OZB Magazine November 2019 by Douglas Williams

November 2019 | N° 24 | FREE COPY

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OZB' s M a g n i f i c e n t S e v e n S h a p i n g M o d e r n R om a n i a

Presidential Elections Who’s Who and What’s What

Kira Hagi Learning From the Past to Fuel Her Art

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NOVEMBER 2019

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O ZI BUNA

Ceafa de Porc

Douglas Williams - Publisher

y goodness Romania is gorgeous. Like really, heart-stoppingly, breath-takingly gorgeous. I’ve just been fortunate enough to spend some time out amongst the forests that are currently a symphony of colour, an explosion of fiery hues writ large across the landscape. It’s as if each tree is endeavouring to outdo its neighbour and it makes the heart sing. But it’s fleeting, and by the time you are reading this mag those colours will have changed. Time marches on. With this issue, we celebrate two years of publishing OZB. How did that happen! It’s now a year since I interviewed the newly installed UK Ambassador to Romania, the eminently personable and sagacious Andrew Noble. My friend and colleague David Shoup spoke with him last month, this time purely about the debacle that is Brexit. We’re grateful to the Ambassador for his time. You can read David’s piece inside. Being British and a Europhile and living in the EU, as do most of my immediate family, Brexit is something of a concern, to put it mildly. In advance of our meeting with the ambassador, we reached out to the OZB community to gauge the water, to take soundings from UK citizens living here. Unsurprisingly, most are upset and stressed about Brexit. Sleepless nights, an inability to consider the future, a burning anger and a growing hopelessness were all mentioned. If, dear reader, you are not from the UK, but have UK friends and colleagues who are, then I ask that you please be patient with them. It’s difficult to watch your country undergo what can best be described as a nervous breakdown; where there is no light at the end of what is proving to be a very dark tunnel. What was only an issue with a small, barmy clique on the far right of the right wing Conservative party 10 years ago, has, in one fell swoop, consumed the country. Quite how membership of the EU negatively impacted the lives of the UK electorate remains a mystery. It’s like a disease. Somewhat chillingly those afflicted with it, the “leavers” are referred to by the “remoaners” as “gammon”. It’s “Gulliver’s Travels” but

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horribly real and scorched of humour. Meantime, and not mentioned in the Brexitconsumed news, the UK is crumbling with school kids having to take their own loo rolls to school because the schools have no funds for such luxuries and this entirely as a result of the savage cuts imposed by the government. Train stations are full of homeless people and rural roads are barely navigable in the country with the fifth largest economy in the world. And yes, this crippling austerity has been imposed by the same government that triggered this disastrous referendum in the first place… and the same government, suspend disbelief now, is ahead in the polls and predicted to win the upcoming general election… you couldn’t make this up! Tensions are running high, civil unrest is a racing certainty, and suddenly you start looking for historical precedents and 1930s Germany and ‘90s Yugoslavia rear up. It’s a pandora’s box and it’s scary. A People’s Vote could thwart “the will of the people” and “leavers” will never accept a result that does that. Equally, “remoaners” will never accept leaving the EU under any circumstances and they are generally the younger generations with more to lose and who are more likely to protest. Permanent Residence of Romania is highly appealing, you need to have been living here for 5 years with no break of greater than 6 months. There was, however, a proposal put forward back in 2016 by Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator, that would allow UK citizens “associate citizenship”, a “workaround” that would continue to allow freedom of movement etc. Whether this might be possible seems to depend on how EU citizens living in the UK are treated if Brexit happens. I hope it’s possible. Ok, so rant over. So this is our two year anniversary magazine - I really hope you enjoy the stories and pictures within.

O zi bună!

DOUGLAS WILLIAMS

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

DANA TUDOSE-TIANU

Editor

DAVID McLEAN SHOUP Editor

PAUL GIBSON

Commercial Director Visual Communication by

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Contents November Events

Young Romanians Weigh in on the Presidential Elections

Second Romanian Forester Murdered In a Month

Profile: Actress and Painter Kira Hagi

The OZB Magnificent 7

From Financial Consultant to Gallerist

Photo Essay : Fall in Bucharest

4 Things You Must Do Before You Retire

Dispatches from Deutschland and the Darkness

Give The Gift of Experiences, Not Things!

British Author Arabella McIntyreBrown Found Her Home in Transylvania...and Wrote About it

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tis the Season to Save Forests

Wild Transylvania

Tips for Healthy Living Through the Romanian Winter

DENT ESTET Launches The Digital Implantology Masterplan

The Danube Delta in an Uncertain Climate

Ambassador Noble Clarifies PostBrexit Possibilities for Brits Living in Romania A Post-Communist History of Presidential Elections in Romania and Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the Race for Cotroceni this November

Cover photograph: David McLean Shoup Above photograph: Vlad Eftenie W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

November Events November is in full swing, with the Halloween hangover subsiding and 2020 nearly upon us. With two months to pack as much into the end of this decade as possible, OZB is most looking forward to the first major international chess championship in Romania being held this month and hosted by our partners at Superbet. A huge assortment of the best chess players in the world will be coming to Bucharest from November 5th-

10th and you won’t want to miss out on this. Several groups are running intriguing day trips into the heart of Romania this month, for those of you feeling cooped up in city life. And this month will be especially great for Romania’s growing music and dance scene. So get out and enjoy the last fall of the 2010s! •

