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Romania is located in Southeastern Europe. It borders the Black Sea and is between Bulgaria and Ukraine. The capital of Romania is Bucharest.

Some affecting situations within Romania fall within domestic violence. While the personal freedom of people are generally protected, domestic violence remains a serious problem within Romania. Something that was interesting to find out was that same-sex marriages are not permitted under the Romanian Law. In this day and age, that can be very crucial for some people.

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Romania has a considerable amount of natural resources. They have land for agriculture, which leads to land for their livestock because of where they are located. They have much forests that provide hard and soft woods that they use.

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-Within 1600 and 1601 the three historic principalities of Romania, which are - Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia - they are united under one ruler. This ruler was  Michael the Brave, they had previously been under the rule of Habsburg and Ottoman domination.
-As we move forward to 1683, the Habsburgs recapture Transylvania from the Ottoman Empire. Then jumping to 1715, the Phanariot Greek governors begin to rule Moldavia and Wallachia. This was on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, and this was the launch of administrative reforms.

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-Reaching 1821, Russia begins to oversee the administration of Moldavia and Wallachia. the Phanariot rule ends and the native Romanian rulers steadily begin to regain the influence.
-Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza is pronounced at the prince of both Moldavia and Wallachia, this unite as Romania in 1862.
-In 1866, liberal politicians force the increasingly authoritarian Prince Cuza's abdication. The politicians invite the German prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen to succeed him.
-Within 1877-1878, Romania wins full independence from the Ottoman Empire by siding with Russia in the Russia-Turkish War. In 1881, Romania becomes a kingdom

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-In 1904, the oil industry takes off by opening the first refinery. In 1914 King Carol's death ends Romania's alliance with the Central Powers, which was Germany and Austria. The nephew of him, Ferdinand, takes Romania into World War I on the Allied side in 1916.
-In 1918, Romania virtually doubled in size and population due to the peace settlement which was at the end of the war.
-Rise of the fascist 'Iron Guard' mass movement begins in the 1930s.
-In 1940, the General Ion Antonescu gains power, and allies Romania with Nazi Germany. In 1944, Romania switches sides as Soviet forces close in. The next year, a Soviet-backed government is installed.

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Romania was taken over by Soviet troops in 1944 and they became the satellite of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1948. The country then became under communist rule from 1948 until 1989. During this time, it was illegal for Christians to worship God. Many of them had to practice their religion in secret, and if they were caught doing this, or reading a bible or even having a bible, they would be beaten and thrown in prison.

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-In 1989 of December, the Revolution begins. Demonstrations in the city of Timisoara spread nationwide in a bloody national uprising that then led to the execution of Nicolae Ceasescu and his wife. Former Ceausescu ally Ion Iliescu forms a government that pledged to democracy.
-In 1990 of May, the government embarks on economic and political reform programs. In June, student and opposition protests against ex-communist leadership crushed when 20,000 miners were brought in to stage a counter demonstration.
-In 1991, the riots by miners on strike because of soaring prices force the Prime Minister Petre Roman's to resign. In 1996, Emil Constantinescu was elected president, and Victor Ciorbea became the new Prime Minister.
-In 1997, the economic reform program was announced and Securitate Communist-era secret police files opened.
-In January of 1999, security forces prevent 10,000 miners striking over pay from entering Bucharest. In 2000 of November and Decemeber, Ion Iliescu defeats far-right rival Corneliu Vadium Tudor in presidency. Adrian Nastase becomes the new prime minister in minority government.

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Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Culture is often originated from or attributed to a specific region or location.

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This marks the Path to EU membership.
-In March 2004, Romania was admitted to Nato. Following in November and Decemeber of 2004, the Centrist alliance leader Traian Basescu was elected president. Ally Calin Tariceeanu becomes the prime minister with the agenda of speeding up EU-oriented reforms.
-In April of 2005, Romania ends up signing the EU accession treaty.
-In January of 2007, Romania and Bulgaria join the European Union.
-In February of 2008, the European Commission warns Romania over high-level corruption.

