I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Geography at the University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence, KS, USA. I am in Romania on a Fulbright Fellowship for the academic year 1995-96. I will be doing my dissertation research on Romania's economic transition since the 1989 revolution and how its various regions are experiencing this transition. But I also hope to learn a great deal about current developments in Romanian society, politics, and culture.

I am based in Iasi (pronounced "YOSH"), which is the capital of the historic Romanian province of Moldavia, and which is Romania's third-largest city in population after Bucharest and Constanta. I hope to offer my impressions and experiences of what it is like to live in Romania today as it undergoes gradual but constant change in social and economic life.

Of course my perspective is that of an American student who is just beginning to learn the language. So the reports you read from me will be passing through a thick cultural filter. During my nine months here I hope to make this filter much thinner, thereby telling you more about Romania and less about myself.

I appreciate your comments. You can send them by e-mail to: spusich@gemma.uaic.ro

La revedere!