If Romania Asked for Birthday Presents, what Would They Be?

       

    Imagine you have a Grandma who you love to bits, but sometimes she's getting on your nerves, so much that you want to leave home. Because she is doing things that completely lack in logic, and making your life hard, while finding your way around, even in the smallest everyday matters. Those of you who may have had a problematic grandparent surely understand the analogy. And now, guess what? Your precious Granny is turning 99 years old. One year from now,  she will be 100. You know she's not going anywhere because she is immortal. So, you decide to buy her some gifts she could use in order to make her life (and yours) easier.

      Yes, Romania is 99 today, as the 1st of December marks the Great Unity of 1918, the day when we became one big country. 

      These days are difficult though, and so has been the entire year. Bad governance, tensions, protests, and consequently people getting more and more nervous and unsatisfied about life in Romania. Sometimes we got the feeling that all the political tensions had the (good) side effect of uniting the people, but this feeling was rather short lived, or comes occasionally in hot spurs, and then we go cold-turkey on each other again.

                                    

      What do we want, in order to stop feeling so fed up with everything? What presents could good-old Romania use before she turns 100?

     1. Leaders who (at least) try ruling the country considering people's needs, not only their own advantages and bank accounts. 

     2. More schools and hospitals, and better conditions in the already existing ones, and less churches and cathedrals, because we already have enough of these.

     3. And if it really has to be churches, may the Church get more involved in helping those in need. I know that some priests do get involved, but some others just glitter...on the surface. 

      4. Decent salaries and pensions, for everyone to be able to support themselves. It's heartbreaking to see some people beg in the street, whilst some politicians have so much money that they could feed a small town each.

      5. Good roads and infrastructure. Highways. And most of all, people who drive carefully. 

       6. People who respect each other, who use common sense and common courtesy and can lift a hand to help others if necessary. People who are also givers, not just getters.

     7. Care for the environment, be it in the middle of nature or on the cities' streets, as it is already suffering. 

    8. Restructuring roads and buildings. We have jewels of architecture, which unfortunately give the impression that as soon as you touch them with a finger, they are going to crumble.

    9. People who are learners and doers, permanently evolving, without complacency and ignorance, and without expecting exclusively solutions from 'above'.

         10. People who end up in high positions because they deserve it. 'Nuff said!

          11. Obtaining basic administrative documents with ease, and without complicated bureaucratic practices. 'Nuff said part 2!

         12. Last but not least... love. People (with and without power) who love her, each other and life in this country!

          I wanted to make a list of 100 presents, but in the end I kept it simple and realistic. And in my opinion, what I wrote here is not exactly 'the sun, moon and stars', although for us this stuff sometimes feels just as unattainable as pink unicorns. For other countries, they are just normal. Why shouldn't it be like this for us too?

        I will update you again this time next year. But in the meantime, I will make also another commitment to you. Next year will be our Romanian year. And my commitment is that until the 1st of December next year I will give you 100 reasons to love Romania. 
          Are we celebrating or protesting? Both. Personally, I'll be working tomorrow, so I'm not attending anything. But in my heart, it's both. People I know will be demonstrating in town, and I salute them. 
          Happy Birthday, crazy old bat! And now go party hard, before your sarmale get cold! :P

      

All Roads Lead to Rome... but Hurry Up!

       

           

              

    Exactly one week ago I set foot in the Eternal City, for the first time after 18 years. Yes, it's a lot of time, and it is something different to look at everything through the eyes of an adult, as opposed to the eyes of a teenager. However, it is mandatory to mention that I was there on business, so I didn't have much time to be a tourist, and feel the vibe and personality of each place, as I normally like.  And Rome has a lot to offer, from all points of view. My tourist activity this time was fast (but not furious :P), and unfortunately, rather superficial. Therefore, I will give you 15 pills about Rome, as basic departure points. 

                                 

1. Rome is really the Eternal City. Nowhere do you feel as connected to such a distant past, as you feel when you are around the Roman Forum, Traian's Column, or the Colosseum. In fact, the historical city of Rome is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

                           

2. Rome is a meeting point for everything that means history, art and architecture. And you see this wherever you look. 

3. The city is very chaotic and very populated. It will not let you sleepwalk and relax while you visit, so you will feel the need to be in continuous movement yourself. 

