Culture Shock in Romania
A member of the communist block before 1990, Romania is perhaps best known for its leader Nikolai Chauchesku, for Count 
Dracula, Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci or the football player Gica Hagi.
Dracula, Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci or the football player Gica Hagi. Still, to many expats these names are unfamiliar, and similarly, foreigners can expect to find much in Romania that may initially seem strange and may inspire a fair degree of culture shock.
That said, there are more and more expats substantiating that the challenges faced when adjusting to the way of life in this Eastern European nation are diminishing, as compared to the past.
Foreigners should keep in mind that culturally, many locals are guarded, and sometimes seem abrupt or rude. This should always be taken with a pinch of salt, as most Romanians are warm, friendly and welcoming once you’ve gotten past their hard exteriors.
Foreigners should keep in mind that culturally, many locals are guarded, and sometimes seem abrupt or rude. This should always be taken with a pinch of salt, as most Romanians are warm, friendly and welcoming once you’ve gotten past their hard exteriors.
Language barrier in Romania
The official language of the country is Romanian, a Latin language linked to French, Italian and Spanish and seasoned with some Slavic influences. The second most widely spoken language is Hungarian, a language more common to Transylvania than to any other region of Romania.
Expats will be relieved to find that in major cities good English speakers are easy to come by, and are often eager to help guide you on your way or even to walk with you for a while. Furthermore, expat English speakers will be able to complete basic transactions, like grocery shopping or opening a bank account, with as little knowledge of Romanian as “Buna dziua” (Good day or Hello) and “Multzumesc” (Thank you).
This case is not the same in small towns or tiny villages though, where the level of English proficiency notably declines.
Finding a job, on the other hand, will likely require at least a few months of language training. The good news is that there are a number of Romanian language schools in Romania, particularly in the larger cities.
Weather in Romania
Climate wise, Romania is somewhere between temperate and continental, and expats accustomed to mild winters and summers may have some trouble adjusting to the seasonal extremes.
Winters are cold (extremely cold in January and February), with lots of snow and temperatures descending to -4°F to 5°F (-15°C or -20°C), and summers are sunny (sometimes very hot and humid), with temperatures rising to 97°F to 100°F (36°C to 38°C). While housing and offices in big cities are regularly air conditioned, beware, Romanians are obsessed with keeping warm, and it’s best to keep the climate control remote with you if you don’t want to find yourself living or working in an oven.
Bureaucracy and corruption in Romania
The largest degree of culture shock in Romania mostly comes from the nation’s absurd bureaucracy, high levels of corruption and poor infrastructure.
One old, communist joke mockingly states that “it’s forbidden to use your hand when opening up the door of a public institution in Romania”, meaning that your hands must be full of presents or bribes for civil servants if you want to achieve anything.
Corruption comes in layers, and can be as nonchalant as a “little nothing” to the nurse in the hospital (manifested as a large bouquet of flowers or a brand new fragrance), or can be as pointed as a small envelope filled with green notes delivered to the doctor to prevent negligence.
Regardless, expats, especially investors or those navigating the channels of the business world, often struggle to accept and conform to this age-old institution.
It’s recommended that expats negotiating deals or regularly interacting with government engage in some cross-cultural training to become more adept at managing and acclimating to Romania’s corruption and bureaucracy.
Inconveniences in Romania
Expats moving to Romania should prepare themselves for fewer everyday conveniences. For example, twenty-four hour stores are few and far between, and supermarkets are stocked with most food items, but there is distinct lack of choice between one brand and another.
Other small inconveniences include smoking in public places and restaurants, drivers disregarding the rules of the road (and even rules of the pavement), and the large population of stray dogs within Bucharest.
Traffic, specifically, can be an absolute nightmare for any expat living and working in Romania, and many may be surprised to learn that Romania has the worst road safety statistics in Europe.
Food in Romania
Romanian food might not be one of healthiest in the world, but it’s certainly worth sampling.
Fatty meat, cheese, double cream and oily sauces are staple parts to a local diet, and those who plan to indulge will definitely need to discover an effective way of keeping rising cholesterol levels at bay.
Romanian Specialties
- Mici (grilled meat balls)
- Sarmale (forcemeat roles in cabbage leaves)
- Papanasi (a kind of sweet dumpling with double cream and cherry comfiture).
Try the Romanian beer and wines, red or white. Before ordering your dinner, don’t shy away from the very strong and smelly plum brandy known as “tuica”.
On a slightly different note, expats may have some trouble adjusting to the seemingly pious Romanian devotion to smoking. Romania seems to be holding out determinedly against the European-wide trend to ban smoking in public places. Restaurants, cafes and pubs in Bucharest are toxic places for non-smokers, and non-smoking eatery options are extremely limited, as most restaurant owners would rather go for the “full smoking” section, and appeal to a wider audience.
The Roma People
While expats from Western Europe or North America may hold a romanticised view of the group of people known as ‘gypsies or Romas’, locals do not share this attitude.
Expressing positive or even neutral attitudes toward the Roma people will often garner stern looks or even flat-out hostility. Many Romanians would attribute their distaste towards the Roma to the perceived high levels of criminality among this group. However, it is important to bear in mind that crime exists in all communities, and that sometimes it is more prevalent among socially-excluded or disadvantaged groups.
Tips to cultural etiquette in Romania
- Ladies are referred to as “domnisoara” (younger ones) or “doamna” (mid-aged and elderly) and men as “domnule”. Romanian men have preserved their habit of kissing ladies’ hand, and they love to practice it when they meet foreign women.
- When paying with your credit card, always keep a close eye on it, as fraud is one of the most common crimes affecting foreigners in Romania. Restaurant staff, in particular, is known to misuse credit card information.
