Romania

I need a cigaret and a long a walk. Kids are driving me crazy, kid to be fair. The older one is more stoic trying to impress me. He looks up to me, I hate that. Its been a while since I got back from Romania and I have quite a bit to write mostly about how I hate people and such, so here goes.

I don't care about countries, I find nationalism or loyalty to a group of people absurd. I cannot comprehend how someone can simply lump a group of people and make outrageous claims. I am willing to concede somethings, if you wear a turban you are more likely to blow up my plane , if you are Irish my car, etc. There are many problems with even these generalizations, but they at least have a fighting chance. To claim that Hungarians are a nation of thieves in comparison to the Romanians is not. To claim that Italians are "dirty Gypsies" who are seek ing retribution against Romanians for stealing their men because Romanian women are the most beautiful in the world, is another absurd claim. I don't really understand what to when I am presented with such claims. Should I nod my head and smile, or should I call them an idiot? What if that person is your grandmother?

I drove to Cluj with my Uncle and spend the night at his family's house. I drove through Hungary on the way there, or rather he did and I slept. There wasn't very much to see. Hungary unlike Romania has highways. In Romania we traveled through towns that time forgot, or will shortly. It was interesting to see the EU flag fly next to the national one. It is obvious who is the most important player is in Romania and probably most of Eastern Europe.LAst time I was home, seven years ago the dollar was golden and America was still king. But how far and fast the might have fallen. Romania as a country still has a some allegiances to America being part of NATO and all that. But at least with the people I have talked to, it is not longer the land of milk and honey. Many aren't looking past Germany.

After the fall of communism a many of the utilities and services become privatized they were bought by outside investors, many people feel that we have sold our country. That they have raped Romania. Some even feel as if the revolution was a mistake. It is not uncommon especially amongst the older generations to almost wish that Communism would return. Sure we can say anything we want now but at least we all had jobs, now we can't afford to eat. I was watching a tv show about the revolution and this reporter went around my hometown asking whether or not life was better after the revolution, not one gave an unqualified yes. That utterly baffles me. Sure it was tv and what not but it is a common complaint.

Romania is full of paradoxes, people that can't afford to eat by 1000 euro cellphones. The growth of the country, and there has been growth, is very uneven. Those that deserve to do well, don't. You have million dollar house next to hose that look like they are made of shit. The capital is building huge sidewalks and the tallest tree in Europe but can't fix potholes. Parliamentarians are becoming rich because they are in power as opposed to the good ol' american system where the rich become powerful. Most people seem to so self absorbed with Romania's imagined greatness and the idea that the international is somehow snubbing them that they can't seem to see any flaws in the country. Ah that's how we Romanians are, or so we say.

I'm tired I need to go to bed, I'll write more tomorrow.