4. Distances between one place and another are pretty long, even within the city center, and quite often the quality of the roads leave a lot to be desired. So, it's best to move around in metro.

5. If time is not on your side, try moving around in a hop on/ hop off tourist bus. You will get an overview of Rome's attractions.

6. Rome is mostly associated with scooters as a means of transportation. Think Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in 'Roman Holiday'

                            

7. You will see lots of funny trees on the roads around the city, and you may not have seen them anywhere in the world. Well, my dears, they are called domestic pines.

                              

8. Few monuments are as somptuous as the Altare Della Patria, of Piazza Venezia, built in honour of King Vittorio Emanuele II.

                             

9. The shores of river Tevere, with the view on St. Peter's Basilica or Castel St. Angelo, in autumn colours and under the rain, have something undeniably picturesque.

10. For Vatican visits you need an entire day, but it's absolutely worth it, whether you are religious or not. In fact, this small state within a state constitutes another UNESCO World Heritage associated with the Italian capital. This time, for me it was out of the question to make it, but I would still love to admire Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and have a word with St. Peter one more time. ;)

11. Rome is also the home of Italian cinema, testified by the Cinecitta' studios. One of my other regrets is not having yet visited them, not even as a kid.

12. Romans are loud and chatty, but also very friendly. Plus, for some mysterious reason, in Rome selfies don't come out as nice as photos being taken by someone else. Which means that Rome must be enjoyed in company. So, travel with a friend or talk to the people around, and have your photo taken. 

13. The Trevi Fountain smells fresh and the water is clean. Don't forget to throw a coin in the water, in order to make sure you return to Rome, as the legend says.

                             

14. One local dish that you must absolutely try is pasta cacio e pepe, which literally means cheese and pepper. Soothing and a little spicy at the same time. Actually, I tried a little variation: cacio e pepe lasagna with artichokes. :D

                              

15. Last but not least, now that you just ate, there is a way to get rid of the extra calories without going to the gym. Climb the stairs of Piazza di Spagna! You'll be almost dead afterwards but it works. :P

                          

    In conclusion, to visit Rome in depth, seeing everything that needs to be seen and without feeling like you're running a marathon, you would probably need 4-5 days. Therefore, this fast and brief visit obligated me to a sequel. But I promise that this sequel will be slow, and I will tell you much more about the Eternal City. Until then, as an old song said... arrivederci Roma!

Do You Celebrate Your National Culture?

 

For my first post of 2017, I have chosen a recently-designated special event in Romanian society. Since 2011, this day was chosen as our National Culture Day. Not by chance, as today we celebrate also the birthday of Romania's most important poet, Mihai Eminescu, born on this day in 1850. 

               

   

   Mihai Eminescu, a romantic poet by excellence, has remained in history for his works of great depth and complexity, touching several themes - love, nature, history and patriotic spirit (most of the time glorifying the country's past as opposed to the present political class - yep, still painfully actual), the mysteries of life and death, and so much more. He also had a tragic destiny, having lost his life at the age of 39 in circumstances which are still being questionned nowadays. Eminescu's works have been translated in various languages, amongst which English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and not only. Therefore, my advice is to find him and become familiar with his poetry - you will not regret. We certainly haven't regretted all the hours we spent studying and analyzing his works when we were at school. :)

        Nevertheless, beyond Eminescu, who definitely deserves us to celebrate our national culture on his birthday, I realized that we actually need to celebrate our national culture all the time, no matter where we are coming from. Here are some questions we need to ask ourselves, and to challenge ourselves with:

        ... Do we know our country well enough? Have we visited the most important or unique parts of it? Do we know the traditions of every region?

          ... Do we speak and spell the language correctly, without silly mistakes?

      ... Are we reading enough of its classical and contemporary literature?

           ... Do we know its history? Can we name as many public figures who made us proud throughout time as we can?

              ... Can we cook at least one traditional dish? (Yes, I know many of my foreign friends expect sarmale from me, but I promise I'm getting there... someday... :P )

             ... Can you organize a party only with your national pop music?

             ... Last but not least... can you stand up for yourself when your country loses its reputation on the international level (this one is for Romanians, but not only).