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Romania then enters Financial Crisis.
-In March 2009, the International Monetary Fund and other lenders agree to provide Romania a rescue package that was worth 20bn euros.
-In January and February of 2012, clashes over austerity and corruption prompt the Prime Minister, Emil Boc, to resign. In May of 2012, Victor Ponta becomes the new prime minister.
-In November 2014, Conservative Klaus Iohannis beats Victor Ponta in presidential election.
-In November 2015, Victor Ponta resigns as prime minsiter after scandal, which saw to mass street protests over lax safety regulations at a nightclub where 32 people died in a fire.
-In may of 2016, A Nato missile defence system is installed in the face of Russia opposition.
-In 2017, Social Democrats form government after winning December 2016 elections. In February, some 200,000 people protest over government attempts to water down corruption measures, in the largest demonstrations since fall of Communist regime in 1989.
-In 2019, Centrist Ludovic Orban becomes the prime minister after Social Democrats lose vote of confidence.
-In 2020, the Defence Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca becomes acting prime minister of the signation of Ludovic Orban over pooer-than-expected election results.

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-Before the Revolution in 1989, Romania was apart of the Communist Party. This was the leading force in the Romanian Society. In 1991, the constitution replaced the single-party rule with a democratic and pluralist system. But the former communists have maintained prominence in the politic process through formation as parties as the Social Democratic Party. The Democratic Liberal Party is the newest centrist party that came about in the early 21st century. There are many more parties representing different people throughout Romania. A couple of examples would be the environmentalists, Romanian nationalists, Romania's Hungarian minority, and the Roma.
-Klaus Iohannis is the current President of Romania who was elected in November of 2014 and reelected in November of 2019 for his second term. But the person who is above Klaus Iohannis is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca. He was elected for Prime Minister in December 2021.

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-Romania has many natural resources. Some of those include copper, gold, silver, coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium, forests, timber, and arable land which is nation's most valuable resource. An estimated two-thirds of the nation's territory is dedicated to agriculture.
-Covid-19 has really impacted the working environment for the people within Romania. A source stated that one of the most worrying realities is that the Romanian labor market has not developed the tools for recovery and adaptation to post-COVID working conditions.
-They took a big hit when looking at the economy when it comes to COVID-19. The recovery of the Romanian economy is associated with the a growing foreign trade deficit. This is rising the external debt and cost inflation. This is putting pressure on the business environment to maintain the purchasing power of earnings from work.

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Cabbage Roll

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Type of Sausage

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Corn meal and meat

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Walnut Bread

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-Romania reached its peak population in the year of 1990 with 24.49 million people. SInce then there has been a population decline. This is putting the population at about 19.24 million in Romanian for 2020.
-Romania's economy recovered at 5.9% in the year of 2021 and they did perform better in the first half of the year 2022, despite a significant pick-up in inflation and increased uncertainty due to the war in Ukraine.
-The poverty rate for 2019 was 10.90%, which was a 2.1% decline from 2018. No other recording has been made for the year of 2023. In these conditions, the poverty headcount ratio is at $5.50 a day. That is what this percentage is living off of.

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-Romanian families are traditionally patriarchal. This is when the linegae is being passed down from the male side of the family. The men are normally the ones who make the most income and support their familiy. The women are the ones who are incharge of the familiy at home and the caregiving.
-Some women do go out and get jobs to help with the income that is coming in, but the men making more of the money.
-Women continue to dominate low-status and low-paying jobs and they do not hold any position that has leadership within it.

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-In 2022, the death rate for Romania was 16.4 per 1,000 people. Romania death rate fluctuated substantially throughout recent years, but ending at 16.4 per 1,000 people in 2022.
-Two public health issues in Romania are tuberculosis (TB) and measles. Other risk factors that account with deaths in Romania are dietary risks (27%), tobacco (17%), alcohol (14%), and low physical activity (4%).

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-The International School of Bucharest is a non-profit school providing a British style of education for children aged 2 to 19 years of age.
-This school offers IBDP Programs which is International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. This is a two-year educational program that is aimed primarily at students 16 years old to 19 years old.
-For primary school, ISB follows the English National Curriculum. This offers a child centered, challenging and well-balanced curriculum for the students. This program caters for the individual needs of the students allowing stimulation of the child's interests and learning capabilities so that they can reach their full potential. This is a British Curriculum.
- The ISB school has a connected school community which has a collaborative environment inside and outside of the school. This environment connects people, schools and technologies to meet common learning goals.

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Our curriculum combines aspects of our two core academic traditions. Create a stimulating bilingual learning environment that focuses on student learning, development and well-being and unleashes the creative potential.

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Welcome to the International School of Bucharest

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-The Romanian grading scale runs from 1 to 10. 1-4 means fail, 5-6 means sufficient, 7 is satisfactory, 8 is good, 9 is very good, and 10 is excellent.

