The Real Bohemians

If you think gypsies, referred to in the west as Bohemians, are actually from the region of the same name in The Czech Republic, you’re wrong. They are actually called the Roma and originate in Romania. While Roma make up about 10% of the country’s population, they are often looked down upon by the Dacians, which are the main ethnic group. One of my co-workers outright told me that all danger of getting robbed in Romania is because of “these gypsies” (of course, no Dacians would ever do something like that). This attitude also seems to be prevalent throughout the country. In Mamia, I watched as a group of Roma was shooed away at the door of a restaurant. The rural areas are more extreme. It is apparently common for schools to be segregated, if Roma children are allowed to attend. Employment is also hard to come by if you are a Roma. That being said, the Roma appear disinterested in helping themselves. They often fail to register the birth of their children, or have them attend school at all. They appear to be perfectly happy to walk down the street in bright clothing while singing. Even for those interested in their situation, it can be hard to understand who is at fault. One of the Texan professors last Friday asked rather ignorantly, “How ‘bout dem gypsies?”. No one had a good answer for her.