I am an 89 year old great-grandmother from Romania. I've lived through a monarchy, WWII, and Communism. AMA.

What would you tell your 20-year-old self?

Lots! Young people make many mistakes.
I'd say "be wise" but that's hard to do at 20. Still that would be the best thing...but also be grateful. You always have something to be grateful for.

Hello Grandma! Can you recommend me a cooking recipe of yours that you had for each of those time periods?

I've always loved sarmale (cabbage rolls) doesn't matter the period.
Also the "Bombe"(Bombs): Chocolate or cocoa, sugar, butter and water, which I heated. Then I added crushed biscuits to the mix and rolled it around alcoholized sour cherries. At the end we covered these round 'bombs' in crushed walnuts. Delicious.

Who was your best friend in life and can you say a few words about him or her?

My friend Ana who I've known since I was 15. She's two years older and very sick now...

She was always very gentle and kind, unlike me, so I always appreciated seeing her qualities and the way people were drawn to her.

Would you rather fight one horse sized duck, or 100 duck sized horses?

What can I say? I've always loved horses and even rode a horse. As for ducks, I remember stuffing them (with food) - I now realize it's such a barbarian practice, but we didn't think much of it then.

So probably the duck just because I like horses more.

This...should have been part of the Game of Thrones finale.

Grandma force-feeding a duck? It was indeed a sight to behold (grandson here)

Can we see a pic of Great Grandma?!

Added to post edit!

Aside from your family, what are you most thankful for in your life?

I don't know, aside from family. I'd say the church and God.

What’s your fondest memory?

I wouldn't necessarily say memories from my youth are the fondest. But if I had to pick one I'd say it was the birth of my first child, my daughter. I saw her and I said, "she's got big lips like me, I know she's mine".

Back then there was a big media story about a midwife at a hospital who switched a baby on a woman's request because she (the mother) had four kids who she considered to be ugly and so asked the midwife to give her a better looking one.
This is why I was happy to know for sure she was my baby.

back when there was a big media story about a midwife at hospital who switched a baby on a woman's request because they were ugly

Wtf

(m) I said the same thing. As she remembers, it was quite the scandal. Turns out the woman's husband was a communist party member so charges were dropped eventually. I tried finding the story online but no luck yet.

What social policy or technological advance has brought the biggest change you've seen in your life? What made you think 'wow I'm in the future now'

I never thought 'Im in the future now" but I was very impressed by Canada when I visited. Everything seemed shiny and clean... I was surprised at how much of an impression it made on me because I expected to be impressed. But it was such a dramatic difference from Romania.

I do remember the first radio we ever got. My dad brought a box and said, in here you could hear people talking all the way from Bucharest. I was six and didn't believe him. I remember they had a "recipe of the day" segment and my mom was making something that wasnt coming out right. So my dad 'talks' to the radio and says 'give her the recipe' right when the announcer comes on with that segment. He starts listing all the ingredients but he gives the southern version of the recipe, which had all types of things we don't use here (Transylvania). My dad said, "shut that off and nevermind, this guy's stupid"

What was the scariest thing you lived through?

The '77 earthquake. Usually we don't feel earthquakes in that part of the country (used to live in Transylvania then).
I remember how the phone cord was swaying back and forth and I came out of the house (we had a homestead with animals in the yard) they were all noisy, baying, barking, panicked. And you could hear the earthquake, it was like grinding machinery. All that noise is what made it so scary.

Thank you for offering to do an AMA from someone with such a wealth of experience.

In times of war and famine, how did the people and society change and adapt as food and other necessities became scarce?

Similarly, how have values changed over the years?

I can say that values have gone downhill. Mostly because I can't see anything that suggests they've improved. People seem lost nowadays. But also it's hard to see or know what others are doing, so it's difficult to judge.

what foods bring you the most nostalgia and why?

Chicken noodle soup. Have always liked it and reminds me of childhood.
Also lamb stew made from short ribs, cooked until the bones come right off.

Which period of time was best for Romania?

When I went to technical school at 19 (studiying topometry). I wasn't allowed into university because my family had owned land (this was already under communism). Many of my classmates weren't very hard-working, but I did very well.

