The paradox was that, unlike others, we were Jews, belonged to a minority which was not supposed to run away by pretending to visit some relatives. We could file an official emigration claim to leave the country. But we were not interested in this. (A.M., 140)
For instance, when somebody had an aunt in America, that person's relative from abroad was seen to be very happy and envied compared to the others.

When my daughter was little, it was a great joy for her to visit one of her kindergarten's friends, to play together, because he always received sweets from abroad wrapped so nicely and being so good that you felt sorry to eat them. It was a great joy to watch cartoons on the video or to play with a Barbie doll. (M. B., 73)

In 1980 I started looking for a church where I could go to attend the religious service on Sundays. I visited some district churches: a half asleep, shabby crowd, some old people from the neighborhood, especially women, routine religious services. I went to Sf. Elefterie church, downtown, that looked like a cathedral: on Sundays, it was filled with elegant people, the service was bombastic, loud. Sometimes, the service was ended by a pious recital: an opera singer from the Romanian Opera, from across the street, artistically sang an hymn or a prayer to the delight of the parishioners and priests. I went to Antim monastery, who gathered simple people, almost rural or from the slums, and some particular people, attracted by the tranquility of the place or some monk?s fame. I ended at Silvestru church who lived more intensely thanks to Father Galeriu. Besides the old habitual parishioners, the church was attended by young church goers or just curious people, intellectuals or personalities.

No law or decree forbid church going during the communist regime. The lack of religious education in schools, the aggressive atheist propaganda from the previous decades, the absolute interdiction in the public space led to the severe decrease of the number of church goers. As a rule, the churches were attended by people over 50, who had been used to a constant religious practice in the family.  Young people choose to go to the few churches where a more special priest officiated. The communist regime did not work in the 80 by repressive measures, but by dissuasion and suffocation. Self-censure played an important role, too. Those who had a more important ideological or professional position did not attend the church, even if, stealthily or openly, they celebrated the traditional holidays and went to church just for christenings, marriage and death. The majority of the people came to church for Easter and Christmas.