Why Here? Why Now?
Good question! To be honest … I’m not sure. Impulse perhaps? Outside influence? If everyone else has a blog, why not me as well? especially when I have a little more writing experience than your average fellow.
Still, the greatest motivation must have undoubtedly been the desire to express myself, to share my views, because even though few might read these pages, what I have written will linger onwards. In real life you hardly ever have such an option. I have seen too many times, and recently as well, how people are never appreciated for their innovating ideas but solely for obeying the system and praising the so-called superiority of those in charge, those who create or help maintain the system.
Like Eminescu said oh so truly:
« Toate micile mizerii unui suflet chinuit
Mult mai mult ii vor atrage decat tot ce ai gandit. »
(All the petty grieves and worries of a much tormented mind
Will incite them higher than any idea your mind has ever designed.)
The English translation was made by me, taking as point of reference the translation of Leon Levitchi. I have modified a few words and expression to better express the original idea, although the Romanian version is the one that holds the true essence. This is the case with all great poetry of all languages; translations are never capable of reproducing the original in its fullness, which is why poetry is better understood by one who speaks the language in which it has been originally written.
Speaking of different languages, perhaps some people who know me personally are wondering why I chose to write in English and not in my native language, Romanian. The answer is simple: why write in a language that I already know? I might know English well but still I do not know it well enough and I want to perfect my knowledge of this language. I want to learn other languages as well but I want to master the English language as if it were my first. Also, writing in English offers the advantage of a larger audience and besides, almost everyone I know has an advanced knowledge of the English language and can understand my writing. As for comments, I don’t mind if you write in Romanian.
To shatter any doubt, I feel obliged to mention that it is not my intention to forget my native language. Though I must admit that I wish to move out of this country I never want to become one of those people who after living for several years abroad can’t even speak their language anymore. I hate that with all my being. I might dislike a lot of things about Romania but sill it is my homeland and I do not want to forget it. I do not want to forget the language or renounce my Romanian citizenship in favour of a foreign one. When I go abroad I will make sure to take books with me and check Romanian sites daily on the internet so that I do not break away from my origins. I like the Romanian language and am proud to be able to speak such a difficult language when so many others in this world can’t even speak correctly in their own simple mother tongue, even if it’s the only language they know. Bottom line, I never want to forget my first language and how to speak it correctly.
That is about it for now. I do have ideas for further posts but until I write them down I will probably post various compositions of mine which I have written in the past but did not post, not in a blog anyway. I must warn you though that I am a very complex person so the topics of my posts may vary, from very serious ones to more … fun ones, sometimes referred to as “fluff”.
In the end I leave you with one of my dearest songs. It is a sad song and, despite appearances, not necessarily a love one. It can fit in various moods and I play it often, usually when I am in a more depressive state. I suppose I am a bit of a masochist when it comes to sorrow. I can’t just take my mind of it and think happy thoughts, I have to consume the sorrow in order to overcome it, and temporarily allow it to consume me. We have a symbiotic relationship, I suppose.
Tags: beginning, blog, Eminescu, English, impulse, Introduction, Romania, Romanian, sorrow, writing
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