This post has 18 comments

• 

  Radu C
  July 30th, 2007
  

  Romania sux. And that’s the beauty of it

  As for relocation, I contemplated moving as far away as possible, but things still keep me here, in Iasi

• 

  Radu C
  July 30th, 2007
  

  [Safari sux. Here's the full text of what I wrote]
  Romania sux. And that’s the beauty of it
  As for relocation, I contemplated moving as far away as possible, but
  things still keep me here, in Iasi. This is the guy with a financial
  crisis (you don’t want to know the details) going on for the past two
  months speaking And still surviving. So I guess that when the time
  comes to move away, to the next level, I’ll do just fine regardless of
  what happens. I see it like this: if it weren’t for these problems, I
  wouldn’t stand a chance of becoming rich
  Life is training me for management, not for the working class.

• 

  Radu C
  July 30th, 2007
  

  Now, why do people stay? Well, there kind of isn’t
  any place for the to go, they knowledge and skills are as scarce as
  they can be, their thought power has been cleaned up sqeaky clean by
  the communists, and the children inherited it (stupidity is
  hereditary). It’s hard to do anything at all when you’re financially
  challanged. When you’re not financially challanged, and still don’t
  know shit, now then you’re stupid for real.
  Now, without knowledge, being financially challanged, measuring your
  debt in lifetimes instead of years, nobody willing to hire you unless
  you’re young and willing to spread your legs (usually this goes for
  girls and young women), how would you say this country is? Forced to be
  a slave and not having many choices, because any choice you make costs
  you money. Money you don’t have.
  Once I’ve heared that Romania has been decapitalized as lot when it
  comes to the people. In the west, when you get bored you take a
  vacation on a tropical island. If you don’t want that, you go to the
  pool, go to the mall, IN YOUR CAR, go watch a movie, hang out with your
  friends. If this doesn’t suit you, you sue somebody just for the fun of
  it. You even hire a lawyer, even if you know you won’t see your money
  back because the law suit is stupid to begin with. Here, there is no
  car, there is no time to get bored (you have to work, or search for
  work, or kiss the boss’s ass to not fire you and work overtime), there
  is no money to throw away on law suits (I’m in the middle of one right
  now and if my mom doesn’t win, I think I’ll have another funeral around
  here).
  Not enough? Imagine queuing at a bank and eavesdropping on the loans
  office. There’s an old lady there who wants to take a loan. How big do
  you think the loan is? Well, not that big: 20 million old lei, that is
  2000 new lei, 800 american dollars at this winter’s exchange rate, or
  600 euro. I don’t remember the loan period, but it was at least a year,
  if not more.
  Now, how could someone like that do anything? I don’t imagine that her
  family and friends had anything to spare and because they could help
  her that’s why she had to make this loan.
  OK, let’s say that she’s old and she lived her life. But then there are
  the young people who barely make a living. They take similar loans for
  5 year periods. And that crushes them. They have no opportunity to see
  the other sides of life. All they can feel is that they’re fucked no
  matter where they turn to. No time or money to learn a foreign
  language, no time or money to learn how to drive a car, no money to buy
  a car. No money to buy and no time to read books. They’re only escapes
  are: alcohol, dancing in discos, meaningless sex, stuff they gets
  things off their minds, not on their minds. When all you can think
  about is getting things off your mind, how do you think getting another
  job scores? Not that big, because the other just would just add to the
  stress they already collected as time passed. It’s a lost cause.
  Now, if most people had money (that is if there was a strong middle
  class – as they call it), Romania wouldn’t suck so much, but they’d
  still remain stupid. Now, if the state promoted learning (you already
  have the money and the time, so do something usefull with them), like
  they did in Japan, now that would be something really cool. But it
  won’t happen.

• 

  Radu C
  July 30th, 2007
  

  Here I go again, blogging in your blog again

• 

  C
  July 30th, 2007
  

  I am not sure how to take this. It should be
  inspirational, but I find it deeply judgmental, and quite personal.
  Perhaps because of our very discussion on the topic, just yesterday..
  and with the house quote and all. I guess it was just too brief not to
  have time for punching anyway Anyway, I’ll be thinking about this
  post. A lot. Peace, C.

