Here is a link to Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, and last night's Thanksgiving party!
 |
| Daniel, Iulia, Alexandru, Titiana, and Natalie |
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving! De ce nu te place curcan?
Once again, in New Hampshire, "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing... ."
(Please click the link above to read about this year's Thanksgiving feast day.)
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Romanians Graduate as MBAs
Here is a link to some news on the continuing effect of my Fulbright Year in Romania!
Link: Two Romanians Graduate as MBAs at Plymouth State
Sunday, April 21, 2013
The Follow-on Blog Site
 |
| Biserica Noua, Bucea, Comuna Negreni, Judeţ Cluj. |
Dear readers at Fulbright-Romania,
I have continued the stories of my later, equally wonderful times in Romania, as well as a number of other adventures, in a follow-on blog called Da Da Da Da Life Goes On*. If the stories told here have had interest for you, please feel free to visit me there, and to leave comments!
Thank you,
Duncan McDougall,
Fulbrighter of 2008-2009
Friday, February 15, 2013
Fiftieth Year of Fulbright-Romania
[Written in June of 2010, for some reason this post has remained unpublished until discovered this week.]
In June of 2010 I was honored to be asked to represent, along with David Banville, the recent set of American Fulbrighters to have spent time here in Romania. I shall try to describe simply what the experience has meant to me.
First, Fulbright Romania was the cause of the last enthusiastic words of approval that I received from my father, Dugald (Mac) McDougall. I was visiting Mac in his Florida home in June of 2007, as at age 91 he was preparing himself for his imminent death. When I mentioned the Fulbright project to my Dad, he said, "Romania! Oh my God, son, isn't that wonderful?"
So for me the Fulbright began as a blessed experience, and so it has remained.
I knew only a little about this country before coming here: only that it had been through great hardships under Communism, and that it was known still as among Europe's poorer nations, economically, but that it had recently entered the European Union. I also knew that my Plymouth State University and Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai had a cooperative agreement, and that a few of my colleagues had been to Cluj, and described it as a beautiful city.
Beyond that, I knew I had a lot to learn. What has since transpired has led to a transformation in my self-image, as much as to an increase in my understanding of Romania.
I discovered in Romania that my style of teaching was appreciated, even though unconventional in its pedagogy of case study and class discussions, rather than theory and lectures. I learned that the UBB Englishline students were well-taught and broadly exposed to classic literature, to ancient history, and more mathematically competent than most of my American students. I relearned the art of walking. I walked and walked, and suffered painfully as a result from arthritis and from plantar faciitis, but endured to walk still more. I toured in my car, Klaus, from the Prut River Valley to Calafat on the Danube, from Satu Mare to Constanţa. and from Oradea to Iaşi. I saw Romania's beauty, its diversity, and observed its rapid modernization.
I contacted my wife and our four grown children, and urged them to come to see Romania before the modernization had gone too far, for the charm of Old Europe is alive and well in this country, and one of Romania's greatest opportunities and challenges will be to grow economically without losing that charm. Shirl spent March, 2009, with me in Cluj, and three of our four children were able to come for a nine-day visit in April of that year.
Fulbright has given me an opportunity to meet many Romanians on both personal and professional levels. I treasure the friendships I have now with my former students and with my colleagues, as well as with the staff here at Fulbright Romania.
The Fulbright experience has given my life new interest, and provided a new purpose that I do not yet fully understand. But, without a Fulbright grant, and in spite of the recent national salary cuts for faculty, I will again be teaching in Cluj in October of 2010. So, the effects of my Fulbright year are ongoing.
How has the Fulbright experience changed my life? In the words of an old Bob Dylan song, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."
Thank you, Dorina, Mihai, Corina, Anca, Loredana, and all the rest of you who, through your embodiment of the Fulbright spirit and loyal support of its mission have made this program possible.
In June of 2010 I was honored to be asked to represent, along with David Banville, the recent set of American Fulbrighters to have spent time here in Romania. I shall try to describe simply what the experience has meant to me.
