For me New Europe College was and will always be a home away from home: my Romanian family in my beloved Bucharest.

Professors Valentina Sandu-Dediu, Anca Oroveanu and Constantin Ardeleanu, and Lelia Ciobotariu were always open and ready to hear the pitch of a new idea and to think with me whether it was feasible and how to make the best out of it. Thanks to them, three years ago NEC hosted the international workshop Knowledge Unlimited: Intellectual Curiosity and Innovation in Byzantium. This experience was so fruitful that it motivated me to continue developing the ‘experimental workshop’ format to this day. The NEC library was a quiet place of thought and reflection where I read and wrote a lot. At the same time, the library was where I had many illuminating conversations with Dr. Viorel Anăstăsoaie who also became a brilliant and cherished friend. The participants in the research seminar always challenged my ideas and made them more robust with their feedback. As a fellow, I felt encouraged and welcome; intellectually curious and at the same time, calm working at my own pace and following up to where my material led me.

I also made many friends at NEC and while the limitations of this space do not allow me to mention everyone by name, I thank them and love them all. I would like to think that we are all part of a constellation and through our shared experience at NEC and beyond together we are meaningful and make sense. Together we are a shape, a space and a story. We do move, rising and setting, and yet we always go back to where it all started.

Divna Manolova, Ph.D., Centre for Medieval Literature, York/Odense
2014/ 2015 BSL Fellow
2016/ 2017 PoM