【IhavehappymemoriesoftripstoEuropebutmytriptoRomania(罗马尼亚)wasunique.WhenIwasthereasrecalleditwaslikebeingina“JamesBond”movie.Myhusbandwasborntherebuthisf】

　　IhavehappymemoriesoftripstoEuropebutmytriptoRomania(罗马尼亚)wasunique.WhenIwasthereasrecalleditwaslikebeingina“JamesBond”movie.MyhusbandwasborntherebuthisfamilysenthimtostudyinItaly.Beforehelefthismothertoldhim“AslongasIwriteinpencildon’tcomeback.WhenIwritetoyouinpenit’ssafetoreturn.”Butsheneverwroteinpen.

　　MyhusbandlivedapoorlifeinItaly.HeappliedtogotoAmericabuttherewasalimitinnumberandhewasrejected.HewasacceptedbyCanadathoughandfromCalgaryhejumpedontoatraintoSanFrancisco.Therehestayed—illegally.HebecameaUScitizenwhenwegotmarried.BythenhewasacharmingEuropeanwithaRomanianaccentandthemannersofaprince.

　　Withsevenyears’experienceinAmericaaUSpassportandtwochildrenlaterhefeltitwassafetovisitRomania.Hehadn’tseenhismothertwosistersandtwobrotherssincehewassixteen.WeflewtoMunichGermany;pickeduptheGerman-madecarwehadpurchasedintheStates;anddrovetoRomaniaviaAustriaandHungary.WhenwereachedBucharestthecapitalcityofRomaniahisfamilywaswaitingoutsidehissister’shousetogreetus.AfteralongtimeofhuggingkissingandcryinghisfamilyalsohuggedmetheAmericanwifewithtwoyoungchildren.Theyhadgreatinterestinme.FewAmericansvisitedRomaniaatthattimeandmostRomanianshadlittlechancetotravel.IhadbroughtanEnglish-Romaniandictionarywithmeandmanagedtocommunicateusingonlynounswithnoverbs.MyRomanianimprovedandthefamily’sstockofEnglishwordsincreasedbutmostlyIspokeinbrokenNewYork-accentedRomanian.Thesisterslovedtheirgiftsofskirtsandpursesthebrotherslovedtheradiosandthechildrenlovedthecandy.WemadesidetripstotheBlackSeaandenjoyedsightseeinginbeautifulmountains.Diningatoutdoorcafestothemusicofviolinswasfantasticwithfancyflavorbutnothingwasasspecialasfamilydinners.

　　Romaniadidn’thavemanydrycleaners.Mosthomeshadold-fashionedwashingmachinesbutnodryersanditwasahotsummer.Myhusband’srelativesdidn’twanttoriskdirtyingtheirclothes.Theirsolutionwasassimpleasitwasshocking:thewomenonlyworetheirbras(胸罩)andslips(衬裙)atdinnertable.Themenwereeatingwithoutshirts.Theyallhadjobssotimewasprecious.Havingdinnerw