Page 94 - Manual Vol 1

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"The Story of My Life - My Roots"
by Maria VISOSCHI
adaptation: Smaranda CAZAN-LIVESCU

I was born on 12.11.1962, in the town of Vălenii de Munte in
Prahova County. Although the name may suggest that it is a mountain town, the
town is surrounded by hills, and the mountains begin beyond Cheia, a town 37

km towards Brașov.
Both parents are now deceased.
I had a brother, George, who is no longer among us since 1979.
As a child, I lived with my mother and brother in the village of Nucet,
located near the town of Vălenii de Munte. At that time, I enjoyed eating many
fruits, dairy products, eggs and poultry, pork, sheep, or goat, raised on the farm.
We moved to the city in the year when only my mother and I
remained.
The house we are living in, my husband and I, is suitable. It has 5
rooms, a terrace, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The living room is quite large and
very bright. We enjoyed many books placed on the shelves not only in 3 rooms
but also in the hall.
Both my husband and I speak Romanian, but we also understand a
little English, French and Russian.
We have two children, a daughter, and a son. They have completed
higher education and are now working.
I remember many of my childhood games, which we used to play
when we went to the fields to take care of the animals. It's hard to explain a
game drawn with chalk on asphalt. It was called sotron.
I have been reading since I was 3 years old. The first story that
made me cry was “The Chicken" written by Alexandru Brătescu-Voinești. I

used to read all the books received as awards, then, in middle school, I read
from adventure books to books required by the curriculum.
At that time, we sang many patriotic songs learned at school. I
remember one that I used to sing in the field, when I was taking care of the
animals: “May 1”
Spring laughs again / Across the fields, across the meadows
Joy fills the country / May 1 has come.
After finishing primary school, then secondary school (to where I
had to walk 4 km each way), that I attended in different localities, including

Valenii de Munte where I am now, I entered the Ploiești Pedagogical High
School. After graduating it, I took the entry exam and attended the courses of
the University of Bucharest, the Russian language as major, and Romanian
language and literature section as a minor, graduating in 1994.