This Week… in Your Letters

A selection of some of the messages received as part of RRIs competitions Govora Spa – A Healing Oasis and Holiday on the Black Sea:

România Internațional, 09.05.2015, 14:20

“During my school-days I heard the name of Nadia Elena Comăneci, winner of three Olympic gold medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics and wondered that she was the first female gymnast who scored a perfect 10 in an Olympic gymnastic event. Moreover she was a Romanian! In my youth, I have gone through the thriller of Dracula, which originated from Romania! You may know that being an inhabitant of West Bengal (India) I have been brought up in a communist environment, thus I have some natural curiosity about Romanias history of communism.” (Binarani Mondal, India)

“Learning about the Govora Spa is its own reward, but the chance for an opportunity of actually visiting one of the places one hears about via Radio Romania International is one that I did not want to miss.” (Matthew Weitendorf, USA)

“I never followed RRI till the end of 2014, but my father used to tune in to RRI for decades. Then my father has shown me how to tune in to RRI on shortwave and online. After then I started following the RRI English service and like it very much particularly the contest announcements.”(Gayatri Chattopadhyay, India)

“I am, I must admit, shamefully healthy, so my reason for competing is not primarily to receive treatment at the spa, even though I wouldnt pass the opportunity to indulge myself in mud baths and mineral water therapy, but more to relax in a beautiful and inspiring environment, with opportunity to make exploratory trips in the Valcea County, which obviously is full of both cultural and culinary treasures for the visitor to enjoy.” (Per-Allan Olsson, Sweden)

“I have always fantasised about visiting Romania and its neighbouring countries Hungary and Bulgaria. The name Romania echoes two things in mind, Romance and Rome. In my language the word Romani stands for romantic. I like the green, peaceful and serene environment of this country which is unlike the countries of Western Europe. What I have learnt about Romania from literature and online surfing, its that it is very close to nature and people are very hospitable and simple in their lives. They are also very close to nature. (…) I regularly follow the broadcasts of RRI on internet in order to get to know not only about the country, but also the culture, politics, issues and challenges Romaniais facing in the 21st century.” (Hamid Kiani, Pakistan)

“It is always motivating that these contests are helping me to learn more of Romania though I am far from the featured location, as this type of contests are a true mirror of how Romania has evolved over the years.” (Mogire Machuki, Kenya)

“The reasons for competing is that I can know more about the Romanian Black Sea coast by participating in this contest. (…) RRI has given me a rare opportunity to learn more about the far off country of Romania and its people which would otherwise be near impossible. RRI is our third eye to see and feel Romania, Romanian history, arts and culture, people and places and travel destinations.” (Mofizur Rahman, Bangladesh)

“Travel has a great potential to widen the horizon of our knowledge. The more we travel the more we acquire experience. Experience is sometimes very educative. Coming into contact with the people of different regions who are varied in their culture and temperament exposes us to the wide variety of human nature. Living secluded in our own place and thinking that our world is a model world, that our world is the most comfortable, that our world is the ultimate world, lands us in an illusion. We will be a frog in the well if we are not inquisitive enough to know about the outer world.” (Muhammad Shamim, India)

“I decided to enter the contest because today was the first time that I heard Radio Romania International and I learned about the contest. I have shown interest in Romania in the past because the language is a Romance Language and because I remember the Olympic competitions and how well the Romanians performed.” (José Rivera Reyes, USA)

“I just like competing, especially when it gives me an opportunity to explore new ideas, new lands and their history and culture. I particularly like to follow Romania on all the various media because of the beauty and diversity of its cultural landscape and the uniqueness of its people.” (Keith Simmonds, France)

“I always enter your competitions. This one has a particular appeal because I so like the seaside! It is, I think, something of a British obsession. A trivial reason but that is it. As for following RRI, Romania is one of the countries in which I take more than a passing interest. This is partly because you actually bother to broadcast to us and tell us about your country and play its music. It all has a real allure. Most countries have given up the idea of international friendship over the radio waves but not, I am pleased to say, Romania.” (Brian Kendall, UK)