• 

  Alina Popescu
  July 30th, 2007
  

  C, don’t take it personally, it was inspired by
  something else: posts, very ugly that I have read (yes, written by
  Romanians), and their comments. Judgmental? No, that was not my
  intention. It was a strive to get people to see things for what they
  are I guess. And besides, you really don’t fit in this category! I have
  not heard you bitching about anything but yourself (and you are doing a
  great job improving that – improvement from your point of view I mean).
  Radu, there are poor people everywhere, trust me. And yes, some have a
  harder time than the others. True…But if there is no many for monthly
  payments, how come there’s money for alcohol and other such stuff.
  People have a bad habit of making their life miserable. I’ve never had
  everything out on a plate. Basically, since I moved to Bucharest, if I
  wanted something more than paying for where I lived and food, I had to
  work. And so I did. I have a car that I will pay for 6 years (Yay, year
  1 is over!!!). When there was nothing else we could afford, we went
  walking in the park. C. can give you details about dancing in the dorm.
  If everything goes bad, find something nice to entertain yourself. And
  do something to make your life better. Complaining and envy will take
  you nowhere…

• 

  Radu C
  July 31st, 2007
  

  I don’t think that those guys that say Romania sux
  use their money to buy as much alcohol as their liver can handle.
  Actually, those are the guys that think live is good. It only sucks for
  them when they run out of money to buy alcohol with, but that doesn’t
  last that long and live becomes good again soon enough.
  Buying a beer or two a week doesn’t count as “having money to buy
  alcohol and other such things”. These guys have to deal with other
  stuff:
  - rent, so they have a place to stay (if they don’t own the place)
  - utilities (water, electricity), so they can live sort of a decent
  life
  - food, so they can live
  - transportation, so they can go to work, the place that pays their
  subsistence (with a hard accent on “sub”)
  - loan payments for stuff they bought for their homes (if they did and
  didn’t spend the money foolishly)
  You and I don’t count when it comes to them. We’re “rich” people. We
  don’t live in mansions, buy you can and I could pay for a car just
  fine. And still have money left. I happen to own my appartment (one of
  the few wise choices my elders made), so I’m off the hook on this one.
  Life sux because of other reasons.
  I’m still here because I don’t want to leave just yet. And because some
  close people would probably end up dead because of their own decisions
  if I were to leave now. The rest are still here because they can’t
  leave. Not that they don’t want to, but they can’t. There is no bridge
  for them to cross safely if they did. Some of those who date to cross
  without a bridge get lucky and become wealthy. Other become slaves to
  their master, their papers taken, their “masters” abusing them, a lot
  more hell than what they left at home. This is where being stupid comes
  in.
  Incidentally, I can only think “Tess of the d’Ubervilles” when it comes
  to this matter.
  People that make their life miserable usually are hypocrites. They say
  life is hard, but they mean that only to the extent of their work-lives
  and that they don’t have a big house with lots of servants in it.
  Otherwise, life is just great as far as their concerned. They’d just
  like not to work and still be able to live a decent life.
  As for “complaining and envy will take you nowhere”, I almost learned
  that lesson. Just a few more classes to go
  Erm.. this just crossed my mind: “when everything goes bad, find
  something nice to entertain yourself”. “Nice” depends from person to
  person. Alcohol is to some people “something nice to entertain
  themselves with”. They rarely go for a free walk in the park though.
  But the alcohol they drink is cheaper than bread, so I’m not sure that
  it really counts.
  There are too many angles on this matter to phrase a consistent idea.

• 

  Zu
  July 31st, 2007
  

  My thoughts exactly - I wrote a similar post a
  while ago, on how “there” seems always to be better- so I will not
  write my arguments again, but I do agree with you. I believe it’s about
  making a choice and being able to assume it, to live with it.

