About
Romania The history of Romania stretches back to the beginning of Europe, and this nation’s rich history certainly warrants more than a brief summary. For the purposes of brevity, however, we’ll start with World War II. In 1940, the Soviet Union, Hungary, and Bulgaria each occupied a part of Romania. King Carol II abdicated the throne, and control of Romania went to Ion Atonescu and the Iron Guard, an ultra-nationalist, anti-Semitic, fascist party. Antonescu quickly took power away from the Iron Guard, and in 1941 Romania entered World War II on the side of the Axis. Romania regained territory; however, Antonescu followed the Nazi policies and allowed the execution of Jews as well as Romas. In 1944, King Michael I took control and instead joined the Allies. In 1947, the growing Communist movement forced King Michael I out, and the Soviet Union controlled Romania until the late 1950s. Nicolae Ceausescu, a Communist, controlled Romania from 1965 until 1989. His rule meant a time of few freedoms for the Romanian people. Ceausescu forced collectivization, limited freedom of speech, and persecuted people for religious or social standing. His government also enforced economic restrictions, where people could only buy the most basic, often insufficient, food rations. In 1989, the Romanian Revolution began with a peaceful demonstration protesting the planned arrest of a reformed hungarian pastor in the small town of Timisoara. Larger protests began in the capital city of Bucharest, and television spread the news quickly. The week-long protests, met with violence by the Ceausescu administration, ended with people overthrowing and executing Ceausescu and his wife. The National Salvation Front took power, and little changed because party leaders were still tied closely to the Communist regime. In the years to come Romania started to learn what democracy means and slowly moved towards change and improvement.. Traian Basescu currently serves as Romania’s president. Today Romania offers a strange juxtaposition of past and present. When you visit a town like Fagaras, you’ll likely see horse-drawn wagons driving next to modern cars. Agricultural production still plays a large role in the economy of Romania even though we are struggling to be competitive, and additional exports include industrial machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, software, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, cars, raw materials, metallurgic products, and military equipment. For most Romanians, daily life still occurs on a much quieter and more local scale than what many Americans experience. While some large “mega stores” have opened in larger cities, the majority of Romanians still rely on small markets and grow much of their food in their own gardens. Most Romanians live in “blocks,” concrete apartment buildings that Ceausescu built, tearing down many of the original homes throughout Romania. The average family lives in a small apartment, with just two bedrooms, a tiny kitchen, and a small living room. Because homes and apartments cost so much, many young people and young families must continue to live with their parents. Loans are not common in Romania, so it takes a long time to save for a home or apartment. Romania joined the European Union (EU) in January 2007. While the cost of goods certainly matches that of other European nations, salaries lag far behind. Fuel costs approximately $5 per gallon, and beef costs approximately $3.20 per pound. A two-bedroom apartment carries a price tag of $40,000; whereas, a two-bedroom house sells for $80,000. When you consider the minimum salary in Romania, $200 per month, it’s easy to imagine the difficulty Romanians have affording basic necessities. In Fagaras, a doctor earns $370 per month, a nurse -$220,a teacher -$350 and an engineer -$500. Romania has a high literacy rate of 97%. The government supports both the education system and the health system. Students may attend university for free; however, graduates often leave the country to earn higher wages. Some young people work abroad so they can return with enough money to help their families or afford an apartment of their own. An American visiting Romania may reminisce of
times past in their home country. Families remain close and gather frequently.
Church members gather for shared meals. Most Romanians enjoy a bit slower
pace, taking time to enjoy life. At Horizon of Hope, we hope to maintain
these values, while adapting to the changing economy and evolving world
presence of Romania. |
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