          I confess I may not be able to answer 100% YES to all questions, but it is something which must be continuously developped with time. Let's all celebrate our national cultures. Do you accept the challenge? ;)

          

European Day of Languages: Learning and Fun in One Short Event

       

       In 2001, the European Commission has established the European Day of Languages to be celebrated on the 26th of September each year. And today I managed to attend this event in Bucharest for the first time, as for the past years I never seemed to make it, for one reason or another. 

                              

          How was the event organized? In the yard of a famous Bucharest museum, several stands of the various European Cultural Institutes with a headquarter in our city, were waiting for their numerous visitors. The participating countries were: Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Great Britain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, France, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Spain, and of course the Representation of the European Commission in Bucharest.

          Each of the presenting countries made guests complete a task. This could be a cultural quiz, to verify your general knowledge about a specific nation, guessing famous landmarks from pictures and placing them on the country's map, matching fragments of literary texts with titles of literary works, memorizing games based on factual information on a specific city, or matching the meaning of certain words between Romanian and the host country's language.

               

        What did I learn today?

         .... Germans are not a hard nation to figure out. I scored 6 out of 10 questions from the cultural quiz of the Goethe Institut. So far so good, given the fact that I just started learning their not-so-easy language!

    .... Turkey is an amazing country, with spectacular landmarks. I really wish them more peaceful times ahead, so that everyone can relax and enjoy this country's beauties.

         .... I still know my English children's literature pretty well. Not one single mistake! And the Earl Grey tea I was offered crowned (ha!) my success.

            .... Portugal is a country that I'd like to visit in the near future. And for my seaside holiday in Algarve (nothing more, nothing less) I will need: chinelos, guarda-sol, toalha da praia and fato de banho. All clear, right? :)

            ... Greeks are even easier to figure out. From their 10-question quiz, I only got 1 wrong. And I got myself a map of Greece, in honour of my next travel destination (hint, hint!) :)

            .... I was warned that the quiz about Paris was difficult. But I got it right from the first time. And surprise: my French was not as 'imparfaite' as I thought!

          .... thanks to the Istituto Italiano di Cultura and their landmarks pictures, I found out even how Caserta looks like (one city I knew almost nothing about, apart from the fact that it's in Campania). They organize free movie evenings once a week, and the guy hosting the stand was really nice and cool. And Sicilian. ;)

            .... Hungary is a paradise of thermal water spas. Which sounds interesting! Brochure: taken. Koszonom szepen!

          .... Czech and Romanian have several similar words. Only the spelling can be tricky. But, with a bit of Staropramen beer, you might even become fluent!

             .... Polish and Romanian instead are sharing some pairs of homonyms. That is, words spelled and pronounced the same way, but which have different meanings in each language. For example, Romanian word 'pas', meaning 'step', in Polish means 'belt'. Or 'obraz' means 'cheek' in Romanian, and 'picture' in Polish. Not to mention that I came with 2 big brochures about Polish cities and touristic attractions. Time to consider another trip! :)

              .... switching languages may not be as difficult as one might think, but you might need an extra bit of concentration. Today I spoke English, French, Italian and Spanish with the relevant stands in a matter of minutes. And it was not difficult at all. On the contrary: it was actually fun.

             EDL is one of those events which are both fun and educational, and it doesn't last too long to visit each stand. Therefore, it is easy to squeeze between other commitments during the day. My only advice is not to lose your patience with the other visitors, as it is a pretty crowded event, including also families with children. But this demonstrates that people are up for some higher-level activities, not just watching reality shows on TV. And this can only make me happy!

Europe: Unity vs. Utopia

         On Europe Day, I cannot help but wonder how many Europeans accross the continent are really celebrating.  I haven't lost my optimist attittude, but I see an increasing number of social, political and even safety issues that Europe is dealing with. I see more and more skepticism everywhere, amongst people I interact with in daily life.

           For the past two of years, we've seen economic crises, inflows of refugees from North African and Middle Eastern countries, as well as terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. Countries are trying to reach a middle ground about almost everything, sometimes forgetting even about the national particularities on each country. Various European states are also turning towards extreme right political regimes, and the UK is contemplating exiting the EU.

