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t o   K l i m ' s

Fun Club



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2005, ... , 2008, 2009

 

 

White lilies

Piri, my very dear mother.

White lilies

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Special Links to my Biggest and Dearest Fan:
My Very Dear Mother
  (See some pictures on her 85th Birthday)  

  Mom’s 86th Birthday in Bucharest, Romania  
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Photos with Me from
My Mother's Last Journey
August 12, 2009.

 

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FROM:   Bruce Coy, American Born, Doctoral Physical Therapy Medical Student
DATED: May 2000


Hi,

I have been reading the Great Escape. Kalman you have a knack for detail, it is very intense and interesting. Maybe you should think about publishing it in some other form? Anyway it is more than a sitting's worth, and now I can place some of the stories you told me.


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FROM:   http://www.ceausescu.org site
DATED: May 2000


Hi,

If you dont mind, we will add a link to our website.


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FROM:   http://www.romania.org/ site
DATED: May 2000


Hi,

Very interesting site!


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FROM:   WEE-CHENG TAN, London/Singapore
DATED: May 2000


Hi,

Interesting stuff you have. You should submit it to Yahoo! and rec.travel-library.


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FROM:   Cristian Tudose, a 10 year "transplant" from Romania into Finland
DATED: May 2000


Hi,

Impressive story!!! It brings me back memories of my own 1990 escape ...


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FROM:   Jeroen van Marle of Netherlands
DATED: May 2000


Great story! Have you been back to Romania since then? Why don't you put any of your own photos online? I'll add it to the list of Romanian links at www.inyourpocket.com as well as on my homepage.

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FROM:   Pete Baumgartner of Radio Free Europe
DATED: May 2000


Hi,

Thanks for your very interesting story. I will pass it on to some Romanian colleagues of mine. I have just a couple of questions, as your story ends in the 1970s, if you will forgive my curiosity. Where do you work now? Were your parents ever able to come and visit you in the States? Have you been back to Romania since you left it?

Thanks for sharing your personal story and creating a fascinating website.

Best regards,


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FROM:   Estey Manning, American Born Housewife
DATED: May 2000


Hi,

Your story was very enjoyable reading --very close to the version you told to me in Cambridge at a coffee shop so many years ago! Good work! Are you working on the next chapters? Bring your fans up to date with your latest adventures. All is well with me --no adventures to speak of!

My best regards,


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FROM:   Prof. Bryan Caplan, Department of Economics, George Mason University, USA
DATED: July 2000


Hi,

Wow! I missed an hour of work to read every word. Wonderful. All of my Romanian relatives-through-marriage will hear about this!


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FROM:   Theodor Tauber, Petah-Tikva Israel --a 30 year "transplant" from Romania to Israel
DATED: July 2000


Shalom!

Bravo! I could not took my eyes from my computer reading your stunning story! I was deeply moved and I believe that it brought tear to my eyes ...


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FROM:   Bob Schadler, USA
DATED: July 2000


Hello,

Just had a chance to read your story and found it charming, gripping, harrowing, heart-warming, hilarious and important. I assume you won't mind that I'll recommend it to our e-mail list.

You might be interested in knowing more about our organization: Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. It's chartered by Congress to raise private resources to build a memorial/museum in Washington to tell the story of the 100 million killed by communism regimes and those not killed but still victims in the hope that such regimes will not recur in the 21st century.

Thank you for putting your story for the rest of the world to benefit from it.!


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FROM:   Janet Mertz-Hill, born in Chicago, USA
DATED:  January 2001


RE: WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY

thank you for sharing it!  hope you are still doing well!!
janet  - what the dew is to the flower,  gentle words are to the soul


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FROM:   Angele Yanor, TV Producer, Canada
DATED:  January 2001


Hi,

Fascinating. Whatever happened with the Pittsburgh family that was so kind to you? Did you repay them? Did you ever see the daughter again? Did you marry? What were the repercussions to your family? What were the Romanian police called at that time?

