WINDOW

There were 10 or 15 winters in a row that cured us of the joy of the white snow flakes and killed for us the emotion of waiting for Christmas.

If the apartment windows could exasperate you, the hospital windows could kill you, although the patients often brought hammers and nails to cover the windows with blankets. (90)

Blatant lie of communist ideology. In most cases working people were forced to stay overtime (within the 8 socialist hours) to 10 or 12 hours. On Sundays and especially on holidays (such as Easter), everyone was forced to carry out voluntary work.

Key-element of the working class. From "working man" to "explanatory work". (51)

People did work at that time. They also worked on Sundays, so the working week had 6 days during which you stayed overtime. You also worked on Sundays and even on Christmas Day. No day off on Christmas or Easter, that was for sure. But when you had 2, 3, 5 or 6 hours free you could go and see a movie, you could go to the theatre, you could go out. Now there is too much stress because tomorrow you might be jobless. It did not happen then. If you saved 100 lei, it was worth the same the following year. (22)

Nothing got done those times. It was terrible. I had a four-year probation at 'Electronica' TV sets factory. I would stay in a lab without doing anything. I read novels or looked out of the window. You were going mad. Meanwhile I gave birth to two children. I had to do something, for God's sake! It was terrible. (I.H., S.R.-B., 15)

People did not work those times. 'No work, no pay', the saying had it. For instance, in 1983-84 one could have a Saturday free or a 'SRL' (short working week) as it was called! When this was possible, everyone took a whole month! I did not work on Saturdays one or two years. Now and then I announced the personnel: "I'm not coming to work for a week!" There was no supervision, nobody cared! (S.C., 110)

One had to get on well with the boss and to dance to the tune of those who were in sympathy with the party. Otherwise everything was fine. No worry for tomorrow! (M.C.J., 21)