Comments for Dracula Is Dead - Book http://www.draculaisdead.com Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:43:28 +0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on My Romania by John K http://www.draculaisdead.com/my-romania/comment-page-1#comment-1232 John K Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:43:28 +0000 http://www.draculaisdead.com/?page_id=404#comment-1232 Memorable stories are often about misadventures. I have travelled in Romania a number of times. A few times I had the resources to rent a car. Being on a budget they were always the low-end, underpowered models. I have often defended the roads against the legends by noting that on the whole, the national roads are on a par with our state hiways: single lane and sometimes in need of attention, but perfectly serviceable. While driving through the moutains heading west from Bucuresti to Sibiu I found myself stuck in a line of tractor-trailers slowly making their way on the mountain-hugging winding road. Locals were gunning their way around the trucks, carefully calculating the timing on the blind corners. Finally, I had enough and decided to give it a try, too. I made a number of successful maneuvers and got rather confident. Carefully noting the road ahead I made my move. As I came abreast the truck I was passing a semi rounded the corner!! Because the 'throw' of the stick shift was unfamiliar to me I was afraid to simply downshift and gun the engine. I was missing the 'sweet-spot' occasionally and I knew if it happened then I would be (literally) dead in the road. At the same time, it was too late to brake and slide back behind the truck I was passing. My only option was to simply put the pedal to the medal and trust in God and my under-powered engine. I have no idea if either truck slowed to allow me maneuvering room, but I doubt it, knowing Romanian drivers. Nevertheless I was able to cut in front of the truck I was passing with millimeters to spare. I felt the total absence of blood in my head and eventually was able to get my heartrate under control. I never "drove like a Romanian" again. Memorable stories are often about misadventures. I have travelled in Romania a number of times. A few times I had the resources to rent a car. Being on a budget they were always the low-end, underpowered models.
I have often defended the roads against the legends by noting that on the whole, the national roads are on a par with our state hiways: single lane and sometimes in need of attention, but perfectly serviceable.
While driving through the moutains heading west from Bucuresti to Sibiu I found myself stuck in a line of tractor-trailers slowly making their way on the mountain-hugging winding road. Locals were gunning their way around the trucks, carefully calculating the timing on the blind corners.
Finally, I had enough and decided to give it a try, too. I made a number of successful maneuvers and got rather confident. Carefully noting the road ahead I made my move. As I came abreast the truck I was passing a semi rounded the corner!! Because the ‘throw’ of the stick shift was unfamiliar to me I was afraid to simply downshift and gun the engine. I was missing the ’sweet-spot’ occasionally and I knew if it happened then I would be (literally) dead in the road. At the same time, it was too late to brake and slide back behind the truck I was passing. My only option was to simply put the pedal to the medal and trust in God and my under-powered engine.
I have no idea if either truck slowed to allow me maneuvering room, but I doubt it, knowing Romanian drivers. Nevertheless I was able to cut in front of the truck I was passing with millimeters to spare. I felt the total absence of blood in my head and eventually was able to get my heartrate under control. I never “drove like a Romanian” again.

]]> Comment on My Romania by Andrei M. http://www.draculaisdead.com/my-romania/comment-page-1#comment-1063 Andrei M. Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:09:49 +0000 http://www.draculaisdead.com/?page_id=404#comment-1063 This book is a MUST READ for every Romanian-American out there, no excuse! It will take you back to your home country, and make you appreciate your heritage, while giving you hope and appreciation for a better future! Many thanks to the authors!!! This book is a MUST READ for every Romanian-American out there, no excuse! It will take you back to your home country, and make you appreciate your heritage, while giving you hope and appreciation for a better future! Many thanks to the authors!!!

]]> Comment on Read an excerpt by Anne Boyd http://www.draculaisdead.com/about-the-book/read-an-excerpt-2/comment-page-1#comment-1055 Anne Boyd Sat, 11 Dec 2010 06:49:03 +0000 http://development.recognos.ro/draculabook/?page_id=224#comment-1055 It seems the things I want to express to you personally are awaiting moderation. I will just say thank you for your enlightening book. -- Anne Clinical Social Worker living in Transylvania It seems the things I want to express to you personally are awaiting moderation. I will just say thank you for your enlightening book. — Anne Clinical Social Worker living in Transylvania

]]> Comment on Read an excerpt by Anne Boyd http://www.draculaisdead.com/about-the-book/read-an-excerpt-2/comment-page-1#comment-1054 Anne Boyd Sat, 11 Dec 2010 06:46:39 +0000 http://development.recognos.ro/draculabook/?page_id=224#comment-1054 Your entertaining, yet, heart wrenching book provides answers to many questions. King Michael’s comments about Communism snuffing out a spark in the people “hit the nail on the head.” He was there – saw it happen! Your entertaining, yet, heart wrenching book provides answers to many questions. King Michael’s comments about Communism snuffing out a spark in the people “hit the nail on the head.” He was there – saw it happen!

]]> Comment on Read an excerpt by Anne Boyd http://www.draculaisdead.com/about-the-book/read-an-excerpt-2/comment-page-1#comment-1053 Anne Boyd Sat, 11 Dec 2010 06:44:40 +0000 http://development.recognos.ro/draculabook/?page_id=224#comment-1053 a Sociology major, and Clinical Social Worker who specializes in trauma recovery, I have had many questions about what I see in Romania. Your entertaining, yet, heart wrenching book is providing answers to many questions. King Michael's comments about Communism snuffing out a spark in the people he grew up with “hit the nail on the head.” He was there - saw it happen! a Sociology major, and Clinical Social Worker who specializes in trauma recovery, I have had many questions about what I see in Romania.

Your entertaining, yet, heart wrenching book is providing answers to many questions. King Michael’s comments about Communism snuffing out a spark in the people he grew up with “hit the nail on the head.” He was there – saw it happen!

