Today we celebrate the National Day! So here is what Romania looks & feels like, in the most relevant aspects we could think of, from the obvious to the intimate.
*Romania is a country blessed with amazing landscapes, mountains, sea, fertile lands & great climate.
*The younger generations define themselves by a constant aspiration towards humanist values & ideals of democracy, tolerance, freedom and prosperity.
*Romania always struggles with its politics (who doesn’t, right?!) – some ghosts of a not-so-happy past seem to refuse giving up despite a constant wind of change.
*Romania has a bunch of really successful people – great athletes, amazing artists, inventive, fully creative & intelligent folks.
*Unfortunately, the rate of emigration is very high for educated and skilled Romanians and that is an issue we must address sooner rather than later.
*Being a Romanian abroad is a full-time job. While traveling the world, we found ourselves facing some powerful preconceived ideas & stereotypes about our nation.
*But the odds seem to favor us, finally. Despite the obstacles and set-backs, since joining the European Union in 2007, our country has stepped up in all relevant aspects.
*Awareness on social policies & political/social activism is at the highest rate since forever; we found the energy to be informed, to protest when we feel like, to turn the tides in our favor.
*Still, there is a rural Romania that is stuck in time, unable to cope with the intricacies of the modern world.
*Most of our older folks seem ”left behind” and their standard of living + lack of perspectives is subject to our deepest concern.
*Yet, the civil society has adjusted, gained in numbers and power to make a difference + the resources to turn things around.
*Given the recent past, there is a common mistrust towards political figures and the not-so-easy transition from one unique ruling party to a democratic multi-parties system has had its cost, seen clearly in voting turnout, among the lowest in Europe.
*Nevertheless, the last few years have shown a powerful middle-class that make their voice more & more relevant. They clearly understood the need to step-up, to get involved, to BE the change they want.
All in all, Romania is contrasting, vibrant, authentic and alive, telling a story about resilience, ambition, adaptation & courage.
It has been a bumpy road, but nevertheless it is safe to say we all managed to form a country that we could all be proud of.
Ah, and one thing we know for sure: we are the most friendly and welcoming guys on the Planet + our hospitality is sky-rocketing and… we are totally modest 😊
We would love to know how you feel about Romania and its people, so join our Facebook community and tell us!
Happy Birthday, Romania!
If you want to know more practical details, check out this country profile developed by BBC.com