The Interview with Anișoara Laura Mustețiu in Unirea Newspaper on 6th September 2024 explores her literary journey, cultural contributions, and passion for promoting Romanian identity globally. As a multilingual author and poet, Anisoara Lauar Mustețiu reflects on her deep connection to Transylvanian heritage, her experiences in Sydney’s Romanian diaspora, and the mission behind her magazine Emoții și Lumină. From preserving Romanian traditions to fostering international literary collaborations, this exclusive interview highlights Mustețiu’s influence in shaping contemporary Romanian literature on a worldwide scale.
Anca Dinică: Mrs. Anişoara Laura Musteţiu, in Romania, we are accustomed to frequent news and connections with the Romanian diaspora in Europe, and even in America. However, it is rare to have contact with the Romanian diaspora from the Antipodes. So I take this opportunity to ask—how did a girl from Bucerdea Vinoasă find her way all the way to Sydney?
Anişoara Laura Musteţiu: Thank you very much for the invitation, Ms. Anca Dinică. I feel honored. In life, we never truly know where our steps will take us, as nothing is strictly defined. My journey has been a complex one. Timișoara, the place where I was born and raised, remains a mirage to me. I must confess that I still love it. But when I return to Romania, I have my own little corner of paradise—the village where my grandparents lived, Bucerdea Vinoasă in Alba County. For me, it is a sacred place. There, I have dear childhood friends who welcome me warmly every time I visit.
There is often a powerful spiritual connection between people, events, and places. Culture, traditions, and memories woven with parents, grandparents, and loved ones create a vibrant, living bond—the places of childhood and adolescence remain deeply embedded in this connection.
Leaving Romania in 1990 was not just a simple trip abroad—it was part of a mass emigration of Romanians, especially young people, just months after the 1989 Revolution. It was a challenging time, but as Albert Camus once said, “In the depths of winter, I finally found within me an invincible summer.”
I was fortunate to emigrate to Germany, where human qualities are respected and valued. Sydney became the next step in my journey—a place I chose in 2014, drawn by the magic of discovering a new world. I believe it is the shore where I have anchored my ship indefinitely. Paradoxically, Sydney is also where I rekindled my ties with Romanian culture, beginning a vibrant career as a writer and journalist.
Anca Dinică: How is the Romanian community in Sydney?
Anişoara Laura Musteţiu: Australia is a multicultural society, where numerous nationalities coexist harmoniously. I have embraced new perspectives and traditions, from admiring the Chinese practicing Qigong and Tai Chi in parks, to enjoying Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Each morning, I watch colorful parrots in the eucalyptus trees of my garden, and sometimes, I even chase kangaroos across the hills of Hunter Valley.
To my surprise, I have also discovered a little Romania within Sydney—a dynamic, creative, and inspirational community. The impact it has had on me has been profoundly beautiful. It has motivated me to write, collaborate with cultural figures, publish, and promote Romanian culture globally.
The Romanian churches in Sydney also play a vital role in preserving our traditions. The estimated 3,000 Romanians in this city carry a longing for their homeland, and many find solace in church gatherings and Romanian cultural events.
Anca Dinică: How often do you meet with Romanians in Sydney? On what occasions?
Most of my closest friends here are Romanians, and we meet frequently, whether for city outings or heartfelt conversations at home. Romanian cultural activities vary—from celebrating Mihai Eminescu in January, Romanian theatre performances, to book launches. This year, the Romanian Blouse Day organized by the Phoenix Romanian Association in Sydney was a major success.
We also have an annual Romanian dance evening, and of course, every year we celebrate Romania’s National Day on December 1st.
Beyond Sydney, I have cultural connections with Romanians from Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, and Brisbane.
Anca Dinică: A few words about your books…
Anisoara Laura Mustetiu: Transylvania, particularly Bucerdea Vinoasă, where I spent part of my childhood, holds a special place in my literary works.
In “Fragments from the Life of a Woman”, published in 2022 under the Romanian-Australian Academy of Culture, I explore a unique philosophical concept of selfhood—a “self” that redefines pain as a force for resilience, victory, and creation. The book’s character, Anca lui Pahon, rebels against predetermined norms and ethical dilemmas, navigating life’s complexities with a reformist spirit. The second part of the book is dedicated to the village of my childhood.
In “The Price of Honor”, published in 2023 by the Romanian-Australian Book Club, I tell a true story, set in the 1970s, in a fictional village called Valea Sânzâienelor, which in reality is Bucerdea Vinoasă. This book invites readers into the everyday life of villagers, immersing them in traditions, struggles, and joys. Some moments may even stir a tear—a tribute to the emotional depth of rural life.
Anca Dinică: How did you come to create the online magazine “Emoții și Lumină”?
I believe it began long ago—perhaps even in childhood. My father, Romulus Mustețiu, was a poet and sculptor, and he was the one who inspired me to see the beauty and richness of Romanian culture. Later, I discovered the power of writing as a free manifestation of the human spirit, capable of exploring deep, real, or imaginary realms.
Although I spent most of my life in Germany in the competitive world of business, my love for literature remained strong. It led me to study Journalism and German Literature, followed later by Creative Writing in Australia.
These influences, combined with the cultural atmosphere I found in Sydney, led me back to Romanian literature.