• Baneasa Forest Run November 3rd

Baneasa Forest Run

Soak in the beautiful fall colors and beat your Halloween hangover with either an 11 or 21 kilometer run through the Baneasa Forest in the north of Bucharest. https://baneasaforestrun.ro/

• Superbet Presents: Grandmasters Against the Clock

Russian Ballet Festival

The Grand Chess Tour in Romania - Superbet Rapid & Blitz will be the first international chess tournament of its calibre held in Romania. The Opening Ceremony will take place at the Stejarii Country Club @15:00, November 5th, and feature tennis star Boris Becker moving the first chess piece to open the tournament. To attend the opening ceremony, RSVP by November 1st to andreea.nitu@momenturnww.com The main tournament itself will take place from November 6th-10th and feature such chess superstars as Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, and Wesley So

• Drums: Mihigh & Nu Zau at Control Club November 7th, 11pm

Mihigh’s “dirty old school underground” techno will come together with Nu Zau’s minimal house beats for what promises to be a great show at Control.

November Events

• Made in RO November 8th-24th ARCUB

The ESCU Association presents one hundred years of Romanian branding for its second annual Made in RO showcase. Collectors and enthusiasts will come together to take in this temporary exhibit which will Romania’s “soul of commerce” through the ages, answering such questions as what consumer items did Romanians buy 150 years ago? What brands and items have been revitalized since the 1990s? Find out at the Made in RO exhibit in ARCUB.

• Christmas Globe Factory Excursion

November 9th, all day

Excursii De Neuitat offers this day trip to a Christmas tree snowglobe factory in Curtea de Argeş, where can you take in the remarkable artistry, craftsmanship and ornament painting, with lots of great Christmas shopping opportunities six weeks ahead of the big day. Price is 95 Ron per person. Check out Excursii De Neuitat for more information.

• Pestera Dambovicioara, Manastirea Namaiesti Weekend Excursion November 10th, All Day

This exciting excursion will take visitors to visit the ancient Pestera Dambovicioara, a cave dating back to the Jurassic period. Also on this day trip is Mateus Mausoleum, built to honor Romanian troops killed fighting the Germans in WW1. The walls and ceiling of the mausoleum are adorned with beautiful mosaics and scenes showing artistic depictions of the Great War, but also with portraits of great personalities of Romanian history, such as Mircea cel Bătrân, Vlad Tepeş and Constantin Brâncoveanu. Price is 70 Lei per person. Check out Facebook for more info.

• Romania Tourism Fair 2019 November 14th-17th

RomExpo

Come to the RomExpo in mid November to see dozens of tour operators and travel agencies jostling for your attention with limited time offer coupons and deals for cultural trips, adventure tours, even a cruise or two.

• Jobs Street

November 16th, all day RomExpo

This event promises to make job hunting fun with entertainment, drinks, and more for a 30 Ron cover.

• Chase and Status DJ Set November 16th, 10pm

Arenele Romane

• Lara Fabian “50” World Tour November 18th and 19th @8pm

Sala Palatului

The Drum and Bass duo from London is hitting Romania as part of their worldwide 2019 tour. The show runs all night long. Visit the band’s website for tickets and more information.

The internationally renowned BelgianCanadian pop vocalist will return to Bucharest to reign in her 50th birthday with a new worldwide tour.

• Binar 2019

• Asia Fest 2019

November 21st

Interactive installations, algorithmic art, virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D projections and video-mapping, unite in an exhibition concept signed by The Institute in collaboration with Dilmana Yordanova of KOTKI visuals. BINAR is an initiative to map and promote the new media scene in Romania - artists, designers and promoters of digital arts - and aims to offer the public, at an annual event, a showcase of local initiatives. The BINAR exhibition will take place in the historical monument building of the former Cina restaurant in George Enescu Square, in the Creative Quarter, Bucharest. Entrance is free.

• Jazz Up! Fest November 21st-23rd

The Wallace Rooney Quintet (USA), Charlie Parker @ 100, John Betsch (USA) & Mircea Tiberian feat. Nadia Trohin, Luiza Zan & Jazzpar Trio, and Bucharest Jazz Orchestra are some of the shows and names that will perform on stage for the first edition of JAZZ UP! FESTIVAL "Dan Mândrilă". The festival will bring four days of concerts in which some of the biggest names in the local and international jazz scene will perform on stage at the Radio Hall or Green Hours. Buy tickets early!

Romexpo

November 22nd-24th

Hosted by Magic FM, this is the seventh year of Asia Fest in Bucharest. This year’s theme: “the colors of Asia.” For a mere 10 Ron, you can try a huge variety of great cuisine, join in cooking lessons, enjoy live music, try out some K-Pop dancing, and even partake in some Asian cosplay for the cultural appropriators among us. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Russian Ballet Festival November 25th-27th

For three nights, check out the best of Russian dance theater, including the Nut Cracker on the 25th, Giselle on the 26th, and Swan Lake on the 27th. The three night festival features soloists Zhanna Gubanova and Alexey Lyubimov from the Stanislavsky Theater, Nemirovich Dancenko from Moscow, and Ksenia Khabinets, leading soloist at the Kremlin Ballet.