          On the beautiful sign of the spectrum, however, we enjoy all the consequences of freedom of movement. Travelling in Europe became increasingly easy, as well as studying and working within the EU, leading people to experience the different cultures of the old continent. Friendships, cultural practices, languages, mixed families... Amongst young people in particular I still see a lot of enthusiasm, as if Europe and European identity were (or maybe they really are?) this wonderful, lifelong project, to cultivate in a wide variety of ways. 

       However, what should be done in order to still experience the beautiful part, but, at the same time, make sure we stay safe, and that modern European values are not jeopardized? Or do you think we'd be better off separating and each country minding its own problems and regulating their own societies, whilst re-creating borders for the outside world. 

        More often than not, we are tempted to link the mass migration of refugees to the terrorist attacks which recently took place. But there are also genuine cases of people fleeing dangerous situations in their home countries. How could we differentiate between the intentions of these immigrants? I recently heard some politician/opinion leader/don't remember exactly who, saying that excessive control or restriction is just as bad as excessive tollerance. In a way, I believe it's true, because when an individual or a community is getting the feeling of not being accepted, anger towards the host country tends to rise even more. On the other hand, if someone arrives already with dangerous intention, authorities not doing anything about it would only create fertile ground for more evil deeds. 

           My personal opinion would be about finding the right balance between clear immigration policies, applied firmly but not aggressively or in petty ways, and increasing the activities of cultural mediation, exerted by official institutions, and, why not, also by each individual. If faced with multiculturalism in any shape or form, we  also have the power to teach our 'outsider' aquaintances what is right and what is wrong on our territory. Or perhaps you think that somebody's individual contribution doesn't really count, and it is just a water drop in the ocean. Or you might also say that it should come from each state's institutions in authority, which at the moment are not doing enough, and they should be more strict about everything? 

                I invite you to think about it... and share with me! :)

          

How to Be an Un-official City Tour Guide

         

        One of the perks of having travelled substantially accross Europe (and imagine if that expanded to the entire world, but it is not my case yet), is that you get to make a large number of friends spread all over the map. Who, at their turn, will get to visit you or your city at some point in time. Are you ready to organize a city tour, and make your friends familiar with your city, in all seasons? You and I may not be qualified tour guides, who are non-stop walking-talking encyclopedias, but at least we can do the basics in a decent way. Well, I must admit that by now I have gained a fair share of experience, and here is what I learnt.

             

         ... inform yourself (or refresh your memory) on the most important touristic attractions, and if possible, group them in time and space slots. 

        ... choose the most interesting and pitoresque places, as well as places which highlight the national/local culture. In other words, shopping malls are present everywhere in the world and your friend has them at home too! :) 

        ... learn some factual information on those attractions, in order to present them correctly to your friends. A little bit of history, geography or architecture knowledge goes a long way.

                            

        ... only show and draw attention to what is positive about your city. Don't take your friend to ugly or dangerous places to show him something 'sensational'. That is, if you still want him to come back. So, be a good PR for your city.

        ... choose venues that are suitable for the season and for the weather. Maybe a long walk in the park on a freezing winter day or on a 40 degrees summer lunchtime is a bad idea, just like it is to spend most of the day in closed spaces on a day which is just perfect for outdoor activities.

          .... find out if there are any particular cultural events in town, and take your friend there if you believe they'd be interested. But beware: if there is local language involved, and your friend doesn't speak or understand it, that event wouldn't be your best bet.

      ... when it comes to food, again, choose traditional restaurants. There is no point taking your Italian friend to eat pizza in Romania: he will only find it a bad copy of his own national food. Plus, if you know a restaurant with a traditional artistic programme or atmosphere, that's even better!

          ... keep budget in mind, both when choosing the venues, and, if it is the case, also when you recommend a place to stay. A tourist who is still a student will not have the same budget as a professional of some top-notch company. 

          ... be prepared to be also a translator and an interpreter, if you get to a place where English is not spoken, or if your friend himself does not speak it. 

                          

        

    ... last but not least, make sure your friend is safe and comfortable all the time. For example, if he arrives alone in the middle of the night at the train station, don't let him find his way to your house by himself, amongst strange faces. Instead, pick him up by car or by taxi. Also, make sure you won't put their health and well-being at risk, and, in case of emergency, act as promptly as you can.

