Octavia, was born and grew up in Romania. Memories of staring at the sky through swaying branches of tall walnut trees still permeate her daydreams, along with running through open fields and feeling the warm breeze as she picked from the family’s raspberry and blackberry bushes. And, she’ll never forget reaching the peak of Retezat Mountain in Romania after a day-long hike and feeling like she’d conquered the world. She fondly recalls her father teaching her an Italian song, strumming along with his beloved guitar.