• Russian Christmas Fair November 27th, 6-9pm

Russian Culture Center of Romania

Get your fill of Russian themed and Russian made products specific to the Christmas season, including a selection of shawls and other items from Pavlovsky Posad.

• International Psychology Conference November 23rd-24th

Romanian-Finnish High School The Department of Psychology at the University of Bucharest, in collaboration with the Romanian-Finnish School and the European Association for Mental Health in Intellectual Disability (EAMHID) will host this international conference focusing on occupational therapy for disabled patients, seeking to provide the best examples and benchmarks for good practice, in order to support experienced psychologists, as well as students and graduates. Students can receive 10 credits for participation, register at officearpa@gmail.com

Made in RO

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Lara Fabian

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NEWS

Second Romanian Forester Murdered In a Month

orest Ranger Liviu Pop was shot and killed by suspected illegal loggers on October 16th. The murder took place inside a forest in Maramures that has fallen prey to deforestation. According to the BBC, this was the 16th attack against a ranger this year and the second murder in just a single month.

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George Mihailescu, head of Romsilva, the government run forest management service, blamed the murder on illegal loggers, adding that the “risks forest workers are facing are tightly connected to the violence in Romanian society.” Mihailescu’s comments have drawn some criticism. Blaming preventable acts of violence on society-wide zeitgeist is commonly viewed as a runaround. For example, U.S. President Trump drew strong condemnation for blaming the El Paso mass shooting on the prevalence of violent video, while critics pointed to Trump’s own anti-Mexican rhetoric and unwillingness to support gun control legislation as the larger issue. In this case, placing rangers in teams or pairs would likely lead to less casualties, but no such proposal has arisen out of Romsilva as of publication. European Parliament MP Martin

NOVEMBER 2019 Second Romanian Forester Murdered In a Month

Hojsik of Slovakia posted shortly after the news of the murder. “Protectors and activists in Romania feel threatened,” Hojsik wrote. “Many of them are my friends. Many have experienced extortion and attacks from the forest mafia. We must start to talk openly about such savagery and put pressure on the Romanian government to urgently address this situation!” Pop, 30, was a married father of three and was alone when responding to reports of illegal logging when he was killed. It is unclear why he was operating alone, as appears to be standard practice. Furthermore, it appears he may have been killed with his own gun. Presumably, if rangers worked in pairs or teams, such a death would have been preventable. Romsilva’s press office was contacted but did not respond to questions. •

COVER STORY

A The OZB Magnificent 7 As OZB celebrates 2 years this November, we wanted to honor both our readers and the people whose stories we share, through our magazine cover. For our cover photo shoot, we invited seven OZB friends. Some we interviewed in the magazine, some were guest writers. Some are good friends of the OZB community – expats, repatriates and international, open-minded and Romania-loving people who are trying to contribute to our society. And a warm, warm thank you to Galeria Alexandra’s in Bucharest and Ovidiu Obreja, the best host our OZB team has ever met, for the magical and friendly atmosphere and décor of our photo shoot.

ndreea Micu is a Partner with Stoica & Associatii Attorneys-at-Law in Bucharest, and is the owner of the Avincis winery. Mother to two young sons, Andreea is an author of children’s books. She published three books in the “Lunus Plinus” Series, called: ‘Lunus, Plinus si Andrei, In Tara lui Faci ce vrei”, “Lunus Plinus si Andrei, pe Pamant nu Faci ce Vrei”, and ‘Lunus Plinus si Miracolul Craciunului.” Her latest book, “Giusina, Camila de Bucuresti” (Giusina, the Bucharest camel), will be launched at Carturesti Carusel in Bucharest, on December 4th. Andreea has news to share on the Avincis winery side, as well. By developing wine tourism even more on the Vila Dobrusa property, tourists can enjoy new trails with special maps covering the paths along the winery. A beautiful park, Poiana Apostolilor, is close to being finished and can be used to relax and unwind, but also as a space for cultural events, as it includes 12 acacia trees planted around a natural amphitheatre. More information about Avincis at: www.avincis.ro

shaped as lectors. Over 50,000 participants have attended classes at the Foundation and over 3000 young people enjoyed full scholarships for various classes. One of the Foundation’s most important annual events, the New Year’s Extraordinary Concert, will take place on January 7, 2020, at Sala Radio in Bucharest. For this edition, the chosen theme is “Magical Spanish Night”. Participants will be able to enjoy the performance of the Symphactory Orchestra, conducted by Tiberiu Soare. This will be an evening of incandescent rhythms, full of the sensual energy of Spanish music, which inspired composers such as Maurice Ravel, Rimski-Korsakov, Emmanuel Chabrier, Manuel de Falla, Gerónimo Giménez, Carlos Gardel and others. More information about Fundatia Calea Victoriei, at www.fundatiacaleavictoriei.ro

Arabella McIntyre-Brown,

Author, Editor, Tutor, Resident of Transylvania

Sandra Ecobescu,

Founder, Fundatia Calea Victoriei

Andreea Micu,

Owner, Avincis and Partner, Stoica & Asociatii

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andra Ecobescu is the Founder of Fundatia Calea Victoriei, an independent cultural organization based in Bucharest. For over 12 years, the Foundation has been organizing classes, tours and events, having become a real Academy where over 100 researchers, artists and trainers were

t the end of September 2019, Arabella McIntyre-Brown published A Stake in Transylvania, a book that was launched with a reception at the British Ambassador’s residence in Bucharest. The book was first published in Romanian, with the title: Din Liverpool in Carpati. Born in rural West Sussex, South-Eastern England, Arabella is a British writer and editor who has been living in Magura, a small village in Transylvania, W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