First, Fulbright Romania was the cause of the last enthusiastic words of approval that I received from my father, Dugald (Mac) McDougall. I was visiting Mac in his Florida home in June of 2007, as at age 91 he was preparing himself for his imminent death. When I mentioned the Fulbright project to my Dad, he said, "Romania! Oh my God, son, isn't that wonderful?"
So for me the Fulbright began as a blessed experience, and so it has remained.
I knew only a little about this country before coming here: only that it had been through great hardships under Communism, and that it was known still as among Europe's poorer nations, economically, but that it had recently entered the European Union. I also knew that my Plymouth State University and Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai had a cooperative agreement, and that a few of my colleagues had been to Cluj, and described it as a beautiful city.
Beyond that, I knew I had a lot to learn. What has since transpired has led to a transformation in my self-image, as much as to an increase in my understanding of Romania.
I discovered in Romania that my style of teaching was appreciated, even though unconventional in its pedagogy of case study and class discussions, rather than theory and lectures. I learned that the UBB Englishline students were well-taught and broadly exposed to classic literature, to ancient history, and more mathematically competent than most of my American students. I relearned the art of walking. I walked and walked, and suffered painfully as a result from arthritis and from plantar faciitis, but endured to walk still more. I toured in my car, Klaus, from the Prut River Valley to Calafat on the Danube, from Satu Mare to Constanţa. and from Oradea to Iaşi. I saw Romania's beauty, its diversity, and observed its rapid modernization.
I contacted my wife and our four grown children, and urged them to come to see Romania before the modernization had gone too far, for the charm of Old Europe is alive and well in this country, and one of Romania's greatest opportunities and challenges will be to grow economically without losing that charm. Shirl spent March, 2009, with me in Cluj, and three of our four children were able to come for a nine-day visit in April of that year.
Fulbright has given me an opportunity to meet many Romanians on both personal and professional levels. I treasure the friendships I have now with my former students and with my colleagues, as well as with the staff here at Fulbright Romania.
The Fulbright experience has given my life new interest, and provided a new purpose that I do not yet fully understand. But, without a Fulbright grant, and in spite of the recent national salary cuts for faculty, I will again be teaching in Cluj in October of 2010. So, the effects of my Fulbright year are ongoing.
How has the Fulbright experience changed my life? In the words of an old Bob Dylan song, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."
Thank you, Dorina, Mihai, Corina, Anca, Loredana, and all the rest of you who, through your embodiment of the Fulbright spirit and loyal support of its mission have made this program possible.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The Rest of the Story
Dear Fulbright friends and curious browsers,
Please have fun browsing this blog, and if you wish to read about life after Fulbright, you will be welcome at my current blog, "Da Da Da Da Life Goes On."
Noroc şi sănătate!
Duncan
Please have fun browsing this blog, and if you wish to read about life after Fulbright, you will be welcome at my current blog, "Da Da Da Da Life Goes On."
Noroc şi sănătate!
Duncan
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Christmas Memories
Craciun Ferecit, Fulbrighters in Romania!
Please click the headings on the images below for links to stories that you may enjoy. They provide a glimpse of what you may soon experience.
Craciun ferecit, şi La Mulţi Ani!
Thanks and love to all at The Romanian Fulbright Commission.
Please click the headings on the images below for links to stories that you may enjoy. They provide a glimpse of what you may soon experience.
 |
| Family and food will fill the table for day after day. |
 |
| City Hall in Oradea, Christams Week, 2008 |
Craciun ferecit, şi La Mulţi Ani!
Thanks and love to all at The Romanian Fulbright Commission.
from Duncan and Shirley
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Once a Fulbrigter, Always a Fulbrighter
My first opportunity to share a Thanksgiving dinner with Romanians, and with a host of other visitors to Babeş-Bolyai University (UBB), came in Cluj, during my Fulbright year. But, as is often said, one never stops being a Fulbrighter.
