Moving Through Time

Anca Gherghiceanu
Rhode Island School of Design
2021 - 2022
Final Thesis

Thesis Advisor
Hansy Better Berraza

Department
Architecture
 PART ONE

Thesis Statement 014

Thesis Position 018
Program 022
Site Narrative 026
Iadul in Rai 056
The Heaven In Hell 064
Interview #1 072
Interview #1 Translated 076

PART TWO

Land Acknowledgment 082

Contents
Site Plan 086
Site Diagrams 088
Memory 090
Duality 102
Symbolism 116
Home 128

PART THREE

Interview #2 154
Interview #3 158
Interview #4 164
Dimensions 168
My experience 174
Bibliography 176
Glossary 178
Image Credits 180

Această carte este menită să fie citită din spate în față.

 PART ONE

12 13
 Post-communism life in Romania is a duality: people fleeting the
country in search of a better life and the simultaneous shrinking cities
due to this migration. The built fabric of the city holds distorted nos-
talgia for those who have left and the burning reality that surrounds
the ones that remain. It results in popular villages and cities starting
to be abandoned at a massive rate. The migrant story in search of a
new life cultivates a journey of loneliness, sacrifice, and sorrow.This
thesis will shine light on the physiological effects of mass migration
in Romania through satirical editing and storytelling, acting as a fresh
breath of air. Located in Bucharest, the thesis attempts to make the
Thesis Statement

PART ONE
PART ONE

thoughts, emotions, and journey of the migrant physical in the city

bringing attention to existing political realities of a dual existence. In
exploring the portals of inhabitation in a dismantling manner, it is cru-
cial to understand how time affects our overall self and the tectonic
spaces that are in front of us by bringing necessary light to them.
Understanding both perspectives of the same story is crucial to fully
move forward. In reconnecting and understanding that culture plays
a big part in the people that we are today; we shouldn’t forget the mo-
ments that have shaped us. It truly is the silenced voice that has been
waiting to speak up. .

14 15
 PART ONE
PART ONE

10 11

16 17
FIG. 1
 A thesis to me is a poetic expression of the yearning within the soul.
Something that is extremely personal and begins to question your own
perspective. It challenges you to truly open up to something that you
have been shying away from; starting off theoretical and eventually
birthing its way into existence. It is the emotions tied to form and nos-
talgia distorted by memory. In trying to find your own voice, you are
connected to your past and present on a deeper level. A one-sided
perspective is not enough to create a conclusion on the matter at hand.
It means connecting to the abandoned cities and villages in Romania.

Thesis Positioning

PART ONE
PART ONE

Throughout this journey there is a realization that no matter what

choices were made, whether it was to stay or leave, the accumulated
trauma stays with you forever. It is wanting to act while feeling help-
less, realizing those who abandoned the country didn’t do so willingly;
they escaped some sort of oppression or a dead end. It is the struggle
of mothers and fathers trying to give their children a better life while
withering away working 2 jobs each, and barely making ends meet. It
is suffering and entangled in loneliness with the justification of provid-
ing a future for their children that they were robbed of. It portrays the
pain with hope at the end of the tunnel.

18 19
 PART ONE
PART ONE

6 7

20 21
FIG. 2
 Program is something that brings an individual back to a pertaining
place and provides a type of service. It isn’t stagnant and has room to
change all of the time, just like our memories about it.

When pertaining to my thesis, it needs to be a breath of fresh air for

returning individuals as well as the citizens that have never left. It will
explore the impact an individual has in a space and the alteration of

Program
the physical as well as the metaphysical. All while encapsulated in a

PART ONE
PART ONE

form that meets the nostalgia that has been build up around. It will
act as a portal to a new threshold of inhabitation. Playing with the
perception of what is justified as interior and exterior, it creates a
movement through the space as if traveling through a distant pleas-
ant memory that has come to life. It shows that no matter how things
have changed, weather it be the person or the program inside of the
space, it always caters to the individuals and shows them the truth
underneath the veil.

22 23
 PART ONE
PART ONE

More than 5 million people (23.5 %) are living in poverty, 1.5 million being children.

14
24 25
FIG. 3
 Located primarily in Bucharest, Romania, the pavilions are spread out
around the world that connect back to the main site. It is not only
phsyical but a belief system or a moral code that one lives by. It is
abstract in a sense that it can be altered the same way a topography
can. When one moves through the space that has been layered out for
them it becomes a journey of map making how the individual decides
Site

PART ONE
PART ONE

which path to take. This leaves room for possibilities that haven’t yet
been discovered.

