About (Cambiar)

Howdy/Salut! I'm Veronica and I was born and raised in the Soviet Union and lived through its collapse. By 15, I'd already been called Soviet, Romanian, and Moldovan. Then I won an academic competition, left my family and small town behind, and landed in Oklahoma.
Talk about a plot twist.

Going from post-Soviet life to Oklahoma felt a little like walking out of a documentary and into a VeggieTales cartoon. Everything was bigger—the cars, the food... eventually, me.

I once stood at attention by a statue of Lenin. Years later, I was leading prayer at a conference in America. I grew up watching Soviet TV portray Uncle Sam with horns—then married a US Air Force guy.

You can't make this stuff up.

Today, I'm a wife, mom of two, systems analyst, author, and speaker. I speak English, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish—and occasionally can't find the right word in any of them.

After 30+ years in America, I've collected plenty of stories about identity, faith, integrity, culture, and starting over. Now I get to share them.

I came chasing the American Dream, and I achieved all I put my mind to, but the best thing that surpases them all is—the freedom to openly live my faith.

And if this whole speaking thing doesn't work out, I'm available for my true calling: international food analyst. Preferably somewhere near a beach.