also the beautiful women who are very well dressed...

However, 20 years of capitalism taught people here that Ceausescu was not the real problem in the past, but a whole well-structured system which is still visible today - so, associating Bucharest with Ceausescu may work for a British readership but it is quite far-off from the real truth. Also, I wonder whether Mrs. Dunlop has really known the real beauty of Bucharest - with its old streets, museums of art, old houses and gardens... And I also wonder whether she really took the time to feel the spirit of this authentic city which lies in little details and in people's gestures not in focusing on problems, frustrations and critical issues. Personally, I have learnt to re-discover Bucharest and I am very happy I can really see its beauty now - it's about the Spirit - of sophisticated eclecticism, not the communist buildings, for sure...

Trei Parale - Discovering Antique Music

2009-08-24T16:57:00.010+03:00

The 19th century music that was sung and listened to in the Carpathians region by various communities - Romanian, Jewish, Hungarian, Gypsy, etc. - is being re-discovered, with the help of detailed research and passion of three musicologists at the Romanian Village Museum in Bucharest. Florin Iordan, Daniel Pop, Beatrice Iordan and Dinu Petrescu use archaic traditional music instruments and call themselves "Trei Parale" / "Three Pennies".
Whenever you listen to their music you are taken back to immemorial times...

The Pain Memorial - "History Which Is Not Taught At School"

2009-08-24T15:46:00.018+03:00

The first and the second DVD of the collection of interviews, reports and research conducted by Mrs. Lucia Hossu Longin and Mr. Dan Necsulea under the already famous title "The Pain Memorial" focuses on the state of Bucovina region, in the north of Romania, immediately after World War II and the Soviet destruction of the villages and of the people there - ready to implement the new communist regime. Heavily documented, the dvd tells the story of how the local fighters confronted the oppressors, hiding in the mountains and hoping for American aid to come to set the country free. Leaders like Dumitru Craciun, Dr. Gheorghe Vasilache, Constantin Cenusa, Vasile Motrescu - "the last fighter in Bucovina, caught due to betrayal" - are the people who kept the faith and hope of a whole country alive.
In Fagaras region, resistance against communist crimes and terror was possible thanks to "the Boys in the Mountains" - called like this because of their very young age. Ion Gavrila Ogoranu, Ion Buta, and many students and a few teachers at Radu Negru Highschool in the town of Fagaras "placed freedom above their lives in full terror" (Octavian Paler). The Soviets and the new local communists acted with a view to systematically destroy families, by turning one against the other and 'rewarding' the traitors, and through 'collectivization' they confiscated every possession and property in order to make people subject and dependent on the communist state. These young boys, with love of God and of the country, could not accept this "Soviet colonization" (Octavian Paler).
Along with students, writers and journalists had to suffer the same torture and terror. Between 1945 and 1948, 8,500 literary works on identity are forbidden from publishing. The poet Radu Gyr is sentenced to prison for his famous poem - "Stand Up George, Stand Up John" - for 20 years...

Miss Pogany - the Essence of Feminity

2009-08-23T23:38:00.006+03:00

Mademoiselle Pogany, worth $100 million, is one of Constantin Brancusi's most famous works of art with a destiny that does not seem to be very calm. Her stillness, however, seems to ignore financial interests and enchant art-lovers.
The New York Times writes about her story.

"The Trap" - Another Lesson We Must Learn

2009-08-21T17:13:00.009+03:00

The day of April the 7th marked another day we should remember - thousands of Moldavian students and youngsters came together in an act of freedom - of opinion, of communication, of rights. Can they all be wrong? Can't they all be heard by the big democratic officials? "The Trap" is a striking recount of what happened...
Quite often I am under the impression that history is just repeating...

"Police, Adj." - A Case of Consciousness.

2009-08-19T12:15:00.023+03:00

Police, Adj. is Corneliu Porumboiu's latest film - written and directed in his unique style of filming, with long shots, long deep pauses, minimal but precise and sharp dialogue. In a world where we have been framed into receiving films and movies in a typical, standardized way, Police, adj. comes to challenge us into de-framing our mind, un-learning 'to watch a movie'. The best part of it is that it actually gives you the space and time to think . Every little pause, every little detail makes sense and is part of this apparently simple ordinary texture but masterfully and minutely crafted.
My friend and I last night took the director's opportunity to piece together little details like words written on walls, the position of houses, angles, shades, etc. For example, Cristi the young policeman asks his colleague to check a certain number plate and gives him the letters containing it - "AIC" - "A for Anca (female name), I for Iuda (Juda, the traitor), C for Cristi (male name)" or we could see these words written on a wall - "AF Trandafir executa / Rose Family Association Executes" which are very funny and ironic at the same time, linking directly with the end of the film.

Mr. Porumboiu works as an unseen creator who gives viewers the freedom to develop in time with the movie and his characters. At the latest edition of the International Film Festival in Sarajevo, he spoke about the link between film and time and the "time of being" as the essential element of his film vision - that the time of moving in a character is more important than any dialogue - and I think the concept of 'time of being' can be applied to viewers too as they - too - have their own time of being, of internalizing the film texture and the story. In this case, the story of the film is acutely modern and current - how young moral professionals succumb and accept defeat under the pressure of an artificial social system, but not only...

Sighet Memorial - The Form of Justice.

2009-08-16T20:10:00.013+03:00

The former political prison in Sighet turned, after the Revolution of 1989, into The Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance. The Council of Europe designated the Sighet Memorial one of the main memorial sites of the continent, alongside the Auschwitz Museum and the Peace Memorial in Normandy.
The amazing work of a handful of specially dedicated people keeps the memory of this country and continent alive - the memory of who we are, of our own identity.
Without the Sighet Memorial my life as a simple citizen inhabiting Europe and this world would lack an essential dimension...

"Home Alone" - Documentary on Migration Effects

2009-08-16T18:14:00.016+03:00

The local TV station 1TV has recently broadcast their striking "Home Alone" documentary on the situation of the elderly people left behind by those who go to the west in search of a better financial life. What do they leave behind? - "Pain - Loneliness - Poverty - Hope - Tears". Home Alone shows the naked heart-breaking truth of thousands of people over 60 years old who live a real drama under the powerless gaze of authorities... "You haven't died for 90 years, you won't die one or two months" is the shocking answer of a Romanian youngster to his elderly mother before heading for the west...The problem is they never stay away for just one month - so easily months turn into years until they themselves get tangled in their own life problems and become powerless themselves ...
Again, I believe that this is not just a local problem - as we have recently seen, any local problem is a global problem that will affect us all - in one way or another, sooner or later...

