A picture is worth a thousand words…
Childhood memories from Romania
![Christmas with my Grandparents](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Mama-si-Tata-Lie.jpg)
Christmas with my Grandparents
With her Loving Grandparents – Christmas 1972
![Baby Pictures](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Baby-Pictures1.jpeg)
Baby Pictures
With Taticu – her white father
![Baby Picture Mamica](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Baby-Picture-Mamica.jpeg)
Baby Picture Mamica
With Mamica – her mother
![Baby pic Angela 2](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Baby-pic-Angela-2.jpeg)
Baby pic Angela 2
With her loving Aunt
![Baby Pictures](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Baby-Pictures.jpeg)
Baby Pictures
With her white parents
![Biological Parents 1](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Biological-Parents-1.jpeg)
Biological Parents 1
With her biological parents
![Suceava 1984](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Suceava-1984-.jpeg)
Suceava 1984
With her sister and brother after she met her biological father who gave her his electronic watch
![Sister in RO](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Sister-in-RO.jpeg)
Sister in RO
Her black sister on her visit to Romania in 1984
![Suceava 1984 -pe banca](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Suceava-1984-pe-banca.jpeg)
Suceava 1984 -pe banca
With her grandfather and her white siblings wearing the same red dress her father bought for her and her black sister
![Gradinita](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Gradinita.jpeg)
Gradinita
Reciting a poem in Kindergarten – Suceava 1976
![Clasa aIIIa](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Clasa-aIIIa.jpg)
Clasa aIIIa
In third grade – proud pioneers
![Dans Modern](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Dans-Modern.jpeg)
Dans Modern
With her modern dance group after a show in 1984
![Birthday 1984](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Birthday-1984.jpeg)
Birthday 1984
On her 13th Birthday with close friends
Memories from Lagos, Nigeria
![QC Days Lagos](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/QC-Days-Lagos.jpeg)
In Lagos, Queen’s College Boarding school with good friends
![Prize Giving Day in Quenn's College May 26, 1989](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/QC-Bunmi-Mokolu.jpeg)
Prize Giving Day in Queen’s College with a close friend
![QCPICS2 001_crop](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/QCPICS2-001_crop.jpg)
Toyin Bakare's confirmation in Queen's College
![QCpics3 001_crop](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/QCpics3-001_crop.jpg)
Sports Day 1990 in Queen's College
![Sports Day in Queen's College - Cheer Leaders](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/QC-Cheer-Leaders.jpeg)
Sports Day in Queen’s College, February 1990
![QCPICS5 001_crop](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/QCPICS5-001_crop.jpg)
With good friends in Queen's College - February 1990
![Lagos1988](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Lagos1988.jpeg)
In Surulere Lagos with the house girl who was from Sierra Leone
![Lagos1988 - Surulere Home](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Lagos1988-Surulere-Home.jpeg)
At her father’s house in Lagos, two years after she left Romania
![Lagos1988 - Surulere Home 1](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Lagos1988-Surulere-Home-1.jpeg)
With her sisters in Lagos
![Uncle Charlie and I](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Uncle-Charlie-and-I.jpg)
With her uncle who mailed her letters from Lagos
![Black brother and Sisters](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Black-brother-and-Sisters.jpeg)
With my brother and sisters in Lagos
Visiting Romania in July 1989
![Visit to Romania 89](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Visit-to-Romania-89.jpeg)
Celebrating with her white family on her first visit back home
![Summer 1989](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-1989.jpeg)
Enjoying sweets with her sisters
![Summer 1989 -Mamica](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-1989-Mamica.jpeg)
With her mother and her black sister
![Summer 1989 -Tavi](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-1989-Tavi.jpeg)
With her white parents
![Angela](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Angela.jpeg)
With her dear Aunt
![Summer 1989 -Georgiana](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-1989-Georgiana.jpeg)
Her sisters dancing together
![Suceava 1989 Bro and Sis](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Suceava-1989-Bro-and-Sis.jpeg)
Her black sister became good friends with her white brother
![Summer 1989 -Taticu](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-1989-Taticu.jpeg)
With Taticu – her white father
![Summer 1989 -Taticu 1](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-1989-Taticu-1.jpeg)
With her white father and her black sister
![Summer 1989 -Taticu](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-1989-Taticu1.jpeg)
Happy Romanian family together with her black sister
Treasured Items
![1985Pioneer Book](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1985Pioneer-Book.jpg)
Author’s Romanian book documented her pioneer activities
![1985Pioneer](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1985Pioneer.jpg)
Declaration inside author’s Romanian pioneer book 1985
![1991 Diary](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1991-Diary.jpg)
Author’s 1991 Diary provided most details found in the book
![1991 D](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1991-D.jpg)
Author’s 1991 Diary featuring her signature on the first page
![nina0416](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/nina0416.jpg)
This signed bank note represents sweet memories
![nina0417](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/nina0417.jpg)
The other side of the bank note mentioned in the book
![1991Plane ticket](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1991Plane-ticket.jpg)
KLM itinerary for THE airline ticket that saved her life
![1991Wallet](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1991Wallet.jpg)
The snake-skin wallet – a parting gift for her sweetheart
![1991WalletInside](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1991WalletInside.jpg)