                As you can see, it is not very difficult. All it takes is some advance preparation, good will, consideration, and lots of energy. And of course, don't forget to enjoy your friend's company, and to enjoy the city through their eyes, as if you were experiencing it for the first time as well. The result? You will have fun and create wonderful memories together. And maybe who knows... maybe one day you decide to become a certified tour guide. ;)

           

         

'When You're in Rome, Do as the Romans Do': a Story about Hosts, Guests and ... Statues

   

                    

    During the past few days, we have all been mesmerized by a funny, yet cringe-worthy story which made the news headlines. The Italian Government decided to cover with panels all nude statues in Rome's Capitoline Museum, on the occasion of the official visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The reason was the (excessive, I'd say) concern not to offend the Iranian politician's values.

      Right. Apart from being, as I said above, an exaggerated diplomatic move, I wonder if really the Iranian President had asked for it. Somehow, I doubt it. Plus, we can assume that the man is cultured enough to know about art, to know what to expect in a European country, as much as not to feel offended. Plus, it's not like they were real naked people! :P Most probably, this decision came from a place of over-eagerness to please someone with a higher power. 

        It made me think of the famous proverb 'When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do'. And this time, it must be taken in its literal meaning. In general, when you visit another country, the tendency is to adapt to the laws and customs of the local population. It is good, as a host, to make your guests feel welcome, but without exaggerating, and without ending up losing, or even disrespecting your own national identity. 

           Where do you think boundaries should lie? Even us, mere mortals, can analyze this issue. :) Most of us have been 'guests' in other countries. More often than not, we gladly immersed ourselves in their cultures, or at least we've been curious enough to discover it thoroughly. If the stay was short, the discovery was like a game to be fully played for the entire period of time. If the stay was longer, from several months to a lifetime, adaptability was key in order to live there legally, and also to be socially integrated. Moreover, if that world did not resonate with us, we were less likely to remain. 

        As an immigrant and a traveller, I definitely came accross aspects which were totally uncompatible with my values, and I'm sure you did too. But from here to feeling offended, or taking it personally, and expecting those people to change (on a national level, evenutally) just to please you, it's a long way. 

                As a host, we should definitely offer an environment which is friendly and non-threatening to the guest, do whatever lies in our power to make integration easy, but without chopping away our own values. Our country is like our home, and if we cannot be ourselves in our home, then where? 

            

          

Celebrating Unity, Learning Solidarity: How We Spent Romania's National Day

     

   

    Today Romania is celebrating. It is our National Day, also known as the Great Unity, the day when, 97 years ago, we became one big country. Live music, people gathering from all the corners of the city, Christmas lights and national flags colour and illuminate the scenery in several cities. In general, for us, this represents the opening of the winter festivities season.

        However, this year everything took place under a dark cloud, or at least many of us feel like this. Those who have been following the news know that exactly one month ago a major tragedy took place in Bucharest. A nightclub caught fire during a rock concert, causing a total of 60 deaths and hundreds of people injured. Apart from the tragedy of all these lives lost or harmed, it was discovered that the club was functionning illegally, without respecting some key safety laws. In other words, corruption had helped the club function, although, legally speaking, it should have not. 

            Last month's tragedy was a (new) last straw in a world where corruption had been reigning for many years, and this time corruption had been at the foundation of a tragedy of proportions. What followed for the entire country was a mix of grief and anger, between flowers and candles for the victims of the club Colectiv fire, and street protests against a flawed governing class. The protests were peaceful, and fortunately no episodes of violence were registered. In the end, as you might also know, it culminated with the resignation of the entire government, which made most of the country rejoice, but also hope for better times ahead for our country.

           How did it feel to be among the protesters? From my own experience, it was a feeling of togetherness. I didn't know those people, but we were all there for each other and for the future of our country, regardless of age or social status. 

        What did we learn from this experience? That we CAN stick together and be united, if we want, and results will show, although for some people it was too late. That Romanians are not as individualist as I often accused them to be. That a country that is (geographically) big, deserves also to be great. These days, one month later, I often feel that people are much more open towards each other, but also to believe in ourselves as a nation, and turn towards our real values, and to those of us who can make Romania a better world. Some friends of mine who are (still) a bit cynical will accuse me of being (still) idealistic, but I love them anyway! ;)

            What I wish Romania for her birthday (gee, she's one old lady ;) )? To keep improving in this respect, to keep learning solidarity and respect for the others, to value safety and justice above material interests, to learn to trust and also help in times of need. And of course, a lot of strenght for the fire victims' families and also for the survivors. 

