Where it all began…
A bit over 30 years ago, during a snowy winter afternoon in northern Transylvania, Romania, I came into this world. It was a harsh, impoverished world, but the political landscape of Eastern Europe was on the brink of change. A change that would open the gates to the west in the coming decade.
Growing up, I always dreamed of going on adventures and exploring the world. However, the never ending financial difficulties kept me fairly grounded to my little region. During my teens I felt more and more out of place and began bicycling and hiking alone. Sometimes across local hills and mountains, sometimes from town to town. Ever driven by the need to keep going, keep exploring, see new things.
It was this love for new things, as well as the outdoors, which heavily influenced my path when applying for University. Since Public University in Romania is free, it was possible for me to attend even on an extremely tight budget. I ended up a geologist. An exciting and fun career, for sure! Yet, one with very little opportunities in my home country. My mind was already set on leaving by that point. My eyes were on Canada back then. I had family there already; two cousins. Everything was going to be great once I graduated! However, as I would learn many times, things rarely go as planned. Suffice to say, my first attempt to leave Romania was unsuccessful.
The years after my graduation were wrought with difficulties. For a while, I closed myself off from the world in self-reflection. I went back to my solo-walks across hills and mountains, lost in thought, with an ever growing desire to just leave and find my place in the world, to find… a home.