The OZB Magnificent 7

COVER STORY

for the past 9 years. She first visited Romania 15 years ago and spent a day in Magura. She found it to be a magical place, full of inspiration and reminders of her childhood. Arabella also published several children’s books, in bilingual editions: Dragons over London/ Dragoni pe cerul Londrei; Floss, the lost puppy/Floss, catelusul pierdut; Dahlia’s Pet detectives/Dalia si micii detectivi; Floss and the Circus/Floss si circul. Arabella truly embodies the story of the foreigner who came to Romania and found his/her calling speaking louder, re-discovered sources of imagination and creativity, and made a home where they are happy. More information about Arabella and her books, on her website: www.arabellamcintyrebrown.com

While still in high school, he was a founder and coordinator of the voluntariate.ro project, the biggest achievement of which being a donation for the orphaned children at Valea Plopului. Beginning in July 2019, he is a fundraising officer at REAL (Registrul Educațional Alternativ - Alternative Educational Registry), a non-profit organization that manages the broadest data collection platform about Romanian high schools. The organization gathers subjective data from pupils, tutors and teachers, and objective data from public institutions. The data is analyzed and published in an accessible format and it is relevant for pupils, tutors, teachers and decisional factors. More about the Alternative Educational Registry, at: www.estereal.ro

Brasov, covering the full market range, from low budget students up to the mid and high end properties in central/north Bucharest. The company serves a wide range of clients, including students, members of the Royal family, diplomats, state institutions, politicians as well as regular citizens. The company’s largest sale transaction was a private hospital (31 Million Euros)), with the lowest being a simple studio apartment. White Mountain Property’s maintenance service provides everything from apartment renovations, regular Embassy gardening, and also store installations for Lego and Apple, across Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia and even Italy. The property managers take care of almost 100 residential and commercial properties, including a hotel. More information about White Mountain Property at: www.whitemountain.ro

Ciprian Anghel

Damian Galvin

Michael Fraser

Medical Student, Carol Davila University of Medicine & Pharmacy

e featured Ciprian Anghel in our May OZB Issue. He was, then, a senior in high school at the Laude-Reut Educational Complex in Bucharest. His words impressed our readers – he was studying to be admitted into Medical School in Bucharest and talked about his desire of working in Romania, making a difference in people’s lives and focusing more on what he can do to help. Ciprian is now in his 1st year at the Carol Davila Medical School in Bucharest. 10

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Founder, White Mountain Property Founder & Owner, Mojo Music Club

amian was born in the UK and has been living in Romania since 2007. He is the founder of White Mountain Property, a property management and real estate company with offices in Bucharest and Brasov. He is also a guest writer for OZB, having written several real estate updates and advisory pieces. Damian’s company, White Mountain Property, provides sales, rentals, property management, maintenance/ renovation and investment consultancy in Bucharest and

ichael is the Founder and Owner of Mojo Music Club in Bucharest. Between 2000 and 2010 he worked for the British Embassy in Bucharest. In 2007, when Romania joined the EU, his job at the Embassy went part-time, so, alongside it, he ran a small bar for two years, which became the stepping stone for Mojo. Located in the old center of Bucharest, on 14 Gabroveni street, Mojo is a 3-level, English-themed nightspot with a sports pub, karaoke bar & live shows by local cover bands.

COVER STORY

Talking to OZB about the most rewarding aspects of living in Romania for so long, Mike shared: “Meeting some amazing people from all over the world whilst I've been here is something I wouldn't have experienced in my hometown. Because of my job, I get to meet new people every day, with different stories. In my previous job, having attended many Embassy events, I’ve met great people. Having lunch with Nadia Comaneci, Gheorghe Hagi and Ilie Nastase was a personal highlight, and admittedly I spoke to Nadia for 98% of the time! “ Mike plans to continue keeping Mojo Music Club busy with the great guests it has had over the past 10 years, and branch out into other bars, possibly in different cities. A challenge he would relish? “Running a kitchen”, he says. More information on Mojo Music Club on Mojo’s Facebook page @MojoBucharest

Paul Oppenkamp

Chef and Co-owner, The Artist Restaurant

aul and Mihaela Oppenkamp are approaching their 7-year anniversary since opening their restaurant, the Artist, on Calea Victoriei 147, in Bucharest. Paul, originally from Hoorn, the Netherlands, is the creator of the cuisine served in the restaurant, while Mihaela, originally from Bucharest, ensures a smooth front of house and administrative operations. They met while they were both working for Silversea Cruises. They got

married in Bucharest, in 2009 and happily celebrated their 10-year anniversary this past August. They both learned the hospitality business by working for The World – Residences at Sea. Inspired by the owners of the business, they decided they wanted to open their own restaurant and make their contribution to the ever-changing Bucharest. At the time they opened the Artist, restaurants were only just starting to change from being traditional or Italian into other directions. New concepts were starting to emerge and they felt they had something to offer to the Bucharest restaurant scene, in its attempt to become better. “Housing our restaurant in the location where it currently is, on Calea Victoriei, has allowed us to preserve a piece of Bucharest and its history, blending it with a bit of the current modernism”, adds Paul. More about the Artist restaurant, at: www.theartist.ro •

Happy Birthday OZB!

