Some weeks ago I have met a very good friend, Nelu Pantiru, from Germany (he lives there from 198…8 or…9; he left Romania BEFORE December, 1989 , to be together with the family of his wife, Hermine ). I haven’t seen Nelu from 1970 (when we graduated an important high school in Barlad, “Gheorghe Rosca Codreanu”). I write this report into English to be understood by Linda (she is from Chicago) and Mary (she is from Cincinnati), too. I could name this report…”After 40 Years…” (because I didn’t seen Nelu till we graduated!). I could write a real novel about our life histories: mine (English teacher, journalist, poet so on), his (a fantastic story about his life…but this could be another report because it’s another story).
Nelu and Hermine have come in Romania to spend a summer vacation after 20 years. They have discovered “Bucharest Music Film Festival” in downtown, in “George Enescu” Square; we have spent there one evening, together with my friends Ileana and Bogdan. After that Nelu and Hermine have left to Barlad, the city of our youth…
After Nelu’s departure to Barlad, I have come again in “George Enescu” Square, to that festival and I have discovered two American women, Linda and Mary; they were very happy to discover me and my… American Press Pass – N.A.R.P.A. Press Pass /North American Romanian Press Association from Chicago is the professional association of journalists from CANADA and the U.S.A./. They have offered to me a short statement to tell me they have come in Romania as volunteers, they have worked two weeks into a children hospital from…Barlad !
As they have discovered Romania and Romanian people, they have been very happy to tell me about their trip in Romania /they have visited Bran, too…”Bran” seems to be a…”Dracula Mecca” for a lot of foreign people!
Linda has taken a photo (me and Mary, Mary showing N.A.R.P.A. Press Pass!).
So… Linda and Mary, have a good time and don’t forget to come back in Romania because you have discovered Romania and Romanian people. “The Atlantic Ocean” doesn’t exist as a gap between two continents; it could be “a bridge between two continents”…as “Clubul presei transatlantice” /”the Transatlantic Press Club”/ is a communication bridge between two continents !
I have told to Linda that I’d write this report into English to be understood by them. I add that photo (me and Mary) made by Linda in Bucharest, downtown, in “George Enescu” Square and I’d like to dedicate this report to their work as volunteers in Romania and to all the American friends because the 4 of July means…CONGRATULATIONS for you, for your National Day, dear American friends !
