Our Romanian Daughter - Claudia

Claudia and Morg watching the cruise ship pass under Lions Gate Bridge. Next is the 2 of us in Amsterdam - change over in planes allowed enough time to take the train to the town centre. Her first airplane ride and first time to set foot in western Europe. Hey I can still wear that shirt.

The pic on the left shows her and her shadow walking Long Beach, Vancouver Island. Pacific Ocean. Can you spot Japan on the Horizon?

With Sharon at Niagara Falls then a visit to Shashi's.

We met Claudia in 1996 - she as 16 and had taken an English class in High School. While we were in Romania a friend of hers invited her to go for a walk with us so she could interpret for him and a few other friends. I was the first actual English person she had met and talked to. The communication was mainly about what it was like in North America with youth. When I returned in 98 (twice) and 2000 then again in 2003 Claudia would always come along and act as an interpreter. She also had a keen sense about people and would let us know if the people we were meeting with were for real to help others or out for themselves. We promised to bring her to Canada and that came to pass in 2003. She spent 3 1/2 months. She was such a blessing to everyone she had contact with and they in return blessed her greatly. She came with nothing and left with gifts. a sewing machine, clothes and finances enough to support her year in University. While her she suffered from teeth aches. A dentist who is a tenant of ours took her in and his dentists and assistants went to work on her teeth. Claudia spent a few 5 hr sessions plus some 3 and 4 hr ones and walked out with all the work given as a gift. It was instrumental in restoring her health. Today she still lives with her widowed Mother in a apartment (250 sq.ft.) in Romania and works for a Swiss company providing english/romanian language support.

We are waiting for the invitation for her wedding. She says her boyfriend has to ask me for her hand. Sweet.