The OZB Memoji Team

The editorial staff at OZB Magazine is proud to be celebrating our second anniversary as an inspirational lifestyle magazine this month. In the fall of 2017, our publisher Douglas Williams, bringing with him years of experience in media content, put ideas into action with the launch of OZB Media. It’s aim, then as now, is to highlight the people, places, and organizations that make Romania the beautiful, innovative, and rapidly developing nation that it is today. With a new decade just around the corner, we are eager to continue expanding on Douglas’s vision by exploring and promoting new and intriguing aspects of Romanian culture and society. New writers and contributors are always welcome to join us in this quest of delivering English language news, culture, art, photography, business, development, and much, much more to our growing audience of curious readers from all walks of life in Bucharest and beyond. Happy Birthday OZB! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at OZBMedia, and be sure to check out our digital editions at OZB.ro. Thank you. W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

PHOTO ESSAY

Fall in Bucharest

he reds, the yellows, the browns, even the pink hues of leaves covering the streets of Bucharest and the parks have been quite the opposite to what Romanian poet, George Toparceanu’s “Cricket’s Fall Ballad” described in its first two verses, known by every Romanian over the age of 7: “Cri-CriCri, toamna gri/Nu credeam c-o sa mai vii” (Cri-Cri-Cri, autumn of grey/I thought you won’t come again today). It’s been an autumn of the most amazing colors, with no greys yet. None other than lecturer, photographer and architect, Vlad Eftenie, captured some of the most beautiful shades of October in Bucharest. You can’t resist the beauty of Bucharest this fall. You can read more about Vlad’s work on www.vladeftenie.ro

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NOVEMBER 2019 Photo Essay : Fall in Bucharest

PHOTO ESSAY

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PHOTO ESSAY

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PHOTO ESSAY PiaÈ&#x203A;a Presei Libere (Free Press Square)

Centrul Vechi, Lipscani (The Old Town, Lipscani)

Herastrau Park (Recently renamed King Michael Park)

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TRAVEL

Living Fast in Second Class on the Overnight Train from Budapest to Bucharest

Dispatches from Deutschland and the Darkness by David McLean Shoup

ext month will be a critical time for Romanian collective memory. Some will celebrate the anniversary of the Romanian Revolution with joyous revelry. For others, the last weeks of December will be a somber time, offering silent reflection of an oppressive past and remembrance for the many hundreds of lives lost in December, thirty years ago. 1989 was a tumultuous year, from Beijing 16

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to Bucharest and Budapest to Berlin. In the crumbling of communism experienced by Eastern Europe, and which saw the year rounding out with the execution of Nicolae Ceaucescu, it’s important now to look back on where it started. The roots of this revolutionary ran deep and ran wide. But by all accounts, it mainly started in Leipzig. Those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. A rough translation of this in German is scrolled across a postcard offered at the East German history museum in Leipzig, where I returned to this summer from Bucharest to gather up the final credits of a History Master’s degree. And as an American riding out the Trump era in Europe, I grimly acknowledge the message. Leipzig is a fascinating study in juxtaposition. I spent part of the summer in a student dormitory right above what was once the print shop that churned out the first edition of Marx’s Das Kapital.

NOVEMBER 2019 Dispatches from Deutschland and the Darkness

And 104 years later, it was in Leipzig that a 35 year old chemist named Angela Merkel, joined thousands of peaceful protestors in taking to the streets every Monday for months to eventually topple East German Socialism, with Romania following in its anti-establishment wake, albeit with drastically different levels of government resistance and political outcomes. One year plus change at the formerly named Karl Marx University (since rebranded the less ideological Leipzig University) gave me a begrudging respect for Germany’s insistence on acknowledging the darker aspects of its history and vowing to avoid repeating it. That respect has been damaged by the rise of the AfD, or Alternative for Deutschland, Party, which now enjoys a popularity approaching 40% in Leipzig’s province of Saxony. Like Trump voters in the USA, and the 30-odd percent of Germans who ticked off the Hitler box in the 1932 elections, the AfD supporters in Saxony tend to be part of the shrinking

TRAVEL

middle class of rust belt regions whose jobs have been automated away or outsourced abroad and feel that the white, Christian nation they identify with is disappearing into a sea of Middle Eastern refugees (replace with Mexican and Central American migrants and you have the same recipe for racialised, nationalist populism that we face in the United States).

