What give me Moldova?

Moldova give me a great time

- because of the people I meet there, the all group of participants from Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Denmark, Moldova, and that I’m very happy that I meet them

- because of the interesting and smart discussion on thousands of topics that I had with the those great people

- because was a pleasure to be their trainer, to work with them and to challenge them with my activities.

- Because give me time to think about me

Moldova give me a hard time

- because I hade to work with people that have complete different values then I have

- because I didn’t have a bigger decision power on what happened with the group

- because I was misunderstood way before some persons even got in contact with me first time!

Moldova - Republic Moldova

over there is Transnistria (on the other side of the river)

Republic Moldova….for those who don’t know, was part of Romania for many years until Russia decided that she want this part of the world for her…(after the second world war)…yeah, who ware we to fight against this decision?

After Soviet Union broke up ware many rumors that we going back together as old time because we are brothers and we always be!!!

Well, this didn’t happened, and the “rumors” ware more in their part then in ours. Because of this “rumors” the self created region (inside Moldova) was birth : Transnistria …..because they didn’t want to be back again with Romania, basically because they are more Russian then Romanians (inside of them- metaphorically speaking).

After more then 15 years, this re-union didn't happened and is probably no chance to happen, so the fear of those who created that region didn’t came true BUT they still exist , even if they are supported just by Russia. Strange isn’t ? the reason you do something doesn’t exist and you are still doing it??? (similar with some manipulation process I might say).

I never was in Moldova until 2 weeks ago…the impression I grow up with was that this brother love is more from there to us, then from us to them; we often made teasing jokes about them and not being so empathetically with their situation and looking back at them as being with several steps behind. This is the image is created by the environment we grow up.

I was curios to see what I discover there…

I didn’t have to many expectations but still I was surprised. I didn’t felt at all like in brother country, or between people that are the same like Romanians…because they are not – being 50 years in URSS made the difference. I hear more Russian then Romanian on the street, I talk with the people on the street and they answer in Russian, everywhere (shops, bars, products) you can see written in Romanian and Russian and sometimes just Russian (not just Romanian).

Russian language is not an official language.

Russian minority is not more 10% (but to this we add the Ukrainians and other minorities from former URSS)…..they have problems with learning Romanian,

many of them don’t even speak Romanian.

All the Romanian speakers speak fluently Russian. They call this, that they are smarter and they are able to learn and speak 2 languages ….but I’m not sure you can simplify like that.

Young people seem that express themselfs better in Russian than Romanian.

Yeah , many aspects are still similar, but the general feeling and impression was that I’m not in that Moldova that was often presented around me, the same like Romania.

But, this brotherhood exist more from historical, nostalgically reasons BUT from my small experience I think is a low level and I didn’t felt it , and dint saw it in the people.

24= 3.02.2008

Yes is me, in both pictures :) celebrating many things (included my day :)

First time in Ptuj (Slovenia) and first time when my birthday was in other part of the world (maybe I will get used with it :)

What happened there? Well, some magic stuff :) …yes, some exciting and interesting things…related with the local tradition of that city.

More concretely Kurentovanje 2008 !

Why I went there? Because I have very close to my heart a person who is closely attach to this Carnival and to this tradition and attracted me in also :)

Was extremely interesting to be part of it…the people warring masks everyday, creating a magic atmosphere in all the city….in this way they can be crazier then they really are, they can release all the things that in they normal day will not do…and so on. This time of the year represents fun but also a way to “heal”, to balance emotions, anger and impulsions. Yeah is great to have something like this even if maybe not all of the people realize all the good effects on their on life :)

I was part of it and in a way also an observer ….and even if in this year was short and rush I still had the chance to experience it in a proper way and I’m very glad because of that.

As a surprise I was also part of the main parade as the picture shows, putting in practice my “basics” street animation skills in front of more 20.000 people. I might say a good exercise for what I plan to do in the future!

Thank you Anja again for offering this special time to me and my heart!

You don’t look Romanian!!!

"Where are you from? …… Really? “

I believe this is one of the most common things I hear when I'm traveling...and after so many comments regarding this issue is not surprising anymore :)

In fact what I still wonder is HOW a Romanian suppose to look and at this question I never received clear answers at all.

But in change seems that is obvious that I look as German, English, Hungarian, Russian, Nordic, Scandinavian, ...maybe unbelievable but I also look as a Turkish from the Black See Region so called LAZ ....and the list can continue….and not Romanian! (aaa and not to forget many of the people that says that they never ware in Romania)

Funnier then that is that inside my own country I’m tacked as from any other country except Romania! I mean come on: to hear people wondering around me from what country I will be, to be asked if I speak English (yes I do but we can try in Romanian also :) , or if I want to buy something the sale person starts with Hello…so nice of them!

Ok…the color of skin, my hair stile, my eyes ….BUT still is just because of that?

Lets put it like that: is more a matter of how do I look or of my attitude?

(my own answer I hope is obvious :)