I was 7 years old when communism fell. My perception of the west - pretty much non-existent at that time, I remember being fascinated by juice bottles made of glass as something extraordinary (I had seen one, empty, that my aunt had brought with her). And a Nekerman - a German catalogue that was selling so many things, from clothes to stuff for the house, kitchen etc, was fascinated with the pictures. Given the fact that the picture of the great leader Ceausescu was up on every public building wall, in my child's brain he was God. Lines for gas, bread, chicken. My grandma hiding to make a home-made kind of strong alcohol, I guess it wasn't allowed or something. Building a wood burning stove in a tiny 3rd floor apartment to keep warm during winter and to keep the mold off the walls, as my sister had (has) asthma. Cold water 5h/day morning and evening, hot - rarely. Not talking about things, as in my mom telling me to never contradict her if I hear her telling a lie in public. Fun times & all.....