The sites first begin in our mind, then it is reimagined into the physical
world in New York, Braila, and Dokdo Island. In doing this, it is able to
be shared with individuals through the act of expressing emotion and
reconnecting. This becomes it’s threshold.

26 27
 PART ONE
PART ONE

7 milion people living in rural areas don’t have plumbing, electricity and drinking water.

18 19

28 29
FIG. 4
 TIME LESS
IS TIME THE FUTURE
IS TIME THE PRESENT

PART ONE
PART ONE

IS TIME THE PAST

TIME WORN

30 31
 OUT OF TOUCH

PART ONE
PART ONE

OUT OF TOUCH

OUT OF TOUCH

32 33
 PART ONE
PART ONE

The passport categorizes

and shapes a person the
moment they hold hands. It
is a heavy piece of paper that
gives you privilege as well
as immense restriction.

Passport

34 35
 PART ONE
PART ONE

While people flee the country, only the elderly and chldren are left behind.

26 27

36 37
FIG. 5
 Nostalgic Perception

PART ONE
PART ONE

The play on nostalgia shows

us that our perception is dis-
torted from the truth. Each
approach is there, yet the
more you stare on each side,
the object past the filters
begins to disappear.

38 39
 Abandoned cities / villiges begin to grow as
PART ONE

unfinished projects continue.

30 31

40 41
FIG. 6
 PART ONE
PART ONE

Moving through time, the

user makes the space come
to life. Weather it produces
objects of nostalgia or sim-
ply living, it alters the space
forever.

Breathing Spaces

42 43
 PART ONE
PART ONE

34
While unprofitable cities crumble in decay, Romania prioritizes its tourist ones.
35

44 45
 Life Portal

PART ONE
PART ONE

Passing through the por-

tal of life alters your being.
Your experiences become
a threshold for change that
you can always look back at
and grow from them.

46 47
 900 million euros are wasted on recreational projects
in rural areas that are closed to the intended public.

PART ONE
PART ONE

On paper it is benefitual for the community while in

reality it isnt.

38 39
48 49
FIG. 7
 PART ONE
PART ONE

The paths and decision mak-

ing we conclude throughout
create a porosity between
them in which we chose to
reside and discover who we
truly are. The shadows of the
past overcasting the possi-
bilities ahead.

Decisions

50 51
 PART ONE
Citizens are given empty promises in order to gain
votes during the election. While governors live in
lavish houses and put their personal expenses on
the towns taxes.

42
52 53
FIG. 8
 Reaction

PART ONE
PART ONE

Our mind burns through the

memories ever changing
themes from what they once
were. It creates a sense of
expertise due to you be-
ing the sole creator of what
once was.

54 55
 Iadul în
n Rai
Când alti râd noi plângem
Când alti manânca noi murim de foame
Iad înconjurat de rai
Doar când e convenabil
În cautare de iubire pentru inimile noastre

PART ONE
PART ONE

Ne gasim in traume
Ne gasim in lacrimi sa fim recunoscuti
Nimenea nu ne ajuta
Nimenea nu vine
Promisiuni goale ne înconjura
si noi le înghitim ca pastile

Dor de tara e infinit

Dor de timpul care a fost
În mintea noastra vrem sa traim
In iluzie pe care o facem noi realitate

Iubire si ura in aceas mâna

Strânsa împreuna
Cum putem sa ne întoarcem la iubirea de tara
Cum putem sa fin iarasi împreuna
Departe dar aproape
Contradictie la maxim e viata noastra
tipam in vol-ul universului
Dar nimenea nu ne aude

56 57
 Pathways

PART ONE
PART ONE

Moving through space be-

ings to map out our behav-
ior and patterns that we take
ownership to. It would be as
if traveling through a distant
pleasant memory that has
come to life.

58 59
 Families are being torn apart due to
the governments negligence and hun-
PART ONE

ger for wealth. This results in creating

generational trauma for the locals and
departing parties.

60 61
FIG. 9
 Shattering

PART ONE
PART ONE

Blinded by the main per-

spective looring us into our
fantasies. We are unaware of
the reality that is behind the
curtain of self.

62 63
 Romania is a brutalist apartment building parallel to a cemetery

PART ONE
PART ONE

Only to be separated by a small pathway with a weak wall.

