Check out these family photo images:
Romanian Family
Image by JoshLawton
This is the family that lives in the house in which my Grandmother was born. Way back in the 30's my Grandmother's family evacuated Crainimat because the Russians advanced from the East. Practically all of the German-ethnic town fled to the West during this time. Eventually, native Romanians settled there and have been there ever since. Four generations of the same family living here; the oldest is not in this photo.
When I first arrived in Crainimat I had no idea which house was my Grandmother's, nor did I know any one there. Arriving there around 7:00 a.m., I was a complete stranger. The locals took note of that obvious fact and invited me to come to the local general store. Over fresh coffee we determined that I was looking for a house, but none of us could communicate effectively because I don't speak enough Romanian and they spoke no English.
After some time of communicating by hand signals and pointing to words in my Romanian phrase book, they called a middle-aged lady who was visiting her family there. Turns out she speaks German, though she's originally from Romania (she currently lives in Nurenberg, Germany), making meaningful communication possible. Between me thinking in English and speaking in German and her translating what I said to Romanian, the crowd that was now gathered recalled my Grandmother's visit four years prior and excitedly pointed us in the right direction. I was home.
Indeed, the house was where Grandma specified--right across the street from the church.
The lady and I walked up the street to meet the folks who live there. We first tried the front door, but no body answered. Not giving up, we then went around back and discovered an older couple there. Despite being a complete stranger, I was warmly welcomed into their home and given a nice breakfast and, with the help of my German-speaking friend, carried on a conversation.
I explained who I am and why I was visiting Crainimat. They smiled in understanding.
I stayed the night there and met the rest of the large family--all of them living different parts of the house. My Grandmother states that they've added to the house based on my photos and layout. They're all very friendly and caring--even to complete strangers like me. It remains one of my most fond and memorable travel experiences.
When Grandma was there in 2001 she didn't get a chance to meet the folks in the photo above. Nevertheless, a neighbor not only remembered my Grandmother's visit, but brought a photo of her and his wife together four years earlier. Such a simple gesture meant so much to me because in my haste packing for the trip I forgot to bring a picture of my own family with me.
Cardiff City Stadium - Family Stand - Grange end
Image by joncandy
22/08/10 CCMB v AAMB. Fred Keenor Charity Match, Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales
World Ferility Rates: Indigenous Family in Viet Nam
Image by United Nations Photo
A mother and her three children, part of the indigenous Hmong group, in Sin Chai, northwestern Viet Nam.
The general trend in world fertility rates shows they are in decline - due to a combination of factors, including economic development and the improved social role of women.
Photo ID 491879. 23/06/2011. Sin Chai, Viet Nam. UN Photo/Kibae Park. www.unmultimedia.org/photo/