Lume

2009-08-14T22:13:00.008+03:00

From the Latin word "lumen", meaning "light" ("lumen solis" meant "sun light" for the Romans) there is the Romanian word "lume" - meaning "people", "world" ...

Tescani - Artists' Creativity Hub

2009-08-14T21:21:00.008+03:00

When I arrived at Tescani Mansion this week, which is the home of George Enescu Cultural Center in Bacau county, the place was very quiet and still and brightly lit by the sun - the trees and the field were inviting and protective though and the 250-year-old elm tree - the Rosetti-Enescu family tree - was guarding the mansion as forever. When I stepped inside I found out the reason behind all this sought-after tranquility: there was an International Painters Summer School going on. The most passionate curator I have ever met revealed to me the stories of George Enescu's destiny as an artist born to give life to all the artistic tension that vibrates in the Romanian space and when I was about to leave I noticed the French musician who was minutely studying musical notes and laboriously working on his individual project close to an old piano...I believe this space is ready to be discovered by international musicians and artists because it is inviting and has a fantastic energy that is so inspirational - my favourite place in Tescani is Enescu's Hill (Movila lui Enescu) - a place I discovered in the big park surrounding the mansion and where, as I was told, Enescu used to climb up to get inspiration for his music - I did too and the magic combination of generous sun light, fresh fir tree smell and hight triggered a myriad of emotions immediately. Tescani is a magical place which is for sure worth experiencing on your own...

Faust at Edinburgh International Festival

2009-08-09T20:32:00.007+03:00

Edinburgh International Festival is getting very close now and great performances are ready to be shown on stage. "Faust", directed by Silviu Purcarete, is one of them. It seems to be a massive undertaking - like any other play directed by Silviu Purcarete...
Laura Barnett from The Guardian writes the review of this ambitious play.

S. Purcarete and D. Buhagiar: The Mountain Giants

2009-08-09T19:24:00.016+03:00

The last unfinished play written by Luigi Pirandello - The Mountain Giants - is a real challenge for any director, set designer, actors and entire team.
But the internationally awarded director Silviu Purcarete and the highly talented young set designer Dragos Buhagiar, together with the actors from the National Theatre in Iasi have taken up the challenge and came up with a remarkable production to experience. I saw the play in Iasi 2 months ago and I took part in the talk with the actors after the play and I can say it was indeed a remarkable play - the very thin line between fiction and reality and fictitious reality is a real delight of both the intellect and the senses. The very complex structure of images, sound, lights, costumes, high tech, make-up and messages could only be mastered by masters...Spectacular!

Pitesti: the Brainwash 'Re-education'

2009-08-08T17:21:00.006+03:00

Beyond Torture: The Gulag of Pitesti is a documentary on a terrifying truth - in 1949, Soviet activists started to take young people from universities or high-schools and send them to a 're-education' prison in the city of Pitesti to turn them into communist thinkers... Father George Calciu says: "Many of us died, many of us got mad, but in some of us the good triunphed...They tried to destroy our souls." But he and a few others survived to tell the truth and even forgive their opressors.
This DVD contains impressive paintings by the young artist Sorin Feraru.
In my opinion, a continent, a world who do not know these past events is doomed to repeat them - in one way or another...

Anamaria Marinca: The new 'Meryl Streep'

2009-08-04T16:40:00.018+03:00

Anamaria Marinca is a young actress that I personally admire - for her mysterious grace and for her intense and controlled force as an actress. Every time I see her I admire her spiritual balance that comes from the inside - from hard work, fight with texts but also personal character. Inevitably, she reminds me of the force of Meryl Streep... Probably already famous for her awards and also intriguing but warm smile, Ms Marinca, I'm sure, has many more things to show in both films and theatre.
At the moment, you can see her in 4.48 Psychosis, by Sarah Kane at Young Vic in London. As we know, this text is hard even to read let alone to act on stage - but Anamaria is ready to take the plunge and act it as a solo monologue - ay, I'm so sorry I'm gonna miss it! I hope some of you can make it tough...

4 3 2 - Cristian Mungiu

2009-08-04T16:04:00.012+03:00

The year 2007 brought the director Cristian Mungiu the greatest film award in Europe: Palme d'Or at Cannes with the most acclaimed film - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
Needless to dwell on the story of abortion during the totalitarian regime, I must emphasize the art of silence that the young generation of Romanian directors seem to master so well and want to develop it further into 'unbearable suspense', laconic space, implied messages or even horror. Also, the talent of young actors like Anamaria Marinca or Laura Vasiliu proves to be extremely creative.
On the other hand, the movie is absolutely shocking and I think that movie-lovers should get introduced first to the context of this film story in order to be prepared to receive it as the judges at Cannes did and avoid feeling 'unconnected' to the characters in the end.

M. Matica: "Everybody sells something."

2009-07-31T13:58:00.017+03:00

Mr. Madalin Matica is probably the best Romanian motivational speaker I have ever listened to. He is part of that special category of proactive individuals in their late 30's/early 40's who act on the local markets as both business people and trainers, thus their expertise is invaluable. Madalin Matica works on devising online payment platforms in Eastern Europe and also works in collaboration with major cities in the country to elaborate city strategies. Here are some useful tips he gave at the seminar at Iashington to young entrepreneurs:

- the entrepreneurial world is getting divided into Tribes (social networks, clubs, societies) and new Barbarians (those who challenge the systems and have real competitive advantages over the big players)

- learn to be rejected and learn to be humble as early as possible

- the best time to start your business is now

- try to build lovemarks, not just brands

- "good" will kill you - good is not enough, the product you want to sell should be excellent and unique

- if you target your product at the man on the street outside you're dead - your target should be the whole world

- people shop not because of needs but because of wants

- Dunbar's number of 148 represents the number of individuals with whom we can have a stable interpersonal relationship. Apparently, our noecortex cannot process more because of its size. This number can directly affect the way in which we organize both our business and social life.