64 65
 EVERYTHING The Hell in Heaven

IS
When others laugh we shed tears
When others feast we die of hunger

PART ONE
PART ONE

The hell encapsulated in heaven

In constant search of love for our precious hearts
We find ourselves in the trauma

FINE
We find ourselves in the tears shed to be recognized
Nobody is lending a helping hand
Nobody is coming for us
Empty promises surround us completely
And we shallow them like pills

Yarning for our country is infinite

Yarning of a time that once was
In our minds is where we want to reside
In the illusion we bring into existence

Love and hate in the same hand

Compressed together
How can we return to the love of our country
How can we be together once again
Afar yet near
Our life is a constant contradiction
We scream in the void of the universe
Yet nobody hears us
66 67
 Physical or mental, our
memory begins to alter.

68 69
FIG. 10 & 11
70 71
FIG. 12 & 13
 Romania este un bloc brutalist lângă un cimitir separat de o alee cu
un perete slab. Mi-e nu mi se pare ca sa schimbat foarte mult tara în
ultimele 20 de ani. Romania e ca o bula temporala, care nu evoluează
foarte mult. Eu am locuit in Italia si in Spania, si efectiv se simte aici
car si cum timpul sa oprit. Zici ca te întorci la comunism când vi înapoi
in tara. Problema asta e peste tot, nu e mare diferența in orașele mari
sau mici. Cu generația noua, generația Z se simte o schimbare in men-
talitate fiind ca sunt mult mai deschiși decât generația învârsta. Men-
talitatea generala a romanului e acea. Romanul întotdeauna e veșnic
nemulțumit de ceva. Asta este o zicala care o au toți părinți noștri si
o-sa rămână cu ea pana moara. Pentru roman îi pasa foarte mult ce
zic alți. Românul nu e foarte preocupat de sine e ocupat de imaginea
pe care o au in ochii lu oameni împrejur. O diferența mare in generați
pe care am observat e modul in care relaționează cu prieteni, la modul
de comunicare. Generația in vârstă nu au fost învățați ca comunicarea
e posibila si sănătoasă, si au dus-o mai departe cu prieteni si copii.
Noi suntem referințele pe care le avem, in viată si in arhitectura. Dar
părinți noștri nu au avut referințe pentru ca nu au fost expuși la lume.
Sunt limitați si devin confortabili in cușca lor. In mod sa creștem tre-
buie sa avem deschidere dar o generație intrigă nu au avut norocul

PART ONE
asta in timpul comunism. Eu nu sunt o persoana foarte politica, dar
in general partidul care este la moment e încă partidul PSD. Au mulți
membri care au fost comuniști si încă au idei foarte învechite, si sunt
foarte corupți. Nu fac nimic doar își baga bani in buzunar la dispoziția
oamenilor. Încă sunt votați foarte mult, pentru ca România este pre-
dominant rurala si oameni de la țară tot votează partidul respectiv. Nu
contează dacă iese un scandal, sau condamnări, oameni tot îi susține.
Când comunismul sa terminat a fost o deschidere foarte brusca si nea
afectat pe toți. De acea Romanul este foarte închis, o vorba populara
ca si regula e “trebuie sa o ținem in familie”.

Mise pare o viată trista in România in general. Salariile sunt foarte

mici, o persona care învață 6 ani de zile sa îsi ea o diplomă de arhitect,
este plătita cu un salariu de 25 de milioane (500 dolari) pe luna. Birou-
rile nu sunt mari niciodată. As vrea o experiență la un birou mai mare
si sa fac o arhitectură de calitate. Aici arhitectura care se construiește
e tipic dezamăgire. Te simți mult mai liber afara din tara. Poți sa spui
ce vrei, sa fi mai deschis, sa te îmbarci cum vrei ca nimeni nu se uita
la tine.
- Iulian Panzaru

72 73
 For the Romanian, he cares greatly about what some-
one else thinks of him or what is said behind his back.

PART ONE
This results in very little time looking within and bet-
tering ones self.

-Iulian Panzaru

74 75
 I don’t think the country has changed that much in the past 20 years.
Romania is like a temporary bubble that doesn’t evolve at all. I lived
in Italy and Spain and evidently you come back home and feel as if
time has stopped.This problem is all over the country, no matter if it’s
a large city or a small village. With the new generation Z, there feels
a shift in the mentality that is around you in Romania. When you think
about the overall mentality of the ordinary Romanian person, they all
think the same. They will always be displeased with something. For the
Romanian, he cares greatly about what someone else thinks of him
or what is said behind his back. This results in very little time looking
within and bettering ones self.

