I Must Betray You Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

How many people suffered in Romania?

23 million people

What month and year does the story begin?

October 1989

What time does school dismiss?

7:00pm

What is the main character's full name?

Cristian Florescu Signup and view all the answers

Who is Cristian's best friend?

Luca Signup and view all the answers

What does Cristian call the school's director?

Comrade Director Signup and view all the answers

What did the male students wear to school?

navy suits and ties Signup and view all the answers

What did the female students wear to school?

navy pinafores and white hair bands Signup and view all the answers

Where did Cristian's father work?

Furniture Factory Signup and view all the answers

What was Cristian's father's work schedule?

12 hour shifts six days a week Signup and view all the answers

How did the Communist people address each other?

Comrade Signup and view all the answers

What interest did Cristian have?

poetry and philosophy Signup and view all the answers

What was the weapons course called?

Preparing Youth for Defending the Country Signup and view all the answers

How did Cristian prefer his hair?

spiky Signup and view all the answers

Why did Cristian take English class?

The class was full of smart, quiet girls and he could understand the lyrics he heard on Voice of America Signup and view all the answers

How many windows did the director's office have?

none - it was a windowless box Signup and view all the answers

Who is Romania's leader?

Nicolae Ceausescu Signup and view all the answers

What is Nicolae Ceausescu's wife called?

Heroine Mother Elena Signup and view all the answers

How long had Nicolae been in charge?

24 years Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Securitate?

Romania's fearsome secret police Signup and view all the answers

What is the ratio of Secu to Romanian people?

1 Secu to 50 Romanian people Signup and view all the answers

What was the one brand of car in Romania?

Dacia Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the songwriter who wrote negative lyrics about life in Romania?

he was committed to an insane asylum Signup and view all the answers

What could happen if you complained aloud?

you could be arrested as a 'political agitator' Signup and view all the answers

Why was the college student sent to prison?

he had an unregistered typewriter Signup and view all the answers

How did Cristian buy English language stuff?

through a trader named Starfish Signup and view all the answers

What did Mother Elena Ceausescu decree about balconies of apartments?

they must remain visible Signup and view all the answers

Who owned everything?

the Communist party Signup and view all the answers

Who owned the Communist party?

Ceausescu Signup and view all the answers

How much did Cristian sell the vintage Romanian stamp for?

one U.S.dollar Signup and view all the answers

What crime had Cristian committed?

illegal trafficking Signup and view all the answers

What did Cristian's mother do for a living?

clean house for a U.S.diplomat Signup and view all the answers

Who did Cristian believe gave him the U.S.dollar?

Dan Van Signup and view all the answers

What did Cristian call the Secu officer he met with?

Paddle Hands Signup and view all the answers

What was Cristian's code name?

Oscar Signup and view all the answers

What disease does Bunu have?

Leukemia Signup and view all the answers

Who is Bunu to Cristian?

his grandfather Signup and view all the answers

Who is Cici?

Cristian's older sister Signup and view all the answers

What are Kents?

western cigarettes Signup and view all the answers

Who is Liliana Pavel?

the girl Cristian has a crush on Signup and view all the answers

What does Liliana's father do for a living?

grocery store manager Signup and view all the answers

What was Bucharest's former nickname?

Little Paris Signup and view all the answers

What event established the House of the People?

Ceausescu visited North Korea Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the teacher's baby?

it was mauled to death in her stroller by dogs Signup and view all the answers

What clothes did Starfish wear?

black market Levi's, Adidas, and concert t-shirts from the west Signup and view all the answers

Who ran video night?

Starfish Signup and view all the answers

How much does it cost to watch the movie at video night?

five lei each Signup and view all the answers

How much did a video play cost?

thirty-five thousand lei Signup and view all the answers

How much did a Dacia cost?

seven thousand Signup and view all the answers

What were they advised to eat since meat was not available?

fish Signup and view all the answers

How many TV channels did Romania have?

one Signup and view all the answers

How many hours of TV broadcast did Romania have?

two hours Signup and view all the answers

How did they speak at home?

in a whisper Signup and view all the answers

Where did Bunu sleep?

in the kitchen Signup and view all the answers

What did Cristian want to study at University?

philosophy Signup and view all the answers

What did Cici do to earn money?

sew Signup and view all the answers

Where does Cristian sleep?

in a closet Signup and view all the answers

What were Cristian's parents' names?

Gabriel and Mioara Signup and view all the answers

Who was Bula?

a fictional character people used to tell jokes about the regime Signup and view all the answers

What did they trade the vodka for?

an x-ray for Gabriel who had pneumonia and was coughing up blood Signup and view all the answers

What did Cici have under her folding bed?

a locked box with a host of unusual and banned items Signup and view all the answers

How old was Cici?

20 years old Signup and view all the answers

What color was Cici's hair?

black Signup and view all the answers

What color were Cici's and Cristian's eyes?

gray Signup and view all the answers

What program did they use to listen to illegal music?

Voice of America Signup and view all the answers

Why did they have the Baby Police?

Ceausescu wanted to increase the population to breed more workers Signup and view all the answers

What illegal drink did Liliana have?

Coca-Cola Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of Liliana's block dog?

Fetita Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of Cristian's block dog?

