I have seen and read many, many articles, essays and opinions about ‘what is Romania’s brand?’ Is it ‘tzuica’? Maramures? Popular costumes? Polenta? Ceausescu? Nadia? Dracula? What it could be? Do we actually have a brand? Do we need one?
Thinking over this, especially recently, when our ‘brand’ appears to be corruption, shady politics, unwillingness to keep our promises, bad reputation abroad, I was thinking what -really! – are the good and funny parts, what defines us, Romanians.
As I have started this blog over an year ago, then I have abandoned for personal reasons, with the idea of finding what defines Romanians with the good, the bad and the ugly, maybe I should ask these questions again and let the people say their view. So, spread the word, please!
3 Questions:
1. What Romania means to you? Why?
2. What characterizes Romanians – the good, the bad and the ugly? And why?
3. How do you see the future of Romania and why? Political, social, economic, global, artistic/cultural- any perspective you fancy.
Thank you. If you also have relevant photos, don’t hesitate to send it over, I will mention the source.
Claudia
PS: I would like to thank anyone who posted on this blog and left valuable/interesting comments in a polite manner. Even though I don’t answer, I read all of them. Also, to all of the magazines/people who recommended this blog or linked to it because they find it intriguing, without me asking anything and to those who wrote me encouraging emails and valuable feedback. I guess this is how it survived over an year of total pause.
I have never posted anything before, but, I enjoy reading your blog. =) It is always good to get the perspective of another, no matter how much you agree or disagree. So, thank you, for having the cajones to publicize your own opinion and experience.
1. What Romania means to you? Why?
Romania means contradiction to me. In the rural areas – my favorite places – you find a completely different sort of person and lifestyle than in the major cities. It is perhaps the most… dizzying differences of lifestyle from person to person you will find in one country outside of perhaps China or India. Personally, I like this, because I am torn for the love of pre-industrialized values and methodology, but also for the gifts that industrialization has offered the world. The internet, for example. =)
2. What characterizes Romanians – the good, the bad and the ugly? And why?
Struggle, I think. More than any European country, I think Romania struggles; with corruption, with poverty, with self-identity and a sense of purpose.
3. How do you see the future of Romania and why? Political, social, economic, global, artistic/cultural- any perspective you fancy.
I see the future of Romania as being very good, especially with the Crisis of the West- the devaluation of their markets, loss of many fortunes with the weak stocks, etc. …. My friends in America and U.K. mention that many of their own financiers describe coming years as a depression. If that is so, it would force the West to rely more on foreign markets, as their own cannot be supported.
Comment by Sam — February 17, 2008 @ 3:05 am |
I see the future of Romania as being very good, especially with the Crisis of the West- the devaluation of their markets, loss of many fortunes with the weak stocks, etc. …. My friends in America and U.K. mention that many of their own financiers describe coming years as a depression. If that is so, it would force the West to rely more on foreign markets, as their own cannot be supported.
BOLLOCKS!!!! There is a recession but nobody is so hard up that they cannot support themselves and have to look to other countries to support them. The only ones suffering is people like your friend’s financiers the greedy bastards in the banking system who caused this mess in the first place.
The ordinary man and woman are not affected at all, prices are slightly higher but nothing we can cope with, our lives have not been changed and are not going to changed that much in the future. I live in the UK and so know what is happening.
Comment by louis — September 25, 2009 @ 10:05 am |
I lived in Romania (Bucharest) for almost 10 years, and I have learned to love all things Romanian! But I think Romania’s quality ‘brand’ is the love, concern, friendship and hospitality of her people. If I miss anything, it’s that. I made so many wonderful friends, and those friendships continue (as best they can via various forms of technology!). We don’t have that kind of wonderful ‘brand’ in North America — it’s a closeness, a genuineness of relationship, between friends and within families, that I have not known anywhere else in the world.
In my mind, that is what characterizes Romanians. If there was anything ‘ugly’ I would say it is the lack of faith/patriotism that Romanians have in their country and their determination to leave the country behind, with most never looking back. I DO understand why — and I have no idea how I would react had I been born and raised in Romania and lived all my life under such difficult conditions. Perhaps I would react in the same way, so I am not judging. But it breaks my heart to see so many young, intelligent, highly gifted men and women come to North America and get ‘lost in the shuffle’ over here, when their giftedness could be used to help re-build Romania. So many of the Romanians I have met over here don’t want to even talk about their country, and are not really happy to know that I once lived there. (It DOES bless my heart when I hear that some who have immigrated are now making the decision to return to Romania since it is on the upswing, economically).
Regarding the future of Romania, I don’t know a lot about politics or economics, but if her people continue to maintain their integrity (those who DON’T have integrity are in the minority – they are the ones who make a lot of noise and get a lot of publicity), and their faith in God and in the ultimate goodness of their country, I believe the future is very bright. I’ve only been away from the country for 2 years, so on my next visit I expect to see many great changes, but if not — I will be thrilled to meet up with all my good Romanian friends again!
Thanks for this blog — I was enjoying reading it and had missed it!
Comment by kaybee — March 1, 2008 @ 9:42 pm |
Thank you for writing. Please, continue.
Comment by darian — March 4, 2008 @ 11:57 am |
Looking for mocinic recipes and found Kevin… Re your experiences with Romanian girl – could it be a lesson for you both? You sound as if you have been vaccinated by a grammaphone needle. Are you aware that all nationalities produce a horrible % of undesirables? Let’s face it you must know by now who you are. The Romanian women (both young and old) that enveloped my life are nothing but kind, loving and faithfull, I have not had the misfortune yet to know of an ugly natured one as you have. Maybe your business is to remain on your side of the fence and settle with one of your beautiful culture? Now, for those moaning re: badly behaved Romanian men – stop knocking yourselves out. I’m Greek, born in Romania, 60+, was married for 40+ years to a Greek whose life-long hobbies are womanising, gambling and cheating. Yet, the Greek men I know are family devotees, hard working with eyes down. Stop whinging and get a life.
Comment by olivia — March 7, 2008 @ 3:28 pm |
We need people like you….very nice.
Continue please, you make a sense, at least to me…I don’t know how much it counts….but it will have an impact on the nation…or should I say Politicicins?
Good Job….
Comment by Michael Egorow — April 3, 2008 @ 7:59 pm |
great blog. i have visiteed Romania three times, one week each time. It is unbeleievable the diversity one can see, from mountains to plateaus and beach area, Maramures opposed to Bucharest, Transylvania opposed to Northern Dobrogea. Awesome. I predict great future for this nation, famous by Vlad Tepes and wines, Mamaia and Andreea Banica
Edgar
The Prince of Portugal, as they say…
http://www.princeofportugal.com
Comment by edgar prates — August 1, 2008 @ 11:44 am |
Romania is recovering from the difficulties of the past. It will take its time to recover but what really is typical from us Romanians is that we have a great energy and assume ourselves as a mix of latins, roma, slavic and balkan peoples. It is so diverse as it geographies – maybe Portugal is more clean and fresh, and realistically speaking Romania will not be so great in a near future but… we have wine, wild bears and princesses here!!!!!
Comment by Ioana Florea — September 14, 2009 @ 10:32 pm |