(This is prob the other country that I am the most excited to serve in besides Vietnam)
They love a drink-Romania is the fifth booziest country in the world, behind four more Eastern European states: Belarus, Russia, Moldova and Lithuania. As the map below shows, the average Romanian consumes 14.4 litres of pure alcohol each year, compared to 11.6 litres in Britain.
Official Name: Romania
Location: (Southeastern) Central Europe
Time Zone: Seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (GMT + 2)
Area: 92,043 sq. miles (238,391 sq. km) – a little larger than the state of Minnesota
Flag of Romania: Three vertical stripes: blue, yellow and red.
Population: 19,334,000 (October 2016)
Largest cities: Bucharest (1,883,400), Iasi (322,000), Cluj Napoca (309,000), Timisoara (303,000), Constanta (298,000), Craiova (295,000), Galati (286,000), Brasov (275,000), Ploiesti (224,000), Braila (205,000), Oradea (196,400). Romania’s population lives in 320 cities and towns and 12,956 villages.
Main Ethnic Groups: Romanian 84%, Hungarian 6.1%, Gipsy 3.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.2%
Religions: Christian Orthodox 81%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, Reformed 3%, Greek-Catholic 0.7%, Unitarian 0.3%, Jewish, other.
Official Language: Romanian
Currency: Leu ( plural Lei — pronunciation “lay” — abbreviations: Lei or RON )
Climate: Temperate, four distinct seasons, similar to northeastern USA
Capital: Bucharest ( Bucure?ti — pronunciation: boo koo re sh tea )
Form of State: Romania is a semi-presidential democracy based on a bicameral Parliament: the Chamber of Representatives or “Chamber of Deputies” (Camera Deputatilor) and the Senate (Senat). All members of the legislature are directly elected from Romania’s 41 counties.
Under the semi-presidential system, the president is responsible for foreign and defense policy and controls appointments of prosecutors and the judiciary.
Legal system: Based on European models and Constitution of 1991.
Electoral System: Universal direct suffrage over the age of 18. Parties must win at least five percent of the national vote to gain representation in the Parliament.
National Elections: Fall 2019 (presidential), Fall 2020 (parliamentary)
Head of State: President of the Republic, currently Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis (elected on November 16, 2014). Romania’s president can serve two consecutive five-year terms.
National Government: The government is led by the Prime Minister, nominated by the political party – or political alliance – with parliamentary majority, approved by the President of Romania and confirmed by the Parliament. The present Government has been nominated by the political alliance formed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), and the Liberal-Democratic Alliance (ALDE)..
Head of the Government: the Prime Minister, currently Mrs. Viorica Dancila. (appointed: January 2018)
Main political parties, represented in Romania’s Parliament following the December 11, 2016 elections: Social Democratic Party (PSD), National Liberal Party (PNL), The Union for Romania (USR), Democratic Union of Hungarian Ethnics in Romania (UDMR), Liberal-Democratic Alliance (ALDE), Popular Movement Party (PMP).
Regional Government: Forty-one County Councils (Consiliu Judetean).
Romania is a member state of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Romania is the ninth largest wine producer in the world.
Romania was a source of inspiration for two very famous novels: “The Castle in the Carpathians” by Jules Verne, and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
The archetypal vampire Count Dracula, created by Bram Stoker, was inspired by the Romanian prince Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler because he was fond of impaling his enemies and standing them along the roads.
The movie Cold Mountain was filmed on location in Romania.
. The scientist who discovered insulin was Nicolae Paulescu, a Romanian, who originally called it pancreine. Although two Canadian scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923 for their study of insulin, Paulescu’s pioneering work in the field of diabetic medicine was duly accredited.
The tallest wooden church in the world, and the second tallest wooden structure in Europe, can be found in Sapanta Peri, Maramures of north-western Romania. It has a 23 foot tall cross that weighs 1,000 lbs, on top of the 257 foot tall church.
The American mini-series “Hatfields & McCoys” starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton was filmed in Romania
The first ever first perfect 10 in the Olympic Games was given to Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. She bagged the score after her performance in Montreal, Canada in 1976.
Romania is Europe’s richest country in gold resources.
Romania’s Astra Museum in Sibiu is the second-largest outdoor museum in the world. It features more than 300 buildings as well as watermills and windmills, gigantic presses for wine, fruit and oil, hydraulic forges and more.
