tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post841513956478084784..comments2023-11-05T12:59:29.404+02:00Comments on CsĂkszereda musings: My Day in CourtAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11294221123964774524noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-83175454686265749932008-11-19T07:48:00.000+02:002008-11-19T07:48:00.000+02:00Awesome stuff as usual! :)BTW I understand your Ro...Awesome stuff as usual! :)<BR/><BR/>BTW I understand your Romanian isn't so hot as clearly learning Hungarian is of more use and frankly would burn out MY brain cells to learn that one ;) but I thought you'd like to know a little background.<BR/><BR/>The word "jandarmerie" is just a Romanian spelling for the French word "gendarmerie" which incidentally is how it's also spelled in English. Just google the word "gendarmerie" for more info if you wish.<BR/><BR/>Therefore an individual officer is a "gendarme" in English (as well as French) with the plural (only in English) is "gendarmes".<BR/><BR/>Gendarmes are members of the Ministry of the Interior (which has since changed names but I forget it now but their license plates all start with MAI because of it) and are essentially a NATIONAL police force responsible for keeping "order".<BR/><BR/>In contrast with the actual police aka "politia" who are usually LOCAL units, whether the judet or the city and handle both criminal investigations as well as traffic enforcement (Politia Rutiera).<BR/><BR/>Gendarmes are often staged in outposts in extremely rural areas too by the way, mostly just to break up fights between drunks and general stuff like that.<BR/><BR/>If you ever go to a soccer (aka "football") game you will see lots of gendarmes as well because again public order is their main duty.<BR/><BR/>Again, I salute your fortitude in trying to learn Hungarian but if you ever want to try to learn Romanian <I>pe buna</I>, "for real" give the Pimsleur courses a shot. It's good stuff!<BR/><BR/>PeaceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-27349368124343123942008-11-18T16:11:00.000+02:002008-11-18T16:11:00.000+02:00I was also involved as a witness in a small court ...I was also involved as a witness in a small court case here, Andy. It seemed to be the lawyers rather than the judge who were wearing the funny clothes - though I couldn't see much of the judge's clothes as he seated high up and behind a big desk, so maybe he was dressed as a clown. I was treated very well and even though I had nothing really to do I actually enjoyed the experience.Gadjo Dilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08998278830936531990noreply@blogger.com