I have a lot of questions because I'm naturally curios as a TV producer. I'm 29, and live in Vancouver, Canada.

Cheers/Angele


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FROM:   Kathleen Andersen, Assistant Director of Media Relations of HIAS, New York, NY, USA
DATED:  April-May 2001


Hello,

I am writing on behalf of HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. This year, we are celebrating our 120th anniversary, and we are working on many commemmorative projects. One is a book of personal immigration stories written by people HIAS has assisted. We saw the story of your escape from Romania at your website, and were wondering if you would be interested in submitting the story of your escape and life to be considered for the book.

HIAS at 120!

Thank you very much [for your reply]! We are honored to be able to use your story.
Thank you so much for adding the link to our site! That is very kind of you.

With best wishes,

Kathleen Andersen
HIAS


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FROM:   Teo Paduraru, "Best Computers", Bucharest, Romania
DATED:  June 2001


Hi!

I'm a 29 years old Romanian who lives in Bucharest. You have a special gift telling stories as I hit the Contiune button dozens of times, going forward into your narration, almost breathless.

Don't you think that "we", the readers, deserve a following of how are you in this millenium? I'll be surely glad to read it!

Your admirer,

Teo


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FROM:   Nancy A. Cygan, a native of Chicago, USA
DATED:  June 2001


WOW,   Thanks so much for your story of escape from Romania.  It was well written and I found myself sitting beside you through all the highs and lows.  It is an especially poignant story for me at this time as I have a friend who is trying to find his way out of Romania and into the USA to pursue his chosen profession.   I am very glad that Chicago gave you such a warm welcome and that you came to call her home.  You see, I am a native Chicagoan and am proud that we have such a wonderfully diverse population.  It helps to make the world that much smaller since I can reach out into my own neighborhood and find people like you.   Thank you, Nancy.  

 


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FROM:   Lora Lyda, 16, born in the USA
DATED:  July 2001


Hi,   I just fininshed reading your entire site (it took me 2 and a half hours!! :)!!)  I enjoyed it very much......mostly about your time in Romania.  God has burdened me for the country of Romania and I love the people there.  Last year when I was 15 I visited there for the first time on a mission trip and I fell in love with the country just like you did my country.  When you were escaping Romania......those officials were angels sent from God to protect you and lead you safely here.  I thank you for the time and energy you spent in making this site!

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FROM:   Edison Thomaz, 25, born in Brazil,
                         currently graduate student at MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Mass. USA
DATED:  August 2001


Hi,

I checked your web site and read about your escape to the west and it was truly amazing. A great story, a great read. These days, we kind of take for granted everything that we have, our freedom, and forget the types of hardships that a lot of people, including you, had to go through.

Talk to you later,

Edison


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FROM:  Vlady Zeiger, 51, born in Romania, living in US since 1981
DATED:  November 2001


[Liberal translation from Romanian]

Hello,

I read with fascination your story and I could not think of anything else... I was able continuously to place myself in your shoes as I was able to understand completely what you felt throughout your entire journey.

From time to time I continue to revisit your story since from yesterday this is the only thing that I am thinking about. Your story affected me very much. Maybe this is why I am so taken and my writing is so dispersed. Please excuse me.

Wishing you all the happiness and good health.

Vladi

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FROM:  Daniela Shewfelt, 28, a 4-year "transplant" from Romania to Canada
DATED:  November 2001


[Liberal translation from Romanian]

 

Dear Sir,

I read breathlessly your immigration story to America and I think that it is truly amazing with lots of humor and twists. Your hot dog story is something else and I may be using it for my class.

I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed reading your story. Your style of writing in English is extremely captivating. Have you written other books?

Wishing you well and lots of health.

Daniela


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FROM:  Bryan Horton, born in the USA
DATED:  December 2001


Hello -

Thank you for sharing this story. Being a U.S. citizen by birth as many U.S. citizen, tend to forget what a great country the United States really is - which is a shame.