This year we were at our home in Campton, New Hampshire, for Thanksgiviing, where Shirl and I were hosts to seven Romanian friends, including Monica Zaharie, Ph.D., my UBB colleague from my Fulbright year. Here is a photo essay.
This year we were at our home in Campton, New Hampshire, for Thanksgiviing, where Shirl and I were hosts to seven Romanian friends, including Monica Zaharie, Ph.D., my UBB colleague from my Fulbright year. Here is a photo essay.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
October 2012 Update
Early in October I attended the First International Conference on Sustainable Business and Transitions for Sustainable Development, held at Selcuk University in Konya and Akşehir, Turkey. Thereafter, I took advantage of the opportunity to spend ten days back in Romania, where I visited my Fulbright friends in Cluj, and made a trip over to the Banat to visit in the village of Covasinţ the parents of Roxy Fera of Sibiu, much mentioned earlier in this blog. While in that western region of Romania, I paid a visit also to colleagues in FEAA at West University in Timişoara, thus completing my wish list of beautiful cities to see in Romania.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Apartment in Cluj for a 2012-13 Fulbrighter
My friend Raymond Wright of Philadelphia spent time in Cluj in the early Nineties, and adopted a baby girl while he was there. He also bought an apartment in Zorilor, a nice neighborhood in Cluj located on the hill above the Botanical Garden. In 2010, he went to Cluj and spent two weeks working with a construction crew, thoroughly renovating the place. I was teaching at Babeş-Bolyai University that fall, so I was there at the time. I visited Ray's apartment, and can attest that it has a brand new bathroom, new appliances, new floors, and new windows. It is gorgeous.
So, if you are a Fulbrighter, and are going to be living in Cluj for the school year, you might want to contact me by leaving a comment below with your e-mail address, and I'll send you Ray's contact information. (Ray is hoping for a school-year rental, so that he and his family can use the apartment in the summer.)
So, if you are a Fulbrighter, and are going to be living in Cluj for the school year, you might want to contact me by leaving a comment below with your e-mail address, and I'll send you Ray's contact information
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Only a Cockeyed Optimist?
In South Pacific, the Broadway musical by Rogers and Hammerstein, Mary Martin sang an uplifting tune called, "A Cockeyed Optimist."
While teaching in Cluj-Napoca, I was reluctant to form opinions about Romania's politics, or about her politicians. Part of the reason for that was my glaring ignorance about both. Still, I could not help but hear the complaints of my students, friends, and acquaintances, and I had several opportunities to observe the solid locked doors, long unruly queues, and seeming unconcern for those waiting, that characterized the government offices with which I had contact.
During my first semester as a Fulbright professor in Cluj, President Obama was elected in the United States. During my second teaching stint in Cluj, in the fall of 2010, an idea occurred to me built on the lessons of that 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign. Until last week, apart from describing it orally to a few friends, I kept that idea to myself. Then, last week, I read in The Boston Globe a news report of the result of the referendum in Romania in which President Basescu retained his position due to a low voter turnout. That report stimulated me to publish my idea, which takes no sides, but advocates some positive governmental principles and a mechanism for bringing about their implementation.
Perhaps my idea is merely the fond wish of a cockeyed optimist. But it comes from one who loves Romania, and wants to see her well-governed and prosperous. For whatever it is worth, you will find my idea here: Romanian Youth: Join T.H.I.S!
While teaching in Cluj-Napoca, I was reluctant to form opinions about Romania's politics, or about her politicians. Part of the reason for that was my glaring ignorance about both. Still, I could not help but hear the complaints of my students, friends, and acquaintances, and I had several opportunities to observe the solid locked doors, long unruly queues, and seeming unconcern for those waiting, that characterized the government offices with which I had contact.