Andy Szekely - "Leadership is a State."

2009-07-31T13:35:00.010+03:00

In a world where leaders are in great need, Andy Szekely trains high profile business people on:

- how the intellect, the "cognitive mind" works together with the body, the "somatic mind". So, by "defocusing the eyes" and losing details around, your both minds gain breadth and completeness. The best decisions are taken under these circumstances.

- the importance of good questions to oneself: what are opinion leaders beginning to say? what rules are being broken? what is important to you about...? why is that important? Which are your core values (e.g. freedom, expertise)?

- Clean your desk! our mind cannot focus effectively otherwise

- Micro prototyping : if you need to tackle a big project which seems overwhelming, then break it down into micro projects and take one step at a time.

Iashington - International Conference in Iasi

2009-07-30T12:05:00.011+03:00

Iashington is a young international conference run by AIESEC members which is getting better every year. The young spirit of the participants is most appealing and attractive due to the innovative and creative ideas that come as a result of various workshop interactions. In addition, the quality of the speakers is outstanding.

Garett Gravesen and Kevin Scott, from Atlanta - Georgia, were surely the highlights of the event, with their pure American vibe and enthusiasm. They are 2 fantastic youngsters under 30 who managed to raise 1 million $ for AIDS kids and who are now promoting their Global L.E.A.D. program around the world, to encourage American graduates to get involved in global community service. Their useful advice was:

- "Create a Cause - not a business."

- the power of 1: when you deal with many cases that have to do with a certain problem, take 1 example and make up a story that will 'sell'.

- Be You - Brand You!

- make up your Bucket List - you'll be surprised how your mind works when forced to come up with 10 major things to do before dying.

- create a Mission Statement for your life: narrow your list down to a few key things and then stay focused on it. keep it in your handbag or close to you.

- Real happiness implies a limit - too many cars, too many trips, too much of anything does not bring authentic happiness (cf. Authentic Happiness, by M Seligman).

- the 3 Fs: Family, Friends, Faith - the most important things in life.

- “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
Mahatma Gandhi

- a new book: The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss: Tim is from Silicon Valley and delivers speeches at Princeton.

Al.I. Cuza Palace

2009-07-29T18:44:00.013+03:00

Built in 1806 in Lapusneanu Street in Iasi, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Palace hosts the Union Museum and it also used to host kings and queens in the not very distant past. The reason why this place is worth visiting is because it is not just a palace but a home where you feel isolated from the hustle and bustle of a city and can feel the quietness and peace of a most warm royal house which does not bear the height of great empires but the humbleness of dignified royalty...
Currently, you can see a temporary exhibition on The Year 1939 which represented the peak of Romanian civilization and culture but also the critical point of downfall.

The National Museum of Art

2009-07-29T18:18:00.006+03:00

The National Museum of Art of Romania is probably the first thing you must visit in Bucharest. It is a grand building and if you want to see all exhibits you need several hours. There are 2 main parts: the European Art Gallery (with works by El Greco, Breughel, Monet, Rodin and reps of German, Dutch, French and Italian Schools) and the Romanian Art Gallery (with remains of orthodox churches after the communist destruction, and also works by the greatest painters and sculptors like Brancusi, Grigorescu, Tonitza, Luchian).
I have the impression I have never seen enough and I go there to rediscover something new every time. The NMA seems to keep the same high quality standard like the National Art Gallery or Tate Museum in London.

Sutu Palace - Window into the Grand Past

2009-07-29T17:54:00.008+03:00

Built in 1834 for the great aristocrat Costache Grigore Sutu by the architects Johann Veit and Conrad Schwinck, Sutu Palace hosts the Bucharest Museum now. The beauty of the building is unforgettable due to the inner staircase, tall rooms and crafty decorations and details...Until the 30 August you can see a temporary exhibition titled "C.I.Nottara and the Romanian Theatre". Personally, I was impressed by Nottara's private armchair and study desk, as well as the make up that endured time, backed up by his grand performance stories on the stage.

Stradivarius violin and Alex Tomescu

2009-07-29T15:33:00.007+03:00

After a tough national competition, Alexandru Tomescu earned the right to make use of the famous Stradivarius violin which goes back to 1702 and has a specific unique sound. It's a privileged experience, indeed.
Mr Tomescu is currently touring the country to raise money for the Visually Challenged People Association.

Omagiu - 'Remix Culture' Magazine

2009-07-29T15:27:00.005+03:00

Omagiu is a completely out-of-the-box visual art magazine which deals with highly creative young artists and producing shocking images of everyday objects or concepts. As Mr. Patapievici once said, you need to learn how to read this magazine first in order to fully appreciate it - it's shocking and disturbing and it's printed in English.

Rromak - Authentic Musicians

2009-07-29T14:46:00.008+03:00

Rromak is a new group of professional Rroma musicians forming a traditional taraf. It consists of 9 highly qualified musicians with degrees in music but with a lot of gypsy passion and talent.
Lavinia, the lead singer of the group has a spectacular voice and huge talent and every time they perform - always live - they impress any audience with their songs inspired by Russian, Spanish and Balkan music.

Hafiz

2009-07-29T13:40:00.007+03:00

Ar. <hafiz> means "the guardian" and it is an Arabic word used for somebody who has completely memorized the Qur'an. But practice and understanding of the text has much to do with being a hafiz / hafiza...

Love in Arabic

2009-07-29T13:36:00.002+03:00

There are more than 20 words in Arabic for the concept of "love", as my friend told me - who can beat that?!

Kefi

2009-07-29T13:28:00.004+03:00

If you mind your <kefi> it means you take care of your spirit of joy, passion, frenzy and exhilaration. As a result of achieving kefi, you might feel like smashing plates in a very Greek way... Let it be KEFI!

Sakura

2009-07-29T13:15:00.006+03:00

Aren't we all enchanted by this Japanese miracle every year?
The best thing about sakura, the cherry trees, is that they are natural and unmodified genetically, as my Japanese friend explained it to me - beautiful!

