I've been in Romania many time and I've plenty of memories about that country, most of which are good ones.

But I like to recall one episode that took place in a night train on my way back to Bucuresti from Bacau, that is about 9hours journey during which I found me in the same compartment with a man on his forties.

I vividly remember the eager way he was glancing at me that oppose to my absent and quite sleepy gaze, I must specify here that as I water proof tested (and nearly patent) when it's time to travel I prepare myself with NO sleep at all, but since I'm keep missing flights or trains stops, I'm having a hard time to prove it.

Anyhow in that cold train we quickly found ourself in an animated converstion that would have kept us awake for the whole time of the travel (at least most of that for me)

This I reckon it's pretty amazing, because you have to realize that we weren't speaking the same language, AT ALL!

I was actally able to use a handfull of rumenian words but on the other hand my opposite hadn't even the capacity to say a turistic and common "Ciao Bella" or "MammaMia".

He was waiting nothing but to be thrown in a conversation with ME, holding at that point the foreigner role, so he started on sharing with me his point of view, he told me his stories of everyday struggle-life and his desire to tell me about his stories was second only to that of knowing mines, what were my opinion about his beloved country and then I remeber him being very concern about how much I did enjoy my time overthere and what my feelings were.

In short we spent a great time even if every now and then I must admit I suddenly felt asleep. but the point is just here! Since everytime I woke up he was there as much shy to bother me then eager to resume our conversation.
And who know me can bet I was as happy as him to carry on our talk! So this is how we kept chatting and laughing all the night!

The all meaning of this brief story is that if you dont' speak the same language it doesn't matter as far as you want to comunicate is very easy to do it, or actually it's not, but if you are tuly interested in what the person in front of you have to tell you the language is an easy obstacle.

Therefore remember, (and here I'm adressing to All the people who are native speaking) Therefore remember that when you meet somebody that is not fluent as you, this it doesn't mean He/her is stupid! Our level of mastering the language doesn't rappresent our level of wit.

Often is enough do the little (big for s.b.) effort to L I S T E N what other people have to tell us for coming back home lot richer!