In 1938 Romanian Stefan Odobleja was the one who actually set the basic themes of cybernetics in “Psychologyconsonantiste“, published in Paris. His work appeared ten years before Norbert Wiener’s ideas were printed. Stefan Odobleja is now considered to be the “Father of Cybernetics”.
<img class=”size-medium wp-image-1609 alignright” style=”margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;” alt=”Merry Cemetery” src=”http://www.romaniatourism.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Merry-Cemetery-300×200.jpg” width=”329″ height=”218″ srcset=”http://www.romaniatourism.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Merry-Cemetery-300×200.jpg 300w, http://www.romaniatourism.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Merry-Cemetery.jpg 450w” sizes=”(max-width: 329px) 100vw, 329px” /&The Romanian “Merry Cemetery” of Sapanta, a tiny village in the Valley of Maramures is unlike any other cemetery in the world. This graveyard presents a very unusual and different way to look at death. Each of its gravestones is carved in cheerful colors and darkly-humorous poems that offer a glimpse into the lives of the dead.
The Romanian Palace of Parliament in Bucharest is the second largest building in the world, next only to the Pentagon in the United States.
The Statue of Decebalus in Orsova is Europe’s largest rock sculptur
7 Romanian landmarks are declared UNESCO patrimony. These locations are the Danube Delta, the painted churches in the north of Moldavia, the Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains, the historic center of Sighisoara, the Horezu Monastery, the villages with the fortified churches in Transylvania and the wooden churches in Maramures. The churches in Moldavia are adorned with beautiful frescoes, and Voronet Monastery is also known as the Romanian version of the Sistine Chapel.
The highest wooden church in the world and the second largest wooden structure in Europe is Peri Monastery located in Maramures, Romania. The church is 78 meters high and it has a 7-meter-high cross.
One of the most important traditions in Romania, the Martisor, has been included in the cultural heritage of the UNESCO patrimony. The name Martisor is the diminutive of the word March. This object is a symbol of spring, and it looks like a little talisman tied with a red and white string. It is believed that the person who wears it will be strong and healthy for the year to come.
Romania is on the UNESCO List of Immaterial Cultural Heritage with its ritual dance, named Calusul. This dance is extremely old and it is believed to represent both the galloping of a horse and dances with the fairies. The dancers belong to a secret, men-only society and they are known for “their ability to create the impression of flying in the air.” It is believed the dancers are able to cure the victims of the fairies, through their dance performed in the two-three weeks preceding Easter.
Being the second largest delta in Europe, after the one of the Volga River, the Danube Delta is the best-preserved in Europe. It has 3540 square kilometers of rivers, canals, swamps, lakes and reed islands and 23 natural ecosystems with unique flora and fauna.
Romania has more than 60% of the brown bear population in Europe. Here the tourists can also find the largest mammal in Europe – the bison. This animal was hunted almost to extinction, but now it can be found running free in several European countries, Romania included.
The British newspaper The Telegraph considers Transfagarasan to be the most beautiful road in the world. Built in the 70’s as a strategic military route, the road is an extraordinary piece of engineering that challenges your driving skills
Baciu Forest in Cluj Napoca is considered the most paranormal area on the planet.
The scenes from Sacha Baron Choen’s movie in which Borat’s hometown is presented were filmed in the Romanian village called Glod.
The Romanians invented a lot of important things. In 1910, Paris hosted the second edition of the International Aeronautics Exhibition, where Henri Coanda participated with his airplane powered by the first modern reaction engine. Wanting to check the engine, Henri Coanda also made an accidental demonstration on how it worked and actually flew by plane on a short distance. Nicolae Paulescu discovered insulin and demonstrated the effectiveness this substance has in reducing hyperglycemia. He used it to treat diabetes. Ioan Cantacuzino, academician, and microbiologist, has conducted vast research on cholera and he invented the anticholeric vaccine. Petrache Poenaru invented the pen in 1821. Romanian Anastase Dragomir designed the ejectable chair, which is now used worldwide and Lazar Edeleanu was the first one to discover and synthesize amphetamines. He also invented the modern oil refining method.
With the start of World War I Romania joined Britain, Russia and France against Germany and Austria-Hungary. After it ended, in 1918 Romania took Transylvania away from Hungary and Bessarabia (taken away by Russia in 1812) became one with Romania again. The West recognized all these changes in the Treaty of Trianon in 1920. Romania also became a founding member of The League of Nations the same year.
The Iron Guard, a Fascist group, was also formed. The 1930s was a decade of political change and unrest as the Nazis rose to power in Germany and the Bolsheviks revolted in Russia. World War II saw Romania bombed by both the Allies and Germany.
