Elza Fulop with sisters and friends

This picture shows from left to right: my sister, Iren Fulop, the Grunfeld couple, my sister, Margit, and the Markovics couple. In the front row: me, Elza Fulop, and the daughter of the Markovics?s. The picture was taken at the Aghiresu railway station, which was a sort of meeting place for the youth in Aghiresu in the 1930s. As there weren't too many possibilities for us to have fun, we would come here when trains were scheduled to pass by and weave at the passengers.

As we were four sisters at home, clothes were passed from one to another. Four years separated me from my oldest sister. I was the youngest, so I always came last. And I kept praying to God to grow up so that my sisters' things wouldn't fit me anymore and I could have some clothes of my own. That, I did, but not as many as my oldest sister, of course. The worst part was that my sisters were very pedantic and kept their clothes in a very good state, so it was considered a shame to spend money on new ones. We had to save money.

I must admit that we had a certain degree of freedom. My mother never prevented us from going to enjoy ourselves. And she didn't accompany us all the time either. However, my brother, who was about 12 years older than I was, had to come with me. My mother trusted us - these were her exact words: 'I trust you...' But it goes without saying that, before leaving us in charge of our lives, she gave us a lecture, so that we would know what to do. Each sister of mine got this lecture, and I was no exception. What's more, my mother was particularly thorough about it, given that I was the youngest of them all.

In 1940, I went to Cluj. For a while, my mother was unaware that I had got a job there. My sisters supported me. The oldest one told me she would provide me with board and lodging. Next to the Jewish Hospital, where I worked, there was a school for nurses that was attended by girls from respectable families. I went there for two years.

After that, I attended various trainings and schools. I studied psychology and resuscitation techniques; I worked in several medical specializations, including surgery. I attended the course for chief medical assistants and reached the highest level of my career. You see, we too had a hierarchy: paramedic, nurse, medical assistant, and chief medical assistant. And I went through all these stages.