During my first semester as a Fulbright professor in Cluj, President Obama was elected in the United States. During my second teaching stint in Cluj, in the fall of 2010, an idea occurred to me built on the lessons of that 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign. Until last week, apart from describing it orally to a few friends, I kept that idea to myself. Then, last week, I read in The Boston Globe a news report of the result of the referendum in Romania in which President Basescu retained his position due to a low voter turnout. That report stimulated me to publish my idea, which takes no sides, but advocates some positive governmental principles and a mechanism for bringing about their implementation.
Perhaps my idea is merely the fond wish of a cockeyed optimist. But it comes from one who loves Romania, and wants to see her well-governed and prosperous. For whatever it is worth, you will find my idea here: Romanian Youth: Join T.H.I.S!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
If you were looking for Diane McDonald's Page...
Ms. Diane McDonald, whom I do not know, e-mailed me yesterday as follows:
In Romania, dear Diane, I predict that you will learn that there are no coincidences. Godspeed, and Drum Bun!
I just brought up my website yesterday, www.dcmcd.info (Diane C. McDonald) and thought I ought to check out www.dcmcd.com in case it was something I didn't want friends to accidentally stumble upon.
Imagine my surprise when I saw that your website chronicles your travels in Romania, while mine is fundraising for a Habitat for Humanity trip to Romania.
Just thought the coincidence was too good not to share.
And a good Scottish name to boot!
I have confirmed the authenticity of Diane's Habitat.ro project. My donation to Diane's Habitat for Humanity project is already sent. I hope a few of my loyal readers will also be able to send a few bucks.Diane McDonald
In Romania, dear Diane, I predict that you will learn that there are no coincidences. Godspeed, and Drum Bun!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Rest of the Story
Thank you to all who have visited, and especially to those who have followed this blog, and left such fine comments. The successor blog, "Da Da Da Da Life Goes On," is found at dcmcd2.blogspot.com.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Let's Improve Romania's Image
In the Facebook Cause "Let's Improve Romania's Image," one Vincent Kuiper recently posted a recommendation that Romania emphasize its "beautiful girls and cheap beer" to attract student visitors to the country, whom he feels may one day become foreign investors. This was my response:
Vincent Kuiper may have more marketing insight than I, but as a 66 year-old American who spent the 2008-09 academic year teaching in Cluj-Napoca and traveling throughout Romania, I have another perspective. The Romanians are hospitable. The Romanians are diverse. The Romanian countryside is spectacularly varied and beautiful. Romania is rich in both culture and cultures, having had in its history the influences of the Greeks, the Romans, Mongolians, Turks, the French, Germans, Celts, Russians, Serbs, Austrians, Hungarians, and God-only-knows how many others. Rural Romania, especially in the north and southwest, is characterized by family farms still being farmed with human and animal muscle. The haystacks and stork's nests are present-day models for the illustrations I saw as a child as my mother read to me from Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Romanian education is excellent. My university seniors in the Englishline at Babeș-Bolyai University's Faculty of Economics were well-read in the classics, competent in mathematics, and a delight to work with. If Romania has a long-term problem, it is that the country's business community is not yet large enough to employ all of the qualified graduates of its many fine universities. Talent-seeking foreign companies would do well to invest in such a country.
Romanian culture is colored by the religious traditions of the Romanian Orthodox church, which along with the Roman Catholic church has leant a strong sense of values to the majority of Romanians. The 40-year nightmare of Communism was unable to kill the Romanian spiritual core, hence Romanians appreciate their freedoms more than do we who grew up taking freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and free elections for granted.
Romania still has its share of problems, of course. But in my view it is about to soar into prominence as a productive and culturally advanced member of The European Union, in which Old Europe's charm and work ethic still prevail.
Yes, Vincent, the Romanian women are self-assured, confident and charming, and many are very lovely, as well. And yes, a bottle of Ursus Dark in a pub costs only one buck. But those facts are but surface decorations on this emerging jewel of a nation.