After the war, the Communists gained control of Romania by election fraud. In 1955 Romania joined the Warsaw Pact and the United Nations. The Soviet Union withdrew its army in 1958 after 14 years of Romanian occupation. Then Nicolae Ceausescu came to power and ruled Romania with an iron hand, spending lavishly on a national palace and government building for himself and the government while his people starved.
Under Ceausescu, Romania became the first Eastern Bloc country to ever establish economic relations with the European Community. He moved the economy from an agrarian one to an industrial one by force. Finally, protests broke out in Romania in December of 1989 and a speech by the leader was interrupted by rioters. The revolution ends four decades of Communist control of Romania; Ceausescu and his wife are executed. Romania was the only country in the Warsaw Pact to end its communist reign through violence and overthrow the government by force.
Romania went through a difficult transition from Communism to having a democratic government and a market economy. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. It also received an economic bailout from the International Monetary Fund in 2009 to save it during a severe recession
The great majority of the population of Romania are Romanians, followed by Hungarians and a very small percentage (less than two percent) Vlax Romani or Roma (gypsies).
One of the world’s largest populations of Roma lives in Romania. Still facing discrimination today, the Roma have been persecuted throughout history in Europe. Many have left in order to improve their lives, as the Roma have a high rate of unemployment, poverty and malnutrition. They stand out anywhere in the country in their brightly colored clothing, women in flowing skirts and men with white shirts and colorful sashes.
Romanians in the urban areas wear Western-style clothing. Those in rural areas sometimes still wear more traditional clothing. Women wear wool vests and skirts with embroidery that varies according to a woman’s region. Men wear pants with a belt and white shirts. Hairstyles of women can indicate their marital status. Unmarried ones braid their hair while married women cover their heads with a naframa (head cloth).
The flag of Romania consists of blue, yellow and red vertical stripes. These stripes represent Transylvania, Moldavia and Walachia, the three historic components of the combined country of Romania
The world’s largest salt mine museum is in Transylvania inside the old Turda Salt Mines. These massive mines were formed by machine and hand without using explosives.
In 1986, Steaua Bucuresti (Bucharest’s soccer team) won the European Cup. They are the only team from a Communist country to ever do so.
Bucharest is home to thousands of stray dogs. Approximately 10,000 people are bitten by these abandoned dogs every year. Be careful and watch where you step.
Prince Charles of Great Britain loves the beauty of Romania and admires the spirit of her people. He visits often and owns land in Transylvania.
Instituted on January 1, 2011, Romania implemented a black magic tax. Witches and fortune tellers are recognized in the country as legitimate business people. As such, they are subject to taxes. Witches must carry a permit with them as well.
Romania – country at a glance
| Capital City | Bucharest (44°25′N 26°06′E) |
|---|---|
| Largest City | Bucharest (44°25′N 26°06′E) |
| Total area | 238,391 sq km |
| Population | 21,529,967 (July 2017 est.) |
| Demonym | Romanian |
| Official Language | Romanian |
| Land borders | Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine. |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
| Currency | Romanian leu (RON) |
| Literacy rate | 98.8% |
| Religions | Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 81.9%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformed and Pentecostal) 6.4%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, other (includes Muslim) 0.9%, none or atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.3% (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 75.4 years Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life. |
| Climate | temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms |
| Terrain | central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps |
| Natural resources | petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower |
| Agricultural land | 60.7% |
| Government type | semi-presidential republic |
| President | Klaus Iohannis |
| Prime Minister | Viorica Dancila |
| Birth rate | 8.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) |
| Death rate | 12 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) |
| Sex ratio | 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.) |
| Independence | 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized on 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) |
| National symbol | golden eagle |
| National holiday | Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) |
| National colors | blue, yellow, red |
| National anthem | “Desteapta-te romane!” (Wake up, Romanian!) |
| Industries | electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials |
| Exports | $64.92 billion (2017 est.) machinery and equipment, other manufactured goods, agricultural products and foodstuffs, metals and metal products, chemicals, minerals and fuels, raw materials |
| Imports | $78.12 billion (2017 est.) machinery and equipment, other manufactured goods, chemicals, agricultural products and foodstuffs, fuels and minerals, metals and metal products, raw materials |
| GDP – per capita (PPP) | $24,000 (2017 est.) |
| Time Zone | UTC+02:00 |
| Internet country code | .ro |
| Calling Code | +40 |
| Drives on the | Right |