I stumbled upon your story searching for things having to do with Romania - since my "wife-to-be" is Romanian and still living in Bucharest. This story helps greatly as to how she is feeling and what some of her fears might be coming to live in her new country - America (August 2002).

I would think that this would make a very good movie and would be of interest to screenwriters in Hollywood. Have you had such an offer to make your story into a movie? You will have to keep me updated on whether there is thoughts on making your story into a movie. Many thanks.

Best Regards - Bryan

 
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FROM:  James P. Donovan, born in the USA
DATED:  January 2002


HI,

I read your story and I could not stop until I had finished. Thank you for sharing it with us. I worked in California for a few years with a friend who was born in Romania and he told me his story at least part of it. What I remember the most is that it took him 5 years to leave. Some of his family had already left and was here in America. I worked with a Russian also in the same place and he escaped Russia in a boat but his son was killed during the escape. You had more courage than I think I ever had but of course I was born here. I was lucky. I am now disabled but I worked as an Electrical Engineer.

Thank you for sharing the newpaper story with us also. I just wanted to say thank you and I am happy that you are a part of this great country.

Pat Donovan


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FROM:   Shelly Palmer Bugar, born in the USA and married with a Romanian!
DATED: September 2002


Dear Sir,

I just read with great interest your story on the Internet about coming to America.  It was truly engaging and never once did I want to "skip ahead."  Upon finishing, the burning question in my mind was, "how is your dear mother?"  Well, after navigating your site, I was truly happy to see her smiling face during recent birthday celebrations!  Her support of you, despite the seperation, was truly heartfelt.  And it's clear from the pictures that you are a good son!

Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful story for others to enjoy.  I was born here in America, but it's stories like yours that never allow me to take that, and the freedoms I enjoy, for granted.

Kind regards,

Shelly Palmer Bugar

PS. By the way, my husband too defected from Romania in 1986.  He was 26 years old at the time.  I recounted to him your story, leg for leg, and I could tell he was intrigued.  He particularly laughed at the train ride into Graz with the gypsies!  Too funny!

 


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FROM:   Lana M. Ewing, USA
DATED:  July 2005


Someone emailed me a copy of your "ode to Americans" and I wanted to verify when this was written. While researching I found your website and your great escape story. I was compelled to keep reading and did not make it to bed until very late. What an interesting saga and so thankful that you were able to write about your experiences and successes.

Like the others that have left messages, it would be nice to hear how you are doing, and your family. Perhaps I have not delved far enough into the Cornel Nistorescu story to find my answers.

God truly had a mission for you, and we are happy that you found Chicago as a roosting place.

I love to travel, my husband is retired U S Air Force and we were able to do a lot of it while he was in the military. We continue to do so whenever we can escape for a few days (never long enough). Just returned from a cruise to Alaska and our waiter was from Romania. Perhaps his friendliness and good work ethic attracted me to your story too, who knows?

But like the others, thank you for sharing. I hope your family is well. Your mother's pictures are delightful and I do hope you still have her with you. Glad too, that your sister is in the States and you can be "near" one another.

Sincerely,

Lana M. Ewing
Cadillac, MI 49601


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FROM:  Titel Gurau, born in Romania and living now in Canada
DATED:  January 2008

 

It is with great pleasure and interest that I read your story. Through it I re-lived my own experience of some 26 years ago when I left Romania. Not only the trepidations of the days prior to the departure, but also the highs and lows of the first days, weeks and months of my new life in transit and then in Canada. Other than to express my admiration and gratitude for your sharing the story, and for its captivating style, I am also writing to let you know that I knew Prof. Constantin Dramba, he was a distant relative of mine. He took me to the Observatory in Bucharest one night (in 1971) and I left that place with the desire to become an astronomer. Well, I didn't ... I went to Polytechnica and, shortly after graduating in 1980, I ended up here!

Best regards,

Titel


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FROM:  Nancy Bowman, born in the USA
DATED:  April 2008


Absolutely a beautiful story,

Sir,

Your escape story and your entry into the United States of America is the story of so many Americans. Yet, it is the story of one country, under God, indivisible.......this is what the great movies are made of. Does anyone have Steven Spielburg's address?