Vincent Kuiper may have more marketing insight than I, but as a 66 year-old American who spent the 2008-09 academic year teaching in Cluj-Napoca and traveling throughout Romania, I have another perspective. The Romanians are hospitable. The Romanians are diverse. The Romanian countryside is spectacularly varied and beautiful. Romania is rich in both culture and cultures, having had in its history the influences of the Greeks, the Romans, Mongolians, Turks, the French, Germans, Celts, Russians, Serbs, Austrians, Hungarians, and God-only-knows how many others. Rural Romania, especially in the north and southwest, is characterized by family farms still being farmed with human and animal muscle. The haystacks and stork's nests are present-day models for the illustrations I saw as a child as my mother read to me from Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Romanian education is excellent. My university seniors in the Englishline at Babeș-Bolyai University's Faculty of Economics were well-read in the classics, competent in mathematics, and a delight to work with. If Romania has a long-term problem, it is that the country's business community is not yet large enough to employ all of the qualified graduates of its many fine universities. Talent-seeking foreign companies would do well to invest in such a country.
Romanian culture is colored by the religious traditions of the Romanian Orthodox church, which along with the Roman Catholic church has leant a strong sense of values to the majority of Romanians. The 40-year nightmare of Communism was unable to kill the Romanian spiritual core, hence Romanians appreciate their freedoms more than do we who grew up taking freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and free elections for granted.
Romania still has its share of problems, of course. But in my view it is about to soar into prominence as a productive and culturally advanced member of The European Union, in which Old Europe's charm and work ethic still prevail.
Yes, Vincent, the Romanian women are self-assured, confident and charming, and many are very lovely, as well. And yes, a bottle of Ursus Dark in a pub costs only one buck. But those facts are but surface decorations on this emerging jewel of a nation.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Allandra de Aiud
Tonight I met Allandra de Aiud in an online play money poker game. Watch out for this lady. She cleaned my clock! But I must say that her English is excellent, and that at the table she put a nasty heckler very neatly in his place.
To answer your question, Allandra, I drove Klaus through Aiud on several trips from Cluj to Sibiu or to Bucharest, and on one trip with my wife Shirley that took us all the way to Calafat and back. As you peruse this blog you will learn of my many travels in your wonderful country over the past year.
I hope to hear from you again, either online or in person, as Shirley and I intend to return next spring to visit our friends in Romania.
If you want to keep in touch, please leave me your e-mail address in a comment. (I promise to delete that address from the blog in the interest of your privacy, so please make it the whole of one comment.)
Noapte buna!
Oldrider
Comment:
allandra_popa said... Thank you for all your nice word about me,:)))well mostly about my game. It was interesting to meet you and sorry for cleaning you up.:) I've started to read your blog and it was truly impressed to find out about your work. It must be really fascinating. I'm anxious to read all your impressions about our small and colorful country, because I'm sure it was something totally different from what you were accustomed, but not in a bad way. I would love to keep in touch on e-mail and even meet you and your wife, but only if you make a quick stop in Paris on your way to Romania. If not in a couple of years I want to come to New York and maybe then. But until hope to hear from you.
To answer your question, Allandra, I drove Klaus through Aiud on several trips from Cluj to Sibiu or to Bucharest, and on one trip with my wife Shirley that took us all the way to Calafat and back. As you peruse this blog you will learn of my many travels in your wonderful country over the past year.
I hope to hear from you again, either online or in person, as Shirley and I intend to return next spring to visit our friends in Romania.
If you want to keep in touch, please leave me your e-mail address in a comment. (I promise to delete that address from the blog in the interest of your privacy, so please make it the whole of one comment.)
Noapte buna!
