I have lived most of my life in Romania. I studied Romanian in the dark days of the Cold War in London when contact between Britain and people living in Romania behind the Iron Curtain was extremely limited. Luckily for me and millions of Romanians, the country won its freedom (though at great human cost) and opened its doors to the world after 1989.
I covered the revolution for British channel ITN as one of the few Romanian speakers in the UK with some journalistic experience and moved here in 1991 to make a career as a journalist. What a 33 years it has been! The country has changed incredibly for the better. People have relaxed, traveled abroad (heavily restricted before), and taken advantage of the opportunities that a democracy and free market has offered them. Romania has joined NATO and the EU and enjoys a good reputation as a reliable and serious ally in the region. So far. After Poland, it’s the second most pro-American country in the region.
Speaking Romanian, and actually loving the language with its rich vocabulary and vernacular has always been a source of joy, pride and fun for me. They say you have a different personality in every language you speak, and I like the Romanian Alison, who can playfully use slang and regional words. I was fascinated that Romanians spoke a Latin-based language when I decided to study it as a degree in the 1980s, and I remain fascinated. The Romanian language is very much what makes Romanians as they are as people: warm, theatrical, proud, humorous, basically they are personalities you can’t ignore. It’s the Latin language you wouldn’t expect. How did they get to speak a Romance language beyond the Carpathians? There are many theories, but it remains a mystery.
As well as I speak, understand and write Romanian (not quite native level), the one thing that gives me away is my accent. I will never sound Romanian. On a ‘good day’ people ask me “When did you leave?” or occasionally they say: “Are you from Transylvania?” which makes me happy, but most of the time I sound resolutely British, with differently pronounced ‘Ts’ , ‘Rs’ and vowels. I’m not a specialist, but I believe that unless you move to a foreign country before the age of 12, you will always retain your native accent.
When I am concentrating or under pressure, as I was last night at the presidential debate, my British accent becomes more obvious. Nothing I can do about it. I do try and get the grammar mostly right and communicate efficiently, which is more important I think.
This happened when an important topic I had for Romanians and a regrettably absent candidate, the presidential frontrunner, George Simion, got diverted into a discussion about another candidate, Daniel Funeriu, imitating my accent. I’ve listened to the exchange, and I have no comment to make.
For the record, Mr. Funeriu has written to me strongly denying he made fun of my accent.
People will interpret the incident as they please. I have been overwhelmed by the support, warmth and indignation expressed publicly and privately. Romanians, you really touched me!
I do not want this to distract from my question to the absent George Simion, something Romanians should ask themselves before they vote on Sunday.
The post-1989 world is facing a major shift not seen for a generation. The Trump administration is cozying up to the Kremlin with the aim of implementing a rapid peace deal on a continent it doesn’t understand, care about, or live in. Major political shifts often bring economic downtown and poverty and once you’re in that cycle, it’s hard to get out of it. The markets like predictability.
Romania could_ and is entitled_ to make billions from the reconstruction of Ukraine when it happens. It has been a serious ally, offering support to refugees, facilitating Black Sea grain transport, delivering weapons, plus intelligence, training Ukrainian officers etc. Many of these aspects have not been publicized or communicated in a perhaps misguided attempt not to provoke the Euro-skeptic, far-right camp which now controls about 30% of Parliament.
But I have no idea why the income Romanian companies and entrepreneurs stand to make from Ukraine is not a public debate. I also wonder how many millions_ billions even_ Romania risks losing with a president, George Simion, who is banned from entering Ukraine. Who would represent and push for Romanian business and diplomacy with a president who Kiev has declared undesirable?
The last decade more than anything has taught us that people vote with the hearts, but as a British citizen, I’ve seen the regrets in the UK after Brexit which hasn’t brought milk and honey, but economic, geostrategic and reputational damage. Voters should listen to their hearts but also use their heads. It can be very costly not to and regrets can last a lifetime. .