(She hesitates here and when I prod, says she doesn't want to show off... then tells this story)

I was the only girl in the class, and at some point all the guys were showing off what they knew (math equations). At some point they got stuck on one particular problem. I went in and filled the entire blackboard. A senior student came in and saw then solved equation and later told my brother he didn't want to continue since he could never do what I did.

Edit: I either tapped on the wrong question or misread this one and took it to mean 'what was your favourite period to live in' and she said she remembers her time at school fondly. Answered the actual question elsewhere (she thinks now is pretty good except she's old).

You flex grandma, flex that knowledge

Grandma was flexin' on dem boyz

So was not going to university like a punishment because your family owned land?

Exactly. They'd been branded 'enemies of the people'.
At least they didn't kill them.

Hi! I’m also Romanian and have asked my grandma this question as well!

How did Chernobyl affect you?

Actually we had a victim in our family. My brother loved gardening and he continued planting even right after the fallout. We all suspected it was the reason he died so soon after.

What are your thoughts on people defending communism today?

I dont think anything good about them. I'm assuming they're just ignorant or don't know any better.

What are your most memorable memories of your grandparents or great grandparents?

My grandfather, on my father's side, worked alongside one of Romania's prime ministers (Iuliu Maniu).

What was your experience during the reign of Ceaușescu?

What do you remember from the time when his regime came to an end?

Life was hard. I remember the tired faces of moms bringing kids to daycare at 6:30am so they could be at work by 7. I guess I was one of them myself.
Ceaușescu didn't seem too bad at the beginning, but eventually (when he started paying off all the IMF loans) we had a lot of trouble finding food in stores, my daughter (my mom) was harassed by state police because she refused to join the communist party. We didn't have a church anymore (She is Greek Catholic), and you couldn't trust anyone with your opinions.

I was happy and hopeful for my grandkids future when the regime ended.

Edit (m- grandson): A while back I wrote about the days at the end if the regime as I remember them

Which of the periods you've lived through do you rank the highest? And bonus: what do you think of the Romanian Slovaks? :)

The recent period. I like to see my kids and grandkids are free to travel anywhere and that they can live without worrying about life's basics.

I knew a Romanian-Slovak lady, she was a distant relative on my aunt's side. She spoke German and her Romanian had a German accent.

Why is their such hatred and discrimination between the Romanians and Roma?

The perception that Gypsies in general are not dependable people. That has everything to do with it.

Were there any aspects under communist rule that you miss?

Grandma does not remember anything positive...will edit if she changes her mind. (My uncle, who's also with us wanted to add something: "that image of people going to work in the morning, towards their places of work, in factories, which which have now disappeared completely")

What do you think about young romanians leaving your country in masses to other european nations?

They're doing the right thing.

Sad to hear from an old Romanian

Yeah, the only thing in this thread that actually made me react audibly. I said "shit.." under my breath. That's really sad to hear.

(m) yeah, I hated typing this answer. In Romanian she said, sunt oameni deștepți (they're smart people) but don't think it makes as much sense in English given the context.

Grandma which was worse: the Nazis or the Communists? Did you or your family have to deal with any of them directly?

Didn't like any of them. But the Germans were more civilized. They were all the same though, fixed ideas that ruined innocent people's lives.

I remember when the Russians came to our town, we were kicked out of our home. They used it as a headquarters for about 10 days and moved on. But then they came back (after the war ended). They shot all the dogs in the neighborhood, I remember the smell of rotting flesh. I got very sick.

How did you feel about the show-trial and execution of the Ceaušescus?

He made the stupid mistake of believing that people loved him too much for that to ever happen to him.

What is your definition of freedom?

To worship in my own church. (The Greek Catholic - aka Uniate Catholic - church was banned during communism and driven underground)

Did you like Queen Marie of Romania? I live in Washington state and she left a ton of jewelry and religious artifacts to a small museum called the Maryhill museum.

Somebody once said, "In Romania there's just one real man: Queen Mary".
(She can't remember where she heard it, but she thinks it was accurate. She was instrumental in Romania's 1918 unification).

Hello great-grandma!

Other than tobacco and alcohol, what drugs did people use back in the day?
Did you know what cannabis was in your youth?

I didn't know about any other drugs, not even cannabis.