Tutbatu Signup and view all the answers

How did Liliana get the Coca-Cola?

her dad gave it to her as a Christmas present Signup and view all the answers

What did Cristian's mom try to get him for his 15th birthday?

a banana Signup and view all the answers

What did Cristian's mom end up getting him for his 15th birthday?

banana scented shampoo Signup and view all the answers

What movie did Cristian and Liliana watch at video night?

Die Hard Signup and view all the answers

How many people came to video night?

over thirty people Signup and view all the answers

How did they sit for video night?

girls in the front, guys in the back Signup and view all the answers

What was on the wall of Dan Van Dorn's room?

a poster of Bon Jovi and an autographed Dallas Cowboys jersey Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the music player in Dan Van Dorn's room?

Sony Walkman Signup and view all the answers

What color was the sweatshirt with the name Benetton?

white Signup and view all the answers

What did Dan show Cristian in his room?

U.S.stamps with dinosaurs on them Signup and view all the answers

What was the mistake on the stamp?

it was labeled brontosaurus but it was an apatosaurus Signup and view all the answers

What was Dan Van Dorn's father's name?

Nick Signup and view all the answers

What kind of a language is Romanian?

a romance language Signup and view all the answers

Where is Dan's mom from?

Spain Signup and view all the answers

What did Cici give to Cristian to give to Liliana?

chocolate Signup and view all the answers

What were Communist toddler groups called?

Falcons of the Fatherland Signup and view all the answers

In what grade did children become Pioneers?

second grade Signup and view all the answers

What did the Pioneers wear?

a red neck scarf Signup and view all the answers

How long had Luca and Cristian been friends?

since they were ten Signup and view all the answers

What U.S.presidents was Ceausescu photographed with?

Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter Signup and view all the answers

What attraction did Ceausescu visit?

Disneyland Signup and view all the answers

Who tore the article and photo of Bruce Springsteen out of the magazine?

Dan Signup and view all the answers

What U.S.president allowed Romania to open a Central Office in New York, and what did the United States get in return?

Nixon, a U.S.library in Bucharest Signup and view all the answers

How often did Dan go to the U.S.library?

every two weeks Signup and view all the answers

What did Bunu trade to get the radio repaired?

Kents Signup and view all the answers

What did Liliana accuse Cristian of?

reporting her family to the Securitate about giving bones to the dogs Signup and view all the answers

How did Bunu die?

he was beaten to death Signup and view all the answers

What did Cristian's mother whisper to him?

"This is what happens to philosophers." Signup and view all the answers

What was hidden inside the doll from Doina Cornea?

an open letter to Ceausescu written in tiny type on cigarette paper Signup and view all the answers

What did Cristian put on Mr.Van Dorn's desk?

his journal Signup and view all the answers

What did Dan put in Cristian's pocket?

a Twinkie Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Romania Under Communist Rule

23 million people suffered in Romania, facing oppression under the regime.
Leadership under Nicolae Ceausescu lasted 24 years, with a significant cult of personality around him and his wife, Elena Ceausescu, known as Heroine Mother.

Setting and Context

The story begins in October 1989, a significant time as Romania neared the end of Communist rule.
Cristian Florescu, the protagonist, navigates school life dismissed at 7:00 PM, in uniforms that include navy suits for boys and navy pinafores with white hair bands for girls.

Family and Friends

Cristian’s family consists of his father Gabriel, who works long shifts at a furniture factory, and his mother Mioara, who cleans houses for diplomats.
Cristian's circle includes best friend Luca and older sister Cici, who is known for her sewing skills.

Communist Society

Education included politically motivated courses like "Preparing Youth for Defending the Country."
The Securitate enforced strict governance, with one officer per 50 Romanian citizens monitoring activities, creating a culture of fear.
Complaining could lead to severe repercussions, including being labeled a "political agitator."

Restricted Lives

Everyday items were scarce; for instance, only one brand of car (Dacia) was available and access to Western goods was limited to black market trades.
Censorship was rampant: Romanian television offered only two hours of programming, affecting how citizens consumed information.

Cultural References

The story incorporates illegal activities and subcultures, such as video nights hosted by Starfish, where access to Western films was a form of rebellion.
Cristian's admiration for American culture permeates his interactions, reflected in his desire to learn English and listen to Voice of America.

Political Oppression

Grievances among the citizens were often met with brutal consequences; writers faced imprisonment, while musicians with critical lyrics were silenced.
A stark example is the backlash against a songwriter, who ended up in an insane asylum for negative remarks about life in Romania.

Significant Events

Bucharest’s cultural history is highlighted, with past nicknames like "Little Paris" and the construction of significant buildings such as the House of the People, showcasing the regime's excesses.

Friendship Dynamics

Cristian’s friendship with Dan Van includes sharing Western influences and the excitement of glimpsing forbidden American products, like the stamps with dinosaurs.
Conflicts arise, particularly with Liliana Pavel, who accuses Cristian of betrayal, emphasizing the theme of trust within a fractured society.

Legacy of Fear and Loss

Bunu, Cristian's grandfather, suffers from leukemia and tragically is beaten to death, which underscores the violent reality of dissent in Romania.
Cristian faces a moral dilemma regarding his budding philosophy amidst the oppressive regime, leading to poignant moments with his family, especially as they whisper in fear at home.

Conclusion

The narrative captures the struggle for individual identity and freedom within an oppressive regime, urging readers to reflect on the consequences of totalitarianism while intertwining personal relationships and societal flaws.

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