I wake up at 7:00 in the morning and dress warmly, seeing that it’s freezing outside. I grab my suitcase and leave the apartment, looking back one more time: did I forget anything? No, nothing forgotten, but still, my heart feels unsettled. It’s not the fear of forgetting something at home, but rather the impact of a dozen questions swirling in my mind about the upcoming days. These are emotions that warm my inner world, and thanks to them, the –3°C outside doesn’t even seem noticeable.
I sit on the train to Iași and breathe out in relief: this day has finally arrived! A long journey and charming landscapes await me. Autumn has painted every tree in its own unique way, creating a one-of-a-kind overall picture. The beauty of nature foretells unforgettable events ahead. On the seats next to me, there’s an older couple. He has a tablet, she’s holding an eBook reader. They’re both reading a book. I smile. I realize the power of literature. I don’t know what they’re reading, but just knowing that they are reading makes my heart feel warm. Shared interests unite us. I take my tablet in hand and reread the last pages of Anastasia Levkova’s novel There is a Land Beyond Perekop. Together with the main character, I’m traveling through the fairytale-like Crimea, and I realize that I’m also heading towards where I belong, where my people are.
Time flies incredibly fast—it feels like only a few hours have passed, not the whole day—and I’m already in Iași. A volunteer meets me at the Central Square and helps me settle in. It’s already dark, but the lights decorating the Central Square of Iași signal the event that will illuminate our souls in the days to come.
The morning of the first day of the Iași International Festival of Literature and Translation—FILIT. The faces of the guests are filled with wide smiles, and the eyes of the organizers shine with satisfaction: they’ve done everything to make sure the Festival runs perfectly. Everyone greets each other, smiles, and there’s a friendly atmosphere everywhere. Over the next five days, more than 200 events will take place, dedicated to literature and translation: meetings with writers, meetings with translators, book presentations, various performances, discussions, and more. One of the festival participants’ favorite events is the evening gatherings at the “Vasile Alecsandri” National Theatre with famous writers from around the world. This time, the first such meeting features two Ukrainian writers: Olena Herasymiuk and Pavlo Matyusha. Without a doubt, this meeting will remain in the memories of all those present for a long time. Olena and Pavlo are talking about how the war changes lives, about fears and courage and about the moments that gave them hope while saving lives. It’s an evening full of emotions and anticipation. Literature lovers are eager to buy the new short story collection Defense Mechanisms—12 Ukrainian Writers at War and get autographs from two of the authors.
Thursday, October 23. A new day filled with activities in numerous schools, high schools, and universities in the beautiful city of Iași. Students meet writers, ask questions, take notes, and take photos. In the evening, the “Vasile Alecsandri” National Theatre hosts a genuine dialogue with writer Junot Díaz, the Pulitzer Prize winner.
Friday, October 24. The meetings between writers and students continue. In addition to these, at the FILIT tent in Unirii Square, many workshops, debates, and sessions are taking place, in which the young people participate with great enthusiasm. That evening, there is a beloved event for poetry lovers: The White Night of Poetry. The opening features a performance of contemporary Ukrainian poetry. It’s an impressive artistic moment! Until 4:00 AM, numerous talented poets take the stage, enchanting the audience with their works.
Saturday, October 25 is an important and emotional day for the CELA team. At 12:00, the much-anticipated meeting with the writers and translators of the CELA project takes place. The event is moderated by Doris Mironescu and focuses on writers Ajda Bračič from Slovenia and Corinne Heyrman from the Netherlands, along with translators Mădălina Balea, Andreea Bălteanu, mentor Alexa Stoicescu, and Sergiu Lozinschi. The discussion brings us closer to the writers and translators, accompanied by artistic moments in which the writers read excerpts from their works, and the translators read them in Romanian. We are very happy to have Kim van Kaam (CELA Project Coordinator) and Frank Tazelaar (Director) with us. During this event, we learn about some of the challenges that arise both in the activity of a writer and a translator.
At 16:00, the CELA team gathers for the Translators’ Café. Here, a discussion about translations takes place, with many translators and editors interested in the subject joining the Romanian CELA team. Moderator Simina Popa, who is also the project manager of the Romanian team, invites us to talk about our experiences in the field of translations. We discuss the beautiful things we’ve learned during the CELA project, share stories about working with our mentors, and talk about the future—how we see literature and the world of translations. The day ends with another wonderful meeting at the “Vasile Alecsandri” National Theatre, this time with Tracy Chevalier.
Sunday, October 26 is the last day of the festival. Many guests prepare for their journey home, but cultural events continue at various locations around the city. My train departs in the morning, and in front of me lies another long journey, but this time filled with the feeling of satisfaction from the wonderful days spent at the festival. I feel so grateful for the existence of this festival, for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful team of translators, and for the experiences I’ve had over these days. I remember the couple reading on the way to Iași. I realize how important it is to spend time with a book in a world that moves so quickly. Once again, I’m convinced of the same thing: literature unites us, makes our world more beautiful, and makes us happier!
* Jessica Bilcec is a literary translator from Ukrainian to Romanian