Since 2019, I have published four books in English and Romanian, collaborated with cultural organizations, and expanded my work to Radio ProDiaspora, hosting a program featuring poetry, prose, and music.
In 2023, I founded the online magazine “Emoții și Lumină”, which has grown remarkably—now reaching over 10,000 Romanian readers across 67 countries, with the largest audiences in Romania, Australia, and the USA.
These experiences have enriched my perspective on culture and human values. Through my research and creative work, I continue to discover and promote talented writers, artists, and cultural figures, ensuring that Romanian literature remains vibrant and recognized worldwide.
Recently, I have become even more aware of how essential it is to preserve, share, and integrate Romanian cultural heritage into the global literary landscape. From Australia, I observe how Romanian culture flourishes, navigating the winds of diaspora, rising higher, and spreading its spiritual fruits across continents.
Anca Dinică: Who are your collaborators?
Anișoara Laura Mustețiu: When choosing collaborators, I am very selective. I believe I act instinctively, guided by a desire for the best and most valuable connections, always rooted in ethical and professional values. That is why a future collaboration with Ziarul Unirea, a prestigious newspaper, would be an immense pleasure for me.
I collaborate with cultural figures worldwide as well as literary magazines, including Bumerang, Climate Literare, Armonii Culturale, International Writers Journal (USA), Worlds and Words (Austria), ProLitera, Așii Români (Germany), Centrul de Presa Ro, Vocea Literară, MangaliaNews, New Writers’ Group (Australia), and Poetry Sydney Group.
Additionally, I am a member of the League of Romanian Writers and the Romanian-Australian Academy of Culture, maintaining strong collaborations with Phoenix Association in Sydney and Romanian Association Doina in Brisbane. These partnerships help promote and preserve Romanian language and culture in Australia. My books—such as Yarran, Stories from Australia, a bilingual Romanian-English edition—have brought joy to children in Brisbane, especially during International Children’s Day on June 1st. Furthermore, my work at Radio ProDiaspora has connected me to diverse cultural spheres.
My poetry and prose have been published in numerous anthologies, including 9000 Miles Away, Stay for a While (Australia), The Wide Open Sky, Words of Power—American Anthology of Poetry (USA), Antipodes Poetic Dialogue (Australia), Return Ticket from Sydney to Bistrița (Australia), Milenarium, and the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Romanian Writers in the Third Millennium. My works have also appeared in literary journals such as International Writers Journal (USA), Worlds and Words (Austria), Armonii Culturale, Climate Literare, ProLitera, Bumerang, Așii Români, Gutenberg, and more.
Anca Dinică: How often do you return to Romania? What draws you back home? And, where is “home” for you now?
Since 2019, I have crossed with my husband the Indian Ocean three times, traveling 15,000 km to return to Romania. What does Romania mean to me? Friends, forests with enchanting fragrances, crystal-clear rivers, golden fields, and emerald-green hills.
The feeling of home manifests in different ways. In my book Fragments from the Life of a Woman, I describe it like this:
”When the scorching heat of longing burns through my being, the steps of my heart turn toward a place called ‘home.’ Toward that house with windows framed in the smiles of love. My mind drifts back to my grandparents’ village—to the place where their sacred presence once filled the room with warmth. I let my gaze wander through that chamber, bathed in their infinite kindness. I can still feel it—lingering there like a gentle, comforting light. The silence is profound. I rest beside memories that flicker like a burning candle—an eternal flame of the past.
In the courtyard, the grass has grown—a tender, vibrant green covering and protecting the footprints of my grandparents, my mother, and my own childhood steps. Everything they once were continues to live here—their warm words, tears, joys, their happy or sorrowful glances, and their kind, luminous faces.
I hear the joyful voices of my childhood rolling through the rustling walnut leaves, and I smile at the stones washed by hundreds of rains—stones that still hold the memory of scraped knees from carefree adventures. It was a time when trees, crowned with leafy petals, watched over us tenderly, when the winds whispered stories to us, cradling our voices, and when the celestial vault, encircled by a belt of light, awaited its own sun.”
Yet, real home is Sydney, with my husband and his family. I still find it strange—winter arriving in June, summer beginning in November. And even though I live near the beach, I rarely visit it. Here, everything must be appreciated in moderation—the Australian sun is relentless, and the Pacific Ocean is wild and tumultuous, so different from the gentle song of the Black Sea.
I prefer peace and harmony, which I find in my flower garden. Amid Sydney’s bustling five-million-strong metropolis, I begin each morning listening to the joyful kookaburras, bouncing among branches adorned with lilac jacaranda blossoms. Not far away, kangaroos emerge from the dry forests, leaping in scattered strides, gathering in groups to graze the fertile lands of Hunter Valley.
Nature always emanates an enchanting energy, one that I cherish—absorbing its beauty, transforming it into words, poetry, and stories, aspiring toward words imbued with light.
I have lived abroad for 34 years, yet this endless foreignness has never diminished my Romanian essence. When I acknowledge it, I feel most connected to myself—to the young woman who once set out to brave the West alone.
Anca Dinică: Thank you so much for sharing these reflections!
Anișoara Laura Mustețiu: Thank you as well! My warmest regards to the editorial team and readers.
Anca Dinică, Editor-in-Chief, Unirea Newspaper, Alba Iulia
Interview published in Unirea-Newspaper, on 6th of September 2024.
