Street
I like my street. There are huge, old trees lining the sidewalks. Cars are parked along both sides of the street. In fact, there isn't even enough room for two cars to pass each other on the street. When I come home in the taxi, often we have to pull into a driveway so that the other car can get by.
Sometimes, when I walk down the street, there's a really bad smell, like horse manure. Usually this means that there is a gypsy cart nearby. I've seen a few in the neighbourhood. Kind of strange to see a horse-drawn wagon with a mattress, various odds and ends, a radio and a few Roma on it first thing in the morning.
Most Roma in the area work in one of three ways:
a) musicians
b) brick makers
c) scavengers
In one of the villages where Delphine volunteers, she told me that there are huge metre-wide holes in the streets. Apparently, the Roma dig holes to get earth to make their bricks.
We've seen some Roma digging in garbage cans. They get materials to refurbish and sell.
I have yet to get a picture of a cart, but I'm working on it.
3 Comments:
Are the Roma largely transient, or are there regions, neighbourhoods or provinces where there is a sense of permanence? How mobile is this culture?
abc
Depends, I guess.
I think it's a lot like Native American culture back home. I think very few Roma are actually nomadic. In Satchinez and Destinoi, two villages outside of Timisoara, there's the 'Romanian' village and the 'Roma' part outside. I have only heard accounts, but you could probably consider it the Roma 'ghetto'. However, many Roma are very wealthy and they have huge plantation-like mansions in the city.
Outside of Strasbourg, there was a Roma village filled with campers and Winnebagos. Most had satellite dishes so I assume they were there for a while.
In rural Romania, I think the Roma are more nomadic, especially those involved in music or selling. Satchinez and Destinoi Roma are primarily involved with brick-making so they're settled in.
Granted, I'm writing this after experiencing the country after two weeks, so I'll be able to update you more later on.
Thanks for all the posts!
/K
Romas also beg for a living. In fact, I think 50% of them do so.
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