Neam

2009-07-29T13:08:00.005+03:00

Ro. <neam> means family, kinship, people, nation, nationality. It is a "word in progress" because it covers a very large area of identity.
The young nations of Eastern Europe have been created as independent units because of some strong families that gave identity to a whole community and then they were able to preserve, protect and adapt it...

Dor

2009-07-29T12:55:00.006+03:00

Ro. <Dor> means a mix between pain and pleasure, search and un-find. It can be connected to love but in a very large sense. Many traditional songs deal, in fact, with this state of mind and heart.

Exeter College. Oxford

2009-07-29T12:07:00.008+03:00

Exeter comes from excellence, in this case. Undoubtedly! This Oxford College offers top world class studies because of the tutors here. This is the place where you can learn the real value of individual and small-size group study and where you have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a real Gentleman - like the one you read about in books and think they no longer exist.
If you want to have a taste of the atmosphere that JRR Tolkien or Phillip Pullman enjoyed then this is your place...Never have second thoughts about the Summer Schools they offer - they are second to none!

"Cuza" University - Tradition and Modernism

2009-07-29T11:50:00.006+03:00

Cuza University of Iasi is the oldest university in the country and it is a cultural place where traditional authentic values confront modern times. Far away from 'big' politics, this uni manages to keep independent and establish links with many top universities abroad. Located on Copou hill, in a most welcoming friendly city, it accepts everyone making them feel at home no matter what. I have German and American friends who studied at Cuza and who name it their 'personal best'.

"Vanish" - Protective Distruction of Data

2009-07-28T17:38:00.010+03:00

Roxana Geambasu, a 28-year-old PhD student at Washington University, is part of the team who are devising a new system of self-destruction of digital data we no longer need. In a world where personal data is no longer 'personal', Vanish seems to be in great need.
Vanish seems to be user friendly and probably it'll catch on very quickly. As "The New York Times" writes, "the technology is at the heart of most modern electronic commerce systems".

"Mathematics Gazette"- 111 Years of Tradition

2009-07-28T17:28:00.008+03:00

For many students, "Gazeta matematica" has represented a real creative challenge to better themselves and to connect with a long tradition (since 1895) in the field.
Even if my subject was not maths, I remember with great pleasure this magazine and I could feel even the legacy of the great scholars like G. Titeica or D. Barbilian while holding it.
Personally, I believe this is a 'lovemark', not just a brand, and since so many Romanian students receive international awards in maths I'm sure it is also due to GM. Now it is available in electronic format to challenge people around the whole world..

Porumbescu's Ballad

2009-07-28T13:22:00.006+03:00

Ciprian Porumbescu's Ballad is the most famous ballad in the Romanian culture which encorporates characteristics and traces of traditional songs and moods in a perfectly harmonious balance...

Labis: Out-of-the-Ordinary Deer

2009-07-28T13:10:00.005+03:00

Nicolae Labis's most famous poem is "Moartea caprioarei" / "The Death of the Deer", which was the symbol of a generation that was trapped in a regime that suffocated people bit by bit, teaching them that art is liberating...

Eminescu's Eve on a Hill

2009-07-28T12:52:00.012+03:00

Probably the most beautiful song, with lyrics by Mihai Eminescu and sung by the Madrigal Choir:
"Sara pe deal" / "Eve on a Hill".

Dreary the horn sounds in the eve on the hill,
Sheepflocks return, stars on their way twinkle still,
Watersprings weep murmuring clear, and I see
Under a tree, love, thou art waiting for me.

Holy and pure passes the moon on the sky,
Moist seem the stars born from the vault clear and high,
Longing thine eyes look from afar to divine,
Heaving thy breast, pensive thy head doth recline.

Tired with their toil, peasants come back from the field,
From the old church, labourer's comfort and shield,
Voices of bells thrill the whole sky high above;
Struck is my heart, trembling and burning with love.

Ah! very soon quietness steals over all,
Ah! very soon hasten shall I to thy call,
Under the tree, there I shall sit the whole night,
Telling thee, love, thou art my only delight.

Cheek press'd to cheek, there in sweet ecstasy we,
Falling asleep under the old locust-tree,
Smiling in dream, seem in a heaven to live,
For such a night who his whole life would not give?

translated by Leon Levitchi and Petre Grimm

Maria Tanase - the Romanian Heart

2009-07-28T12:42:00.008+03:00

If anyone would like to know the Romanian spirit it is enough to listen to songs by Maria Tanase like "Lume, lume" / "People, people" or "Ciuleandra".

Maria Tanase lived during a time when the spirit was most alive and creative and she was the real authentic voice of a whole nation, representing the Romanian art in New York at the beginning of the 20th century for many times.

Paula - A Gorgeous Voice

2009-07-28T12:29:00.004+03:00

Paula Seling is a young Romanian artist who always sings live to share her brilliant voice with people, who writes her own songs and lyrics of extreme sensitivity and vibe and who is here to bring beauty into our lives. Her lyrics are often messages of responsibility and care for the others like "Tu nu vezi" - "You don't see"...
I can hardly wait for Paula's next song...

Romanian Cheese

2009-07-28T11:50:00.010+03:00

I am definitely a 'cheese girl' - I couldn't live without good cheese in its various forms. Benefiting from the ancient valleys, rivers and the Carpathian mountains, Romanian fresh cheese is exquisite.
It comes in several forms: cottage cheese - which every woman in the countryside has and makes with dedication and care; cas [kash] which is the pride of every shepherd and such a delight to all senses; urda [urda] which is very low-fat and every lady likes it because of its fine delicacy and special taste; burduf [bu:rduf] cheese which is a special type of cheese placed in sheep stomach skin to keep natural fat properties; telemea [telemea] cheese which is for people who like fresh salty cheese; cascaval [kashkaval] which is close to the typical French cheese but much fresher...
In Romania, there are several regions famous for their cheeses, e.g. Bucovina or Marginimea Sibiului...So, do take the opportunity and try all the types of cheese that come from eastern Europe as its an unforgettable treat...

Up, Up and Upper...

