Lorică's Memories: The Cherries

Picture from 1966. Bottom row from left to right: Laurențiu (Lorică) Hurjui (b. 1950 Dreptu village - construction engineer for the chemical industry, machinery and installations), Gheorghiță Dascălu (b. 1948 Poiana Teiului village - army general), Vasile Bonteanu (nb 1950 Galu village - chemist specialist), Mitică Vasiliu (b. 1949 - d. 2011 Dreptu village, driver)

Upper row, from left to right: Petrică Olaru (nb 1951 - d. 2006 Dreptu village - priest), Dan Iosifescu (b. 1948 Galu village - accountant), Gheorghe Hurjui (my brother) (b. 1948 Dreptu village - ex-general prosecutor of Neamț county, now lawyer), Ștefan Chiorbeja (b. 1946 Pârâul Fagului village - driver), Petrică Chiorbeja (b. 1951 Pârâul Fagului village - driver for Neamț Court), a stranger who came to visit Vasile Gherasim family from Dreptu village 

This is the first story in "Lorică's Memories" series. These are my father's true stories of his childhood in the Romanian countryside. It is my pleasure and honor to write them down for him and make them sound... better :-) He claims he doesn't have the talent to write them himself, but I think he just doesn't have the patience. :-) I record him narrating, then I transcribe, cosmetically edit the stories and translate them of course. I hope this will give you a glimpse into the life of a child in the Romanian countryside. Here's the first one.

Anniversary in the Caribbean (St. Martin)

Ah... the Caribbean! Sun, coconut trees, unbelievably blue water. Sounds like a wonderful please, doesn't it? I knew I wanted an unforgettable anniversary trip with my boyfriend (now fiancee), so I thought... why not go somewhere in the Caribbean? Which island to pick, though? There are THOUSANDS (no joke!) of islands and they're all gorgeous! The decision was not easy.

The Love Story of an Eastern European and the US (Part 2)

I'm pretty sure we were the only people in my city who had American friends. This was 1993ish if my memory doesn't play tricks. Only 4 or so years after the Revolution, so imagine people's disbelief when my parents would tell them about THE Americans! It was like befriending demigods pretty much. I'm not exaggerating! The Romanian people hoped the Americans would come save them from communism for a long time (not that it's America's job to save everyone from everything. Take it as a compliment). Don't be surprised if, as an American, you are greeted by a Romanian stranger with: "We've been waiting for you!" Now you know what they mean. ;-) And they mean well by it.

The Love Story of an Eastern European and the US (Part 1)

I first stepped foot on American soil on July 24th 2009, a day before my 20th birthday, a day I dreamed of since my first book about Walt Disney. I must have been 4 or 5 years old. I remember skipping all the pages with text so I could get to the colorful pictures of Disneyland. I remember starring at pictures of the rides, parades and, my favorite, life-size characters (judging by the children next to them) candidly smiling back at me. At that age, I could not believe that such a place actually existed. It was more of a Wonderland, a place only really special children got to go to, certainly not anyone from Romania... certainly not me. The only way I could spend time with Mickey and Minnie was through our old tube TV, and I was perfectly happy with it.

Recipe: Lava Cake

Everyone knows I love chocolate (who doesn't?), especially the healthy kind that has at least 70% cocoa. That's why, whenever I want something decadent, I make this desert. Also, it's super easy to make and takes no time at all. It's not meant for those of you dieting, but it won't hurt every now and then! Trust me... ;-)

American Breakfast Choices

Here is my review of the American breakfasts I have been enticed with this week. Even though I am in the South for the week (in Charleston, SC), the only southern dish I had for breakfast was grits, but wait until my post about dinner and you'll see more southern food, I promise!

On the Road to Charleston, SC

I woke up on March 15 bright and early, but I can't complain when I'm going on vacation. We left the stubborn winter home and we're heading to sunnier places: Charleston, South Carolina! I'll show you through pictures how our trip there was, many miles away. :-) Let's begin...

My Green Juice

Even though spring is in no rush to settle in this year, I try to fool myself into believing it is warm, sunny and beautiful outside with my daily fruit and veggie juice. With such a jolly color, and with so many vitamins, how can your day not start off right after you have it?