Traian grew up in Romania during the tumultuous 1980s under the shadow of the communist regime led by Nicolae Ceaușescu.
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We learn about the harsh realities of life under communism, where shortages of basic goods were commonplace. He shares the clever tactics he and his family employed to navigate these challenges, including trading items with tourists and listening to forbidden radio stations like Radio Free Europe for music and news. These experiences shaped his understanding of the world outside Romania, igniting a desire for freedom and change.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn as the Romanian revolution unfolds in December 1989. Traian recounts the fear and uncertainty that gripped the nation as protests erupted, leading to the eventual overthrow of Ceaușescu. He vividly describes his school trip during this pivotal moment and the surreal experience of returning home to a city forever changed by the events of those days.
Related episodes:
- Cold War, Warm Hearts – Hitchhiking behind the 1960s Iron Curtain https://pod.fo/e/2098ae
- A Childhood under the eye of the Secret Police https://pod.fo/e/a4730
- My life laid bare through secret police files https://pod.fo/e/12e45f
- A Hungarian childhood in Cold War Romania https://pod.fo/e/1190aa
- Escaping from Cold War Romania https://pod.fo/e/11ad63
- Emanuela – a Cold War Romanian Childhood https://pod.fo/e/f0376
- Reporting the 1989 Romanian Revolution https://pod.fo/e/1ea8c
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