A Childhood under the eye of the Secret Police (147)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 31 October 2020

⏱️ 93 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

At 2 a.m. on 10 March 1983, 12-year-old Carmen Bugan was home alone after her father had left for Bucharest. That afternoon, Carmen returned from school to find secret police in her living room. Her father’s protest against the regime had changed her life forever. This is her story. This is one of the most powerful stories I have recorded so far. What you will hear in Carmen’s own words is an incredibly emotional story about childhood, family, spirit and humanity – do stay and listen to the end. It's safe to say it's a hell of a story and an emotional one too... Buy the book and support the podcast If you want to support our work preserving Cold War history then only about $3, £3 or €3 per month really helps keep us on the air (larger amounts are welcome too) plus you can get a sought after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter and you bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a financial contribution is not your cup of tea, then you can still help us by leaving written reviews wherever you listen to us as well as sharing us on social media. It really helps us get new guests on the show. I am delighted to welcome Carmen Bugan to our Cold War conversation… Carmen has also written Poetry and the Language of Oppression - Essays on Politics and Poetics, available here There’s further information on this episode in our show notes which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode147/ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode, visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations on Facebook. Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations 0:00 Introduction to the episode by Ian Sanders 4:31 Carmen Bugan's family background and school life in Romania 15:18 Life during the food shortages in Romania and Carmen's father's decision to protest 26:02 Maintaining a double life under an oppressive regime 34:50 The aftermath of Carmen's father protest and the family's ordeal 49:53 First visit to imprisoned father and the emotional encounter 1:03:35 The family's reunion with their father and living under house arrest 1:11:49 Discovery of secret police files and finding love amidst the chaos 1:19:53 Struggle after obtaining visas, saying goodbye to Romania and moving to America 1:27:41 Ian Sanders concludes the episode and thanks the financial supporters Chapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:06.5	Then suddenly behind the glass, there's my father.
0:11.4	Shaved, broken, like a father I have never known.
0:17.9	We both cried, and it was one of those things that you cannot make sense of.
0:28.0	This is Cold War Conversations.
0:33.9	Today, December 22nd, 1989, the dictatorial regime of Nikolai Choshisko was overgrown.
0:43.3	Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.
0:49.3	6.9.8.8.3. And I'm here to host this final program from the German Democratic Republic for you.
1:06.8	Welcome to Cold War Conversations.
1:09.5	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast apps so that you don't miss out on future episodes.
1:22.1	At 2am, on the 10th of March, 1983, 12-year-old Carmen Bougan was home alone after her father had left for Bucharest.
1:33.3	That afternoon, Carmen returned from school to find secret police in her living room.
1:40.1	Her father's protest against the regime had changed her life forever.
1:45.0	This is her story.
1:48.7	This is one of the most powerful stories I have recorded so far.
1:54.4	What you will hear, in Carmen's own words, is an incredibly emotional story about childhood, family, spirit and humanity.
2:05.6	Please do stay and listen right to the end.
2:09.9	If you want to support our work in preserving Cold War history like Carmen's, then for only
2:16.4	about $3, three pounds or three
2:19.5	euros per month you can really help keep us on the air. Larger amounts are welcome too.
2:26.0	You'll also get a Cold War Conversations drinks coaster as a monthly supporter as a thank you
2:31.1	and you bask in the warm glow of knowing that you're helping to preserve
	...

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