A Spring Term Internship in Romania
Romania is such a dynamic country and after a month, I am still trying to figure it all out.
Romania is such a dynamic country and after a month, I am still trying to figure it all out. Before I began my internship at the Fulbright Commission, I traveled throughout the country side of Romania. In the villages, when people saw me they were very curious and attempted to speak with me in Romanian. No matter how much I tried to look like a local, it was clear I was a visitor. Even though we didn’t speak one another’s language, every villager would invite me into their home for either coffee, the traditional Sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls), or hot wine. Whatever they had, they would offer it to me; it was incredibly kind. I even bought some fresh sheep cheese from a woman who owns 92 sheep and makes the cheese every year. There was a line in front of her house and she took me into this cold, small, dark room with a bathtub full of cheese and gestured for me to take my pick.
After arriving in the capital of Bucharest to settle down for work, I was so amazed! I had heard so many ugly things about Bucharest; how it was dirty and how I needed to watch my valuables at all times. When I arrived here it was the beginning of spring and the city had planted tulips in almost every corner it seemed. The city was full of vibrant reds, yellows, pinks, whites, and many more colors.
I learned the metro system fairly quick and now I am jumping on and off like a true Romanian. The city is much faster than village life and a lot of people speak English. Even if they do not speak English, they still give it a try so it is quite fun trying to communicate.
Working at the Fulbright Commission has been wonderful. Every Tuesday I head up a group advising sessions with about 20 Romanian students. We go over the details of submitting an application to study in the United States and they always keep me busy with questions about American college life. I am also reviewing and compiling a list of local places in Bucharest for the American Fulbright Scholars who come to Romania.
There are still many things to see in Romania such as Dracula’s Castle, the beaches on the Black Sea, old Saxon Medieval towns, and a famous brightly colored cemetery in Iasi. Trains are relatively inexpensive and efficient so I have been taking advantage of that most every weekend! Everyday is another adventure whether it is going to the market or watching a Romanian Gypsy concert in the park. Romania was a great pick for me and I couldn’t be happier with the choice.