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-The Romanian National Holidays include: New Year (January 1 and 2), the Monday following Orthodox Easter (May 1), National Day (the day of Romanian unification with Transylvania, which is celebrated December 1), and Christmas Day.

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Bran Castle is often associated with Dracula as his home. This is a Romanian landmark with roots dating back to the 13th century, it is a museum today showcasing art and furniture that was collected by Queen Maria.

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Corvin Castle is a medieval, Gothic structure and is to be considered the most impressive medieval castle in Romania. Also known as Hunyad Castle.

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Meyer culture mapping chart 20 empty(1) (1)

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Intercultural Development Continuum (I.D.C Theory) 

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Intercultural Development Continuum (I.D.C Theory) 

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Reading Notes for the Culture Map by Erin Meyer

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Reading Notes for the Culture Map by Erin Meye Ch 3

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Reading Notes for the Culture Map by Erin Meye Ch5

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Reading Notes for The Culture Map by Erin Meye ch 7

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1991 - Riots by miners on strike over soaring prices force Prime Minister Petre Roman's resignation. 1996 - Centre-right election victory sweeps aside former communists. Emil Constantinescu elected president, Victor Ciorbea becomes prime minister.

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1991 - Riots by miners on strike over soaring prices force Prime Minister Petre Roman's resignation. 1996 - Centre-right election victory sweeps aside former communists. Emil Constantinescu elected president, Victor Ciorbea becomes prime minister.

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There is universal suffrage for all citizens age 18 and over. Before the 1989 revolution, the Communist Party of Romania was enshrined as the only legal political party and the leading force in Romanian society. The 1991 constitution replaced single-party rule with a democratic and pluralist system, but former communists have maintained prominence in politics through the formation of such parties as the Social Democratic Party (Partidul Social Democrat; PSD). Parties dating from before World War II have been revived, notably the National Liberal Party (Partidul Național Liberal; PNL) and the National Peasant Party (Partidul Național Țărănesc; PNT), which with smaller anticommunist parties formed the Democratic Convention of Romania (Convenția Democrată Română; CDR). The Democratic Liberal Party (Partidul Democrat-Liberal; PDL) emerged as a new centrist party in the early 21st century. There are also parties representing environmentalists, Romanian nationalists, Romania's Hungarian minority, and the Roma.

Security

The Romanian police force is organized nationally under the Ministry of Administration and Interior. There is a national police force, a national gendarmerie (the military branch of the national police), and a border police force. Serious crimes are prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice.

Beginning in 1989, Romania sought to become part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In January 1994 it became the first eastern European country to join NATO's Partnership for Peace program, but there was widespread disappointment in 1999 when Romania was denied entry into NATO. In preparation for membership, Romania, which occupies a strategic location on the Black Sea, was required to sign friendship treaties with its neighbours. Romanian troops were deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 as part of the International Security Assistance Force, and the following year Romania joined the U.S.-led coalition that occupied Iraq. In 2004 Romania was admitted to NATO.

Health and welfare

During communist rule, medical care was provided free by the state, and public funds were allotted also to pensions and health resorts for children and workers. The quality of medical service improved with the training of more doctors and the construction of hospitals in the main towns and as a result of the new drugs that became available from the country's growing pharmaceutical industry. Since the early 1970s, life expectancy for Romanians has increased slightly; however, it is still lower than most other countries in central and eastern Europe, with the exception of most of the countries of the former Soviet Union. Medical services suffered from the austerity program of the 1980s, when priority was given to the repayment of foreign debts. The number of doctors and dentists per capita, which had risen rapidly from 1970 to 1985, failed to keep pace with the growth of population. Ancillary staff actually decreased between 1985 and 1990. Medical treatment for the elderly was also restricted during the latter years of the Ceaușescu era.

Severe inflation, the difficulties of an economy in transition, and the government's concomitant lack of resources to address the impoverished national health service greatly affected the health care system during the 1990s. The practice of giving underweight babies microtransfusions of unscreened blood resulted in large numbers of them testing positive for HIV ( human immunodeficiency virus), which causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). By the beginning of the 21st century, the transmission of the virus from mother to child was the main cause of the spread of the virus. This period also marked changes in the provision of health care, as private medical and pharmaceutical practices started to slowly emerge, though the majority of hospitals are still state-owned. A bill that would have increased privatization in the health care system was proposed in early 2012, but widespread protests led to the rescinding of the proposal and the collapse of the government of Prime Minister Emil Boc.

