The 1980s were characterized by cold and hunger – and I stoically endured them both. By the time I was finished with work, the stores were already empty. In the morning it was impossible for me to wait in line, so I was fasting without actually wanting to do so. Much has been said about the political situation at the time. We young people were immunized – we no longer read newspapers, we didn’t watch TV, we tried to create a parallel reality, like a bubble of normalcy in an otherwise absurd world. We used to talk about the books we read, about the good movies playing at the cinema. It was during this time that I met our great painter, Margareta Sterian. I began by translating her prose into English and gradually became an avid collector of her work. I had to pay installments to Margareta for many years.”

“At the age of 22, I had finished my studies and I really wanted an apartment of my own. And so, I worked three jobs: the official one, where I worked as an economist, but I also did translations and offered English language private classes. I was constantly on the move, from 7 in the morning until 9 in the evening, but I didn’t feel tired. Parties were usually held on Saturday nights during that period – because the work week was six days long – but they were the most important event of the week. Some former college classmate organized various tea parties, and I was the cocktail specialist. I remember that on the radio – on the 3rd program of the national station – the international pop music chart was broadcast every Friday, at 9 o’clock. I would record it on tape without ever missing a beat and I would listen to it every day, until the next Friday. My passion for cinema would be quenched with a “James Bond” movie from the Roger Moore series, but Meryl Streep had already appeared on screens in ”Kramer vs. Kramer” or ”Sophie’s Choice”.

“This period of great change and insecurity we are experiencing now requires maximum attention and an innovative spirit. Following the international markets, but also the evolution of Romania, I notice that, at GDP-level, we are experiencing a smaller decrease when compared to other European states. Romanian companies have quickly adapted to new needs – with the exception of suffering economic sectors everywhere. I believe that this crisis is an opportunity for young Romanian specialists to propose new business models, technologies and software that could help us skip some stages and reach our rightful spot in Europe and in the world much faster.”

This article was published on Ziarul Financiar