I went out one morning in Sighetu to take a last walk before we left and get some street footage. I stopped at a small bar/coffee place for a cafea afara zahar.

Besides the lady at the counter, the only people in the place were a young couple at a table. He invited me to join them and I did. They spoke less English than I spoke Romanian, which is to say practically none. I got out my books. We looked up words, pointed and grunted. I tried to ask what work they did but made no progress there.

I finally understood that they were about to be married, were waiting for blood tests at the hospital across the street, had something to do with Sapantsa (her aunt was buried in the Merry Cemetery which is the town's famous attraction, and I think they lived there.) Marie and Vasile, 21 and 24. They invited me to their wedding the following week. I explained I would be back home by then and wished them the best of luck. "Narok!" They wouldn't let me pay for the coffee.

   1941 Romanian newspaper