What do you think of capitalism?

Not good, it's pretty bad too. (Compared to communism)

Buna ziua doamna, si multumesc în advance! I’m better at English - what’s your take on the Magyars? My Dad is one and I’ve heard the family story on the issue, but I would like to know another side

They're very proud people. They're Attila's descendants and like to remind others about it.

Great Grandma how do I get real friends and be more confident in myself?

How can I answer if I don't have much confidence in myself either (she laughs)

If you’ve still got your Romanian citizenship, will you please vote tomorrow for the European elections and the referendum (that will condemn severe acts of corruption)? (P.S. I’ve read most of this thread and it’s pretty awesome! Lots of love from Romania!)

Everyone in this family is voting :)

What’s it like being under a monarchy?

I think it's good. At least those leaders were all highly educated unlike those leading the other regimes.

Who was worse: the Nazis or the Red Army?

Didn't like any of them. But the Germans were more civilized. They were all the same though, fixed ideas that ruined innocent people's lives.

What has been the best book you’ve read? The best movie you’ve seen?

Thank you for doing this!

Book: The Robe.

Any film with Alida Valli. I remember liking her films very much.

How do you think the buffalo bills will do this year in the NFL?

I translated this word for word and she said, "Whats an enefel?"

What's your earliest memory?

(Posted this on the original r/ama thread at the beginning and thought it was a duplicate. She remembers her early childhood home very fondly, I'll edit with earliest memory too - m).

I grew up in a house that had a massive garden surrounded by a forest. I used to like going to the forest. They called me "the forest girl". I liked to yell and hear my echo...but as far as monarchy or communism, I remember the picture of King Michael at school. We liked looking at his picture in the morning, all the girls liked him because he was very young and handsome.

As for a comparison (between different political systems), let's say the system has changed, but the scoundrels stayed the same.

Edit, earliest memory: At my parents farm, where I grew up, we had four dogs who didn't recognize people when they wore different clothes.
It was my birthday, I couldn't have been older than five, and I wore a new dress. The dogs started nipping at it and one of them snagged it and dragged me down. Then another one grabbed the dress and pulled. It was like they were playing football (soccer) with me.
My mom heard the commotion and chased them off. I wasn't hurt but my dress was torn.

Last meal ever what are you cooking ?

Sarmale

I’m a Singaporean male, 25M and I have visited your country twice, falling in love with it on my first visit.

1. Where would you recommend someone traveling solo to visit in your beautiful country? I have been to Brasov and Bucuresti, and I am planning to hit both places again and more places.

2. When I was in Bucharest, I fell in awe of all the gigantic buildings (the Parliament House) and from what I’ve heard, part of the reason is because one of your dictator was a egomaniac and wanted everything to be big for some narcissistic reason. What are your views on his regime?

3. I think you Romanians (or at least the younger generation) holds education in very high esteem and are generally very educated/progressive. What are your thoughts on your country’s youth?

4. I’m really in awe of Romania, and my end goal in life is to retire into the Swiss alps (I did a 6 mo internship in Switzerland and fell in love with Europe’s multi culture and diversity) or a cottage/countryside in Romania. What tips do you have for someone trying to pick up Romanian soon? (Trying to be satisfied with my level of Russian at the moment so I don’t want to start on Romanian yet)

(Grandson here, but any Romanian should pitch in and answer)

(1) Visit Maramures, it's magical. Bucovina in the north-east as well. If you get a chance to visit the Danube delta, take it. I'd stay out of the cities in general. It's harder but worth it.

(2) Answered several versions of this, basically it was a bad time for all Romanians. And most Romanians dislike that monstrosity of a building. It destroyed a beautiful part of old Bucharest.

(3) I think grandma would say they're not in a good place given the state of the country, but at least there are opportunities. My opinion is similar, there is no place to go but up, but people have to keep their heads up, work for it, and not give up on their own country.

(4) For any language, the secret is immersion, hear it and practice it whenever possible. Focus on vocabulary, don't worry about technical stuff like grammar.

By the way, I find it incredible that people fall in love with this country. Not because you shouldn't but because we're going through an exodus. Romanians can't get out fast enough. It's such a shame because the potential is definitely here. It's just hard to live with the people running the show....