A quick bit from Diaspora

This is the fourth First of December that I ‘celebrate’ as part of the diaspora. Today is Romania’s National Day. A day in which social media is flooded with country-loving posts and people wearing traditional clothing. Nothing wrong with that per se. What is problematic, however, is the sheer amount of empty words and declarations bordering toxic nationalism.

I don’t have much to comment on this year. I’m just thinking about the promises that I made myself and Romania when I left. I am an expat. Home means London, not Baia Mare/Romania. Yet, I’m still there for the parts of Romania that I love and support - its literature, its growing youth sector, its good people and its beautiful places. Yes, I am ‘fighting’ from a comfortable space, miles away. I’d rather have ‘a walk-on part in a war’ than ‘a lead role in a cage’ (see ‘Wish You Were Here’ - Pink Floyd). I can do more from the outside, where I feel safe, where I can learn and grow, and where I can earn a living doing what I love.

Romania, I’ll be with you next Thursday. Only for one week, but I hope that it will be an impactful week. See you soon!