Cumpat (Ro)

To have cumpat means to have the essential element in your life. Coming either from the Latin computus (thinking) or compitum (crossroads), it develeoped in time concentrating multiple meanings: reflection, foreseeing, just judgement, self-control, spiritual balance.
What would we be without cumpat?

Rostire (Ro)

There are words that simply do not have equivalents in other languages - either because the meanings are multiple and another combination of letters in a different language did not reach the same level of sophistication, or the concept might be missing altogether from the second language.

Romanian language has a wealth of words that run deeper than the concrete level. One first example I particularly like is rostire (from Lat. rostrum, rostra - mouth) having multiple meanings: language, speech, discourse, order, arrangement, lifestyle, meaning, story, aim, purpose,justification, reason.

A rosti something means "two things at the same time: to utter a thing and to put another one in order." (C. Noica)

There is no doubt that a whole life philosophy can rest behind only five letters. Are there any other examples you might know in your own language?

Tudor Gheorghe: Poetry of the Spirit

Mr.Tudor Gheorghe is one of the musicians who sings about love and death, grief and sorrow, awe and exhilaration, picking up on the very essence of the culture expressed for centuries traditionally on these lands. His most memorable songs include "Toamna/ Autumn", "Primavara / Spring", "Au innebunit salcamii / The Acacia Trees Have Gone Mad" - such a joy for the ear and heart!

"Song About Bucovina", by Grigore Lese: Song about Togetherness

For many times we might wonder what holds nations and people together. The answers are so difficult to find but I think it all comes down to the local Spirit. "Cantec despre Bucovina"/"Song About Bucovina", by Grigore Lese is a song which comes out of the spirit of a place - a holy one for so many - Bucovina, in northern Romania.
Mr. Lese is one of the authentic musicians who revives old traditional music by preserving it in its original forms... simply magical!

Frankfurt Book Fair 2008: What Global Postmodernist Communication Means.

This year's edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair, held from 15th to 19th October, meant - for me - a complex demonstration of the global power of communication. Never have I seen a more elaborate display of forces in terms of publications and publishers, new idea trials, representatives of various cultures, etc. My friends and I took part on the 18th which coincided with the largest number of visitors in the history of the fair.
What struck me most, apart from the huge areas designed to cover all suppliers, was the great energy of the eagerness to clinch new deals and share successful stories of various products. I particularly appreciated the Educational Publishing Pavilion and AAEP and the international publisher's hall. One day did not seem enough to cover everything and we came back from a truly post-modernist 'zone' while our face skins still felt dehydratedly imprinted.

"Trees Without Forest", by Tatiana Stepa: Quintessential Contempopary Emotions

"Copaci fara padure/ Trees Without Forest", by Tatiana Stepa is a token of folk music which is timeless and space-less...

Romanian Rhapsody, by George Enescu: The Story of a Nation

Romanian Rhapsody (1901) is the story of the past, present and future of a whole nation situated at the crossroads of big European empires, which with a lot of faith managed to survive the greatest of the tragedies along the centuries and has contributed with Christian humbleness to the creation of the world.

The performance at the Classical Music Concert Hall (Filarmonica Mihail Jora) in Bacau on 10th October, led brilliantly by the renowned conductor Ovidiu Balan, left the audience breathless and in awe at the miraculous discovery and encounter with multiple cultural truths - an eye opening experience!