Romania’s rural life
With Romania’s recent entry into EU, old styles of doing things in small villages like Camena are quickly disappearing. People in these communities are having to come to terms with foreigners, new ways of doing businesses and other changes as the modern world arrives on their doorsteps.
For Camena, a village with 150 households and an aging population, hosting a group of 12 foreigners represents a new social and economical development. By earning some extra revenues the villagers will are able to renovate their homes, increasing their level of comfort and perhaps allowing them to continue hosting tourists in the future. For the host families it means that they get to meet people from a different culture and this could encourage them to learn about the world outside of the village. It also means that they would get access to a new source of income.
Growing up in Camena for the first ten years of her life, Steliana Economu understands the rural life in Camena. At the same time, because of her professional career in industry-leading multinationals, she understands the struggle of professionals in the middle of their careers that want to remain true to their dreams and their personal aspirations.
Camena, by the old name Vicus Petra, is situated in a valley and surrounded by forests. As the land is very rich, the breeding of animals has had an important role in the life of the people in the region. The river of Camena springs from the Eastern foot of Ceamurlia de Sus (the northern neighboring village) and flows into the big lake of Ceamurlia de Jos (Razelm).