A huge difference I have noticed between generations if that they have

a hard time connecting with others when it comes to communicat-
ing. They haven’t been taught that communication is possible and even
healthy for you, which led them to pass off their simple understand-
ings to their children. We are the references that we have, in life and
in architecture. However, hour parents didn’t have the privilege to have
a wider variety of references and know that the world is larger than
the perimeter of their town. They’re limited and become comfortable in
their cage. In order to grow, we must have exposure, however a whole
PART ONE

generation didn’t have this privilege due to the burden of communism.

I don’t consider myself a very political person, but I know that the cur-
rent political party is still the PSD. They have many members which
have been part of the communist party and still have outdated mental-
ities which makes them corrupt by default. They don’t do anything but
steal money from the ordinary mans pocket. They are still regularly
voted due to Romania still being dominantly rural. It doesn’t matter
what these politicians do, there can be scandals or accusations, yet
people still vote them to stay in the office. When the communism party
fell, there was an abrupt opening that has affected all of us. Which
is why the average Romanian is a very closed off person, a popular
phrase that describes this perfectly is “It stays in the family”.

I think Romania is a sorrowful country in general. The salaries are

very small, I mean for a person that studies 6 years to obtain an archi-
tecture diploma you are paid $500 a month. Here the architecture that
is being built is very disappointing. You feel more free once you are
outside of the country; you can say whatever you want, de more open,
and even wear whatever you’d like because nobody cares.

- Iulian Panzaru
76 77
 EVOLUTION

78 79
PART
TWO
 I would like to acknowledge the land of Romania and its native people keeping
our traditions and culture alive after many land conquests.
Romania has been a territory that has been sought out to be conquered for
many generations from the Roman empire to the Ottoman empire. Its position
on the continent, harboring the Black Sea into Europe, and its vast availability
of natural resources has made it desirable. Over time there has been a lot
of bloodshed in the process of preserving the culture of the Dacians and its
people. During each era, the country has gone through dictatorships in multi-
ples forms, from kings to presidents. It has participated in world wars where
they would change alliance on counties at the last minute. During Ceausescu’s
communism, he wounded the iron curtain tightly around Romania, turning a
moderately prosperous country into one at the brink of starvation. To repay his
$10 billion foreign debt in 1982, he ransacked the Romanian economy of every-
thing that could be exported, leaving the country with desperate shortages of
food, fuel, and other essentials.
The people of this land have persevered through wars, destruction, and an
era of communism, and continues to protect their right to be there. Social cir-
cumstances have displaced people to other continents through history, and in
doing so, they keep their spirits alive through the traditions from the millennia

PART TWO
past, from stories that are attached to them and the rituals they refuse to let
diminish. Their true spiritual roots are embedded in the magical land that has
a hold of their heart.
Pagan traditions were formed which are still practiced till this day. One of the
pagan traditions is the capra(goat) dance, said to predict the upcoming year’s
weather and included a ritual of fertility and abundance. By dancing in this rit-
ual and playing traditional folk music around town, channeling the goat spirit
to bring great joy and protection.
Language is a powerful tool which can be transformed into elements and sym-
bols of sacred geometry that are used to generate and direct each of the ener-
gies said symbol represents. What is mostly unknown about Romania is that its
inhabitants are wearing their millenary history on their very clothes, symbols
being carefully chosen, each of them carrying a certain meaning, message or
story dating back to the Hamagia settlements. It shows the fascinating story Let this acknowledgement serve as a reminder for everyone that the people of Ro-
of a nation and its land so interconnected to one another, that it can only show mania are and forever will be present. They are strong, full of rich mystical culture
their consistency despite the challenges of times. It is a way to connect to our that will not be diminished by anyone; no matter what happens.
roots for not only myself but others as well.
83 82
85 84
PART TWO
PART TWO
Time Square Palace of Parliament Dokdo Island
Historic Center
New York City, New York Bucharest, Romania Sea of Japan
Braila, Romania
87 86
 Time Square Palace of Parliament Dokdo Island
Historic Center
New York City, New York Bucharest, Romania Sea of Japan
Braila, Romania
Access Pathway Access Pathway Access Pathway

PART TWO
PART TWO

Access Pathway
Views Views Views
Views
89 88
 Memory
PART TWO

Braila, Romania
91 90
93 92
 / Exterior /
In dealing with memory, one is able to choose the
path that they desire in order to remember some-

PART TWO
thing. This pavilion provides two experiences that
PART TWO

dip into each other. By going on the ramp you are

taken on a textured journey and are able to see
fragments of the interior through small openings.
95 94
97 96
 / Interior /