              Happy birthday, wonderful country of (actually and potentially) great people! La mulți ani, România!

              

               

        

The Truth about Life in Romania: the Romanian Social Butterfly

       

     

    I promised I would tell you small bits and pieces about life in Romania, and here comes the first installment, which, I should mention, applies more to life in Bucharest and major cities. Being in the first part of autumn, good weather is slowly starting to leave us. But during spring, summer and the first part of autumn, Bucharest vibrates with social life and events of all kinds, especially in the open air. Concerts, theatre festivals in the streets, international manifestations, exhibitions, organized city exploration, and so-so much more. During the warmer time of year, it is impossible not to find something to do, or some event to attend, by day or by night. And all these events generate huge crowds, because most of them tend to be free of charge. 

                             

       And here comes the first Romanian specimen we'll talk about, and which I admit I often identify with: the social butterfly. If free time is not a problem, or at least during weekends, Romanians like to put their gladrags on, take their friends, significant other or family members, and go out. People of all ages: from families with kids and even pets, to groups of youngsters, to senior citizens. For us, it's a method to relax, learn new things, and spend some time in the open with our dear ones. We don't have to spend a fortune if we don't want. It's simply about going outside and enjoying the city. Sometimes I feel there is a deep desire for beauty, in the middle of a pretty stressful everyday life. Like a small oasis of joy. After all, why shouldn't we break away from the TV and the gloomy news we are being given every day? ;) 

                             

     But mind you: we usually tend to go out accompanied by our own circles of close people. Therefore, it happens very rarely to go out by yourself with the purpose of making new friends. See the difference? We shall talk at a later date about Romanians and friendship. But for the time being, keep in mind that if you want to visit Romania, and especially Bucharest, there is plenty to be seen, apart from the traditional touristic attraction. In fact, the pictures I have chosen are from three events that I recently attended:  an exploration itinerary in the old city with its architecture, an artisanal artefacts fair, and last autumn's 555th anniversary of Bucharest, which included lots of fairs and artistic performances.      Sometimes, you won't know what to choose between the various cultural manifestations. You will never get bored! 

The Truth about Life in Romania: Part 1

       

   During the past couple of years, my native city of Bucharest has become my place of residence again, after four years of living in Milano. People ask me how it feels to be back home, some of them assume it's automatically better to be back to your roots, and others look at me worriedly, having in mind all the bad stereotypes which circulate about my country.

            

         Ok, guys! Let me start with the beginning: life in Romania is far from perfect, mainly due to numerous political and social issues. There are good and bad things, like in every place of the world. But it's a complex society, full of contrasts: the rich and the poor, the traditional and the global, the ancient and the modern, the high-brow intellectual and the "simpleton". I often wondered what I would think if I found myself here for the first time in my life.  What would I think of the places I see, or the people and situations I'm dealing with? Would I like this country or not? And, most of all, what would I tell my foreign friends and aquaintances who've never been here before, or who would like to return here for an extended period of time?

             

         Therefore, I'll take the challenge: once a month (at least), I will share with you some facts about everyday life in Romania, especially Bucharest. The good, the bad, and the ugly, from the average citizen's point of view. Things which may not make it on the news, because they are neither good or bad - they just exist, and we're used to them. Things that are not that "unique", so that they become national stereotypes. I'm not talking about touristic places and festive cultural practices either: for those we'll have separate posts. Let's uncover the truth about life in Romania together! 

A Romanian in the UK: My First Migration Experience as an Adult

         

    Around this time, 15 years ago, I was having an experience which changed my life, and which actually taught me about what it means to be immersed in another country's culture. Moving to the UK for studies was a turning point, and actually, my first migration experience as an adult. Well, as probably you know, my family and I did move to Italy for the first time when I was two years old, but this is something different. It was not my first time in the UK though, as a few years prior I first went there as part of a school programme, and stayed with a really nice family from Derby, with whom I am still in contact, and I returned there two or three times afterwards, until the big move. 

