Romania

Erasmus trip to Romania. What did we learn?

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Romania�   Flag and map

Capital, area, currency, religion.

• Bucharest is the largest city and the capital of Romania, located in the southeastern part of the country
• Romania covers an area of ​​238,391 km² and borders five countries:
• Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova
• Romanian leu - the monetary unit in force in Romania. It operates under the international abbreviation RON.
• Religion-The dominant religion in this country is Orthodox Christianity, in which traditionally men have a higher position in society and in the family than women. Patriarchy prevails there to a large extent and it is the man who earns for the family, but also manages it.

Romanian country information

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The majority of Romania is occupied by highlands and the Carpathian Mountains. Most of the rivers that originate from the mountains flow into the Danube, the country's largest river. All of Romania lies within the Black Sea basin. There are very few lakes here, the largest of which is Razlm.

History of Romania

• The romanian states was established in 1859 as a result of the personal union of the Danubian principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. In 1877 Romania declared its independence, becoming independent from the Ottoman Empire.
• Nicolae Ceausescu ruled as dictator from 1967 to 1989. He was overthrown executed in a revolution in 1989.
• Klaus Iohannis has been the incumbent president since his inauguration on December 21, 2014.

Famous people from Romania

• Nicolae Iorga, 1871 - 1940, historian, writer and politicians.
• Nicolae Paulescu, 1869 – 1931, physiologist, discoverer of insulin.
• Ana Blandiana, Pomanian poet, essayist and political writer.
• Iulia Hasdeu, Romanian poet, writer and playwright.
• Vlad III the Impaler, also know as Dracula, was the inspiration for the book and film character Dracula. In the photo below we have his castle.

Culture – famous people of Romania

• Briefly about culture, the people living in romania are largely similar to Poles. Romanians are a religious, reserved nation, attached to traditions and conservation in beliefs. Romanian society is characterized by the spirit of patriotism and a great sense of the its own values as a nation.
• Romanian is know for it's diverse cultural heritage, beautiful nature, monuments, amazing food and famous legend, such as Dracula.
• Traditional folk arts include wood carving, pottery, weaving and costume embroidery, home decorations, dance, and other varied folk music.

Przetłumacz mi: Rosiori de Vede, a city in Romania where one of our project's partner schools is located. An exchange abroad is to learn about and experience a different culture and customs, not only of the host country. In addition to us, students from Greece and Turkey came to the meeting in Romania. Throughout the week, we participated in activities performing various tasks related to the theme of our project: “Unity in Diversity.” The theme of the meeting this time was sports as a universal language connecting people from all over the world, regardless of skin color, age or origin. As part of the tour, we saw the cities of Rosiori de Vede, Bucharest and Bran. By far the most beautiful was Bran, where we visited Dracula's castle and admired the mysterious Carpathian Mountains.

Traditions in Romania

• The goat dance is one of the customs in Romania “the goat dance” is an opportunity to cultivate traditions from the old days and celebrate joyfully with traditional colorful costumes worn on this occasion.

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• On March 1, the Spring Festival is celebrated in Romania. Men on this day gift ladies, both acquaintances and strangers with tiny mascots .

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• There is no Day of the Dead in Romania, which does not mean that people who have passed away are not remembered. Each family chooses a date to remember the deceased and gathers at the temple on that day for a service, taking food, wine and kutia from home to be blessed. After the service, which lasts about three hours, they go to the cemetery to light candles there and distribute the consecrated food as a treat to family or random people.

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Economy

• Romania is one of the countries where agriculture still plays a major role in the economy and employs almost 30% of the labor force. It is characterized by low mechanization, and fertilizer use is among the lowest in Europe. It uses only 31.8 kg of fertilizer per hectare of agricultural land. In comparison, Poland uses 102.4 kg and Germany 148.4 kg

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• Romania is the largest producer of oil and gas in Central and Eastern Europe. The oil fields are mainly located in the southern part of the country, where the petrochemical industry is also concentrated with refineries in Ploeszti and Piteşti.

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Romanian cuisine

• The most popular are soup with cabbage and smoked beef and Romanian tripe. Loved by both Romanians and visitors, the main dish is mititei. Small rolls made of strongly spiced minced meat are called Romanian kebab.

Climate, flora and fauna.

