I was born in Buzău, in a small house with just two rooms. Seven of us lived there: my parents and my five siblings. We often slept three in a bed. By the time I was 14, I had to leave school and start working. With only one salary coming in and my mother caring for my younger brother with Down syndrome, I needed to help support the family and look after my younger siblings. Though my school life was peaceful and steady, it ended due to these responsibilities.
As Roma, my family and I faced discrimination. I vividly remember a school celebration where we were denied entry because of our ethnicity. Despite these challenges, I was slightly more fortunate than others due to my lighter skin which made it somewhat easier to find work.
In 1997, I left Romania for Yugoslavia to find work. Life there was harsh; we slept in abandoned buildings, often woken by the police who would force us to run across fields and beat us if we didn’t listen. I suffered this for about three years. My journey then took me to Germany in 2002, where I encountered more racism. Employers would ask if I was Romanian or Gypsy and upon learning my ethnicity, they refused to hire me. This pattern repeated itself in England, where potential employers were unlikely to hire me once they knew I was Roma.
My struggles continued when I moved to Norway. Though they didn’t ask about my ethnicity, learning I was from Romania still led to hesitation in hiring me. After 12 years of perseverance, I managed to build a stable life for my family here. I have been working in the same job for three years and my children started school in Norway.
My journey has been full of struggle.
I slept in forests, stairwells, and parks for six years to get where I am now. I never resorted to begging; I was only selling magazines despite being spat on, cursed, and mocked while trying to make an honest living.
I recall working for a large company, painting windows, and being sent home when they discovered we were from Romania.
My hope is that my children will not endure the hardships I faced, and I work hard to provide them with a better future.