          Whereas Italy is my second home, and I got used to it with far bigger ease, the UK was an adult decision which belonged to me, with all its consequences. Was it going to be merely about discovery, or building a new life to last forever? At the beginning I didn't know: I left with the idea that it would be the second option, but in the end it turned out to be the first one. In fact, after graduation I returned to Romania, and since then I've only returned about twice, last time in 2008.

         Sooo, London calling! (Can you hear The Clash in the background? ;) ) I was going to study Media, and become a journalist, or a television professional, or anything related. For a while, so I did, but that's another story, and we'll talk about it another time. For the numerous people who fascinatedly ask me how it was, I will offer you a list of do's and don't's, and likes and dislikes, but keep in mind that everything listed here is subjective, as perceived through the eyes of a girl in her late teens to early 20s, from a very-very-very different cultural background. Perhaps some things have changed, or perhaps I would see them differently these days. 

... Big like: The friendliness and approachable nature of people. People of all ages would come to talk to you at any time, and in any place, even if they only make remarks about the weather (yes, it's not a myth). And yes, it often happens to be approached by a random guy in the street, in the bar or at the club, and be asked out, or asked for your number. Sometimes it's creepy (depends how pushy they are), and sometimes it's funny. But of course you don't have to accept if you don't want. Shop assistants, bartenders, bus drivers - they are very helpful, and the good old "please" and "thank you" are never missing. At university or at work, it is easy to socialize with your mates, and also with your neighbours. And before you ask: no, I haven't encountered discrimination towards foreigners, at least not on an individual level (with institutional level, it's something else, but we'll get there later). And they say the Brits are cold! As if! ;) What I also like about the people is their modesty and simplicity: they don't pretend to be something they're not, no hidden "dark sides", no hypocrisy or snobbery. "What you see is what you get". And I hope these traits have not changed.

... Do choose London if you want multiculturalism. London is full of a wide variety of cultures, not just British: you'll meet many people of Indian, African, Caribbean, Oriental backgrounds, from the former Commonwealth countries, but also the biggest concentration of more recent foreign immigrants. Most of them actually gravitate around specific city areas. In other words, you'll get the chance to get a glimpse of several cultures, you will make friends with people from all parts of the world, and eventually you'd find people you fit in with, learn about cultural differences, but also find shared values.

           

... Do choose London also if you want a city that never sleeps and an active social life. Apart from the famous tourist attractions which we all know, you can go partying in Leicester Square, shopping in Oxford Street, seeing your favourite bands live at Wembley Arena or a famous musical in the West End, or being a rocker in Camden Town, or being in the audience of a live TV show. I did them all, by the way. Are these your pint of beer... ehm... cup of tea? ;) Well, then London is definitely for you. On one condition: that you have all the energy you can possibly get, because resting is not really an option, and I often found myself saying "enough!" (but it was never really enough, as one thing leads to another, and then another, and then another...)

                  

... Don't choose London, however, if you need a more relaxed atmosphere, a more typically British setting, or closeness with nature. Instead do choose a smaller town, there are many charming ones to choose from. My favourites are Bournemouth (photo), Cambridge, Oxford, Derby, Brighton or York. The order is arbitrary and each of them has its particular good points. But in my opinion, such cities are more reflective of the real England, as opposed to cosmopolitan London.

... Big like: Community spirit and active citizenship. From this point of view, the Brits have a lot to teach Romanians. Even in a big city like London, communities are very well defined around city areas, as the city is very smartly divided into boroughs, each of them with its local council. Therefore, in your area you will have local institutions and local organizations which carry out a wide variety of activities: charity events, environmental activities, sporting events, socializing evenings, etc. Volunteering with them is a great opportunity to do something useful for the neigbourhood you live in, but also to make new friends. 