2009-07-27T22:31:00.009+03:00

It was such a joy to see this animation movie from Disney called "UP" - on Monday at around noon I was sharing a high-tech cinema room with a dad and his little son who couldn't read the subtitles to see the movie...not just the kid loved it but also we, the adults, simply because this is just so much better than an animation backed up by expensive advertising campaigns and the reason for this is that "Up" has an original story to tell... I'm sure people will discover the beauty of this story about dreams, adventure, authentic living, kids and elderly people in time, like the good going above the bad. It is surely an educational movie and such a nice opportunity to spend some high quality time with your child and laugh and get on edge together, like the guys in my cinema room... Brilliant!

Ivatherm - Benefits from Romanian Thermal Waters

2009-07-27T19:44:00.010+03:00

Ivatherm is a young Romanian cosmetics company using French technology and thermal water from Herculane - an ancient spa built and used by the Romans and left as legacy until modern times.
I particularly like Ivatherm for its ethical management and care to high quality. If you feel overwhelmed by big brand manipulation and want to cut off the brand-price, you can try something more natural and alive...

Carturesti "Book Village"

2009-07-02T14:31:00.020+03:00

Open at the very beginning of the new millennium in Bucharest in a 19th century traditional house, Carturesti has become more than just a chain bookstore - it is a miraculous cultural space where we can enjoy the benefits of leisure, high-quality taste - of books, audio and visual materials and tea - and the personalized creative style which is simply enchanting.
Nicoleta Dumitru and Serban Radu (at 30 years of age) are part of the young Romanian generation who had the courage to innovate and re-think the social context around them and, with a lot of passion and faith in clear concepts, they managed to build a company worth 20 million euros at present. According to the owners, "Carturesti" is "a high-standard cultural platform" which was not cut out for high profits. This cultural product is an 'in-house' project and the staff consists of art lovers who eventually turned into shop assistants, Art students and newly-graduates who let their fresh creativity become reality and even Romanian writers and scholars who even donated their favourite chairs when there wasn't enough at the beginning.
Carturesti proves to be a highly creative undertaking where young energies come together and inspire everyone. What drives people to this space? There's only one way to find out by simply visiting their site...

Until 15 July, if you are in New York, you can check out the temporary Carturesti Cafe Society on 38th Street and Third Avenue, as part of the Romanian Cultural Institute New York, according to this article in The New York Times.

The Honey...

2009-06-27T20:17:00.010+03:00

Every time I go abroad, the second thing I really miss is the Romanian honey to go with the herbal tea. If the family beekeeper is out of town, then the best choice is Pastoral Georgescu - 100% natural honey, with a long tradition behind.
There are many benefits that both herbal teas and organic honey can provide us with, especially when they come from blessed natural resources like the Carpathian ones...

'Fares' - Miraculous Organic Herbal Teas

2009-06-27T19:03:00.015+03:00

Every time I go abroad, one thing that I really miss is the cup of Fares tea in the morning.
Founded in 1929 by Vienna-educated pharmacist Andrei Farago, but dating as far back as the Middle Ages and the ancient Dacians, this small center of labs base their research and work in a fine combination of tradition and innovation.
Having been awarded by kings and high profile scientists so far, they simply gather the blessings that nature has been giving in a miraculous area of the Carpathians...We have the privilege to enjoy the beauty and abundance of nature in this part of the world!

'The Happiest Girl in the World' - Underneath that Silence...

2009-06-27T18:17:00.013+03:00

The film titled "Cea mai fericita fata din lume" / "The Happiest Girl in the World", directed by Radu Jude and receiving the CICAE award at the Berlin Film Festival this year marks the debut of a young director with great potential.
Shot at 'ground 0' in Bucharest, this is a film about a so-called 'ordinary' life - with the due tragedy beyond the boredom and apparent nothing-ness. It's a film about modern constraints and brutality in the middle of which innocence gets squeezed...I'm looking forward to Radu Jude's next film!

'Slumdog Millionaire' - Redefining 'Poverty'

2009-06-27T12:02:00.012+03:00

Who hasn't seen "Slumdog Millionaire" yet? I'm sure millions of you have already done so... Indeed, the director Danny Boyle has hit the jack pot of originality with young passionate actors and their fresh, genuine and natural characters.
I particularly admire the energy that comes out of this group of actors who act their lives out in an inspirational game of fiction-reality...
This movie proves also that cultural stereotypes we so easily attribute need doing away with - India is a massive space of colourful, even if conflicting, energy and spirit that we can all learn from...

'Sour-Sweet' / 'Dulce-Acrisor': The Best Chocolate in Town

2009-06-26T18:08:00.015+03:00

If you are eager to taste irresistible Romanian sweets - be it chocolate, cookies, crackers, cakes for different occasions or ice cream - my best advice is to try "Dulce Acrisor" in Bacau.
This is a place I go to with great pleasure to try out 100% natural in-house recipe products that are a delight not only for your eyes but most importantly for your taste and that always leave your mouth watery and wanting more (!)
Dulce Acrisor works as a chocolate lab where creativity meets dedication and true passion...

Dan Puric: "On the Beautiful Human"

2009-05-02T14:24:00.019+03:00

Mr. Dan Puric, currently the best-selling writer in Romania, has recently published his second book, inspirationally titled "Despre omul frumos" / "On the Beautiful Human", collecting and sharing pieces of life essence.
By trying to piece together the past and map out the future of a European culture, Mr. Puric addresses, through ART and the power of the WORD, the entire world, in fact.
This is the book on the courage to be free, on fear fight, on essential memories that define us as human beings, on hope and on FAITH, no matter the religious support beneath it.

Apart from his original style in his previous book, Mr. Puric develops his writing further through beautiful fiction fragments that contain, in a nutshell, the same spiritual essence. What enchanting moments to read these parables: "The Land", "The River Rock", "The Cockle-Wheat", "What a Cursed Prince-Charming" or "The Carpathians Fairy-Tale"...

Aurora Simionescu Discovers a Piece of Our Universe

2009-04-24T21:29:00.007+03:00

Ms Aurora Simionescu, a PhD student and NASA scholar, together with a team of astrophysicists, has revealed and studied a gas bridge that connects two clusters of galaxies in the known cosmic matter, as opposed to the dark one. She continues her studies and research as an international astrophysicist and has yet more to reveal to the world.