Leipzig: 30 years since ‘89, this typical evening of celebration and solidarity was shattered by the attempted mass murder and killing of two at the synagogue in Halle by a right wing extremist aiming to replicate the New Zealand Christchurch mosque shooting

The Synagogue in Halle, Germany, one of the latest sites of anti-semitic violence around the world

Being fairly broke and a big fan of this cyclical history message, I moonlighted as a tour guide in the surprisingly low key niche category of World War Two and Holocaust history tours. My tours would begin in the Augustusplatz, pointing out the damage still visible from Allied bombing raids, evident by the age of buildings and before and after pictures, allowing visitors to get just worked up enough in their sympathy before flipping them on their heads with a walk through the old Jewish quarter of Leipzig’s Gottschedstrasse and the Holocaust memorial, itself an outline of one of the destroyed synagogues that burned to the ground during 1938’s Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass. Inside the outline of the synagogue’s foundation sit, in neat little rows, 140 chairs, each representing one hundred Jews of the 14,000 who lived in Leipzig at the time of Hitler’s election in 1933. Only 53 survived the war. I therefore found it both ironic and disturbing, that on the day of my last tour, which happened to fall on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, a 27 year old neo-Nazi gunman attacked a synagogue in the neighboring town of Halle, killing two people. Halle went into lockdown mode, and police cars screamed up and down Leipzig for hours, sirens wailing, amid confused reports that there might be a second or third gunman. That night, in a sick coincidence, Leipzig celebrated its Light Festival, marking thirty years since the start of the peaceful revolution in 1989 which soon brought down the Berlin Wall, and with it, German communism. I’d been here two years earlier to see the same event, which featured a simple display of a big 8 9 on the tallest building in town, coupled with thousands of Germans of all ages holding candles and watching a series of speeches by local politicians and people who had participated in the peaceful revolution. The mood was changed this time. Concrete barriers and police trucks blocked off every entrance to the city center, with checkpoints and bag checks everywhere. It was the first time in Germany I saw masked police officers W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

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wielding assault rifles. A bizarre projector show displayed on the surrounding buildings of the Augustusplatz made the mood worse. It featured dark and grainy ambient music, with shadowy images of what was likely protestors from 1989. At least three Germans I interviewed admitted that given the day’s events, the shadows looked like concentration camp survivors shuffling their way to freedom, or not. While a city councilman gave a speech denouncing anti-semitism, a heckler broke the crowd’s silence, screaming “long live the fuhrer, you’re all hypocrites!” before being led away by the same masked police. That was my cue to bounce out of Germany. I took the first bus out the next morning. A couple of hours before sunrise, I said my goodbye to Leipzig, walking through the now deserted Augustusplatz, dozens of burned out plastic candles still littering the square, en route to the station, once the scene of fierce fighting between Americans and German soldiers in the final weeks of the war. Inside the station, far out of sight to the non-discerning eye, sits an old stretch of track with a small slab of bronze denoting the site from which the last of Leipzig’s Jews were deported to Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Unlike most times I’d seen it, today there were some candles there too. It was a long bus ride to my midpoint trip back towards Bucharest, the nearly eponymous Budapest. I had twelve hours on the bus to think about how much I wished that shooter had gone on my tour. I doubted he’d ever met a Jew. The internet is no replacement for a conversation. And the shooter was my age. If I’d been born in a Chemnitz or a Halle, didn’t have the education I had, and spent all my formative years on 4chan, would I too have ended up lobbing grenades in synagogue cemeteries and shooting up kebab stands? Too often we in the media brush away these thoughts in an effort to paint mass shooters as monsters and strangers. Part of the controversy and uneasiness surrounding the new Joaquin Phoenix film Joker stems from our revulsion to having the mirror held up to us, or as Russell Brand aptly put it, “facing the consequences of our increasingly nihilistic society”. After the New Zealand mosque shooting, which the Halle shooter claimed he was trying to emulate, Prime Minister Jacina Ardent 18

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NOVEMBER 2019

Gellert Hill overlooking the Gellert Hotel and Spa. Now a primary destination for commanding views of Budapest, this was the site of a last stand that saw thousands of Hungarians, Germans, Soviets, and Romanians die in the final days of the Second World War. famously declared “he was not one of us”. Her well intentioned wokeness is tragically misplaced. These shooters are part of us. Their dark thoughts run through all of us too, regardless of color and creed, and the sooner we acknowledge humanity’s capacity for evil, confront it, and embrace these shooters with an eye to education and inclusivity, before they go off the deep end, the better off we’ll all be. My bus pulled into a station on the northern Buda side of the Danube just about the same time that Turkish tanks rolled across the Syrian border, immediately after my president more or less gave Erdogan the green light to start his Kurdish Holocaust. But it’s the era of hashtag self care, so I went to the Gellert Hotel Spa (5,900 Ft. for thermal pool entrance and locker) at the base of Gellert Hill. It was a warm October day, nice enough to swim around in the outdoor pool, catching up with an old pal of mine from Australia. The pool deck reverberated with British and American accents, speckled with laughs and calls in French and Chinese, admiring the view of Gellert Hill rising above the courtyard. Most of the spa-goers couldn’t have known that a mere 74 years earlier, over ten thousand Germans and Hungarians, fighting off even more Rus-

sians and Romanians (who had switched sides five months prior), died on that hill in the Battle of Budapest. Now Turks and Kurds were dying on another hill somewhere else. In 74 years, maybe there will be a spa there too. The streets of Budapest were lined with campaign posters. Fidesz, Viktor Orban’s leading party, took up most of the space. A handful of green posters advertised a coalition of six less psychotic parties, but polls indicated they would be crushed. In an era of fear, hate trumps love everytime. History is cyclical, and historians might be cynical, but that’s just the way it goes. Two days later, I found myself strolling down Budapest’s embassy row. Police vans lined up outside the Turkish embassy, erecting metal barricades with a five meter buffer from the embassy’s gates in anticipation of more protests against the invasion. It seemed like the right time to check out a Turkish cafe to scope out the mood, and sure enough one appeared conveniently across the street. I wasn't disappointed. At the table to my right, two Turkish diplomats took pauses from their hookah drags to scream arguments at an Israeli reporter in an eclectic mix of Turkish, Hungarian, and English. The reporter’s translator looked like he hadn’t

