Trifter

Time is up!  For those of you who guessed it, the language is akin to Spanish, French and Italian.  This is an interesting geographical feat since it is surrounded by Slavic speaking countries.  Personally, having sampled the four languages, I find it sounds a lot like French, has some words in common with Italian but does not remind me of Spanish.  But despite the grimaces of the locals, mastering Romanian is possible for anyone who has a good command of any of the aforementioned languages.  Now a little bit about the cities.

Bucharest:  Besides being the capital, it was once known as the little Paris (of the East).  Much of that has changed due to Communist influence.  But now, Bucharest is considered very international, with citizens from around the world.  Additionally, there are some major corporations that call it home.  It is an ideal location for someone who likes the lure of “big city life” with ALL it’s features.  Most Romanians seem disappointed with the state of their capital, but most foreigners think there is no life outside of it.  So here are some top contenders for places to see.

Sibiu:  In the midst of this large country is the rest point of a big town also known as Hermannstadt.  It was (perhaps still is to some extent) a settlement of Germanic people.  So much so, that many names hearken to Germanic origin and some still speak the language.  It is a lively place, full of construction, brightly colored buildings and ancient architecture.  But outside of the center, things wain quickly.  A rare find is the fact that they have their own basketball team and regularly have sporting events at the downtown arena.

Mures:  North of Sibiu is the greying forgotten metropolis of Tagu Mures.  It is huge, caked with soot like London use to be and packed tight with people, traffic and buildings.  From there you can get to anywhere.  But since the city is so vast, it is hard to find a bargain.  Everything is inflated.  It is home to a number of universities, institutes and hospitals  but not as reknown as Bucharest or outside of Romania.

Timisoara, Iasi:  At opposite ends, they are as twins.  Both cities are extensive, bustling and filled with foreigners from near and far.  In either locale, you can take a wild ride on a marchrutka (eastern Europes’ answer to the fuel crunch).  It’s a sardine packed ride in a minivan converted to bus to cross the border.  It is not a big saver but still cheaper than a real bus.  But the beauty of either city lies in its parks, ponds and suburban life.  This they share in common with the below listed.

Constanta, Cluj-Napoca:  Either of these hands down are award winners.  Both have unique eco-life and nature.  Constanta is idyllic beachfront on the Black Sea.  Cluj is more the mountain, forrest, trailblazer special.  Both, along with the previous two cities, are outstanding places to settle or stay long term because they offer educational opportunities in English.  If you are interested in completing a degree in Europe, there are certain advantages to Romania that Hungary, Poland and Slovakia do not beat.  

For Americans who would like to take a shot at life in Romania, it is probably one of the more feasible places to try for.  The whole idea is to get what you want without overpaying.  The language can be easily learned, a lot of locals do speak English and there are, as mentioned before, some International and American companies for job-seekers.  Although operations are covert, the US Armed Forces are strategically located in Romania and operate an alliance with the country.  Hence, Americans are well received. 

I could go on for days in regards to Romania.  As for rating, I would say it is a 6 to visit and a 9 to live.  Just beware of flying bats.^_^