By Jacob Levy KAIS

1. Romania By Jacob Levy KAIS

2. Geography & Climate • Area: 238,391 sq. km. • The edges are flat, and the land gradually gains elevation as you approach the center • Climate: Temperate climate

3. The People • Population: 21,848,504 • Languages: Romanian (official) 91%; Hungarian 6.7%; Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%; Other 1.2% • Religions: Eastern Orthodox 86.8%; Protestant 7.5%; Roman Catholic 4.7%; Other and unspecified 0.9%; None 0.1% • Life Expectancy: Male-70.75 years Female: 77.89 years • Literacy Rate: Age fifteen and over can read and write

4. Customs & Courtesies Greetings • Handshakes are common with both men and women • Words like: Ceau(Ciao), Salut(salutations), Buna(good), and servusare used when greeting • Only close friends, family, and children greet each other with the others first name • People are also addressed by their professional title, too(i.e. doctor) Gestures • When one sneezes, friends and family say Sanatate(good health) or Noroc(good luck), which is also used at parties, but instead means cheers

5. Customs & Courtesies(cont.) Gestures(cont.) • Making eye contact with the person you are talking to is a sign of honesty • It is impolite for men to put their hands in their pockets while conversing with another person Eating • Lunch is traditionally the meal of the day, but most families only eat lunch together on Saturday and Sunday • Eat with fork in left hand and knife in right • Both hands are always above the table during the meal • It is impolite to eat in front of those who are not eating

6. Lifestyle Family • Very important to the Romanians, and the father maintains a dominant role • Urban families are smaller than rural families due to smaller housing and higher living costs • Women have jobs outside the house, but still do house chores and care for the children Housing • Farms are usually 2-3 room houses surrounded by a fence, a garden, orchard, and farm buildings • Most Romanians today live in cities in apartment blocks, which have two rooms

7. Lifestyle(cont.) Dating & Marriage • Young men and women begin socializing in high school. • Men and women expect to marry and have a family. • Marriage in urban areas happen between ages 25 and 30 • Men and women in rural areas marry at a younger age • Engagement rings are not used, instead the wedding ring is worn on the right hand until marriage • Before the wedding the groom may carry a pine tree to the bride’s house as a sign of long life

8. Lifestyle(cont.) Life Cycle • Traditionally, babies are named after saints from the Christian Orthodox religion • A few months after birth, Romanian babies are assigned godparents • Retirement age is around 60, and the government pays retired people a small pension • After death, Romanians are usually buried in coffins near other relatives • They may also be cremated

9. Lifestyle(cont.) Recreation & The Arts • Romanians enjoy sports, particularly soccer • Athletes from Romania have done well in international sports competition, especially gymnastics, weight lifting, rowing, and tennis • More than 1,500 museums are found in Romania • Excellent orchestras, theaters, and opera houses are available in many cities • Flutes and string instruments are common in Romanian folk music • Romanian folk art includes wood carvings, carpets, elaborate costumes, pottery, and icon painting

10. Society Government • Romania’s new constitution was established in 1991 • The directly elected president is head of state but also has boarder powers • Romania’s prime minister is head of government • The country’s bicameral Parliament has a 137-Senate and a 332-seat Chamber of Deputies • There are local governments for Romania’s 41 counties • The voting age is 18

11. Society(cont.) Transportation • Transportation in cities is reasonably efficient and inexpensive • Roads are in poor condition and are not built to handle excessive amounts of cars • The trains that link cities are poorly maintained and lack heat in the winter • In rural areas, people commonly travel by bicycle, horse, or donkey-drawn carts