• 

  Alina Popescu
  July 31st, 2007
  

  Radu, you are right, I might seem rich to some,
  although I am still quite far from that. Bills exist everywhere. And in
  those places, they are usually larger. You described different choices.
  And I think choices should be made and accepted. The basic goal of this
  post is to show the situation exactly as it is. There are two options
  if you hate this country: stay and live with it, or go. Nothing more. I
  am not talking about special cases (I know people who took loans to
  provide food for their family during the winter). This is about those
  complaining the most. And yes they are hypocrites to some extent. And
  yes they are unhappy, but not really concerned with day to day
  survival. I aim at those people. As for alcohol being cheaper than
  bread, I could argue that. But that is really a different story. Zu, I
  know, I’ve read it But some things I read really make me want to
  talk

• 

  Sim
  July 31st, 2007
  

  People complain because we were born like that, if
  you don’t complain about your country, you complain about your job, and
  if you don’t complain about your job you complain about the wheather.
  People will always find something to complain about, and you also have
  something to complain about. False? Read your posts: taxis, etc etc.
  There is always something to complain. Of all the things that you
  complain about there are things you can change and things you cannot
  change. And it is true, there are lots of persons complaining about
  Romania, I was one of them. This is why I am living abroad now. Am I
  better now than where I was living in Romania? It’s just different. You
  know from my last post how my first year in Spain was, and it was not
  good at all. But you see, I complain about being here, and I hate it
  most of the time, but now I cannot move to other country because of a
  few reasons:
  - I don’t know if it will be better
  - This first experience was quite dissapointing
  - In one month I will have a son
  What can I do? Complain, complain, and complain. Because my job sucks,
  because people here suck (people I know), because because because.
  There is still something I can do, like study in order to get diplomas
  that would help me get a better job. Until then, if they ask me, Spain
  sucks.
  The same applies to Romania, it is hard to leave, while complaining is
  free. People sometimes need to feel miserable, in order to get
  attention or something, but most of them are really trapt. It is not
  easy to leave: you need to arrange lots of papers, you need to find a
  place to leave, you need to leave behind your family and friends…
  It’s not easy, it’s much easier to complain.
  And you will forgive me, I know you will, but your post is a little bit
  of a judgement, and there are things that are true and there are things
  that are not. I have been there, complaining about Romania and about
  life in there, and I know why I did it. I finally left in search for a
  better life which I still haven’t found, and for that I still complain.
  This is a subject which is too, too complicated to talk about. The next
  time I come to Romania we should get a beer and talk about it.

• 

  Alina Popescu
  July 31st, 2007
  

  Sim, you at least tried. Complaining without acting
  on it, without trying to change things a little bit, is really
  pointless. It just makes you and those around you miserable. Maybe it
  is a judgment. But as you say, things suck everywhere. You can try
  changing them or just accept them for what they are. Making your own
  life bitter is not going to help at all. Now, I am quite sure you won’t
  be the kind of mom that passes all her frustrations on her son, or
  blame him for your remaining there. I’ve heard you complain, and I know
  what I complain. You do it in an amusing manner and you never forget
  the good things you have there: your son and that Spanish guy that
  swept you off of your feet I on the other hand complain to point some
  facts. It all has a purpose. And I doubt if you’d meet me or I’d come
  meet you there all we’d talk about would be how much our life suck.
  You’d talk about your son and how he plays with your organs if I am not
  mistaken
  Yes, true, we are human beings, we feel the need to complain. But why
  not do it in a constructive manner and why on earth should we let it
  eat us alive? I have never said staying or living is an easy job. It is
  just something you need to decide on and act on it afterwards. And if
  you look close enough, you’ll see those complaining are those that at
  least theoretically have a lot of options. Should I remind you that the
  last time you complained it was so out of the ordinary we were all
  shocked by what you were saying? It never made you bitter or changed
  who you are. Besides, having flaws and admitting to them never means
  leaving it all aside. It means dealing with it and trying to change it.
  I try to make a difference. When I am in a situation with no way out,
  that I have no power over, I’ll try my best to make it appear better
  than it actually is. Making your life more beautiful is indeed an art.
  We should all try to learn it. Because the ugly truth is there’s no one
  else more interested in cutting us some slack…
  P.S. Of course I forgive you for anything I know ya love me in the
  end