Under communist rule, in order to keep up population growth, abortion and contraception were made illegal, and large numbers of unwanted children were placed in orphanages. The appalling conditions in these orphanages attracted the attention of many international charities and adoption agencies; however, Romania's lack of resources coupled with unclear policies and inconsistent legislation delayed a solution to the problem of Romanian orphans and street children. Since the 1990s the conditions have generally improved in Romania's state-run orphanages (of which there were more than 200 in the early 21st century). Moreover, in 2004, as a way to end corruption in the system, the Romanian government passed a child welfare law prohibiting international adoption of Romanian orphans.

Housing

Since 1991 a significant number of new homes have been constructed throughout the country. Much of the housing boom was propelled by the emergence of a real-estate market and an accumulation of wealth due to a free-market economy. Most of the income was spent on single family homes in the suburbs of Bucharest and on second homes and villas in rural areas. Typical housing for peasants in rural villages is a one- or two-room hut built of locally available materials: wood, stone, wattle, or mud with stucco covering.

Education

Throughout the communist period, education in Romania was strictly controlled by the state and reflected the country's official socialist ideology. Following the revolution, private education was permitted, but it was largely restricted to higher education. Under the Ministry of Education, schooling is generally compulsory through age 16, and more than nine-tenths of the population is literate.

Higher education is provided by universities, polytechnical schools, vocational schools, and other institutes. University study traditionally lasts four to six years, depending on the particular discipline, and is modeled on the French system, with large lecture halls. Criticism of this system and interest in more student-teacher interaction attracted some students to the various private universities that were established after 1989. Nevertheless, most students attend state-run universities. The major Romanian universities are the University of Bucharest (1864), the Technical University of Iași (1937), and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (1948). The largest technical university in Romania is the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, founded in 1818 as the National School of Bridges, Roads, and Mines. Other polytechnic universities are found in the cities of Brașov, Craiova, Oradea, Suceava, and Timișoara. There are also public schools that cater to national minorities. The Babeș-Bolyai University (1956), in Cluj-Napoca, is a multicultural university, offering courses in Romanian, Hungarian, German, and Romany.

Cultural life

Cultural milieu

Each geographic region in Romania has its own culture, which reflects and is the product of regional history. Transylvania and the Banat were ruled for many centuries by Austria and Hungary, and their architecture reflects Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles. Moldavia, in eastern Romania, has a culture that reflects its proximity to Ukraine and Russia, though traces of Tatar and other Central Asian influences have been identified in its folk art. The loggia, an open-air porch that evolved in the Mediterranean, was first incorporated into homes in Romania in Walachia. The region also traditionally absorbed influences from the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Middle East. The Hungarian, German, and Roma minorities, who are scattered throughout the country, maintain their own traditions, which are reflected in their folk arts, cuisine, and dress.

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There is universal suffrage for all citizens age 18 and over. Before the 1989 revolution, the Communist Party of Romania was enshrined as the only legal political party and the leading force in Romanian society.

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Romania: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report | Freedom House

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See the Freedom in the World 2022 score and learn about democracy and freedom in Romania.

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old specimen from Verespatak, Rosa Montana, Romania.

Romania is located in the southeastern region of Europe, and the nation's capital is Bucharest. Romania has a rich history that has been influenced by regional powers. The nation has had considerable influence from the Romans and Ottomans. The country's landscape is comprised of forested and mountainous areas as well as plains and hills. The climate is mainly temperate. Romania has a wide array of natural resources which include petroleum, gold, silver, uranium, arable land, forests, and rivers with immense hydroelectric potential. The country produces significant amounts of alumina, coal, cement, lead, copper ore, zinc, and iron ore. The country has mineral resource development potential, especially in the hydrocarbon sector. The nation's economy is mainly based on the services sector which accounts for 59.4% of the GDP while agriculture and industry account for 6.4% and 34.2% of the GDP respectively.

Copper

The largest copper mine in the country is the Cupru Min Rosia Poieni mine located in Abrud. The mine has an estimated 1,102 million tons of copper with 0.36% and 1.8% sulfur grading. The mine's ore extraction capacity was expected to rise to 16.5 million tons in 2015 from the previous 9.9 million tons in 2013. The Romanian government has in recent years attempted to enhance extraction from the mine to 19.8 million tons through partnerships.

Gold And Silver

Romania has significant gold deposits at Rosia Montana. The Rosia Montana project is considered to have among the largest gold deposits in Europe. The mine is estimated to have 203 tons of gold and 1,217 tons of silver. The mine also has probable deposits of 515 tons of silver and 144 tons of gold. The mine is expected to run for 16 years with a production capacity of 58.4 tons of silver and 16.5 tons of gold per year, therefore, making the nation a considerable gold producer. Production at the mine is expected to generate up to $40 billion in government revenue. However, the project has faced opposition from the community and environmental groups.

