Invitations, Memorials, Second Anniversary of the Russian Invasion, Springtime
I don't know how it's happening, but time is moving much more quickly now...
Mărțișor.
February took a break from a brightly-lit city center and remained cold, rainy, and hopeful. Ubiquitous flower shops do lots of business in February, from Valentine's Day to the first week in March, when Romania celebrates Mărțișor. On March 1, Romanians celebrate the women in their lives by selecting the most beautiful trinket with braided red and white strings tied neatly into a bow. Women wear them proudly, the bank tellers, servers, mamas walking their kids to school, teachers, women who we frequently see on our morning walks to school. Everywhere are pedestrians clutching bouquets of flowers, stems held up, bulbs pointed toward the street. Every colorful bunch will be given to a woman--mothers, girlfriends, wives, colleagues, partners, etc.--someone very important in the giver's life. It is a sweet and lovely way to celebrate women. Below is an example of what one of the Fulbright scholars received this year (shared on our What'sApp community), and an article if you're curious about this tradition.
On Being Invited.
Part of the particular qualitative research theory I have been practicing suggests a pretty important tenet of showing up only when you are invited. Inviting yourself, or suggesting your invitation, does not count, as it does not feel right in my body to impose. What my husband (and kids!) and I have been committed to is to say "yes" and show up at every event to which we are personally invited. This little commitment to the sensitivity and thoughtfulness of the approach to the research with our new Ukrainian friends, to living alongside each other, has felt the most comfortable, kind, and gentle. We have enjoyed being invited to the following Ukrainian community events, as emotionally difficult as they can be to attend, and in turn, have invited folks to our house a few times to share food, beverages, and conversation. Here are some photos of spring in Cluj, and a typical gathering on our rooftop.
Memorial Gathering in the Square.
Saturday, February 24 marked the second anniversary of the 2022 Russian invasion on Ukraine. The Ukrainian community here in Cluj-Napoca organized several events over the course of the memorial weekend. First, there was a memorial meeting held in the main square (Piața Unirii), and our friend Kseniia invited us to come along. We stood in solidarity with our Ukrainian friends and viewed the signs they adorned with the names of their hometowns. We listened to a talented young Ukrainian cellist, some inspirational words from community leaders, and the Ukrainian national anthem. The gathering right in the middle of the square was a beautiful and brutal representation of the tolls that war can take, and the humanity of folks in bordering countries that hold refuge for their Ukrainian friends. Here is some local coverage of this event.
And the lovely cellist:
Faces of Courage.
After the memorial meeting in the square, we attended the Faces of Courage event at a local cinema. Faces of Courage is a project that combines storytelling, therapeutic activities, and art in order to take care of and lift up the voices of women who have had to bear the consequences of the war. Seventeen women participated in the project here in Cluj for two weeks, and the book--a collection of their stories and photos--was released at the event on 24 February. The emotional evening included large displays of the women, whose stories were painted on their hearts and faces, as well as words from the author, and a heart-wrenching dance performance. We left feeling both heartbroken and hopeful, as one of the women said, "Even if they destroyed our houses and homes, if at least a few walls are left standing, we will rebuild everything." Since sharing this project with a colleague back in North Carolina, we decided to work together so that we can find a way to share this story back in the U.S. My colleague booked a trip to Cluj in May.
Unissued Diplomas.
On February 26, the Unissued Diplomas exhibition opened in Cluj. Unissued Diplomas is a project that aims to remind the world of the cost of war. The exhibition showcases 40 young Ukrainian students whose diplomas will never be issued because they lost their life in the war. The chilling debut of the exhibition here in Cluj took place in a Babes-Bolyai University building, and our friends from the Ukraine House were present to sing, speak, and share a moment of silence with us before we had a chance to view all 40 stories. I was inspired to draft a proposal for the National Council for the Social Studies conference this fall to share about the project and encourage U.S. high school students to initiate a similar project in their school. ~"never graduated, eternally honored." I have included a few stories here:
Please listen to this heartfelt song our friends sang at the Unissued Diplomas event.
Memorial Concert.
To commemorate the anniversary of the beginning of the war, which our friends reminded us began TEN, not two, years ago, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014. Gathering in a small theater building on the west side of town, the Ukrainian community and friends in Cluj-Napoca bore witness to the effects of war, the beauty of women's strength, and the communal efforts to take care of each other, and each other's children. It was a dynamic ride through grief, terror, celebration, dance, song, community, and hope. You can watch the entire program here (my friend Kseniia translates all remarks in English).
Ukraine House Children's Spring Event.
The whirlwind of events in February and March reminded us why we are here, strengthened the bonds with our Ukrainian friends, and reminded us that focusing on the children and schooling can be a positive way to turn heartbreak into action. One of our friends, Natalia, works with children at the Ukraine House every week. Natalia organized a precious spring program that she and the children performed on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Earlier that week Scott and I spent some time at the Ukraine House helping build the pirate ship and cut out some laminated flowers. One of our English-speaking friends sat next to us and translated the lines to English so Claire and Max could understand what was happening. The children were so happy to perform for their parents, and they reminded us that even in the midst of war, educating children can help us all focus on the present, and the promise of spring.
Dare you not to smile watching these videos. 🥰 Happy spring! 🇺🇦 🇷🇴 🌱💐🌷
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