Polish female, 28

Age: 28
Sex: female
Nationality: Polish
Education: university
Occupation: NGO staff

What did you think about Romania and Romanians before your first contacts with this country or its inhabitants?
My first encounter with Romania was at the age of 13. I didn’t know anything, just that it is a communist country, like Poland, and rather poor.

Did this image change after getting to know a Romanian or after visiting the country? How?
The first visit to Romania in August 1989 left a very bad impression – the country seemed to be very poor, people were aggressive, they tried to cheat whenever possible, and there were very many beggars and begging children at the streets – it was unbelievable for a Pole at that time. The second time I was in Romania in winter 2003/2004, and the impression was completely different – there was everything that one needs in the shops, fantastic food, friendly people, speaking English, great music, wonderful nature.

Describe in a few words your best encounter with a Romanian.
During studies at CEU all Romanians that I met there (around 15 people) were nice, friendly, hard-working, intelligent and had a sense humour, which is very similar to the Polish one. I am still in close contact to one person from that time.

Describe in a few words your worst encounter with a Romanian.
No particular one. Beggars on the streets – in early 90’s they all had labels saying “I am very poor, I come from Romania”.

Which words come to your mind when you think about Romanians in general?
Talented
Hard-working
Friendly
Underestimated

Which words come to your mind when you think about Romanian women?
Normal
Pretty
Traditional

Which words come to your mind when you think about Romanian men?
Handsome
Traditional
Intelligent

What is the age you associate Romania with?
45

What is the drink you associate Romania with?
Wine, beer, tuica

What are the brands you associate Romania with?
Fanta – elderflower taste
Murfatlar, Cotnari
Zdob si Zdub, Manele

Name 3 prominent Romanians
Ion Iliescu
Traian Basescu
Nicolae Paulescu

What time of the day you associate Romania with?
Noon

Name the country you associate Romania with?
Hungary

What is the main difference between Romania and your country?
Romanians are more realistic, more diligent and more secular, they have more common sense. I think Romania will develop faster than Poland very soon.