Saying goodbye to Romania!
By Clare Morley
Having spent the past two years living and working in Bucharest, it was not easy saying goodbye to a city responsible for many fun times, special experiences and some unforgettable opportunities. If it had not been for a tempting job offer I probably would not have ventured to Bucharest so I am grateful for the opportunity. Initially on a one year internship with Hospices of Hope, I joined the Fundraising team in the Bucharest office but as my first year was drawing to an end, I began to realise I was not ready to leave. Luckily, I was offered an extension and before I knew it I was coming to the end of my second year.
Working for an NGO, I experienced an insight into the different sides of Bucharest. On one hand, I would accompany nurses on home care visits and see just how poor some people are in Romania or how the Romanian health care system fails to help those with life-threatening illnesses. On the other hand, I was lucky enough to be invited to Ambassador’s residences, organise high profile events within the city and help develop the Bucharest International Marathon. I soon came to realise the vital role of Hospice Casa Sperantei and was glad to be part of such a worthwhile cause.
Although it was my job that initially brought me to Bucharest, there have been many aspects which have contributed to the memories I now have. The people, for one, are very friendly and welcoming; they are always keen for you to taste their delicious home-made treats or help you learn the lingo. I remember the first time I heard about zacusca, a traditional concoction of smoked vegetables. The idea of vegetables as a paste-like substance stored in a jar did not appeal to me but after tasting the Romanian delicacy, it is one of the many things I will miss about Romania.
Life as an Expat in Bucharest certainly involved a lot of fun for me. The city has an abundance of things to offer young people, whether it be an evening at the opera house, a walk in the park or eating at some great restaurants and bar-hopping in the old centre of Lipscani. Watching Bon Jovi perform to a crowd of 50,000 people with the Parliament palace as the backdrop has to be one of the highlights. I met some great people from all over the world throughout my time in Romania and shared many a night out or road trip to other parts of the country. More often than not I would find myself in Mojo Music Club until the early hours of the morning after having danced away to their live band and sung a few songs at karaoke. With a British feel to it, I always felt at home here!
Being an Expat, I was exposed to various opportunities which I probably would never have experienced if I had stayed in the UK. It is not often you get a phone call on a Tuesday afternoon asking if you would like to fool a celebrity by acting as an aristocratic wife in a Romanian TV show the following day. Despite having little acting experience and not knowing what I was letting myself in for, I still went with it and had a surprisingly fun day. Although, it was not so fun watching myself on television a few weeks later! Apparently Expats are in demand for these kind of shows, so keep your eyes peeled…
Less of an opportunity and more of an experience, I was bitten by a stray dog during the winter months of my first year. Although my leg was badly bruised for a good few weeks, my experience of the anti-rabies clinic was good and from then on, I was extra cautious to avoid short cuts or impose on what might be a dog’s territory.
All in all, I found Romania to be a great country with lots of potential for development over the next few years. I have no doubt that I will soon be back for a visit and making the most of the beautiful summer nights in Lipscani or enjoying a ski trip in the Carpathian mountains.