• 

  Mihaela Lica
  August 1st, 2007
  

  What a beautiful entry, Alina. I love it when you
  make a point, so clear and concise. I live in a foreign country,
  although it was never my intention to leave Romania. I had a great job
  back home. I was famous, had my own apartment, had enough money to be
  able to go out each weekend Fridays and Saturdays and buy the nicest
  clothes (if these things really matter!). So… I didn’t plan to leave.
  It just happened. But I have news for those who believe life here is
  better. It is not. The work is harder. Finding a job, as a foreigner,
  is harder (unless you want to risk it and work black or you have a
  brilliant mind and you master the language). Life is more expensive.
  Health insurance is around 250-300

• 

  Alina Popescu
  August 1st, 2007
  

  Hi Mig, thanks for your input, I was hoping you’d comment on this specific post.

  But I hate to tell you that that rent sounds quite interesting right now…:(

• 

  Ryan
  August 4th, 2007
  

  Romania sucks?! What’s wrong with you people?!
  This country doesn’t suck at all, on the contrary. But some of it’s
  inhabitants… And as people always do, they generalized the whole
  thing to an entire society.
  Life in another country is easier? Tell that to the foreigners I know
  that have moved TO Romania.
  But I do have to agree with what’s already been said: it’s easier to
  complain and do nothing. Why’s that? Simple: It’s hard being a
  foreigner. If you have the mind and strength to bear it all, you’ll
  make it. If not, you’re better off staying home, bitching about
  everything around you. And sometimes it’s enough to make just minor
  changes in your life (compared to emigrating): get new friends (the old
  ones got tired of your constant whining anyway), change your job, your
  home, move to another city (I know I am ), or just take a really
  long vacation to clear your thought and pinpoint what is it that
  bothers you and how can you change that, as I guarantee not all of
  Romania sucks.
  (this is ME complaining as I’ve done my share of starvation
  (literally) in my little time on this little blue pearl and will be
  doing some more in a while, but I’ll be damned if you’ll hear me
  complaining about it – it’s my choice and a consequence of my trying to
  improve my life)

• 

  Mihaela Lica
  August 9th, 2007
  

  Rent is probably not the most expensive thing. But
  add all the other costs to it (light, water, gas, telephone, internet,
  home insurance, helath insurance, car insurance) and TAX you’ll end up
  with almost nothing. Pretty much the same as it happens in Romania.

• 

  Alina Popescu
  August 9th, 2007
  

  Ryan, you are absolutely right. But what you and I
  promote is quite hard to accomplish. Mig, you are right, it is pretty
  much the same. Still, salaries are still worse in Romania. not by far,
  true, but they are. I am waiting for this last bit to change

• 

  Frank
  November 6th, 2007
  

  What’s wrong, besides what you see on the news, with the USA? And Canada? Curious.

• 

  Alina Popescu
  November 7th, 2007
  

  Well, US and Canada are countries I’d visit, but
  would never move there. I’ve talked to a lot of people moving to
  Canada, remaining there or deciding to come back to Romania, and based
  on their experience, there is little change for me going there. As for
  the US, I don’t know, I met wonderful people from there, but it just
  does not feel like the type of country I’d be attracted to…Plus, you
  can add to that the “wonderful” experience of working as a tech support
  engineer and having a lot of pissed off callers from the US Although
  when I was a little kid, my dream was to go there and be Winnetou’s
  wife Blame Karl May for that
  I’m just kidding. The truth is, I’d never move that far and if it looks
  like getting colder than here, I am outta there . I have my mom here
  and I can’t afford to come visit her twice a year And other far away
  countries are an even worse idea: South America seems too dangerous,
  Asia…too far, Africa…slightly closer, but it would guilt me out (I
  feel guilty seeing beggars in Romania, it would kill me to see starving
  and sick children too often). The perfect arrangement for me would be
  to travel a lot, around the world Maybe when I’ll have that company
  of my own that will happen

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