Coal

The nation has lignite and bituminous coal deposits estimated to be 10,626 million tons and 2,684 million tons respectively. The country produced about 25.2 million tons of lignite coal and 1.98 million tons of bituminous coal in 2013 which represented a drop in production. The nation previously produced up to 35.3 million tons of lignite coal and 2.09 million tons of bituminous coal. The drop in production was attributed to increased land acquisition and operational costs. Between the years 2012 and 2013, the government undertook the restructuring of the industry in a bid to address some of the challenges facing the sector. The restructuring involved the vertical integration of mining operations with power plants to reduce costs.

Petroleum And Natural Gas

Romania has an estimated 200 million barrels of proven oil deposits making it the fourth largest deposit in Europe. The nation also has natural gas estimated to be about 130.6 trillion cubic feet. The gas deposits are the fifth largest in Europe. The country's oil and natural gas production is estimated at 29.7 million barrels per year and 388 billion cubic feet respectively. In the five years preceding 2013, gas production was observed to plateau. Despite the significant oil and gas deposits, the nation remains a net oil and gas importer. In 2013, oil and natural gas imports amounted to 39 million barrels and 49.4 billion cubic feet respectively. The imported oil goes to the nation's refineries which have double the domestic production capacity.

Uranium

By the year 2013, Romania remained among the last remaining producers of uranium in Europe. The nation had an estimated production capacity of 88 tons. Uranium was mainly sourced from the Crucea deposit which had been under operation for 30 years. The deposit was however seen to be nearing depletion. The Baita mine in Bihor County was closed in 2009. The mine had been in operation since the 1950s and supplied its uranium to the Soviet Union. In September 2013 the government announced a new mine close to Grinties in Neamt County. At the time the mine required $130 million in investment. The mine had an expected production of 124,000 tons per year. A significant amount of uranium produced in the country is used in nuclear power generation.

Forests And Timber

Forestry in the country has been practiced for centuries. The nation witnessed a shift from the production of raw timber to processed wood products which have higher value after WWII. The exploitation of forests for lumber was significant in the nation in the 1980s. Forests occupied about 27 % of the nation's territory, often growing on steep slopes not favorable for cultivation. Extensive forests were found in the Transylvanian and Carpathians Alps. The country's reserves are comprised of hardwood such as sycamore, linden, maple, hornbeam, oak, ash, beech, and elm. Hardwoods account for an estimated 71% of forests while the remaining 29% is comprised of conifers such as larch, spruce, pine, and fir. Conifers grow at an elevation abound of 6,000 feet while hardwoods grow at elevations of about 4,600 feet.

Arable Land

Arable land is among the nation's most valuable resources. In the year 1989, an estimated two-thirds of the nation's territory was dedicated to agriculture. Approximately 19% of the agricultural land is dedicated to pasturage, 41% of the land was used for crop production, while 3% was utilized for orchard and vineyard. Soils in the country are generally fertile.

The Future Of Natural Resources In Romania's Economy

Romania is expected to be among the largest FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) hot-spots in Europe by the year 2020 alongside countries such as Turkey, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Serbia. Experts reckon that the nation's natural resources coupled with low labor costs and privatization opportunities will be the main reasons why the nation will attract some of the highest FDI on the continent. Some of the natural resources expected to attract significant investment include nickel, iron ore, natural gas, copper, manganese, and zinc. The nation's economy is expected to grow at an average rate of 3% until the year 2025.

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2. Economics

3. What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Romania?

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What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Romania?

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Romania is located in the southeastern region of Europe, and the nation's capital is Bucharest. Romania has a rich history that has been influenced by regional powers. The nation has had considerable influence from the Romans and Ottomans. The country's landscape is comprised of forested and mountainous areas as well as plains and hills.

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The World Bank in Romania

Romania's priorities include investments in infrastructure, health care, education, job creation, and small and medium enterprise development. The country's economic growth has been one of the highest in the EU since 2010.

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Romania's prudent macroeconomic management has enabled a quick recovery from the global financial crisis. Economic activity picked up in 2013 and is forecasted to reach around 2.8% in 2014, driven by the gradual improvement in the domestic demand, led by the private consumption, and by exports, mainly to the EU.

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What does it mean to be a Third Culture Person? 