Rukmini Callimachi: Pulitzer Finalist 2009

2009-04-24T17:21:00.013+03:00

Ms. Rukmini Callimachi was among the Finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting "for her in-depth investigation of the exploitation of impoverished children in West and Central Africa".
Working at first as a freelancer, she made her mark in international journalism writing articles for "Time" Magazine, "Daily Herald” Chicago and now for Associated Press.

Rukmini left Romania during the communist regime with her mother, father and grandmother, for Switzerland and then the United States where she got a degree in English. Her first name shows her grandparents' love of Indian culture, while her family name goes back centuries deep into the Romanian history. She is a direct descendant of one of the oldest Romanian families (Moldavian Phanariotes).

During the Resurrection night she went to St Pantelimon Church to take holy light and then she went home to eat traditional food.

Ioana Barsan: Dior Manager

2009-04-24T16:32:00.003+03:00

Ms. Ioana Barsan is Christian Dior Top Manager for Northern Italy and is a young woman with a lot of charm, determination to overcome life difficulties and also a passionate professional.
In love with Dior since her childhood, she turned her affective memory into a life profession: "I grew up with a very stylish grandfather and father who used Dior perfumes. I remember that gentleman smell, fresh and strong - a smell that has stayed with me." Her first salary that she earned at 18 in Brasov, her native city, was spent on a Dior perfume...In Italy, after just 8 months she became in charge with the biggest perfume store in Italy.

Ms. Ioana Barsan has also great plans to encourage women to educate their style and tastes and there simply seems to be no better height-of-fashion adviser!

"One Man Show" International Festival in Bacau

2009-04-20T19:24:00.008+03:00

Mid-April coincided this year with the 4th edition of "One Man Show" which drove eclectic energies onto one stage in a clear and neat manner. Great performances by master artists like Razvan Mazilu and his contemp dance style (have you seen him dance traditional music or Richard III yet?) along with big names in Romanian theatre industry, like Mrs. Tamara Buciuceanu Botez, whose humane warmth and vitality I personally miss in postmodern actors.
Also, international artists revealed their creative energies, like Mr. Kazama Morio and his fascinating "KaraokeMan".
The festival is a beautiful event every year, whose management is getting better.

"The Reader": " How far would you go to protect a secret?"

2009-03-22T00:00:00.011+02:00

This is the question raised by "The Reader", directed by Stephen Daldry and with the excellent performance by Kate Winslet - an enchanting film about feeling and justice. Yet again we can see, in fact, the impossibility of doing justice in a 'complicated' history and how the less guilty take the responsibility of carrying the burden of the others...

When I left the movie theatre I felt the subject drifted the focus away and, at the same time, I could not forget the image that struck me most which was an image taken in Auschwitz: the thousands of worn out shoes piling up forming walls of shame and death.

"The Meaning of Life" - Andrei Plesu

2009-03-15T16:57:00.014+02:00

Mr. Andrei Plesu published an article in Dilema Vechemagazine about the meaning of life. It's never too late to ask ourselves: What's the meaning of my life?

1. "Life tends to have meaning as soon as you ask yourself about its meaning", but without making it the content of our lives;

2. "There is no collective life meaning"; otherwise, we would all go, "in flocks towards a common meaning, without mystery and without face";

3. "The meaning must be found, not manufactured"; we should not mix up the two: meaning and program. A life program is based on objectives (like getting on top in our profession, doing one's duty for the community, etc) but the accomplishment of these leave the meaning of life unsolved, or they might dramatically intensify it;

Have you found your own personal life meaning?

"How about JUST a million?" David Heinemeier Hansson on Startups

2009-03-15T16:05:00.009+02:00

My top-talent-IT-specialist sister-in-law sent me a link with David Heinemeier Hansson from Ruby on Rails, talking about how to tackle online business. In a time when we are concerned about how to make much more money and profit, David HH's speech is interesting for each one of us for his simply good-sense ideas:

1. the theory "get a billion or die trying" is fundamentally wrong - why should we waste our lives under this pressure when profit can come more naturally?

2. think more about small problems that people have around you - thousands of people may have the same problem worldwide

3. spend less but more productive time at work - no need to work 12+ hours a day

4. online business is not movie industry - the online field is generous and open to many winners

5. "call your own shots and run at your own pace" - what can be more motivating?

6. the simplest ideas run with professionalism bring you happiness and profit

7. Enjoy "Fortune 5,000,000" - be happy to be part of the low end where people provide solutions to many other people who pay little contributions rather than one huge organization that pays a huge sum of money - why carry the pressure?

Confrunting the Past and...the Future

2009-03-08T20:10:00.011+02:00

Ana Blandiana - poet and dissident during the communist regime - and Romulus Rusan, writer and founder of the Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of Resistance in Sighet came to Bacau on Feb 6th to talk about the past, present and future.

Ana Blandiana and Mr. Rusan enchanted the youngsters who did not miss the opportunity to talk and thus confront our very disturbing past in order to understand the invisible threads that wove our history and culture and, more tellingly, understand where we are all heading to... A real essential life lesson!

Speaking in the Name of All...Or Not?

2009-02-27T21:47:00.020+02:00

The New York Times published an article on Romania on the 26th of Feb titled "Romania Shrugs Off Reminder of Its Past", by Michael Kimmelman.

After reading the article I had one puzzling question: how can anyone look down on a whole nation and squeeze it into simplistic views with such an ease?

"In straitened times it’s easy to mistake cost for value. You might also say it’s the difference between cash and culture, the price of something and what’s ultimately priceless. Romanians, it seems, have been prone to confuse the two."
Does he really mean all Romanians? Can anyone take such huge responsibility and actually state that - speaking in the name of all Romanians? What right does he have? Who does he think he is, adopting a patronizing tone and looking down on all Romanians?!
Yes, there are problems - but the truth is never simple and can never be generalized (especially in this part of the world, I'd say).

"But the ho-hum response here speaks volumes about this struggling country’s cash-versus-culture climate. With most barely scraping by, Romanians admire private enterprise more than they value some vague notion of shared artistic heritage."
I am surprised again to see how easy it is for Mr. Kimmelman to simplify things, without any touch of doubt (!)
The author of the article quotes further some opinions that support his too-generalized conclusions (you can always find anyone to state anything).