• In Romania we have a temperature continental climate.
• The potential vegetation of Romanians are deciduous forests in lowlands and highlands and coniferous forests in high mountain areas.
• In the forests of Romania live deer, roe deer, lynxes, wolves, foxes and hares. Among the most interesting birds, we can mention black grouse, capercaillie and still quite common predators such as: hawks, vultures and eagles. The areas of the plains and steppes are inhabited by large numbers of rodents.

Trivia:

• Romania is a country belonging to the Balkan countries.
• Bran Castle, also called Dracula's Castle, is one of the most famous monuments in Romania.
• The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, also known as the "People's House", is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. It is a monumental symbol of communist power, built during the times of Nicolae Ceaușescu. Thousands of workers and engineers were involved in the construction of this building, and the construction cost was billions of dollars.

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Places we saw

• Rosiori de Vede, a city in Romania where one of our project's partner schools is located. An exchange abroad is to learn about and experience a different culture and customs, not only of the host country. In addition to us, students from Greece and Turkey came to the meeting in Romania. Throughout the week, we participated in activities performing various tasks related to the theme of our project: “Unity in Diversity.” The theme of the meeting this time was sports as a universal language connecting people from all over the world, regardless of skin color, age or origin. As part of the tour, we saw the cities of Rosiori de Vede, Bucharest and Bran. By far the most beautiful was Bran, where we visited Dracula's castle and admired the mysterious Carpathian Mountains.

Rosiori de �Vede

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• Location: Rosiori de Vede is a city in Teleorman County, located in the southern part of Romania.
• Attractions:
• The city boasts historical churches, including St. Paraskeva Church.
• Nearby, there are areas of natural beauty, with access to the vast Romanian plains.

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Did You Know?

• Rosiori de Vede has a rich and ancient history, being one of the oldest documented towns in Romania, dating back to 1385. Despite its small size today, the city once played a key role in Romanian medieval trade routes, connecting different regions of the country. Additionally, it's home to St. Paraskeva Church, a beautiful and historic landmark that reflects the region’s deep religious and cultural heritage. The town’s residents are known for their strong sense of community and love for tradition, which they celebrate through local festivals and events.

Bucharest

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Fun Fact about Bucharest:

• Bucharest is home to one of the heaviest buildings in the world – the Palace of the Parliament. Weighing approximately 4.1 million tons, it holds the title of the heaviest administrative building globally. Its construction began in 1984 under the communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu, and it remains a symbol of the country’s history. The building contains more than 1,000 rooms and covers 365,000 square meters, making it the second-largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon.

While in Romania, we had the chance to see this impressive building in person ! :)

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Bran

• Bran is a small town in Romania, famous for Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle. Even though the real Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, probably never lived there, the castle is still a popular place for fans of the vampire legend. The castle was built in the 1300s and later became a royal home for Queen Marie of Romania.
• Bran is also surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, where you can go hiking or skiing. The town is known for its local markets, where you can find traditional Romanian crafts and food.

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While in Romania, we visited Dracula’s Castle, which was an amazing experience! :)

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Popular places in Romania

One of the most popular places in Romania, as already mentioned in the presentation, is

• Bran Castle�Often called Dracula's Castle, it is the only Romanian structure that matches Bram Stoker's description in his book Dracula. Built by the Saxons from nearby Brasov in 1377-1388, it stands on the top of a hill offering a picturesque view of the surrounding area.
• The Parliament Palace is the seat of the Romanian Parliament. Located on Dealul Arsenalului in the capital Bucharest, it is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. The palace is 84 meters high and has an area of ​​365,000 square meters.

What the trip to Romania gave us

• It was an amazing journey, through it we met new friends, we learned that language is not so much a barrier. The important thing is to accept and respect each other. Romania is a beautiful and picturesque country.
• Through this trip, we not only explored the beautiful landscapes and rich history of Romania, but we also gained a deeper understanding of different cultures. Working together with students from other countries, we realized how much we share despite our differences. This journey taught us the value of cooperation, open-mindedness, and the power of friendship across borders. The memories we made in Romania will stay with us forever, reminding us of the importance of unity in diversity.

Authors:

• Oliwia Sieradzka
• Emilia Górniak
• Lena Gajocha
• Antonina Bugdalska
• Zuzanna Stępień
• Publiczna Szkoła Podstawowa im. Jana Pawła II w Zbludowicach
• POLAND ツ

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