Country Facts
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Size: slightly smaller than Oregon
Population: 22,276,056 (2007 est)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Ethinic Group: Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4%
Language: Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1%
Literacy: 97.3%
Unemployment rate: 6.1% (2006)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2005 est.)
Government: republic
Economy (Agriculture & Industry)
Economy: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining
Currency: new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005; "old" leu (ROL) was phased out in 2006; note - because of currency revaluation, 10,000 ROL = 1 RON
Culture
Ethnic origins hold a lot of weight in judging others. There is historical resentment toward the Hungarian, Jewish, and Gypsy minorities that is not felt toward Ukrainians, Germans, Turkish Muslims or Tartars who are less numerous. Russians are feared: Russian mafia actions are replacing memories of former Soviet Communists’ rule. Italians are given a warm welcome and intercultural relations are even better than those with the French, who have always enjoy a certain prestige. Since the Second World War, the support of Americans has been highly regarded although they are seen as being somewhat naïve and ill equipped for working in the Romanian context.
The acceptable amount of personal space required is much less than in North America; people shake hands up close and do not then move away. People tend to have a wandering gaze when speaking to one another. Compared to North Americans, Romanians focus less on the people to whom they are speaking; this often gives the impression that they are not paying attention. Yet, keeping constant eye contact may, in the worst-case scenario, be awkward, but it will never be perceived as being offensive.
Once the ice is broken, it is not poorly viewed to touch others when speaking to them. Nevertheless, it is expected that foreigners will be more reserved.
People use a lot of gestures and facial expressions; Romanians fall somewhere between English and Italians in their use of non-verbal communication and animated conversation.
The nature of expressions should, however, be interpreted in relation to the specific context and taking into account the allusions, innuendos and pertinent remarks that go along with them.
Family life: Family plays an important role in the day-to-day lives of Romanians. Children are considered important in a marriage. Most families have one or two children except the Romany people or Gypsies, who tend to marry earlier and have more children.
All Romanian men serve in the army from ages 19-21. usally they do not marry until after their army service. The age of marriage for city dwellers is older than that of rural people. Most weddings in Romania include civil and religious ceremonies. In the past, married children stayed with their parents. Now more and more young couples live on their own.
Food: Romanian cuisine has touches of French, Greek, Russian and Turkish influences. Pork is a favoured item though beef, veal and chicken are also eaten. During the latter part of the communist regime, there was a shortage of meat and meat products.
Typically Romanian specialties include a range of soups made from fermented bran, bacon, potatoes and beef or chicken called ciorba.
Sports: More than 40 sports activities, from the popular national soccer to oina, an old Romanian game similar to baseball, are played in Romania.
Romania first participated in the Olympic Games in 1924. Since then, Romanian sportsmen and women have won numerous honours both in the Olympics and in other world sports events. Athletics, gymnastics, boxing, target shooting, kayaking and boating are some of the events in which Romania has frequently won gold medals in the Olympic Games.
Arts: Examples of both Romania's traditional village architecture and crafts are the carved doorways of Transylvanian houses, the attractive wooden churches, the variety of regional costumes and beautiful artifacts. Romanian icon paintings, woodcarving, pottery, embroidery, carpet weaving and textile decorations are folk traditions which have remained unchanged through the country's history.
There are first class theatres, opera houses and philharmonic orchestras in all the major cities in Romania. There are over 1500 museums of history, art and culture throughout Romania. Paintings from the first half of the 20th century mark the beginning of international recognition of Romanian art. The famous sculptor Constantin Brancusi's works are well represented and enjoyed in international collections.
Holidays
• December 25 Christmas, and Easter are the most important religious holidays in Romania.
Romanians also celebrate New Year's Day and December 1, Romanian Day, commemorating the date when Transylvania became a part of Romania in 1918.
Orphans and at-risk children
More than 80,000 children live in institutions or substitute families with little parental care.
• Highest rate of HIV/AIDS among children in Europe.
• Over 1,000 street children live in Bucharest, the capital of Romania.
• Anemia is a problem affecting half of the Romanian population.
• The understaffed education system is in need of drastic resources and modernization.
• Absence of clean water in rural areas which can lead to diseases and other harmful side effects.
Buckner in Romania
Buckner began its ministry in Romania in 1996 after Romanian officials sought Buckner’s expertise to help overcome mounting problems in the country’s orphanages. Buckner staff realized they had a unique opportunity to use their childcare and social services knowledge to make a difference to the orphan children in Romania.
Buckner services and country support include:
• Four group homes with ongoing financial assistance and humanitarian aid such as shoes and socks
• Large scale orphanage renovations and emergency needs.
• Staff to coordinate emergency relief and humanitarian aid efforts with Romanian Child Protective Services in Turgu Mures region
• A weekly follow-up ministry provided by volunteers for the four group homes, a day care center for homeless children and an orphanage of special needs babies and children.
• Grandmother’s program employing Christian “grandmothers” working in the special needs baby and toddler orphanage
• A Child Development Center in Târn?veni, a primarily Gypsy community.