“Romanians sympathize with Valentin [Ceausescu] because he worked the system to his advantage. [no public survey has been carried out in this respect anyway so it can't be said for certain in the name of all Romanians] Our idea of culture now is making money. We still have too many basic needs to worry about elevated ones like art and the state.(Cristian Stanescu)"
This is a personal belief, to be sure. We do not live in simplified artificial worlds in this global society any more and if we think a little deeper we realize our lives are so complex, maybe too complex sometimes, that Maslow's pyramid of needs is such an old thing of the past. We simply cannot live without touching on the whole spectrum of needs - from very basic to very complex - here, in Romania, as well as in the American society and in many other parts of the world...I wish the author of this article had had more respect for a different culture than his.

I believe that articles like these are dangerous and detrimental to effective communication between cultures and deter the real authenticity of understanding - such a pity because we live such hard times - together, all in a boat - when mutual cultural understanding is essential...

"Revolutionary Road" - Getting Out of the 'Hopeless Emptiness'

2009-02-20T22:49:00.008+02:00

"Revolutionary Road" - directed by Sam Mendes and with the script by Justin Haythe is definitely worth your time. The film cuts deep into the artificiality in the society, trying to be a wake-up call for our souls who never stopped longing for the real life...Is there any escape when we find ourselves in "hopeless emptiness"? As one character says, many of us realize it's empty but only a very few that it's hopeless.

Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio perform wonderfully and Mr. Mendes proves his worth once again, after the fascinating "American Beauty". I simply loved the way in which he experimented with silences and light and shadows, and also with movements of large masses of bodies, as opposed to individual ones - great artistic effects - so very human in getting across tense emotions...

"Nihil Sine Deo" - The Meaning of TO BE

2009-02-08T19:57:00.025+02:00

"Nimic fara Dumnezeu" / "Nothing Without God" is a wonderful interview with His Majesty King Mihai and Her Majesty Queen Ana of Romania, done by Ms. Cristina Topescu, "with her heart", as she confesses.

The viewer is presented the real life story of a King and his country, tormented by conflict, war, falsification of historical events in the minutest details, but eventually, even if not completely, vindicated by the people he has always loved so much.

Forced into exile in 1947 by the soviet communists and blackmailed with the death of 1,000 youngsters in case of opposition, HM King Mihai comes back home, after 45 years, in 1992, overwhelmingly welcomed by his people. He now lives a quiet life at his Palace, with his close family.

During the interview, he remembers the time of the World War II which coincided with his young adulthood and the tough decisions he had to make in the name of just democracy (a real historical and life lesson), the dramatic moment when Romania, a 'small' country in east Europe, like many others, was simply abandoned by the 'big' countries - the UK and USA, despite the fact that Romania was among the 'winners' of the war...

All these things must be said and known because, as he says, "you can forgive, but you must not forget because if you forget what happened, you never learn."

HM Queen Ana is the very symbol of wisdom, patience, just humbleness, kindness and devotion. With great strength of character, she says about their status as royalty in a small European country: "We have lived two lives, remember. We can mix with our cousins who have royal duties and we also have duties as simple people; we've got a fence between but we can jump over." What must it feel like to live in-between? Most probably great strength and faith.

One very important issue that HM King Mihai raises is the necessity for the European Union to define its position in terms of religion. He asks EU leaders to define our religion principle and include it among constitutional rights - essential, to me, in our post-modern global society.

Asked what she plans to do now for Romania, HM Queen Ana simply and deeply says: "To be." - how important and vital, not only for their people but also for the whole world, as an example of normal and just living...

"The Tale of Despereaux" - Helping to educate our children

2009-02-08T14:53:00.007+02:00

In a world where authentic values are so difficult to teach and instill, movies like "The Tale of Despereaux" prove to be real companions in our mission as parents.

I simply loved how the 'out of the box' character appealingly presented the idea of fight against fear and honorable attitude towards events in our life.

Many kids can ask their parents so many essential questions after seeing this cartoon movie: What is justice? What is honor? What is truth? What is fear and how to fight it? What is control and who wants to control us and how? - The question is - are we ready, as parents to give them the right answers?

In a country which suffered from a totalitarian regime for several decades, this movie proves to be an interesting starting point for the discussion of fear and its paralysis effect on communities. I only wish it had been better marketed so that more kids and parents could come to the cinema.

Australia: Exploring Your Own Self

2009-02-01T20:54:00.022+02:00

Australia - directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Brandon Walters - is, to be sure, a movie not to be missed. I simply loved the representative images of Australia. Who can resist them? ... The film wonderfully captures the spirit of the place - with its deep magic, racial and historic drama, spectacular scenery, all wrapped up in a beautiful story on family, love, inter-culture, faith...

My mom and I were impressed and enchanted all the same. The colours, the music, the real-life drama are simply spectacular!

Australia is, indeed, a magical place - very well marketed by the movie team in a very convincing way.

What does it mean "to drive"? Who is "a drover"? What is the limit between local culture and 'civilisation'? How does the native land revolte against all artificiality and human selfishness? Answers to all these questions, and more, are explored in a quest for doing justice to the Aborigines and understanding human interactivity from a more profound view.

In fact, all these questions transcend locality and refer further to us all, irrespective of the place we live in...For 2 hours and 40 min, this is a gripping experience that no one can regret. A really great project!

Stelian Tanase: Nobility and Professionalism

2009-01-31T23:52:00.016+02:00

It was such a great pleasure to attend the meeting between Mr. Stelian Tanase - writer (his latest book titled "Maestro"), researcher, professor, political analyst, journalist and TV producer - and the journalism students at the University of Bacau on the 22nd Jan. The pleasure came simply out of the honestly open communication atmosphere. With great personal charm and supportive attitude towards the youngsters in their 20's in front, Mr Tanase shared his ideas about television as "show lacking substance" but also as a means that teaches and measures efficiency fairly, about the empowering profession of a journalist - as opposed to that of a "newspaper clerk" - and the crucial importance of being personal and creative, irrespective of the external commands, and also about the way in which we can build credibility in a mixed (-up) society. He defined the press as "the active zone of the society", where people can exercise their will to know.

This meeting was also useful for all professionals as Mr. Stelian Tanase brilliantly pinpointed the importance of keeping the required distance in one's profession - outside and within - so difficult to do, indeed.