PART TWO
PART TWO

Once entering the dome, you are greeted by dark-

ness and adventure. An opposite experience un-
folds as you look out of the small openings and
retrace your steps.
99 98
101 100
 Duality
PART TWO

New York City, New York

103 102
105 104
 / Exterior /

PART TWO
PART TWO

Playing with the notion of visibility, the interior

greets you with open arms. In it’s pristine appear-
ance gives you reasurance that everything is run-
ning smoothly as it should be.
107 106
109 108
 / Interior /

PART TWO
PART TWO

Once you enter the pavilion the darkness and se-

verity of reality sinks in. You are faced with spikes
around every corner and texture representing
peoples emotions.
111 110
113 112
115 114
 Symbolism
PART TWO

Dokdo Island, Sea of Japan

117 116
119 118
 / Exterior /

PART TWO
PART TWO

Through the journey of life, time affects us differ-

ently. Entering the outer layer of the pavilion, you
are greeted by sliver openings and transparent
panels. Silhouettes are the only thing that can be
perceived .
121 120
123 122
 / Interior /

PART TWO
PART TWO

As you proceed through the pavilion, it transforms

itself into an enclosed space being perceived only
through blurred movement.
125 124
127 126
129 128
131 130
133 132
 / Exterior /

PART TWO
PART TWO

Drawing symbolism from all three pavilions, this

final one serves as a home base. With a white
prestine exterior that builds up to a framed view
of the Palace of Parliment, it begins the story.
Representing the traditional romanian home in an
abstract way, one is able to depict the stories and
reality of what is happening in Romania.
135 134
137 136
 / Interior /

PART TWO
PART TWO

As you proceed through the space you are greet-

ed with a reflective space that is meant to provoke
you to look within. Followed by a descent into the
stories of migrants.
139 138
141 140
143 142
 THREE
PART
PART THREE

PART THREE
Romania looses around 242k people per year, ranking it 5th in total emigrant population.

146 147
FIG. 14
PART THREE

PART THREE
As immigrants arive in their diaspora, they often have to take up 2-3 jobs ( mostly
cleaning) in order to barely survive where they dont know the language.
18 19

148 149
FIG. 15
 Arriving here, I hated NYC, I was overwhelmed and I
felt suffocated. I was also really anxious about speak-
ing English and finding work.

-Nicolae Rita
PART THREE

150 151
152 153
 My childhood in communism was a pretty happy one I think, I grew up I loved Long Island though, where I used to spend the weekends at my
in Bucuresti and I was 10 in 1989 when the revolution took place .I re- cousins place but I needed to be in the city during the week in order to
member the family vacations we used to take to the seaside, spending find a job. The things I loved about the city right away was the racial
my summer vacations with relatives in different places of the country. I diversity, fashion, energy of the city and how open the gays were. I also
was always outdoors and in nature during the summer time. There was like that we are surrounded by water and you can the the subway to the
a lack of everything though, from food, to tv programs, clothing etc but I beach during summer. In Romania most gay people were in the closet
feel like we made the best of the situation. People used to get creative. and there was only one gay bar in Bucharest, the capital of the country. I
For a long time bananas and oranges reminded me of Christmas and think there is still only one to this day. My first job was in Soho, as a vi-
happy times for example. We didn’t have access to exotic fruits often and sual merchandiser/ sales in a denim store so I was kind of in the middle
almost never to products from the west .I remember the never ending of everything. It took me about 8 months to get used to things and about
lines for everything and to this day I have no patience to wait in any line. 2 years to start liking NYC and my life here.
I don’t know if it’s because the communism, the way I was brought up
or just the way I am but I don’t like waisting anything and I always live I never felt fear or discriminated for being an immigrant but I came here
within my means. I never had any debt and I own my apartment, which is legally as I mentioned previously, I received a green card right away
pretty rare in New York City, especially for an immigrant. and I got my citizenship a few years after. It was really hard to rent
an apartment, start building credit and find a job although I was legaly
Growing up gay in Romania wasn’t always easy, luckily my parents put here, had a SSN and kind of spoke English. I can not imagine how hard
me in art school since fifth grade and I continued with art high school it would have been otherwise. I never contemplate moving back to Ro-
and collage. I still got teased and bullied occasionally by other students mania, I think I’ve changed too much living here for 17 years and I won’t
PART THREE

