As a party member, it was compulsory to take part in each and every meeting, in every reception of various state officials. The attendance was very strictly kept at the meeting point. After that, we were taken, like sheep, flanked by militia cordons so that we wouldn?t happen to run away. Most of the time we managed to fool them, but sometimes we couldn?t. We had to demonstrate on the 1st of May, 23rd of August, on that boulevard by the highway, under a scorching sun; we used to pray to God to finally bring this shit to an end. But most times we would run away. We passed by a news stand or a store and we?d say to the militia man or the party liner who was marching by our side, ? Look, I am just going to buy some cigarettes, I ran out of them, I am a smoker, I cannot live without smoking?We?d enter the store and simply tell the shop assistant, ?Lady, please, I want to hide under the counter, otherwise they?ll catch me. ?The poor girl would nod, I would hide until the march column would pass and then run off. I was written down as being present so good bye. (A. M., 115)

The demonstrations were a huge ordeal: after suffering days on end from the cold, the lack of electricity and warm water, we had to get out in the streets carrying paintings with the face of the ?beloved leader? and to glorify the wealth of the socialist Romania. After marching in columns a whole day, in the evenings one had to make the inventory of the ?operative equipment?. What if, God forbid, a flag with the hammer and sickle would be missing?(G. S., 57)

The parades were organized in a grand style, on such days as 1st May or 23rd August. Then one could eat, they came with all the goodies out in the streets. Seven or eight days before these particular days, the shops would be filled with goodies. One could find butter, eggs, meat, chicken, salami, everything one wouldn?t normally find. There was plenty. And you would keep your money in order to have it and be able to shop then. (A.-I. B.,102)

During the demonstrations, the political fair was intensified by the atmosphere of popular fair: special selling stands, spread in the demonstration area, would sell grilled meat, sausages and beer; patriotic and folk music, dreary festive could be heard everywhere. The sole preoccupation of the participants was to escape. (87)

I remember the dresses we had to wear for the demonstrations. They were one size for everybody and we all looked like marionettes. The heat was unbearable. Once I had a sunstroke and got rid of the great final parade. (O. U., 43)