Here is a consolidated list of various language learning posts:

Lessons

Basis Words & Phrases

Numbers

Pronunciation & Spelling Rules

Texts

Vlad Dracula & Other Rulers

WW1 – WW2

Stray Dogs

Hello – Buna ziua

Little in their history has given Romanians cause for celebration. They frequently suffered at the hands of a succession of invaders (invadatori) and have lived for long periods under foreign rule (stăpânire). About the year 1000 Transylvania was conquered by the King of Hungary and, except for a brief period (perioadă) in the sixteenth century, remained under Hungarian control (autoritate) until 1918. Moldovia and Wallachia were created in the 1400țs and both were ruled by Romanian princes (domnitori). The best known of these are remembered by the Romanians for their attempts to defend their domains against invaders from the north (nord) and south (sud) such as the Poles (polonezi) and Turks (turci). Stephen The Great (Ștefan Cel Mare), prince of Moldovia, defeated the Turks on several occasions and managed to keep Moldovia independent until his death (moarte) in 1504. In recognition of his exploits Stephen was called The Athlete of Christ by the Pope (papă).

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The end (sfârşit) of the First World War (primul război mondial) saw the union of all the regions inhabited by Romanians. The provinces of Transylvania, Banat and Bessarabia were added to the country to create what Romanians called România Mare. During the reigns of Ferdiand (1914-27), Carol II (1930-40) and Michael (1940-7), efforts were made to develop Romania. Modern highways (şosele) were built, a public bus, rail (calea ferată) and air system were introduced, and electricty (electricitate), gas (gaze) and water (apă) were brought to towns. More schools (şcoli) and hospitals (spitale) were also constructed. However, despite these advances the life of the peasants in the villages remained largely unchanged. Before the outbreak of the Second World War (al doilea război mondial) 80% of Romania’s 18 million people lived on the land (pământ).

In June 1940 the Soviet Union seized Besserabia and two months later Romania lost more territory, this time to Hungary, when, under pressure from Germany, she was forced to give away the northern part of Transylvania. At the end of the Second World War in 1945 Soviet troops occupied Romania and the first steps were taken to communize the country. This involved the abolition of all institutions and the creation of new ones, and the imprisonment of all those who opposed this process. The complete subjugation (subjugare) of Romania to the Soviet Union was marked by King Michael’s forced abdication (abdicare) in December 1947 and the proclomation (proclamare) of the Romanian People’s Republic.

Here are some pictures of stray dogs / puppies in Navodări next to the RomPetrol factory. We found them on the ‘dig‘ (Romanian for dam, or pier). Au murit de foame (they were starving, dying of hunger).

Very short video: Stray Puppies Eating