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Romania
Romania gets its name from the Romans who conquered the country in 105AD. The name was adopted in 1862, after the formation of the national state by the union of the two Romanian Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia in 1859.
| General Information |
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| Area |
237,500 Sq Km ( 91, 700 Mi.) |
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| Population |
22.5 million |
| Currency |
1 Leu = 100 bani |
| Capital |
Bucharest |
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| Government |
Republic |
GMT + 2hrs |
| President |
Ion Iliescu |
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| Languages |
Romanian is the main language although Hungarian is spoken in Transylvania |
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| Religions |
Mainly Christian with a few Muslims |
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| Major Industries |
Agriculture, manufacturing and mining. |
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Geography |
| Lying on the Black Sea, Romania is the third largest Eastern European country and shares borders with Bulgaria, Yugoslavia (Serbia), Hungary, Ukraine and Moldova. The Carpathian Mountains run down the centre of the country providing excellent winter sports centres. The rest of the country is covered by hills with a fertile plain to the south where cereals, vegetables and herbs are grown. |
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| Climate |
| The average annual temperature in Romania is 11°C in the south and on the coast, but only 2°C in the mountains. Romanian winters can be extremely cold and foggy, with lots of snow from December to April. In summer there's usually hot, sunny weather on the Black Sea coast. The majority of Romania's rain falls in the spring, with the mountains getting the most, the Danube Delta the least. |
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| Wildlife |
| Romania’s flora is extensive with the Carpathian Mountains boasting a vast array of beech, sycamore, maple, poplar and birch. There are also some 1350 floral species including the yellow poppy, Transylvanian columbine, saxifrage and edelweiss. In addition, the protected Danube Delta has the largest unbroken reed bed in the world. |
| Likewise, Romania’s fauna is also impressive as the Carpathian Mountains are now home to 60% of Europe's bears, 40% of Europe's wolves and 35% of its lynx. Stag, wild boar, badger, deer and fox are also resident in this area. The birdlife is mainly located in the Danube Delta, where the white grey egret, bee-keeper, white-tailed eagle and 60% of the world's small pygmy cormorant population are to be found. Half the world's population of red-breasted geese spend the winter here. The Carpathian Mountains forests are also home to the green woodpecker, jay and grey owl. |
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| Cuisine |
| Traditional food in Romania consists of grilled pork, pork liver, grilled chicken, tripe soup and potatoes. Romania's most novel dish is mamagliga, a hard or soft cornmeal mush which is boiled, baked or fried and served as a main dish in many households. The other mainstay of the Romanian diet is ciorba (soup). Typical desserts include placinta (turnovers), clarite (crepes) and saraille (almond cake soaked in syrup). |
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The Girls' Brigade Romania |
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Companies : The first Girls' Brigade Company in Romania was formed in Ploiesti Baptist Church in 1991. There are now an additional four companies (Cotofenesti Baptist Company, Ploiesti Evangelical Company, Slobozia Evangelical Company & Bucuresti Evangelical Company) with a total of 138 members in Romania. |
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| Age Groups : The sections are as follows, with ages reckoned on 15th September. |
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Explorers |
Under 8 years |
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Juniors |
8 - 10 years |
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Seniors |
11 - 13 years |
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Brigaders |
14 - 18 years |
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Uniform : The uniform colours agreed by The Girls' Brigade Romania are navy and white, although no particular design is worn. All members wear The Girls' Brigade Badge on their clothing with Junior Officers wearing navy hats trimmed with gold braid and Commissioned Officers wearing navy hats. |
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Badge Work : Meetings are held weekly in the summer, but during the cold winter months Companies meet twice a month, on Saturday mornings. All company meetings begin with a time of prayer, when Officers and girls freely participate. |
| The National Council of Girls' Brigade Romania have selected subjects under the following headings: |
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Spiritual |
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Physical |
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Educational |
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Service |
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| English Language is included as an Educational Subject in the programme, providing the opportunity to learn hymns and verses of Scripture in English. |
| It is not always possible to have regular physical activites indoors, so girls are often taken out to the hills in good weather. |
| Discipline is not a problem within the companies and the girls participate in all aspects of the programme with enthusiasm and interest. |
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| National President : Marta Carcioiu - Captain of Ploiesti Baptist Company |
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