Message written by the author in the snake-skin wallet in 1991
![1991Note](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/1991Note.jpg)
This important note delivered critical information to the author
![nina0410](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/nina0410.jpg)
Official Letter used by author to board flight for Sierra Leone
Returning to Sierra Leone
![Sierra Leone Flag](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Sierra-Leone-Flag.jpeg)
On the ferry to Lungi where the International Airport is located
![Lumley 2005](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Lumley-2005.jpeg)
With her younger sister in Freetown – August 2005
![GK](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/GK.jpeg)
Reunited with her sweetheart in Freetown – August 2005
![SL Beach](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/SL-Beach.jpeg)
Finally together again - my sweetheart and I on the beautiful beach of Sierra Leone - August 2005
![Freetown](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Freetown.jpeg)
Her sweetheart took her on top of the hill to enjoy a spectacular view of Freetown – Sept.2005
![Goderich 2008](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Goderich-2008.jpeg)
Behind her father’s home in Goderich – November 2008
![Wild Flowers](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Wild-Flowers.jpg)
With Sierra Leonean girls after interviewing them about FGM
![Parliament](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Parliament.jpeg)
With Members of Parliament after interviews in 2008
![With HE(1)](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/With-HE1.jpg)
With President of Sierra Leone during research trip – 2008
![SL 2008](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/SL-2008.jpeg)
Fun memories with her adoptive mother in Freetown 2008
![SL Mummy](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/SL-Mummy.jpeg)
Visiting her adoptive mother in her home - October 2008
Living in America
![LA Days](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/LA-Days.jpeg)
With her mother in Los Angeles celebrating 4th of July
![Un Reunion 2002](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Un-Reunion-2002.jpeg)
With her black father at the United Nations in New York 2002
![LA Daddy, Sis, Bro](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/LA-Daddy-Sis-Bro.jpeg)
Her black father with her white siblings in Los Angeles 2002
![Daddy in LA](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Daddy-in-LA1.jpeg)
Her black father cooking in her Los Angeles apartment – 2002
![Graduation LA 2003](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Graduation-LA-2003.jpeg)
With her mother – Graduation from Calstate LA in June 2003
![Graduation 2003](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Graduation-2003.jpeg)
Graduation 2003 with her white brother
![Mamica and I](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Mamica-and-I.jpg)
Celebrating her mother’s 60th Birthday together in LA
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Committee.jpg)
At UC Irvine with her committee members after defending her dissertation proposal on FGM in the Parliament of Sierra Leone
![Dr. Snow](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Dr.-Snow.jpg)
With her graduate school advisor, Professor David Snow, after she completed her dissertation on FGM in Sierra Leone
![DSC06878](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC06878-e1404923619189.jpg)
DSC06878
With Professor Ann Hironaka at the University of Califoria, Irvine
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Stephen-Marley1.jpg)
Vagina Monologues at UC Irvine - with SWF supporter and UCI student Stephen Marley
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/EVE-at-UCI.jpg)
Vagina Monologues at UC Irvine - on the stage with Students and Eve Ensler
![UCI 2009](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/UCI-2009.jpeg)
Birthday fun with grad-school friends at UC Irvine – 2009
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Nathaniel.jpg)
Celebrating with graduate school friends
![Ijeoma and Toyin](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Ijeoma-and-Toyin.jpeg)
With her Nigerian girlfriends celebrating in Texas – April 2010
![LA Andrei 1](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/LA-Andrei-1.jpeg)
With her white brother in Los Angeles
![LA Sis](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/LA-Sis.jpeg)
With her white sister in Los Angeles
![Katie 1](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Katie-1.jpeg)
With Katie, her graduate school friend in California -May 2009
![Ruben 2008](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Ruben-2008.jpeg)
With Professor Ruben Rumbaut at UC Irvine in 2009
![Ijeoma1](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Ijeoma1.jpeg)
With Ijeoma, her long time QC friend, in California – Nov. 2009
![Toyin](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Toyin.jpeg)
With Toyin, her best friend from QC, in Texas – April 2010
![Dr. P and I](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Dr.-P-and-I.jpg)
With UCI Vice Chancellor Parham finally holding her Ph. D. diploma
![Scott and I](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Scott-and-I.jpg)
With Scott Fifer, founder of GO Campaign – November 2012
![Professor Tom and Nina Smart](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Professor-Tom-and-Nina-Smart1.jpg)
With Professor Tom Spencer-Walters at California State University, Northridge – February 2013
![African fellowship](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/African-fellowship.jpg)
With friends and her sister at the African Fellowship Fundraiser in LA
![Jackie and Nina2](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Jackie-and-Nina2.jpg)
Jackie and Nina2
With Jackie Collins whose famous book "Lucky" inspired the author at a crucial time
![Stop FGM](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/Stop-FGM.jpg)
Presentation on FGM at the University of Southern California
![P9251777(2)](http://wildflowerthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/P92517772.jpg)
Presentation about FGM in Sierra Leone at the Soroptimist of Downey in California
The identities of some of author’s family members have been protected as they each declined participation.