...  Big dislike: binge drinking, with all its consequences. Sometimes, it makes nice people turn nasty, and it makes attractive guys turn unattractive (at least for me). Plus, it removes people's responsibility for their actions: "Oops, did I call you a crazy b**ch last night? I'm sorry, I was drunk!", "Did I start telling people about your personal matters? Oops, sorry, I was drunk!" (true story). And for a non-drinker like myself, seeing people finding fun in that and almost forcing you to drink more and more and more, was a cultural shock, and I often felt like a "fish out of water". Some people didn't go this far, though, or at least knew their own limit, and I preferred to socialize with those. Let's call it "cultural uncompatibility". ;) To all those with this fabulous habit: please guys, take care of your health! Besides, you're all so much nicer when you're sober! ;)

... Like: the university system, with very well structured programmes. No filling up the timetable with useless subjects (apart from maybe one or two, or perhaps the curricula was wrong, not the idea), focused placed mostly on creativity and analytical thinking rather than a reproduction of theory, clear instructions on assigments, marks given fairly, generally efficient administrative services, and helpful staff. The relationship with teachers is informal, and you call them by their first name. Cool, ain't it? ;)

... Dislike: high prices, especially for houses / rents, and especially in London.

                   

... Like: mix of traditional and modern. For example, people with modern lifestyles and life values, combined with traditional settings, such as those charming houses in Victorian or Tudor style, with small rooms, classical furniture and separate taps for hot and cold water. 

... Like: Maintaining national identity is a good thing, and the Brits should pay extra attention, with all the cosmopolitan arrivals in their country, which they are constantly exposed to. I'm not asking them to be discriminating, but at least keep what makes them different. Even measurement units, clothes sizes and driving on the left side. 

                                                       

... Tricky: food. I say tricky because what is tasty is fattening: traditional cakes and desserts, pies, Cadbury chocolate, baked potatoes with various fillings, lots of rich sauces etc. Lots of international restaurants and take-aways. Food in canteens and even some pubs and caffetterias is not good, especially the so-called healthy dishes, therefore you turn to the tasty-yet-fattening stuff. Therefore, when I came back to Romania, I came with an unexpected baggage of 11 extra kilos, which I quickly got rid of once I was back home, getting back to my initial weight, and never saw those kilos again. :D My tip would be to try to eat at home as often as you can, but not heat-and-serve microwavable food, because that is high in calories too. Try preparing things by yourself instead. Also try to limit "pub food", fish and chips, or pastries. A little bit of moderation goes a long way. ;)  

... Dislike: Bureaucracy. The Brits don't generally have ID cards, using mainly passports, student cards and driving licenses for identification, and to demonstrate at the pub that they're over 18. :) However, for every registration somewhere, they require lots of irrelevant information. Plus, keep in mind that when I was living there, Romania was not part of the EU yet. And therefore, I had to suffer extra because of even more regulations and restrictions, not to mention higher university fees. We didn't have problems getting or extending the visa, but what came afterwards, as residents, often made me feel like being controlled, starting with a series of dumb questions at the airport passport control point. I also believe there is work discrimination, masked as "equal opportunities monitoring", and many British friends agree with me. When applying for a job, you have a section in the form, which asks about your nationality, race, religion, and even sexual orientation. I mean, really? I understand nationality, in order to figure out if you need a work permit or not, but the others... why should they care?? Does it have anything to do with professional skills? Ehm... no! I'd rather call it "reasons to discriminate form". 'Nuff said! :P 

... Big like: this one is for us, ladies, as a dessert, 'cause I'm sending you shopping. You know that no matter what country I'm in, I'm in favour of purchasing local brands. For clothes and shoes, I would advise you to go for New Look, Miss Selfridge, Oasis and Topshop. For cosmetics, The Body Shop and Boots are a must. Plus, there is a very nice shopping center in Kingston, on the outskirts of London. Try it, and salute the place on my behalf! ;) 

         So, that's the long and short of it, and I believe I've been exhaustive. As you see, it was an experience full of good and bad, like in every country, but an experience from which I really learned a lot. And looking in retrospective, it didn't do me any unrepairable damage. Do I miss England? Some things yes, others definitely not. I miss most of the friends I met there, and if they read this, I'm sending them a hug. Would I return to live there? I have no idea. I wouldn't mind taking a longer trip through various cities, just to refresh my memory on places, people and activities. I still find myself culturally different, but perhaps nowadays I'd be more prepared on what to expect, or I would look at things with a different perspective, that of a 30 year' old. As far as work is concerned, although in theory there is an abundance of opportunities, I'm afraid all work-related obstacles would be the same. But, who knows... ?