Romanian Revolution through British Eyes/Alice Șapcaliu: ‘Looking into the future’

‘I was 3 month and 2 day old when fights for ‘Awakening Romania’ took off. I am 25 year old now. And I am very proud that the age of democratic Romania will always be the same with my age.

The topic of the ’89 Revolution is very sensitive; the stories on the personal experiences during those times are interesting, touching and surprising. The range of emotions that people felt was like an extreme ambit of feelings, but the excitement and the belief in a better future prevailed.

For me the Revolution represented the gateway to freedom. Now, we all have the freedom to build our future. It is very difficult for a 25 year old one, or even younger, to understand that everything we currently think of as a normal lifestyle (travelling, reading everything you want, expressing ourselves on social media channels) were simply dreams before 1989.

Back then, relationships with foreigners were basically characterized by fear. Most probably because the power of cultural exchange was seen as a potential danger. Now we have the opportunity to discover new things and to have friends anywhere in the world. This changes the way we think in a very positive way.

I am glad that I have never experienced long queues for basic products like bread, milk or meat. Now the customer-focus vision even allows us to do our shopping online and to take advantage of the digital era.

I am very happy that I now have the freedom to read the books that I like, for as long as I want; and to watch foreign movies. I am also glad that intellectuals, writer, musicians, and actors have the freedom to express themselves through art without fearing of censorship.

And I am very glad that we have just had 4,000 lights turned on in Bucharest for Christmas and that the time when the streets were dark and grey faded away.

The freedom to build our future was a gift; thousands of people had the courage to change our destiny for much better.

We should never forget that, and we should never forget them!’

By Alice Șapcaliu, Embassy staff

Disclaimer: This account does not represent the view of the Her Majesty’s British Government, but is a personal recollection of the December 1989 events in Romania.