“I guess we all store the most peculiar memories and souvenirs. In front of me are two tickets, that I bought 10 years ago – both filled with a moment of nostalgia. The small one is a train ticket. One of those we bought when I was a child and a young man. The distance and price was already printed on it: Mangalia-Constanta, price is 16,000 Lei, and written with a pen: 3,20, because in 2005 Romania changed money. The lady that sold me the ticket had a whole collection of tickets and a machine to press the date. The second is an entrance ticket for the Constanta Museum of Art and very artistic in its design. I remember being the only guest on a sunny day. I had the full attention of a very friendly staff, and felt that I had to buy my souvenirs in their shop.” (Hans Verner Lollike, Denmark)

“I am a radio enthusiast and DX-ing is my one and only hobby. In 1982 I started to tune in my grandfathers Philips valve type receiver. In the year 1990 I started to listen Radio Romania on my own Philips 3 band receiver. I am always hungry to know other peoples culture, tradition, way of living and many more. At that time the Internet was not available. Only SW filled my hunger. Time has gone by, information is now at our fingertips. But still I hang on to radio or radio related sources. My motivation is still exploring the world through radio and RRI is one of the best windows to fulfil this desire.” (Ashik Eqbal, Bangladesh)

“On January 1, 1979 my Maternal Uncle (Late Sh.Meehu Ram Sharma) gifted me a short wave radio manufactured with his own hands, as a New Year gift. On September 12, 1979 I listened to Radio Moscow (Hindi Service) for the first time, by chance. I cannot explain my happiness in words when I listened to Radio Moscow (Hindi Service) for the first time. It was the beginning of my hobby of Radio listening.” (Surendra Kumar, India)

“RRI is one of the few shortwave stations left in Europe and which still broadcasts to Asia. It programs give me another perspective on events in that part of the world. Yes, I could read about the same events on many internet websites, but hearing the actual voices of announcers talk and discuss these matters increases the impact of the news on me. No longer sterile, but vivid and alive – thanks to the human element.” (John Rutledge, USA)

“I am a Mathematics teacher born in Delhi, the National Capital. My husband used to listen to Radio Romania International. Sometimes he received some Romanian books and magazines. I used to look over them. That created my interest in Romania and its people. Sometimes my children also listen to Romanian music through the Internet. Basically my husband gave me and my children a start towards Romanian life and culture.” (Kamlesh Gautam, India)

“I decided to take part in the Contest as I would like to get to know this part of Dobrugea which is of great historical significance. I tune in to RRI to find out about different aspects of Romania and the work going on to modernise the country. Also to find out more about Romanian culture and to enjoy its music.” (Christer Brunstrom, Sweden)

“(…) I have been listening to Radio Romania for many years, since I was a student in high school; in fact in those times I didnt have a TV at home and I used to listen to the short waves. I got used to listening to the short waves and Ive never stopped. It s also a habit of mine to participate in any contests broadcast through the short waves.” (Messaoud Benaissa, Algeria)

“My son has just married a woman from Romania and now I want to learn as much as possible about her country. I am very interested about other countries and cultures. I would like to see the beaches, the mountains, the cities and the countryside. I dont know very much about Romania but what I read it seems like a very interesting country and best of all its yet not too explored by tourists. Serene and beautiful nature is also what I read about. I really hope I will win this prize so I can explore part of Romania and let my friends in Sweden know what an interesting country this is.” (Inger Holmberg, Sweden)

“I am online listener and website visitor since more than five years. (…) RRI is the only source for me to learn more and more about the culture, history, traditions, nature, geography of Romania. It is also a important tool for me to learn and know the point of view of Romania on various issues faced by international community.” (Mitul kansal, India)

“I follow RRIs broadcasts on air and online because youths and young adults (aged 15 to 30) are RRIs primary target audience. In our target areas, young people make up the majority of the population, and are a source of energy and change. Interaction and participation via internet and social media are essential to changemakers. RRIs media responds to this by entering into conversation with its target audiences and stimulating co-creation.” (Shahzad Shabbir, Pakistan)