On leaving Romania, here are a few of my favourite things…
1. Shajjad and Katie Rizvi and the Temerari at Little People. You guys rock!
2. Monasteries, especially Putna, Voronets, Horezu, Bistrita and Schitul Darvari in Bucharest
3. The fabulously talented kids of School No 136 in Ferentari
4. And ‘Fiecare copil in grădiniță’ in Podari
5. Timeless landscapes like this one
6. People who hunger and thirst for justice
7. Making a difference. Getting connected in Frumusani.
8. Late nights at the Enescu festival
9. Best ballet dancers in the world.
10. Last but not least, ciorba de burta
And what about 10 things you did not like in Romania ?
Let me help you with that:
1.Coruption, not only at the higher level of power.
2.Poverty, example: many pensionier people look for things in the garbage can, because you cannot make a decent living with 900 ron pension money or salary, witch is the equavalent of 200 euro (the majority of people in Romania have this minimum wage).
3.Ingnorance, egoism are a plague in the population.
4.Obesity, with people over 40.
5.Collapsed economy.
6.Manipulation, promises to live a decent life made by those in charge of
the country.
7. Darke age type hospitals, the majority of medical staff espects bribes, even if in state hospitals they don’t have medical gloves.
8. Media is corupt and is “weeping on population shoulders”
9. Gypsies are very aclaimed as a model to be followed (thiefs, Bercea Mondialul etc.), and cardboard models, like “vip” Dragusanu or the majority of “singers” who sings with the help of a computer software
10. Foregneirs who give us false advising and investors who bankrupt institutions for many years and rob the country with the help of the state and the “law” (police, really a comunist militia, judges)
I am a romanian, and if you are as transparent as you said, post this coment.
It has been a real pleasure to follow your career as the UK Ambassador to Romania and was impressed by your professionalism.
One of the things that impressed the most was how well you spoke Romanian. I can tell how difficult must have been for you to learn it, thus my admiration for you.
I am one of those who don’t like ‘Miorita’, but your approach to its interpretation gave me some thinking as I did not see it that way.
Wish you all the best in your future appointment and I am very keen to know how Tolstoy is read in Russian.
There are a few things I like very much about you, Sir:
You show friendship and respect to my country and to my people!
You have exceptional observation skills and you make the necessary efforts to understand a different and complicated environment!
You have what we call the typical British sense of humour!
You smile frequently and you seem to be good hearted!
And last but not least, you like …Ciorba de burta!
God bless you and all the best wishes for your future career!
Nadia Ionescu