Bulgarian male, 33

Age: 33
Sex: M
Nationality: Bulgarian
Education: University, MA
Occupation: Official at the MFA

What did you think about Romania and Romanians before your first contacts with this country or its inhabitants?
Initially, in the 80-es I had a bad opinion, I had this image of Ceausescu’s Romania of isolation, darkness, crazy and megalomaniac ambitions of the dictator, an absurd difference between rich and poor. Later – a steady, although slow, recovery, miner strikes and the miners’ attacks in Bucharest against pro-democracy movement. In the 90-es, we in Bulgaria had two grave economic crises, even a period of hunger (1990-91). After 2000 – growing curiosity as to how is this country, which is geographically and historically so closely related to my country, faring and how do people live there. After getting to know some Romanians my opinion about them and the country changed positively, I saw them as open, merry and talented people.

Did this image change after getting to know a Romanian or after visiting the country? How?
I visited Romania for the first time in May 2005 and was astounded by its beauty. I have no time to describe here my impressions of Bucharest (those Romanians who complain about Bucharest should come and see Sofia!). I also saw the Carpathians, Sighisoara and Brasov and liked everything very very very much. Well, not everything is perfect in Romania, just as in Bulgaria, but my general impression was very positive. Since May I have become a volunteer advertiser of Romania’s tourismJ. Something else – people there had a very good attitude towards me as a Bulgarian, which is not the case, lets say, in Greece or in Serbia. This made me feel almost like homeJ.

Describe in a few words your best encounter with a Romanian.
All my encounters with Romanians showed that we have a perfect mutual understanding despite the slight linguistic barrier, our mentality and cultural traditions are almost identical.

Describe in a few words your worst encounter with a Romanian.
I am not a complaining person and always try to understand people instead of judging them. I was surprised by the politeness and cordiality of all who I spoke to in Romania, despite their general opinion of themselves (the same thing in Bulgaria – low self-esteem and bad opinion about compatriots), even the Gypsies in Bucharest helped me find the way to Gara de NordJ!

Which words come to your mind when you think about Romanians in general?
Folk musicJ
Bucharest
Martzishor (the same custom we have in Bulgaria)
The suprising amount of common words both of Slavic origin in Romanian and of Romanian origin in Bulgarian, as well as those of Greek, Turkish and French origin (will try to guess the Romanian way of spelling them): cozonac, hrana, hrean, morcov, tzelina, smantana, loboda, zahar, cartof, castravetz, lebede, vinovat, gisca, livada, gradina, peshtera, kopele [copil], masa, firculitza, linguritza, carnace [something made of meat], lipsa, ostrov, otrava, rana, ghishe, chibrit, mersi (instead of ‘thank you’ in our languageJ), cadife(a), shose(a), perdele, tocilar, cocosh, caciula, pantofi, zmeu, calabalic, etc, etc


Which words come to your mind when you think about Romanian women?
slim..............
beautiful.........
energetic.........
perilous..[joking]

Which words come to your mind when you think about Romanian men?
I don’t knowJ
Men are men

What is the age you associate Romania with?
27

What is the drink you associate Romania with?
Tzuica!

What are the brands you associate Romania with?
Dacia
Electroputere Craiova
Petrorom J

Name 3 prominent Romanians
Mihai Eminescu
George Enescu
Alexandru Cuza

What time of the day you associate Romania with?
11 a.m.

Name the country you associate Romania with?
Bulgaria

What is the main difference between Romania and your country?
The language