Loss, Voyage, and Rebirth

This memoir presents the author's life from her beginnings in Romania during the Ceausescu regime where she grew up and lived until the age of 14. She lost contact with her family and friends when she emigrated to Paris, France, together with her mother, Sofia, in 1970. After her stay in Paris where she learned French and became fond of French culture, Arta and her mother continued their voyage to New York where they reunited with her mother's sister and her family. Loss of identity and culture shock were to follow as they adapted little by little to life in the United States. Her mother remarried and Oliver, her brother, was born in 1971. School was an important anchor for Arta who obtained her Bachelor degree from Stony Brook University, a Master's degrees from Montclair State University and a doctorate from the Graduate School of the City University of New York. The rebirth she paints in her book happens in her professional life and her personal life when she marries and has one child, Emmadora. All along the many challenges of her life, Arta emphasizes the very special bond she had with her mother who guided her and supported her along the many transitions and transformations. They bonded spiritually and intellectually in many ways both engaged in producing unique art such as this books illustrates. And all was possible because of the financial support of Michael Ionita, Sofia's husband, and adoptive father, and Arta's husband, Jerry.