| Spanish expat Miriam moved to Romania to be part of her company's international expansion. Now living in the city of Bucharest, she sees the time she'll be spending there as a big part of her professional and personal growth. Miriam describes her activities in Bucharest and dispels some popular misconceptions about it too. |
 Miriam |
-Where were you born?
I was born in Asturias, in the North of Spain. It is greeny, with mountains, rain... something like Ireland.
-In which country and city are you living now?
Now I live in Bucharest, Romania.
-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live alone.
-How long have you been living there?
It's been three months, and I'm expected to live here one year or maybe more, depending on the strategic plan of my company.
-What is your age?
25
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Romania?
The General Manager of my company proposed that I move to Bucharest to develop the office and the team. I was the perfect person because I have all the know-how of my company, I speak some languages and I am young and flexible. So I thought a few days about it and finally, accepted. This means to me a very big step in my professional career and also a very interesting personal experience.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No. I can live here because I am an EU citizen. For the working permit, I had to fill some papers in the Foreign Affairs Office, but all was OK.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Not at all: I have the EU insurance card, and also a private policy paid by my company. This detail is very important, because in Romania the healthcare system is not very good.
-How do you make your living in Romania? Do you have any type of income generated?
I went here with my company, like an expat, so I had a lot of work to do since the first day. I traveled here a few weeks before finally moving in for my living and found an apartment to live (with a real estate agency). Then, when I moved here, I searched for a language school to start learning Rumanian, and there I met also a lot of expat friends.
Anyway, if you need to look for a job because you are coming here for an adverture, there are some websites that can help you: www.ejobs.com; www.myjobs.com and more. Also, I work in the HR area, so contact me! :-)
-Do you speak Rumanian and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak some Rumanian, I am improving. It is very important for a normal life here. You can make everything possible only with English, sure, but Rumanian people prefer to see your efforts with their language. They will appreciate very much your Rumanian, and will be easier for work and life in general.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Yes... I miss my home, family and friends, even my dog. But here I have made a lot of friends and we try to have some fun together. We go to restaurants, cinema (all the films are in the original language with subtitles), dancing...
-Do you have other plans for the future?
I want to travel around Rumania. When my Rumanian experience is finished, maybe I will move to another country, always as an expat, like Ucrania or Shanghai.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I live alone in an apartment of 65m2 (approx). Two rooms, bathroom, kitchen. With all the furniture. In the center of town. I pay 750 euros per month.
-What is the cost of living in Romania?
People think that Rumania is cheapest. But this is not completely true... Bucharest is the same as Madrid or Berlin; if you go to the villages maybe it is cheaper, but don't expect anything surprising.
-What do you think about the Romanians?
Rumanian people (in general) are friendly and they are happy to see foreigners in their country. They like very much hearing you speaking Romanian.
There is another type of Rumanian people, called rromi, who are not very friendly; and it is better if you keep yourself (and your pockets and bags) away from them.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Romania?
Positive: very different and interesting country, nothing related to "the other" Europe. You can travel a lot because there are a lot of very nice countries around here.
Negative: Romania is a country that is developing itself now, so there are a lot of things that don't go like you wish: infrastructures...
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Romania?
Don't believe NOTHING about Romania that people will tell you, there is a lot of prejudice and false information about this country. Better ask someone that lives (or lived) here.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Romania?
I write a blog (in Spanish): http://expatriada.blogia.com
Also, I read: http://madridbucarest.blogspot.com/
