Emanuela - a Cold War Romanian Childhood (204) - a podcast by Ian Sanders

Emanuela Grama was born in the mid-1970s’ in a small provincial town in Eastern Romania. She provides us with a great insight into life in the Romanian provinces during the 1980s. 

Emanuela lived in a small two-bedroom flat and tells of her parents working in a factory while her grandparents looked after her.Her father listened secretly to Radio Free Europe and collected stamps so he could legitimately write to people in the West.

Her parents told her not to talk at school about what was said at home and to be very careful what she said to friends.Emanuela vividly recalls the day the revolution started in 1989, Emanuela was at home alone and she described the instant atmosphere of change and the weeks and months after. 

We also hear about Emanuela’s book, Socialist Heritage: The Politics of Past and Place in Romania which traces the transformation of Bucharest’s Old Town district where under socialism, politicians and professionals used the district’s historic buildings to emphasize the city’s Romanian past and erase its ethnically diverse history.I’m asking listeners to support my work and enable me to continue recording these incredible stories. If you become a monthly supporter via Patreon, you will get the sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode, visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations on Facebook. Further details , including photos are in our episode notes at https://coldwarconversations.com/episode204/

James Chilcott is our host and I am delighted to welcome James and Emanuela to our Cold War conversation…Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated.


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Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations0:00 Introduction and background of Emanuela Grama
4:49 Absence of Jewish history in Romanian education and Emanuela's early life14:40 Emanuela's childhood, influence of Western literature, and school experience under communist regime
26:55 Revelation of the fall of Ceausescu regime and experience during the revolution34:22 Introduction to Emanuela Grama's book 'Socialist Heritage' and discussion on political changes in Romania
40:49 The state of Romanian high schools post 1990 and reflections on Romania's past and present46:24 Understanding ethnographic research and the ethnic diversity in Romania
49:30 The rise of the secondhand clothes market and longing for Western media in Romania55:43 Emanuela's published poem and changes made by editors
59:22 Closing remarks and mention of Cold War Conversations storeTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨
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