TRAVEL

slept in days. The conversation froze with the sound of police sirens and motorcycle engines revving into overdrive. A procession of Hell’s Angel’s-esque bikes, four or five hundred of them, proceeded down embassy row towards monument circle. Were these the infamous Wolverines, the pro-Russian motorcycle gang stirring up trouble across central and eastern Europe? I asked one of the screaming Turkish diplomats, now retired from the conversation to watch the bike parade. “No,” he said. “They don’t have the flags, so it’s just a bike club,” adding “this time” with the type of mischievous wink that told me that our countries may well be at war with one another before the year’s out, in the event that Vice President Pence’s stony-faced press conference and staring contest with President Erdogan doesn’t do the trick. After confirming with some police bystanders that this was indeed not a Pro-Putin biker invasion, I took the long way through the monument circle, its beautiful park and accompanying castle housing the national agriculture museum. Three months earlier I’d joined some Romanian and American friends paddle boating around the scenic manmade pond that fronts the castle. This time the pond was drained, the bare bitchement below serving as a temporary respite for excess car parking and dead ducks. The

drained pond and ugly concrete served as a foreboding symbol for the likely results of tomorrow’s election. In need of something warm to raise my cooled spirits, I headed to my favorite Hungarian goulash spot with the best bang for your buck, Csarnok Vendeglo (Hold Utca 11), across the street from the back side of the epic monstrosity that is the United States Embassy, Budapest. I missed the protest at the front entrance, only hearing the chants and loudspeaker voices while I enjoyed outstanding spicy fish goulash (1,290 Ft.) and a tall glass of blonde Dreher (500 Ft.). After lunch, I passed around the front of the American embassy to chat with some of the protestors. They faced a wall of red peak capped Hungarian police. The US started offloading embassy security onto host countries when I was still in diapers, but it’s always a disturbing sight. The protestors soon gave up and scattered. It seemed about the right time to leave Hungary too. For me, the next leg is always my favorite part of the 28 hour overland trip between Leipzig and Bucharest. From Budapest, I boarded the overnight sleeper train to Romania (6 bunk car for 39 Euros). Those less concerned with their budgets can splurge for a more private double bunk room for 99 Euros, but with the cheaper option, one is forced to make new friends, and rarely bored

Passing by the welcome sight of the Carpathians after crossing Central Europe

with the unexpected company made on this long journey across the former Austro-Hungarian empires borderlands into Wallachia. And for thirsty riders hungry for a killer view, most of the time the overnight train sports a bar car with comfy lounge chairs placed next to big windows offering commanding views of the Carpathians and countryside. A moderate but tasteful selection of Romanian, Czech and German beers are available for less than 10 Lei each, but pack your own snacks. At the final stop in Hungary, three armed Hungarian border guards sporting the intimidating red peaked caps came by to check passports. In my sleepiness, I accidentally uttered an unwelcome “multumesc,” resulting in several minutes of questioning before they stamped me out of the Schengen Zone. By contrast, a few minutes later, once we’d crossed the Romanian border, I was greeted by a single friendly middle aged Romanian sporting a retro sheriff’s jacket and badge. His lack of a firearm was a welcome sight in contrast to the tense Hungarians. “David?” “Da?” “Here for business, da?” For a second I’d forgotten what type of visa I even had in Romania, it had been too long. “Da,” I hesitated. “Welcome back,” he said with a smile. Nine hours later, I opened my eyes to the slowly brightening yellow of a Transylvanian sun illuminating the dusty cabin of the sleeper train. I peered out the port side window just in time to catch the Fagaras Mountains on the left, wide and gently sloping out of the farmlands below, with the jagged and impressive peaks of the Carpathians on the right. I breathed in the fresh Transylvanian air, and with it a sigh of relief. These are tough times for Europe, equally tough for my home country across the pond, and devastating times for the Kurdish people. But I feel pretty good about riding it out here. Despite my cynicism, the populist and nationalist Fidesz party did not win the Budapest elections, striking a blow to Viktor Orban’s leadership. We have to maintain our wariness, and cannot afford to let go of our historical collective memory, but it’s still good to take some time off after a win for democracy and tolerance to celebrate with a hearty “noroc.” • W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

BOOKS

who lives in a village rather like mine. The first book (Floss the Lost Puppy) seems to be very popular, so I’m now finishing the third in the series. Then there is a series of crime novels patiently waiting to be written…

Would you see your children's books as plays? There's a healthy appetite for children's theater in Romania.

Available in book stores now

Arabella McIntyre-Brown, Photographed by Matei Buta

British Author Arabella McIntyre-Brown Found Her Home in Transylvania ...and Wrote About it

orn in rural West Sussex, South-Eastern England, Arabella McIntyre-Brown is a British writer and editor who has been living in Magura, a small village in Transylvania, for the past 9 years. She first visited Romania 15 years ago and spent a day in Magura. She found it to be a magical place, full of inspiration and reminders of her childhood. Arabella recently published A Stake in Transylvania, a book that was launched with a reception at the British Ambassador’s residence in Bucharest in late September. The book was first published in Romanian, with the title: Din Liverpool in Carpati. Arabella also published several children’s books, in bilingual editions: Dragons over London/Dragoni pe cerul Londrei; Floss, the lost puppy/Floss, catelusul pierdut; Dahlia’s Pet detectives/Dalia si micii detectivi; Floss and the Circus/Floss si circul. Dana Tudose-Tianu interviewed Arabella for our OZB readers, hoping they would, too, be inspired by the idea that there are magical places in Romania where people can find their balance and happiness.

