Tuesday, August 31, 2021

August 31, 2021: ROMANIAN LANGUAGE Day

Since 2013, each year, on August 31st, Romanians (around the world & in the country) celebrate ROMANIAN LANGUAGE DAY, which offers them a good occasion to honor their roots. This is also a great moment of reflection on the importance and richness of the Romanian language, celebrated throughout the world by promoting the arts, culture, traditions and history of Romania.
May we each take a moment to remember Eminescu’s comment vis-à-vis of that, which says: “The language is the very flower of Romanians' ethnic soul.”
“To learn the Romanian language means to get to know the identity of the Romanians and
to have a better understanding of their personalities.”
NOTEDear readers, please be advised that on this website each of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed)

Monday, August 30, 2021

Understandings, perceptions, conclusions….

In life, many of us encounter all sorts of situations when it comes to relationships (such as friends, acquaintances of any sort, collaborators, etc.) - some of them really fill our hearts with joy & sincere gratitude, but others manage to bring along a deep and heavy sense of disappointment and a very bitter taste (especially when you walk the extra mile in helping or supporting them, & they don’t even recognize it…they act like you owe them something, but in reality it is the other way around).
So, in the light of these concepts, below I’m sharing with you a text which carries a lot of wisdom, trusting that by doing so it could shed some light upon few essential life matters. 
Observe and absorb appropriately.    
Life findings
"It took me a while to understand and accept…
That not everyone who smiles at you truly likes you;
That not everyone who compliments you truly appreciates you;
That not everyone who approves of you truly agrees with you…
That not everyone who listens to you truly understands you or is really interested in your fate.
That too few people sincerely rejoice in your successes, and that their frustration and their envy often lie behind the displayed joy…
That many of the benevolent faces that people display in public are, in fact, masks and that many of their positive feelings are just skillfully played feelings…
That you are gossiped by those who know you the least and you are judged by those who are more immoral than you…
That nothing is free in the world and that very few people offer you something without waiting for something else in return (without having hidden interests).
That too few people voluntarily extend a helping hand to you, without you having to ask them…
That many show compassion and kindness only in the eyes of the world, when in reality they are indifferent and just interested in showing a public image of a generous person (in fact, all is only about them, and never about you, even though they pretend to be your friend/s - more like a colorful façade strategically placed).
That not everyone who says he forgives really does it and that some never forgive, they even hide their hatred behind their smiles.
That some people immediately forget the good you did to them, but they will reproach you endlessly the most insignificant mistake.
That today you can mean everything to someone, and in an instant you can become nobody even if you didn't do anything wrong; when you no longer serve their purposes they become indifferent, cold and mean (and that is the moment when such individuals show their real character, their true colors).
It took me a while to fully understand and most than anything to accept these missing truths, but from the moment I accepted them my life became much easier. ”
After all, keeping in your circle only the nice, honest, compatible, positive, supportive, respectful and gentle people is a sign of practical wisdom. Choose wisely! 
In life, if the respect and appreciation are mutual then the efforts would be equal.

Friday, August 27, 2021

Socializing: Summer Picnic 2021 & Book Launch

Since the social austerity in our province at this very moment is slightly more relaxed, on Friday (August 27, 2021) I was happy to organize (in a public park), a summer picnic together with my group, this being the only ‘in person’ meeting of the current year.
Also, that evening, we all were very pleased to have with us again two dear guests of honor – Dr. Ovidiu Grecea together with his wife. As already mentioned few times before, Dr. Grecea is the Head of the Romanian Diplomatic Mission in Vancouver, as well as Plenipotentiary Minister of Romania in Canada.
In his remarks, Dr. Grecea congratulated ALICE & Friends Circle
 for the ongoing cultural activity, re-emphasizing again the role the group plays in the local cultural arena, as well as refreshing the special tenderness Romanians (in general) are capable of.
On this occasion, I’ve included into our program a “book launch section” as two friends of my group – Teodor and Cristian Trandafir (father & son) – were each publishing at the same time a volume of poetry. I did find appropriate to present the audience these two books, as nowadays it is quite seldom to encounter such synchronicities…father & son, both amateur poets, each publishing a poetry book…a nice coincidence that I enjoyed highlighting at my Circle.
Aside of that, at this gathering I suggested Teodor to invite some of his personal friends, who are not coming at our usual events, and I was pleased to notice that all of them enjoyed the evening. After I introduced these 2 books, Consul Grecea as well as few other guests shared some personal remarks on this matter too.
In brief about the 2 books presented:
·         Teodor’s poetry book called “Balsam pentru suflet” is mainly a collection of religiously inspired poems, patriotic poetry, short elegies, brief meditations, plenty of friends’ anniversaries and lots of wishes he formulated for his close fellows belonging to Romanian community from Vancouver.
·         Cristian’s book, called “Cuvinte alese” includes poems that illustrate feelings, personal experiences he collected over a number of years, as well as thoughts, opinions, impressions and appreciations, all springing from the overflow of his soul.
Each guest received a poetry book, and Teodor together with his wife Marcela were kind to interpret a few for the audience.
Next, while we enjoyed the light refreshments brought along, we continued the evening with a number of group songs. At this point in time, I was glad to distribute few brochures with several well-known Romanian songs so we all could sing together…some guests loved the gesture so much that they didn’t even return the copies back, but rather preferring to keep them as a souvenir and eventually using them as further templates for other occasions. I found that amusing!
Our evening together was pleasant and relaxing, and the fresh air from that secular forest brought upon each of us a splendid sense of peace and emotional sanity.
Concluding my briefing here, once again I’m sending along my appreciation to each guest of the evening, wishing them all best personal regards!
This event has been delivered in Romanian Language, featuring Romanian culture. 
Message gratefully received from “OBSERVATORUL”, from Toronto
Please use the automated translator installed at the bottom of the page to translate this message into any language you wish…thank you!
(In Romanian Language) 
"Bucuroşi să vă prezentăm un alt eveniment cultural reuşit al grupului ALICE & FRIENDS CIRCLE™  din Vancouver.
Plăcere să publicăm crónica colaboratorei noastre, doamna 
Dorina Cornelia Aldea la
http://www.observatorul.com/default.asp?action=articleviewdetail&ID=22960  şi o poză de la acest picnic şi lansare de carte la:
http://www.observatorul.com/events_main.asp
Sănătate şi numai bine vă dorim!"

  ARTICLE featuring our event on August 27, 2021, offered by OBSERVATORUL (from Toronto, Canada)
NOTĂ:
Începând cu anul 2000 Revista Observatorul face parte din 'The National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada' (o organizație ne-guvernamentală, care reprezintă publicații, ce servesc 150 de limbi şi comunități culturale din Canada).  
Relațiile între membrii organizației au devenit apropiate, ne cunoaștem sărbătorile tradiționale, participăm, ne felicităm la diferite ocazii speciale, aniversări, împărțim informații diverse.

La pagina 8 (în acest link: http://www.observatorul.com/events_main.asp), este redat picnicul organizat de
Alice & Friends Circle (articol & fotografie),
pe data de 27 august 2021. Este o plăcere să vedem acest articol şi fotografia aferentă în forma tiparită. Lectură plăcută
  ARTICLE featuring our event on August 27, 2021, offered by Uniunea Ziariştilor Profesionişti din România, under their “BREAKING NEWS” section  (from Romania)
 ARTICLE featuring our event on August 27, 2021, offered by Ziarul românilor din Andalucía, under their “Cultură, Români în lume” section (from Spain)