PART THREE
and sometimes teachers but it would have been a lot worse have I gone fit in that society anymore, if I ever did, especially as a gay men married
to a regular school / high school. I always though I was different and fab- to another man. Gay marriage is still illegal in Romania although it’s part
ulous and didn’t exactly fit in Romania. Collage was great in that regard, I of EU now.
was never bullied and it gave me a real bust of confidence over all.After
collage I started working in television, which I loved but I remember In conclusion, I don’t have regrets, I have a happy, good life in US although
being basically outed to my family by the human resource person at my I do consider moving to other countries. I do feel sad sometimes that I
job. I think it was 2003-2004 and it happened that my family doctor was missed out on family events and just spending more time with them. The
also her family doctor, I can not believe it thinking back. time flew by quickly and my parents passed away, my only connection
to Romania is now my sister and a few family members and old friends.
I came to US in 2005 when I was 25, not during communism. I wasn’t
necessarily planning to leave Romania but I put my name randomly in - Nicolae Rita
The US Green Card Lottery and I won a green card. I remember how
surreal it felt, I was scared and excited and decided to give it a shot. My
main reason for going for it was the diversity, opportunities and freedom
US had to offer. It was really hard to leave my family and friends behind
but I had a cousin living here, in NYC and she helped me a bit. Arriving
here, I hated NYC, I was overwhelmed and I felt suffocated. I was also
really anxious about speaking English and finding work.My English was
ok to get around but I was embarrassed not to make mistakes speaking
and there were a lot of words I didn’t know which made it hard to inter-
view for jobs.

154 155
 Când pleci din tara ta, de desprinzi din mediu-l tău,
primi doi ani de zile sunt foarte grei fiind ca te apuca
dor de familie si locuri. Perioada de acomodare pana

PART THREE
înveți limba si începi sa cunoști împrejurul ia cât va
timp. Nostalgia începe sa muncească la moment.

-Iris Sincraian Hirth

156 157
 Trăind in România au fost sentimente alambicate sub comunism, bune si
rele. Pana in 80 si la început a fost bine, dupăia totul sa schimbat pana
la revoluția de 1989. Ne-a privat de libertate si trebuia sa faci ce ți-se
spune. Însă sistemul școlar era foarte bine organizat, cultura generala
si profesori erau foarte compatibili. Nu se compara școala de azi cu
școala de atunci, băga carte in tine. Toata lumea erau urmăriți de secu-
ritate, nu poți sa vorbești ce vrei, trebuia sa minți sa ai spui ce voiau ei sa
audă. Când crești in comunism, ramai cu sechele. Nu se da seama, dar
după atâția ani te găsești ca cumperi o groaza de mâncare la magazin de
fiecare data ca te gândești probabil o-sa ramai fără. Te afectează si faci
in totdeauna termen de comparație. Însă totul nu era rău, de exemplu
toata lumea avea servici, si un program pe care îl urmarea. Noi făceam
si școală sâmbătă, ne punea la manevre sa tragem cu arma, ne duceam
pe câmp la cartofi sa tragem recolta, sa culegem si sa ducem castane.

Ca o persona de culoare observai ca e rar când vezi pe cineva ca mine.

O tara mediocră si primitiva, au fost foarte multe discriminări si jigniri.
Însă, nu de la toata lumea; eu am crescut in Brașov si nu era cazuri de
genul asta acolo dar Moldoveni erau oameni fără cultura si înapoiați. Ex-

PART THREE
periențele au fost așa de pozitive cat de negative. La școală nu am avut
probleme, doar pe strada mai auzeam niște lucruri.

Apropiind de sfârșit la comunism era groaznic, nu mai dădeau căldură,

apa, nimic. Trăia poporul într-o situație extraordinar de redusa. Si chiar
erau niște persoana care nu aveau ce sa mănânce pe la oraș. La tara
daca aveai 10 găini trebuia sa dai 2 la stat, daca aveai un porc trebuia sa
dai o parte la stat când îl tăiai. Normal când scapi de acolo la libertate
si vi in Germania, te afectează când faci termen de comparație si ramai
cu traume. Eu nu am vrut neapărat sa mă mut in Germania pentru ca nu
îmi a plăcut niciodată. Am venit aicea din presiunea si influenta mătuși
mei care locuia aicea la timp. Cred ca a fost un fel de soarta pentru mine,
nu cred ca am vrut neapărat sa plec din România. Când pleci din tara ta,
de desprinzi din mediu-l tău, primi doi ani de zile sunt foarte grei fiind
ca te apuca dor de familie si locuri. Perioada de acomodare pana înveți
limba si începi sa cunoști împrejurul ia cât va timp. Nostalgia începe sa
muncească la moment. La câteva luni iți vine sa împachetezi totul si sa
pleci acasă. In mod simplu, sa iți plantezi rădăcinile înapoi nu e niciodată
simplu. Dar ironia este ca daca ai plecat de atât de mult timp nu mai vrei
sa te întorci acasă. Romania a înțeles democrația greșit, nu a făcut nimic
sa ridica tara si mă oprește sa mă întorc sa înapoi.

