The most important event of my young days was the fall of Ceausescu's dictatorship. I was 14 when he was shot by the new Romanian leaders. Feeling free of oppression and being a close spectator of a Revolution is amazing even for a child. |
Continued... |
1989 |
1990 |
From 1990 to 1992 I was immersed in the most amazing political transformation. Romanians were allowed to vote freely for the first time, but they were very confused after five decades of dictatorship. They elected former communists that my family and I detested. We took to the streets joined the protesters in Piata (Square) Universitatii, and spent many days and nights listening to some of Romania's famous intellectuals and artists. The protest helped christallize the nucleus of the country's civil society. I am so proud to have been part of that. MAI BINE GOLAN DECIT ACTIVIST MAI BINE MORT DECIT COMUNIST! (Better dead than Red) |
Tudor |
Timeline |
While all of the was going on, I was studying to get into one of Bucharest's finest highschools, Colegiul National Sfantul Sava. I got in the first class of "humanities" students, with the second best score of all the candidates: 9.42/10. Flaunt it!! (This pic is really another Bucharest HS). |
Life was not too bad in Romania; we spent winters at the mountains and summers at the sea, and believe me, we had such a blast. My parents built a summer house close to the city, and we would escape the heat by going there and sitting by the pool or playing table tennis. Those were the days! |
While politically oppressive, Romania had a vibrant cultural life. The theatre, opera and symphony were really important for me, and my parents took me to countless shows. Because all culture was state sponsored, tickets ran from $0.05 to half a buck. Can you believe that? |
My parents tried my talents in every immaginable sport, but I disappointed them over and over again. I guess I liked ski the best and swimming, but I never enjoyed gymnastics, and failed to become the next Nadia Comaneci. We would always watch the gymnastics championships and pray for "our" girls. |
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