Oldrider
Comment:
allandra_popa said... Thank you for all your nice word about me,:)))well mostly about my game. It was interesting to meet you and sorry for cleaning you up.:) I've started to read your blog and it was truly impressed to find out about your work. It must be really fascinating. I'm anxious to read all your impressions about our small and colorful country, because I'm sure it was something totally different from what you were accustomed, but not in a bad way. I would love to keep in touch on e-mail and even meet you and your wife, but only if you make a quick stop in Paris on your way to Romania. If not in a couple of years I want to come to New York and maybe then. But until hope to hear from you.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Alexandru & Alexandra
MICAN Alexandru of Bistriţa has played a major role in this blog, as he was both my student and sometime tour-guide during my Fulbright Year. Prof. PhD. MUŢIU Alexandra of UBB-Cluj was one of his second-year professors at UBB, and was my teaching partner in the Englishline Management Accounting course at UBB last spring. This past week, the three of us had a chance to renew friendships here at Plymouth State University, where Alexandru is an MBA candidate and a graduate fellow, and where Alexandra came to meet with her PSU/UBB Joint-MBA Program colleagues, and to do research on our methods of teaching accounting, which I can honestly report to have long been a strong point of the Plymouth State business programs.
Yesterday, Shirl, both the Romanian Alexes, and I visited Cambridge and Boston, including a tour of the Harvard Business School. The "dear old halls" of alma mater are, I was pleased to see, as stately and well-kept as ever.
To my Romanian friends, I reiterate: we love it when you visit. Please come to New Hampshire and spend some time with us!
Craciun Fericit!
Yesterday, Shirl, both the Romanian Alexes, and I visited Cambridge and Boston, including a tour of the Harvard Business School. The "dear old halls" of alma mater are, I was pleased to see, as stately and well-kept as ever.
To my Romanian friends, I reiterate: we love it when you visit. Please come to New Hampshire and spend some time with us!
Craciun Fericit!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Postscript: Romanian Visitors to New Hampshire
Shirley McDougall and I are happy to report that already we have hosted three visitors from Transylvania at our home near Plymouth, New Hampshire. In July Lucian BOGDAN, my Teaching Assistant in American Studies at UBB-Cluj, made a two-day side trip to Manchester, NH, on his way home from an American Studies conference in Philadelphia. He and I drove the long way home from the airport, stopping in Portsmouth to see the colonial architecture and NH's seaport, then had boiled lobsters for lunch in Kittery, Maine. From Kittery we came north to Campton via the shore of Lake Winnepesaukee, from Alton Bay to Gilford on Route 11. The next day was sunny and warm, so we rode on my 1982 Honda Silver Wing Interstate up through Franconia Notch to Littleton for clam chowder at the Littleton Diner, then over to the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, where the famous WWII economic conference was held.
In August we hosted my former FSEGA student Radu BENCHEA of Sibiu, who flew up from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to visit us prior to heading back to Romania after a summer working as a pedicab driver in that resort city. While with us, Radu also made a three-day rail trip to visit relatives in New York City, so he got to see that not all of America is sun, sand and bikini-country.
This month we have hosted new FSEGA grad Alexandru MICAN of Bistrița, who has been admitted to the PSU MBA Program as a full time student. Alex was one of my guides (along with his friend Dora FAUR) on our long weekend in Moldavia, back in October of last year. Alex has also seen some White Mountain geography during the past two weeks, and has now moved into his own apartment right next to the PSU campus. Alex has played golf with me three times already, and scored his first par on a hole, just yesterday. Is the game of golf really that easy?
So, all my Romanian friends, please take notice: our invitations were seriously given, and your visits will be welcome.
In August we hosted my former FSEGA student Radu BENCHEA of Sibiu, who flew up from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to visit us prior to heading back to Romania after a summer working as a pedicab driver in that resort city. While with us, Radu also made a three-day rail trip to visit relatives in New York City, so he got to see that not all of America is sun, sand and bikini-country.
This month we have hosted new FSEGA grad Alexandru MICAN of Bistrița, who has been admitted to the PSU MBA Program as a full time student. Alex was one of my guides (along with his friend Dora FAUR) on our long weekend in Moldavia, back in October of last year. Alex has also seen some White Mountain geography during the past two weeks, and has now moved into his own apartment right next to the PSU campus. Alex has played golf with me three times already, and scored his first par on a hole, just yesterday. Is the game of golf really that easy?