- Iris Sincraian Hirth
158 159
 Pana mia dat Green card am fost stresata in fiecare zi
ca o-să mă duc înapoi. Cred ca toți imigranți care vin
aicea ași fac fricile astea. Vrei să fi corect, dar nicio-
PART THREE

PART THREE
dată nu ști ce poate să găsească.

-Aurelia Badiu

160 161
162 163
 Alegerea mea sa vin în America era ca am fost căsătorita. Vi și tragi Sentimentele au fost alambicate, prima data când vi aici, te speri pen-
pentru familia ta dar când ajungi aicea realizezi ca familia nu este o tru ca e totul nou. Și trebuie sa o iei ca un bebeluș cu primi pași, și
familie deloc. Direct in laștina, și trebuie sa lupți sa supraviețuiești sa sa înveți să mergi. Să le ei pe toate din mers. Experiențe bune sau
ieși din lastina aia pentru ca ai un copil cu tine, și nu mai contează ce întâmplat când mia venit cardul de Green card permanent, am fost
faci tu pentru tine personal, focus-ul tău se schimba pe copil. Alegerea cea mai fericita. Când am dat de cetățenie, și am făcut parte din masa
ca sa vi e sa ai familia împreuna, dar primul lucru important e sa îi asta mare din america, a fost cel mai frumos sentiment. Ști ca aparții
dai copilul tău o șansă mai buna decât tu a avut. Venind din România, undeva, ești acasă de atâția ani de zile. Până sa am cetățenia, m-am
unde comunismul sa terminat, viitorul pentru copilul meu era aici in simțit dis conectată, am simțit ca nu aparțin nimănui. Nu sunt in nici o
america. parte. In România nu puteam sa mă întorc și aicea, nu eram cetățean.
Și undeva in sufletul tău, ești cu un picior in România și altul aicea.
Experiența de imigrant este destul de dificila. Impactul in primul rând e Întotdeauna ești undeva in mijloc, chiar a nimănui. Pana mia dat Green
destul de tragic pentru ca pleci dintr-o tara unde ești obișnuit, și vi în- card am fost stresata in fiecare zi ca o-să mă duc înapoi. Cred ca toți
tr-o totala alta lume. Nu cunoști pe nimeni, nu ai pe nimenea aproape, imigranți care vin aicea ași fac fricile astea. Vrei să fi corect, dar nicio-
nu cunoști limba, nu cunoști obiceiurile, nu cunoști cultura, este car dată nu ști ce poate să găsească.
și cum într-o data peste noapte te-ai trezit și te-ai teleportat. Trebuie
sa o iei încet încet de la început in nou, indiferent ce ai lăsat in urma. Idea să locuiesc înapoi in România, nu mă face să mă simt bine. Sunt
Pentru ca trebuie sa supraviețuiești. De exemplu daca nu ai carnet de atâți ani de zile când m-am rupt de locul ala, după un număr de an pe
conducere nu poți sa muncești. Ca-sa ai carnet de conducere trebuie care locuiești într-o tara, deja acolo te simți acasă, este noua casa.
PART THREE

