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Is Romania safe?
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Howard Roark



Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 18

PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:39 pm    Post subject: Is Romania safe? Reply with quote

Hi,

I'm going to Romania tomorrow for 6 days. I arrive late at night so I've booked the Charter Hotel near the airport. I have to call the shuttle to come and get me. The next day I will go to the university. I will be staying somewhere on campus. I'm going to visit a paleontology prof who is an expert in the fossils I study at my university in Canada. My supervisors in Canada don't know him personally but they know several people who do who arranged this meeting. By all accounts the guy is very nice and I'm not really worried about that. I'm not sure what it is I'm worried about, the late arrival time, staying there alone, I've never been there before, Romania is kind of obscure, etc..

So should I relax or what? I'm pretty stressed out and don't really want to go but I have to. Will I be alright?? I'm a woman, 30 years old by the way.

Thanks for any advice.
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Greg 09



Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 169

PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Relax. I have a good friend in Bucharest and have spent a lot of time there. The Univ of Bucharest (if that's where you're going) is right in the Center, km0. A lot of pre-Communist buildings and nice parks.

You'll be near Cismigiu Park which is very lovely. You can also walk to the Palace, Ceaucescu's old digs which is now the Parliament. Its pretty spectacular, if somewhat garish. Lots and lots of shops and restaurants around.

Walking around at night is no problem, in fact this time of year its the best time. Of course its always better to be with someone, but just walk around where all the people are and you'll be perfectly safe. Its pretty lively on the weekends especially.

Have nice time!
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Bebsi



Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958

PostPosted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, once the promised military escort arrives (they did, I presume, agree to that, yes?) you should be OK. Anyway, there are lots of private security firms with special firearms licences employed around the vicinity of the Charter Hotel, so you should be OK. Dress like a man, show no signs of wealth, and you'll be fine. Of course, don't venture outdoors after 18.00, but if you do, and it's not fully dark, with some luck you will get away with some light harassment as long as you stick to the police-patrolled main thoroughfares.

I know a company that does life insurance for Romania, but the rates make you think twice, and it isn't really worth it. Just make sure your legal affairs are in order, and that you stay in contact with someone back home every 30 minutes. A GPS system and a personal alarm will help, but you could manage more or less without them.

Six days? You should be relatively OK as long as you follow the above precautions.

Of course, when you say you are visiting a palaeontologist, I wonder if you are Temperance Brennan. Will Agent Booth be travelling with you? If so, you will definitely be OK.
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Bebsi



Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958

PostPosted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seriously, Romania is actually one of the safest places anywhere in the world. Forget the negative publicity you may have heard in the past. Bucharest is a good deal safer than London or Paris, and other locations in Romania are even safer.

The only hassle you might come across is an occasional beggar. In the last few years, however, they seem to have more or less disappeared.

As a woman, the worst I think you should expect will be some good-natured (but sexist by western European standards) wolf-whistling, or visible ogling as you pass a group of young males. At the risk of sounding sexist, if you do, just lap it up. Most Romanian women do! Smile

You will be perfectly safe. If you want any further advice about the country generally, you are very welcome to PM me.

In any event, I really hope you enjoy your stay here. You most likely will.
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Mike_2007



Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 349
Location: Bucharest, Romania

PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
or visible ogling as you pass a group of young males


Don't be so ageist, Bebsi. I've known quite a few older males to ogle too. Wink
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Bebsi



Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958

PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shocked
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troglodyte



Joined: 14 Dec 2009
Posts: 19

PostPosted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote



Last edited by troglodyte on Sat May 04, 2013 2:28 pm; edited 2 times in total
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AGoodStory



Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738

PostPosted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howard Roark,
So you must be an Ayn Rand fan? (And just try saying "Ayn Rand fan" out loud three times!) I didn't know anyone still read Ayn Rand.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shouldn't this be posted on Dave's Palaentology Cafe ( How DO you spell that ?)

Leave us poor EFLers alone.
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Captain_Fil



Joined: 06 Jan 2011
Posts: 604
Location: California - the land of fruits and nuts

PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it would be great to live and teach in Romania.

On days off, I could visit Transylvania and see Dracula's Castle.

Shocked
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Captain_Fil wrote:
I think it would be great to live and teach in Romania.

On days off, I could visit Transylvania and see Dracula's Castle.

Shocked


Try applying to SOL, Sharing Our Language. Buty you won't make much, maybe 400 a month.
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Captain_Fil



Joined: 06 Jan 2011
Posts: 604
Location: California - the land of fruits and nuts

PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

naturegirl321 wrote:
Captain_Fil wrote:
I think it would be great to live and teach in Romania.

On days off, I could visit Transylvania and see Dracula's Castle.

Shocked


Try applying to SOL, Sharing Our Language. Buty you won't make much, maybe 400 a month.


I think I'll go to Asia first. Lots of opportunities there. Smile

Europe will be later. Eventually, I will visit Romania, the land of Nadia Comaneci...and Vlad the Impaler. Shocked
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Bebsi



Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dunno about impalers, but plenty of vampires!

Wink
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Captain_Fil



Joined: 06 Jan 2011
Posts: 604
Location: California - the land of fruits and nuts

PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bebsi wrote:
Dunno about impalers, but plenty of vampires!

Wink


Plenty of vampires?! Surprised

I've had enough of True Blood, Vampire Diaries, and, of course, The Twilight Saga. Mad

I won't be going to Romania any time soon.

But I do like Vampirella. Wink
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova?
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