- Name: George Bocsan
- Born: 1951
- Birthplace: Socialist Republic of Romania
- Overcome Story: Ran illegally across the border to Yugoslavia, four times before he was successful.
- Interview: October 2022
- Links:
Short interview (5m)
Full interview (1h, 11m)
Written story (PDF)
George Bocșan is today a happy man. His wife and grandchildren are around the house, the Mercedes convertible parked in the driveway. But once upon a time, he crawled in the mud, was beaten to a pulp, and was thrown in jail for five months before escaping on his fourth attempt. A dapper and well-spoken man, George rebelled at the indignity of having to go to three different stores before he could buy bread. He was upset that no matter how much he worked, some jobs were out of his reach, as he was not part of the “party.” He wanted to travel and see what opportunities the world had to offer, and that was not allowed. People gossiped, and caring family tried to convince him it was not God’s plan for him to escape. His story is one of determination, perseverance, and trust in God and one’s own wits; “if you want something done, don’t wait for it to fall from heaven” – that’s how he summarizes his American Dream.
Reflection Questions:
- What have you been so determined to do that you could not stop until you resolved it? What if that meant running away from a country you love?
- Why do you think socialism was less dysfunctional in some countries and more dysfunctional in other countries? (Yugoslavia vs. Hungary vs. Romania for example)
- Should there be a punishment for running illegally across a national border?
- Was collectivization worth it? Why?