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What does it mean to be a Third Culture Person? 

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Information USA, the Information Resource Center (IRC) of the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, reaches out to Romanian audiences and provides information on U.S. Government policies, American history, culture and values via cultural and educational programs, professional workshops, and the network of nine American Corners throughout the country. It is an integral part of the Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy in Romania.

Information USA provides timely information about the United States to today's Romanian opinion leaders in media, government, business, academia, and civil society. It supports the embassy program activities and offers information and services to other Mission elements in support of their official needs.
What We Do
The IRC offers reference material and advanced research services to Romanian institutions and professionals on various aspects of U.S. policies, including federal/state legislation and regulations, foreign and domestic policy, international relations, defense and security, social and political processes, economics and trade issues, history and culture, environmental issues, telecommunications issues and policies. In addition, a quick reference service is provided to cover addresses, telephone and fax numbers of government and private organizations, simple statistics, biographical information on prominent persons and other matters of general interest. Similar reference services are offered to Mission officers.

The IRC is also responsible for coordinating a network of nine American Corners (ACs) hosted by Romanian libraries in Bacau, Baia Mare, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Iasi, Timisoara, and Targu-Mures. Similar to the IRC, the ACs provide information and organize cultural, informative, and interactive programs that connect Romanian students and young professionals to American contemporary society.
Information Resource Center Services and Programs

Research/Quick Reference Assistance
Qualified reference specialists will assist with inquiries and research by telephone, mail, fax, e-mail or in person. For complex questions, they can compile bibliographies and detailed reports on desired USA - related topics, using online commercial databases (ProQuest, EBSCO, Gale).

Referral Service
When the Center is unable to provide the required information from its own resources, it is usually able to identify appropriate sources within Romania or United States, such as national, state and local government agencies, research institutions, and professional associations.

Briefings
The staff can give general or subject-oriented briefings on the resources and services of the Center to individuals or groups upon request. The "Open House" program offers to potential users of the IRC Power Point presentations of the resources and services of the Center. At the same time, profiles of these guests, highlighting their activities and special needs, are created, in order to send them, when appropriate, materials on the new developments in their field of interest.

Meet America
The IRC team invites U.S. diplomats to speak to high schools and university students in Bucharest (or cities near Bucharest) on a U.S.-related topic. The speech is followed by a Q&A session. This program offers the students the opportunity to meet a native speaker of English, exercise their English and learn about the United States. The subjects are related to the United States: government, politics, diplomacy, rule of law, justice, human rights, economy, history, culture, environment, sports, family traditions, holidays, etc.

The IRC also invites American diplomats and other American specialists to speak to Romanian youth at the American Corners via Digital Video Conferences (DVCs), as part of See U.S. via DVC Program.

Wednesday 2pm Speaker's CornerThis is a speaker program organized every Wednesday at 2:00 pm at the American Corner Bucharest, hosted by the National Library of Romania. U.S. Embassy diplomats and interns, Fulbright scholars in Bucharest, and U.S. Department of State traveling specialists offer lectures and conduct workshops for students and young professionals on a wide range of U.S.-related topics and global issues.

America on Screen
Following an invitation from high school English teachers in Bucharest and cities close to Bucharest, the IRC organizes screenings of documentaries on various topics such as American Writers, Civil Rights Movement, Electoral Process in the U.S., Global Warming, American Landmarks, American National Parks, and many others interesting topics. For an in-depth understanding of the issues and to encourage students to speak in English, the movie showings are followed by debates moderated by the English teachers.

Information Resource Center Resources
Among the tools available at Information USA there are:

a reference collection of 400 titles, which includes encyclopedias, handbooks, yearbooks, and directories. It covers fields such as U.S. Government and Politics, Federal and State Laws, U.S. Trade and Businesses, Media, Customs, Linguistics, some Architecture, Painting, Music and Sports, Marketing and Management, and American Literature, Geography, and History. Click here for the online catalogue;

journals (about 10). Among the available titles, there are: The Economist, Time, Journal of Democracy, Foreign Affairs, East European Politics and Society, The New Yorker, Computers in Libraries, and others;

a collection of video documentaries and feature films (580) on American topics with re-broadcasting rights, to be used by broadcasters and cable operators, as well as by various Romanian educational institutions.

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Information USA, the Information Resource Center (IRC) of the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, reaches out to Romanian audiences and provides information on U.S. Government policies, American history, culture and values via cultural and educational programs, professional workshops, and the network of nine American Corners throughout the country.