In this country, we need you. We need to be reminded how we escaped the Communist ties, and how, if we the people are not careful, we could be enamored with communist ideas. We need your story. A true story. One that reminds all of us why we are Americans and citizens of the USA.

Thank You. Thank you. Consider speaking of a book or Script for movie. All of us need inspiration.

Nancy Bowman,
        Descendents of Czech Moravian origin, as well as Irish,Scot, and Several others.


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FROM:  Liyun Shi, MD, PhD, from China, Fellow Researcher at Mass General Hospital, Boston
DATED:  June 2008

 

Hi,

I was captivated by your story so much that I just can't stop reading it to write back to you. I can feel the same awkwardness when I stepped on this country the first day, to talk to other people with my very poor English. And even now sometimes I have to employ the "ah-uh" routine in the conservation.

I love the story of hotdog, it's so funny.

I just can't express how much I enjoyed reading your story, I really think that is a great and fascinating story with lots of humors and tears.


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FROM:  Alias "Cora Lee" (real name unknown), Born in Romania and emigrated to Canada.
DATED:  October 2009

 

Hi Klim,

It is with great pleasure that I write this message to you, after reading your extraordinary story about the Escape from Romania. I also checked your website and the Fan Club, and I noticed that the messages posted there are from 2005. I do hope that this address is still valid,and that you still check messages here.

Congratulations on your story and on your captivating way of writing it. Even if the year of your escape was very close to the year of my birth in Romania, I am sure you know from your family and friends who continued to live in Romania that after 1969 many worse years of communism were to come. I spent my teenage years and my youth in the 1980's in Romania...I also witnessed the 1989 Revolution.....and my "escape" happened much later, after the year 2000, and the official name is now "immigration".

As legal immigrants we have not been through any of the ordeals of those who fled Romania before 1989; yet, only trying to adapt and adjust to life in a New World has its own ordeals. I had the same struggle as you did with the accent in English. The funny thing was that, as a student, tourist,or visitor in UK or US, I have never been told that "you have an accent". I have always been treated or accepted by native speakers as a "good/fluent non-native speaker of English".

Yet, after arriving in Canada as a legal immigrant, and after passing language tests and interviews with excellent scores, I had to face rejection for a job interview because "I had an accent". As a passionate of linguistics, I read with great interest and pleasure your story about "hot dogs", as well as all your stories about the impact of the American culture on a newcomer.

Having seen only a few other American cities before, I can wholeheartedly agree with you that Chicago is the BEST American city. For me, as a visitor to Chicago, it was love at first sight. I am happy to have now family living in Chicago, thus having the opportunity to visit more often. Should you ever be available and willing to share more of your knowledge and love for Chicago, I would love to meet you and talk to you.

I was also impressed and happy for you, when reading your story about your first job in Chicago at Enciclopaedia Britannica.  That was indeed a great opportunity, and as we all know, such opportunities are rare or none nowadays. This is especially true for newcomer immigrants in Canada who have to always start from "general labour" or "no job", no matter what their credentials, experience, or qualifications are.....and ,sadly, for many of them credentials include Master degrees or PhDs......but , well,  this is life....

My best wishes and once again congrats for your story....Hope to see the next chapter(s) of your story, with the cronological order from the 1970's to date.

Best regards,

"Cora"


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FROM:   Gary E. Sims, born in the USA.
DATED:  November 2009

 

Thank you for sharing your story. I had just met a man and his family at my daughters school who escaped from Romania in the 1980's. He shared his story with me and it was very moving. In looking up locations of his escape I found your story. It was very moving. We in America often take for granite our freedom. To see someone like you or my friend love a country for what it offers even in it's simplicity, is a revelation as to how privileged we really are to live in this country. You have made me appreciate my country even more. Thank You.

Gary E. Sims
Loma Linda, CA

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Thank you very much for your letters.
Klim


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