PART THREE
sa ști limba și ar trebui sa stau sa învăț, sa pot sa îmi iau testul in or- Nu uiți niciodată de unde ai plecat, dar nu as mai putea sa trăiesc în
dine sa pot sa muncesc. Pentru mine a fost destul de dificil pentru ca România. In momentul in car vezi și altceva, venind dintr-o tara co-
de fapt nu era numai testul de carnet, eu aveam carnet de ani de zile, munista, știam ce am lăsat in urma dar ce aveam in fata mea era mult
era test de limba. A doua e când te duci la munca e destul de greu, n-ai mai frumos. Atunci dorința ta e sa fi acolo unde este mult mai bine, mai
istorie ori credit. E greu sa îți găsești o munca, o casa, nimeni nu îți liber, decât tara pe care ai lăsat-o. Se zice după 7 ani de zile într-o alta
închiriază o casa pentru ca îi trebuie credit check sau unde ai locuit in țară, deja țara aia devine noua ta casa. E foarte greu după atâția ani de
trecut și tu nu ai informația asta. Și a treia am avut-o la munca când America să mă întorc într-o țară de unde am plecat. E ca si cum maș
cineva vrea sa îți ia locul, te sapa pe la spate. Bineînțeles facă in așa fel întoarce înapoi în timp; nimeni nu vrea asta. Comunismul mia afectat
sa pici tu, eram foarte ușor de manipulate, neștiind cum sta treaba ai- viața la un alt nivel; m-am născut in el, și am crescut in el. In momen-
cea, eram victima din start. In general am muncit ca nebunul de mult, tul când sa terminat și a venit democrația, nu toata lumea a înțeles ce
nu îmi pasa daca alți mă sapa sau vorbea despre mine. Primul lucru înseamnă libertatea. În momentul când pleci dintr-o tara, realizezi ca
care conta e sa îmi plătesc chiria și sa avem ce manca. Trebuia sa am altceva mai minunat exista decât ce ai știut tu toata viața ta. Poți sa
grija de copilul meu. Munca era singurul lucru pe care era important vorbești liber, sa te exprimi, sa faci multe lucruri pe care pe perindata
in ordine sa fiu pe picioarele mele ca o mama singura. comunismului nu puteai sa le faci. Iți era frica și sa te gândești, poate
îți aud gândurile. Însă în America, daca îți place ceva poți sa spui ca îți
place, și daca nu îți place ceva...... POȚI SĂ SPUI CĂ NU ÎȚI PLACE. Fără
frica, ai dreptul sa te exprimi liber. Mie dor de România, dar nu foarte
mult, este o țară forate frumoasa. Are locurile ei frumoase și minun-
ate, dar mas duce doar să vizitez.
- Aurelia Badiu

164 165
PART THREE

PART THREE
We cling on to our culture like our life depends on it.
Overtime that is the only thing that grounds us.

18 19

166 167
FIG. 16
 Dimensions
Make a better life for your family
Surviving is priority number one in the jungle of man
Jumping dimensions and hoping to come out alive
Moving forward brings hope of never enduring the past

The same life experienced in separate bodies

Keeping us connected by a red and white thread
Our soul lives in motifs when we have physically separated
With fear and hope we march on
PART THREE

PART THREE
We fear the past yet half of our soul resides there
Our memories shape us into who we are
Distorting the reality of our dimensions
Forcing the union of the two

“You have to march on” they always say

Holding 2 jobs and never seeing your kids
Not knowing the language and customs
Through the discrimination and disrespect
“Keep your head down and endure it, it’s for the family”
168 169
PART THREE

PART THREE
170 171
FIG. 17
PART THREE

PART THREE
172 173
FIG. 18
 Nostalgia is the main component that keeps us tethered to our past. We
create another realm where we dip our conscious from reality time to
time. Its as if we don’t really care what the truth of the matter comes to,
we just want to exist in the past of what once was.

Migrating to a new country where one is a scared child, only clinging on

to their parents, changes one forever. They discover that the fantasy of
diaspora isn’t what it was said to be and instantly go into survival mode.
PART THREE

PART THREE
Over time the displacement, discrimination, and expectations take a toll
on their mental health and sense of identity. Having to make their par-
ents proud because “they sacrificed so much for their child to have a bet-
ter future” and “upholding traditions” becomes a constant burden once
a foot is placed on new soil. We miss the memories of what once was,
in realization that we cannot return back. In doing so we carry around a
puzzled sense of identity that we are constantly trying to piece together.

- Anca Gherghiceanu

174 175
176 177
178 179
 IMAGE CREDITS
Mihnea Turcu
Figure 1 pg 20
Figure 2 pg 24
Figure 4 pg 32

IMAGE CREDITS Figure 5 pg 40

Figure 7 pg 53
Figure 9 pg 65

IMAGE CREDITS Tudor Constantinescu

Figure 3 pg 28
Figure 6 pg 44

IMAGE CREDITS
Figure 8 pg 56

Costica Acsinte
Figure 10 pg 72

IMAGE CREDITS
Figure 11 pg 73
Figure 12 pg 74
Figure 13 pg 75

IMAGE CREDITS
Romanian Journal
Figure 14 pg 151

Corbis

IMAGE CREDITS
Figure 15 pg 152

Bianca Popescu
Figure 16 pg 171

IMAGE CREDITS Peter Kayafas

Figure 17 pg 174
Figure 18 pg 176

180 181