Romania`s Day & “We have time…”
First of December is Romania`s National Day, and this year, for the first time I might add, I actually went out and celebrated it!
Well, I don`t mean to sound that proactive actually, cause we enjoyed an invitation from Aynur, and from the Romanian Embassy, and we just said yes. Thank you again!
Interesting feeling, I guess until last night I didn`t really connect with my status of Diaspora, so to say. But as time goes by and I get more and more integrated in Azerbaijan, I get to understand Romania better as well.
Anyway, the event was hosted at the Hyatt Hotel and it was was really great! Enjoyed good company, got to meet some interesting new people, the food was not Romanian, but still very good.
I found myself missing sharing a traditional Romanian meal, cooked in Ruginoasa (a place 1 hour from Iasi), the other day. Definitely on my To Do list when I visit Romania.
I also am very aware of the fact that I said “Visit” Romania, and not “Go back To”. I`ll leave you to speculate on that one dear reader 
).
Now, since it was a free day for us (well, free only technically speaking cause I had awesome company meetings), after the whole reception I decided to enjoy a walk alone through the Old City and the Caspian Sea side of Baku. I Seriously need to do this more often. Really helps clear the mind and accept mistakes, make hard decisions, relax, all that essential stuff that keeps us going through the storm.
Now, going down to business and the second part of this post, I would like to thank Mihai for sharing this wonderful Romanian poem with us on his blog a while back, ( http://mihainegru.blogspot.com/2010/11/we-have-time.html ).
I loved this poem. It reminds of some Romanian words of wisdom that shape our culture, which become so much more alive in me whilst everyday I`m unraveling a different culture over here.
Without further ado:
Octavian Paller – We have time
To sleep, to run to the right or left
to regret that we were wrong and be wrong again
to judge others and to absolve ourselves from guilt
we have time to read and write,
to correct what we wrote, to regret what we wrote,
we have time to make plans and not respect them,
we have time to make illusions and stir through their ashes later.
We have time for ambitions and diseases
to blame faith and details,
we have time to watch the clouds, some ads, or a random accident,
we have time to drive away the questions and to postpone the answers
we have time to crush a dream and to reinvent it,
we have time to make friends and to lose them,
we have time to learn our lessons and forget them later
we have time to receive gifts and not understand them.
We have time for all.
It’s just not enough time for a little tenderness.
When we do it, we die.
I learned some things in life that I want to share with you!
I learned that you cannot make someone love you
All you can do is be loved.
The rest … depends on the others.
I learned that how much I might care
others might not care at all.
I learned that it takes years to gain trust
and only a few seconds to lose it.
I learned that it doesn’t matter WHAT you have in life
But WHO you have.
I learned that you can handle and use your charm for about 15 minutes
afterwards though, you’d better know something.
I learned that you should not compare yourself with what others can do better
But what can you do
I learned that it doesn’t matter what happens to people
What matter is what can I do to help
I learned that no matter how you cut
Everything has two sides
I learned that you have to leave the loved ones with warm words
It might be the last time you see them
I learned that you can continue for a long time
After you said you can’t.
I learned that heroes are those who do what it’s needed, when it’s needed
Whatever the consequences
I learned that there are people who love you
But don’t know how to show it
I learned that when I’m upset, I have THE RIGHT to be upset
But I don’t have the right to be mean
I learned that true friendship continues to exist even at long distance
And this also goes for true love
I learned that if someone does not love you as you want
It does not mean he does not love you with all his heart.
I learned that no matter how good a friend is
He will hurt you from time to time
And you must forgive him for that.
I learned that it’s not always enough to be forgiven by others
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself
I learned that no matter how much you suffer,
The world will not stop running because of your pain.
I learned that the past and circumstances may influence your personality
But YOU are responsible for what you become
I learned that if two people argue, that doesn’t mean that they do not love each other
And the fact that there’s no arguing does not prove that they love each other.
I learned that sometimes you have to put the person first
And his actions
I learned that two people can look to the same thing
And see something totally different
I learned that regardless of the consequences
Those who are honest with themselves get farther in life
I learned that your life can be changed in a few hours
By people who do not know you.
I learned that when you think you’ve got nothing to give
When a friend calls, you’ll find the strength to help.
I learned that writing
and talking
Can soothe the soul pain
I learned that people you care most
Are taken away too quickly …
I learned that it is too hard to figure
Where to draw the line between being nice, not to hurt people and to support your opinions.
I learned to love
To be loved.
