Romania stands at a cultural crossroads — modern in law, traditional in spirit, and still deciding which part of itself will define the future. The Contradiction at the Heart of Modern Romania At first glance, Romania seems firmly part of the European modern project. It is a member of the European Union, bound by human-rights conventions, and home to a young generation that travels, studies, and works across a continent that increasingly values equality. Yet beneath that Euro

This message isn’t meant to alarm — but I write because I wholeheartedly believe in informed self-determination. We all know American feels uneasy. There’s a quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) tension under the surface politically, socially, and economically. I’m not sharing this to create fear. I’m sharing it because awareness gives us options and wisdom. Recently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increased its spending on weapons, explosives, and tactical gear

Many Americans grow up believing the United States is the safest place on earth. We picture flashing sirens, neighborhood watch signs, and the comfort of knowing that law and order are part of who we are. And we grow up assuming that many far away countries are dangerous, corrupt, and unpredictable. But as I started learning about Romania, I found the truth is practically the opposite. When you compare the numbers and the everyday lived experience, Romania is statistically sa

When suppression begins to take root, it rarely announces itself with drums or banners. It slips in quietly: a shift in tone, a...

There was a time when traveling from the United States carried a kind of lightness. You could say, I’m going abroad for a few weeks,  and...

When the world feels uncertain, the simple act of preparing food and water becomes something sacred. It is more than a survival task; it...

There’s something unsettling about the idea of leaving your home in minutes. None of us want to imagine it, and yet history shows us how...

In times like these—when conversations about civilian-on-civilian violence, even public executions, are no longer unthinkable in the...

For the past decade, I’ve dreamed of living in Europe. I wanted the rhythm of old cities, the slower pace of village life, and the chance...