So, all my Romanian friends, please take notice: our invitations were seriously given, and your visits will be welcome.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Goodbye, Romania (not "Goodbye Romanians")
It has been a beautiful drive. Shirl, Klaus and I are safely back in Fellbach. We left Cluj only the day before yesterday, and already our home in Romania seems a thousand miles away. Oh, yeah. It is a thousand miles away. But we’re still in Europe, some 3,500 miles from our American home, so are we really going to leave Europe and fly to New England, or are we just on another Fulbright adventure, and will Klaus be taking us back to our wonderful apartment in our adopted city to see our good Romanian friends as he has faithfully done for the past nine months?
Goodbye, Romania! But not “Goodbye, Romanians.” We will keep in touch. We have Yahoo mail, we have our University work connections, and we have our lives to share.
If you get to New Hampshire, please do not forget that our big old house in Campton has a guest room, and we love showing off our beautiful home state to visitors.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Farewell, Latest Lover!
Though it traces its roots to a Jesuit school founded in 1581, prior to 1919 all teaching at the university we know today as Babeş-Bolyai was either in Hungarian or in Latin. Ninety years ago, with the unification that incorporated Transylvania as a region of Romania following World War I, the new Romanian-language Babeş University was founded in Cluj. About forty years ago, under the Communist government, Babeş-Bolyai University was formed by the merger of Cluj's Hungarian-speaking institution of higher learning with its Romanian-speaking one, and together they formed the amazing multicultural, polylingual university in which I have taught this year.
To celebrate the Nintieth Anniversary of there being a Romanian University in Cluj, Rector Marga today hosted a glorious musical event at the UBB Auditorium Maximum. The concert lasted almost three hours, and I wept each hour. First, I was moved to tears by the beauty of the music provided by the Transylvanian Symphony Orchestra. Then came a romantic operatic duet performed by a magnificent tenor and soprano from Bucharest. Then, I wept with emotion at having to leave Romania when traditional folk singers came on stage in their regional finery, and sang Romanian tunes.
I will detail the concert in a later post, for it deserves a full report. For now, suffice it to say, 'tis trrrrue: "We Scots ha'e but two emotions, weepin' and angerrrrr." Today, mine wa' weepin'.
And, to make perfect the event as a cultural culmination of my Romanian Fulbright adventures, during the standing ovation that followed the finale (Brahms' "Academic Overture," which ends with the famous theme known as "Gaudeamus Igitur"), the world-famous Romanian soprano Florentina Văduva tossed a rose from her bouquet to the audience, and I caught it.
Upon reflection, of course it was I who caught Florentina's rose. If this year has taught me anything, it is that there are no coincidences. She was but Fair Romania, bidding farewell to her latest lover.
To celebrate the Nintieth Anniversary of there being a Romanian University in Cluj, Rector Marga today hosted a glorious musical event at the UBB Auditorium Maximum. The concert lasted almost three hours, and I wept each hour. First, I was moved to tears by the beauty of the music provided by the Transylvanian Symphony Orchestra. Then came a romantic operatic duet performed by a magnificent tenor and soprano from Bucharest. Then, I wept with emotion at having to leave Romania when traditional folk singers came on stage in their regional finery, and sang Romanian tunes.
I will detail the concert in a later post, for it deserves a full report. For now, suffice it to say, 'tis trrrrue: "We Scots ha'e but two emotions, weepin' and angerrrrr." Today, mine wa' weepin'.
And, to make perfect the event as a cultural culmination of my Romanian Fulbright adventures, during the standing ovation that followed the finale (Brahms' "Academic Overture," which ends with the famous theme known as "Gaudeamus Igitur"), the world-famous Romanian soprano Florentina Văduva tossed a rose from her bouquet to the audience, and I caught it.
Upon reflection, of course it was I who caught Florentina's rose. If this year has taught me anything, it is that there are no coincidences. She was but Fair Romania, bidding farewell to her latest lover.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)