Hi Renee. I'm from Bucharest, the capital city. I lived there until I was about 23, then moved to Oxford, then to London, UK, where I met my American husband. I've been in Central FL since December 2002. However, my entire family is still there and I just returned from visiting them last Monday (18 July).

I take it you are born here in the US and you visited there for the first time this year. Many things have changed, as I'm sure your Mother can tell you. I'm not sure if everything is for the best. Sure, for the most part there is freedom of speech, you can buy pretty much everything you can think of and there generally is more colour and vibrancy. And some people have really done well for themselves. But the contrasts between the rich and the poor are so much deeper. All bad habits of the Western Culture have found their way in and unfortunately, not all good things have made it. Corruption is rife, at the highest level possible. Few people make it without some serious support from behind, be it political or material, or both. Many, many educated people are looking to emigrate, mostly to Canada, but some also to the US. The brain drain will prove costly in a few years, if it hasn't done so already. From my generation (highschool graduation in 1988), less than half are still in the country.

Romania has so much potential, it is beautiful and has very capable people.... but it is not doing all that well at the moment. It's sad, but true. It has been "mismanaged" for 15 years.... There will be another generation before things start to change from the core.

I was definitely taken back by on the westernization of the country. Specifically in Bucuresto and Brasov. The transition period from communism to democracy has always been shaky and there's a great amount of corruption in the Parliament. Trouble is, the corporations are taking quite an advantage over all this, and the tourism industry is profiting quite nicely. Hotels and casinos galore. Talk to the elders and they'll tell you as soon as the borders opened to foreigners the country and culture went down the toilet.
How did your family get here? 1980....my mother came a couple years after that. 1983 I think. Still under Ceausescu's reign at that time.

Oh and also that story that you had about the first grade teacher-
my mother and uncle have the same story. But they said they didnt give a shit because they where getting the hell out of there!

Where did you grow up? Maybe I have some pics or at least maybe I know what has happened in the area over the last 15-20 years.

You can find out good, objective info about the current state of the country on the Romania Libera website (www.romanialibera.ro). Also, the BBC has a decent Romanian service (www.bbc.co.uk, first select Europe on the left side of the screen, then under 'languages' go for Romanian on the bottom left).

I don't blame you for wanting to tell that teacher to eff off.... but chances are that he is some senile old bastard now, not even worth your breath. That;s if he is still around, of course.