]]> Comment on Read an excerpt by Anne Boyd http://www.draculaisdead.com/about-the-book/read-an-excerpt-2/comment-page-1#comment-1052 Anne Boyd Sat, 11 Dec 2010 06:30:23 +0000 http://development.recognos.ro/draculabook/?page_id=224#comment-1052 As a Sociology major, and Clinical Social Worker who specializes in trauma recovery, I have had many questions about what I am seeing in Romania. (A volunteer with the Red Cross, in 2000, I began doing short term stints in Romania. I now live in Sfantu Gheorghe, Covasna County.) Your entertaining, and yet, at times, heart wrenching book is providing many answers to my questions. Your last two paragraphs quoting King Michael about how Communism snuffed out a spark in the people he grew up with (on pages 138 - 139) "hit the nail on the head." Observing the "learned helplessness" which seems to be a national epidemic, I began to search for the answer as to why so many Romanians think they "can't"... so they don't even try. My first conclusion was exactly what King Michael said. I've received many other "speculations." The King was there! He witnessed the change, and you recorded it. Thank you for this most interesting and entertaining book! -- Anne, MSSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor As a Sociology major, and Clinical Social Worker who specializes in trauma recovery, I have had many questions about what I am seeing in Romania. (A volunteer with the Red Cross, in 2000, I began doing short term stints in Romania. I now live in Sfantu Gheorghe, Covasna County.)

Your entertaining, and yet, at times, heart wrenching book is providing many answers to my questions. Your last two paragraphs quoting King Michael about how Communism snuffed out a spark in the people he grew up with (on pages 138 – 139) “hit the nail on the head.”

Observing the “learned helplessness” which seems to be a national epidemic, I began to search for the answer as to why so many Romanians think they “can’t”… so they don’t even try. My first conclusion was exactly what King Michael said.

I’ve received many other “speculations.” The King was there! He witnessed the change, and you recorded it. Thank you for this most interesting and entertaining book!

– Anne, MSSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor

]]> Comment on My Romania by Luisz M. Bobirca http://www.draculaisdead.com/my-romania/comment-page-1#comment-927 Luisz M. Bobirca Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:44:18 +0000 http://www.draculaisdead.com/?page_id=404#comment-927 I have just ordered the book and am interested by the many people who have commented on the book. I am Romanian and moved to the US as a small child. My father had the sense to send me back to my homeland as a child to study and spend my summers wandering the countryside. I can't begin to explain to you how beautiful Romania is. The north of the country is mountainous and the south is a sea of sun flowers, grain, and corn. The people are some of the most endering, funny, and welcoming people in the world. I did read one thing on the News section that I think was missed in the review by Elizabeth C. Hanink. That is that the government of Romania pushed people to have children. Childless couples were penalized. This is where the many children in orphanges came from. Under normal conditions Romania would have the same number of children or less in orphanages than any other European countries. I have just ordered the book and am interested by the many people who have commented on the book.

I am Romanian and moved to the US as a small child. My father had the sense to send me back to my homeland as a child to study and spend my summers wandering the countryside. I can’t begin to explain to you how beautiful Romania is. The north of the country is mountainous and the south is a sea of sun flowers, grain, and corn. The people are some of the most endering, funny, and welcoming people in the world.

I did read one thing on the News section that I think was missed in the review by Elizabeth C. Hanink. That is that the government of Romania pushed people to have children. Childless couples were penalized. This is where the many children in orphanges came from. Under normal conditions Romania would have the same number of children or less in orphanages than any other European countries.

]]> Comment on My Romania by Aurel http://www.draculaisdead.com/my-romania/comment-page-1#comment-922 Aurel Mon, 24 May 2010 15:40:48 +0000 http://www.draculaisdead.com/?page_id=404#comment-922 "Dracula is dead..." is an interesting book, but look the website here: you could find exclusive details from the Real Life of Vlad Tepes-Dracula. As long as the political situation of Eastern Europe and Walachia of XV century! “Dracula is dead…” is an interesting book, but look the website here: you could find exclusive details from the Real Life of Vlad Tepes-Dracula. As long as the political situation of Eastern Europe and Walachia of XV century!

]]> Comment on by Teodora http://www.draculaisdead.com/news/think-italy-not-vampires.html/comment-page-1#comment-722 Teodora Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:04:12 +0000 http://www.draculaisdead.com/?p=386#comment-722 I loved the book very much! It says a lot of beautiful things about my country and I'm proud of it! I loved the book very much! It says a lot of beautiful things about my country and I’m proud of it!

]]> Comment on My Romania by Alex M. http://www.draculaisdead.com/my-romania/comment-page-1#comment-616 Alex M. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:30:50 +0000 http://www.draculaisdead.com/?page_id=404#comment-616 The only reason I really read this book was out of moral obligation--my dad's friends wrote it, and it was signed for me, so I'd feel bad not reading it. I found it to be really eye-opening. I am Romanian, but I learned so many new things about my heritage from this book. I loved that it covered such broad topics--from the obvious political aspect of communism to the huge orphanage scandal that dubbed Romania with a bad reputation. I could easily identify with this book, and I liked that it wasn't completely dry even though it was in a sense a biography of Romania as a country, and was totally non-fiction. The only reason I really read this book was out of moral obligation–my dad’s friends wrote it, and it was signed for me, so I’d feel bad not reading it. I found it to be really eye-opening. I am Romanian, but I learned so many new things about my heritage from this book. I loved that it covered such broad topics–from the obvious political aspect of communism to the huge orphanage scandal that dubbed Romania with a bad reputation. I could easily identify with this book, and I liked that it wasn’t completely dry even though it was in a sense a biography of Romania as a country, and was totally non-fiction.

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