Mr. Tanase is one of the many local intellectuals drawn to the USA but one of the few ones who decided to come back. Why? Maybe because he is more useful here, in an existential way, maybe because he could soon be, as one of his characters, the one who can take responsibility and have the authoritative attitude for a question like this: "Mr. Prime Minister, why don't you step down?"
Mr Tanase is the best researcher that I know of - fully dedicated to revealing the meaning of truth.

I have also been impressed by Mr Tanase as being an interlocutor who offers you the great vast space of dialogue. He is not a speaker who crushes and enforces, but an interlocutor who knows how to add to the creation and development of authentic dialog - a true free spirit!

Mr. Barack Obama's Speech

2009-01-22T20:42:00.006+02:00

Mr. Barack Obama's speech on 20th Jan. in Washington DC marks the voice of leadership - not only of the USA, but the voice of all leaders of countries as they should be.
We are still expecting Obama here. Do you have him?

Florin Chilian: Living Music...

2009-01-18T21:22:00.016+02:00

The most beautiful song I have listened to in the last 20 years is Florin Chilian's "Zece" / "Ten" - simply divine, simply enjoyable.

Mr. Chilian's life story is special, indeed, for many reasons, which made him become the 'realistic cynic' he likes to consider himself.
But the reason I find most illuminating is that the musician took part in the Romanian revolution of '89 in Bucharest, being the participant and witness to the very change of history - with its bitterness, anguish and, maybe, hope, from inside - unlike the many of us, who were passive puppets in a manipulative show. The major distinctive difference between us and him is that he knows... This is a fragment from an eye-opening article written by Florin Chilian a while ago, titled "The fear of fear and the shame and the disgrace":

"I know it was December 21st and that I was beside Vali Sterian [singer and musician] at the Palace Hall. A woman was going down the stairs with a loaf of bread in her hands crying „Bread for Timisoara!”. I took the step in the street beside her. I don’t know what I reckoned with my 20-year-old mind but I know I reckoned and that I took responsibility for that step with all its consequences. Even now I believe that at the root of my gesture there was just selfishness. I knew the implications, I could see the rows of soldiers with their guns aimed at us and I could also see the cameras that were filming everything behind them. I cared for no one or nothing except for the thought that I could no longer look at myself in the mirror if I did not take that step, my look having crisscrossed the one of that woman who was shouting, breaking the bread in her hands. I have spoken about those cameras that recorded everything on December 21st, but nothing…They were the same then, just like now, responsible for the ‘editing’ of reality.

Another day in front of the TV building, also December 1989. I heard some heavy automatic gun shots, as if of TAB and a boy my age fell gunned down right beside my shoulder. Then it happened. I raced terrified down towards Dorobanti Square. I didn’t care about anything, I was no longer rational, I couldn’t think. Fear, terror and running away from there, that was all! I was nothing. An animal controlled by a terrifying fear. I couldn’t assume anything, I wasn’t thinking. Only fear controlled me, that was all! All the time I ran I knew I had to take him from them too, but I couldn’t stop running. Only a moment before that, we were both talking. I was not able to stop and I was fooling myself that he was dead anyway and that I couldn’t help him in any manner. 50, 100 meters that’s how long I ran to shelter myself. I began to ask people to come with me back to take that child from there. I came back and, helped by two people, we took that body from the TV building wall, asking someone with a pick-up Dacia to take him to hospital. A tall thin boy asked me what had happened. I looked at him and all of a sudden, all details of the previous days, since 21st , came back to my mind. I told him that everything is a farce, an arrangement, that nothing was true and that I was leaving home because I was very tired. Later, on the 17th January, I wrote a song, “Attack the Person” and it entered the Decalogue as the second commandment.

Strange is human mind, strange connotations does it find in everything. More than anything else I remember those tens of meters of fear, of running away and I become really, deeply ashamed. Maybe this is just another form of insanity that has to do with “artistry”, and, even if it were so, I know that I swore to myself then that I won’t let myself be afraid again. More terrifying than fear itself are the awareness of fear and the fear of being afraid because this makes you un-human, annihilating even the last trace of humanity inside you. That’s why I don’t keep my mouth shut, and not because I were some sort of hub of the universe or, worse, some sort of whacko who’s always about to start a fight, for nothing. That young man can no longer “fight” with anyone for the beliefs that had brought him there, next to the wall of TVR [Romanian Television]. I am terrified of fear. The fear of fear and then I’m ashamed, disgraced..." (Jurnalul National, online edition, 23.09.07)

What a life lesson, for those who know how to listen...
So, Mr. Chilian's artistic creativity comes from true living and not artificial word games. Simply inspiring!

"We've got a Life. What do we do with it?"

2009-01-04T18:08:00.008+02:00

Probably the best audiobook I have ever listened to is the delightful discussion between Mr. Horia Roman Patapievici and Mr. Andrei Plesu under the title Inapoi la argument / Back to the Argument - We have a life. What do we do with it?

This is a universal question, after all, for each of us, no matter the time, no matter the place, and finding answers to it represents the very basis of our existence. The two Romanian scholars try to help us in our own quest:

1. Stop and think: you need moments of self-reflection

2. Get out of roles: if you take too many roles, you'll miss your life

3. Start the day with something you like

4. Have little pleasures with a few friends (e.g. talking)

5. Have a good sense of humour: this will help you take distance from things

6. Think of death: it will help you make things relative

7. Find your own CENTRE: probably the most difficult to do. It can be an intellectual project, a person, a mission...

have you got a 'sunao' mind?

2008-12-28T20:02:00.012+02:00

The sunao mind is the free mind, ready to adapt to new situations and, despite the fact that it implies certain naivety, it primarily involves one's open heart and desire to be honest with yourself and others in terms of life values.
As my Japanese friend, Etsumi, explained it to me, " sunao na hito ( person ) is the person who has very pure heart, takes a thing as it is and accepts somebody's advice with good grace. However, sometimes we say too sunao is not good. Do you know what I mean? [...] I know Matsushita and he succeeded in his business with his good heart. Lots of people respect him not only as a success man but as a great heart man." (see more in "Matsushita Leadership" John P. Kotter, Free Press, 1997)