Romania Chronicles--Episode 1: in which our heroines learn that between the two of them they speak .33 Balkan languages

In Vrsac (nearly Romania, but in Serbia) a woman joins us in our train compartment. A is an ethnic Romanian Serbian citizen, fluent in both Serbian and Romanian, but not English. So the conversation becomes interesting. A is a masters student, studying psychology in Timisoara. F attempts to say that she studies public policy. It is a disaster. We both grasp for whatever words we can come up with in our respective Balkan languages – R, with her 2 months of Serbia & F, with her not-used-in-5-years Romanian. A small breakthrough occurs when R remembers the Serbian word for ‘parliament’ & she says “F will work in the parliament.” So, F will be a congresswoman when she grows up.

It is an epic 2 hour, 3 language conversation in which every statement needs to be translated to someone else. An example: A says to F, in Romanian (as best as F understands it) that she was not allowed to take some sort of exam at her Romanian university because she was improperly dressed. She wore a business suit, not the required mini skirt, bellybutton shirt and ugly shoes. F attempts to interpret this in English to R as A looks at R expectantly. F, making small talk, attempts to ask a question. It is not understood, so R must interpret it from English to Serbian. A then responds enthusiastically in Serbian & looks at F expectantly. Repeat ad nauseum.

Insights gain in this conversation include that the Banat is the only beautiful part of Romania; that Romanians are intelligent, gentle, and materialistic; and that there is no reason to go to Bucharest.

And, she gives us cookies.