EVS Stories: Italians and Romanians – by Martina Lolini (II)

It’s already 3 months since I am volunteering in Baia Mare, Romania, enough time to get to know the community and to get in touch with local people. Although I don’t believe in stereotypes, it’s hard not to compare your own culture with the one you are embraced in. So, along the way, I discovered the followings:

  • Italians and Romanians are very creative, they can find their way out from difficult situations;
  • Romanians and Italians have a very dangerous way of driving, not matter if we talk about personal car or public transport;
  • Italians and Romanians respect and preserve their traditions;
  • Romanians and Italians speak a very similar language (to be more specific, the dialects from the south of Italy are very similar with the Romanian language);
  • Italians and Romanians are very noisy when they gather together or when they encounter people they know;
  • Romanians and Italians have a similar way to enjoy an event or a celebration;
  • There are a lot of people, both in Italy and in Romania, that have a very kitsch style (like Jersey Show);
  • Italians and Romanians eat a lot of pork dishes, especially during Christmas;
  • Italian and Romanian politicians have legal problems;
  • Romanians and Italians are very hospitable.
Martina Lolini (Italy) is hosted in Baia Mare by Team for Youth Association, in the “Life Skills for Rural Education” project, an European Voluntary Service, financed by the European Commission, through the Erasmus Plus Program.

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