Romania Through Their Eyes

Romania Through Their Eyes – Laura Tonlaveur

I promised it, and kept my word. Just launched a new show of my own that’s been in the works for some time. It’s live, right now, on my YouTube channel.

The show is called “Romania Through Their Eyes”, and it’s a series of interviews with foreigners — people who visited Romania, spent time in the country, and wanted to share their thoughts with me.

Episode RTTE-001-FR-HD
Released 2/1/11

The purpose of the show is to get their impressions about the country, and start a dialogue which will lead to a greater understanding of the issues facing Romanians and Romania. I’m hoping this will have an impact on the leadership of the country, and help them to focus their attention on issues that are of international relevance. Because, let’s face it, Romania’s reputation in the world isn’t exactly spotless…

This first interview is with Laura, who is from the South of France, and spent two and a half months in Romania in the fall and winter of 2010.

Thanks to YouTube’s CC option, I can provide two language tracks (English and Romanian) for each show. You’ll have to excuse my translation, I’m doing my best and it may not be as accurate as I want it to be, but at least it’s there. If there’s a need for subtitles in another language, get in touch with me and we’ll work together to get them up there.

My current plans are to put out one episode per month. As you know, I already film, direct, edit and produce my wife’s two shows (Ligia’s Kitchen and Quilling – The Art of Paper Filigree). There’s a significant time commitment already devoted to them. And you wouldn’t believe how much work goes on behind the scenes for one of these interviews… But, as I say in the video, if there’s enough interest, I’ll be glad to roll up my sleeves and get to work on more frequent episodes, like bi-monthly ones, or even once a week, who knows. It’s up to you — so if you like it, spread the word, like it, fave it, share it, etc. — get the word out!

Thank you!

Standard

Episode 8 of Ligia’s Kitchen is out, as of a few minutes ago. This week’s recipe is raw almond milk. It’s easy, quick, delicious and economical. But don’t take my word for it. Try it out for yourselves!

Episode LK-008-RO-HD
Released 1/30/11

It’s the seventh episode of Ligia’s Kitchen, presenting a raw zacusca recipe.

Zacusca is a traditional spread in Romania, made from eggplant, red bell peppers and onions. Wikipedia has a nice entry explaining it in detail. It’s quite tasty.

The traditional recipe involves a lot of cooking and some frying, which not only takes time, but also makes the spread fairly greasy and not so healthy. Ligia’s come up with a way to make it raw, delicious, and very healthy. Bon appetit!

Episode LK-007-RO-HD
Released 1/23/11

As I looked through my posts this morning, I realized that I’d forgotten to blog the third episode of Ligia’s Kitchen, which we released around Christmas time. It’s a delicious raw mint chocolate cake which takes about 15 minutes to make.

Episode LK-003-RO-HD
Released 12/26/10

A Guide To A Good Life

The real role of education

As debates about the direction of educational systems take place in the US and other countries, it’s worthwhile to take into consideration the possibility that we’re teaching the children too much theory and too many arcane concepts rather than practical things which will prepare them for real life.

There’s nothing wrong with knowing physics or calculus or biology, but if you have a child, wouldn’t you rather they leave compulsory education knowing the following practical things?

  • How to speak and write properly
  • How to balance a checkbook
  • How to budget their money
  • How not to fall prey to scams or predatory financial practices
  • How to maintain proper bodily hygiene
  • How to protect themselves from STDs and how to respect each other’s bodies
  • How to respect others and their beliefs
  • How not to fall prey to peer pressure
  • The importance of individuality and of having a backbone
  • How to put fashion second and budgets first
  • How to keep their homes clean and organized
  • How to avoid a consumerist mindset
  • How to respect the environment
  • How to recycle
  • How to purchase sustainable, highly recyclable, durable products
  • How to cook and wash dishes
  • How to garden
  • How to build things
  • How to paint
  • How to fix things
  • How to change a flat tire
  • How cars work
  • How to buy quality furniture
  • How to eat healthy
  • How to stay in shape
  • How to have fun without a TV or a movie
  • How to play sports
  • How to camp
  • How to explore the wilderness
  • How computers work and how to service basic hardware like memory, cards or hard drives
  • How to avoid viruses, spyware and other crap you find online
  • How to find true love and how to keep that love
  • How to take care of babies
  • How to find a job and how to do a good job
  • The importance of honesty and being forthright
  • How to accept responsibility
  • How to finish something they’ve started
  • How to investigate politicians and vote according to sound moral and ethical principles
  • How to drink responsibly
  • How to take care of pets
  • How to travel light
  • How to respect other cultures
  • How to draw
  • Basic art history
  • Basic anatomy and first aid
  • Basic preventive health

I believe this list of practical things is much more worthwhile for a child to know when he or she leaves school than other, more esoteric things, like what books a 19th century writer published, or the strength of the magnetic field generated by some electric motor. They’ll be much better equipped for life this way. Let’s leave the more advanced, the more scientific topics for those children who are interested in them, and for optional education, like college and graduate programs.

When a child finishes high school, they ought to know how to live as an adult, and that means knowing how to face the real world. I’m afraid we’re not equipping them to do that. That’s why we have so many people who fall prey to predatory scams, or who don’t know how to organize their homes, or who end up in abusive relationships or abuse others, because they don’t know better.

Standard