Are you trying, through your latest book, to get 20

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readers to fall in love with Romania/Transylvania? Why do you think there's so much magic and mystery foreigners are attracted to when it comes to Transylvania, but it doesn't seem to reach Romanians so much?

What I wanted to do was to reveal what I saw from my windows, at this end of a remote mountain village in the Carpathians, now. Modern, real-life Transylvania has nothing to do with folklore or a clever Anglo-Irish writer’s gothic vision. There is enough intrigue and entertainment in this village without resorting to 19th century melodrama! Transylvania is one of the strongest brand names in the world, almost entirely because of the enduring appeal of Dracula. Romanians know that Dracula has very little to do with Romania, so they know the magic of the real place, the wildlife and landscapes.

What inspires you the most right now? Is there a muse already for a next book?

There is a book about my sister, Ginny Fiennes, to be written this winter, and more books about Floss, the puppy

NOVEMBER 2019 British Author Arabella McIntyre-Brown Found Her Home in Transylvania...and Wrote About it

I’d LOVE to see Floss on stage! The first book would work well, a simple story with a small cast and a setting that could be made to work for theatre. What a great idea!

Can you compare being a writer in England to being a writer in Romania/ Transylvania?

Being a writer in UK v Romania… hmmm. The publishing industry in the UK is highly sophisticated and extremely competitive; it’s very hard for a new writer to break out without a famous name or a startlingly original book. Romania is a little easier in that respect, but probably easier for a foreign writer like me. New Romanian writers find it tough going; the whole book world in Romania needs to persuade readers to buy more books to boost the spiral of reading, writing, publishing, reading… Books are phenomenally good value - the cost of two cappuccino coffees, but they last at least a lifetime, can be read over and over, offer entertainment, emotion, information, inspiration. The cappuccinos last maybe 10 minutes and aren’t even really good for our health.

What did you gain, and did you lose anything, in all these years of living here?

What did I lose and gain from being here? I see little of friends and family in the UK, but with social media that’s not as drastic as it was. I miss bluebell woods in spring and Stilton cheese, the arts worlds (available here too, of course, but difficult to reach as I live an hour from the nearest city). I miss British charity shops and farmers’ markets, my favourite pub in Liverpool… What I’ve gained is a rediscovery of my rural childhood, a whole world of wildlife and nature, time to watch and listen, peace and solitude, and time to dream. As well as my mental health, repaired without drugs or doctors, just with time in this little corner of heaven. •

POLITICS

Ambassador Noble Clarifies Post-Brexit Possibilities for Brits Living in Romania by David McLean Shoup

The long running series of negotiations regarding the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union are coming to a head, and in case of a No Deal Brexit there will likely be a process to follow for Britons and Romanians alike.

wo weeks before the scheduled October 31st Brexit deadline, the British Embassy in Bucharest hosted a Facebook Live Q&A by British Ambassador to Romania Andrew Noble, with questions from Brits in Romania Group’s representative Neal Whatson and OZB’s David Shoup. The ambassador sought to alleviate concerns from the several thousand British residents in Romania by making clear that a deal before October 31st could still be reached. “If there’s a Deal, you need do nothing,” Ambassador Noble said. “Any of you who are not currently registered in

Romania you will need to register, but you will be fully within the existing framework.”In the case of No Deal, according to the Embassy, Brits will need to re-register for their new status before the end of 2020 if they have lived in Romania before the EU Exit day. If arriving in Romania after EU Exit day, Brits will have 90 days to register. Of course, there are far more Romanians living in the UK than vice versa, and many have already begun applying for pre-settled and settled status to secure their residency post Brexit. According to the ambassador, all but two out of a quarter million have managed to secure their status so far without incident. “The current assessment we have is that the Romanian government are content with the scheme,” Noble said in response to questions about how his discussions have played out with Romanian counterparts regarding a post Brexit order. “They’re very pleased that Romanians have been so active in registering, and I would encourage any Romanians listening to this to register if they haven’t already.” The ambassador further stressed that the British No Deal package being offered in negotiations is more advantageous in terms of reciprocity than all of the deals being individually offered by the 27 member nations of the EU, nevertheless adding that the Romanian draft package is very good. As of the latest round of negotiations, the ambassador also reported that there will be no changes to the current system of individual and commercial money transfers between the UK and Romania. Furthermore, he said he believed it very unlikely that tourist visa requirements would be implemented for the UK and EU,

more good news for Romanians and Brits planning future holidays in either country. As it stands now, the deadline for the end of the transitional period that would follow Brexit, set during the Theresa May administration, is December 2020. However, the ambassador said he could not say for certain that this date would not be pushed further back in the wake of pre-October 31st negotiations. “What I hear from Romanian friends and colleagues is that they too want to see very flexible trade, for example,” Noble said. “We’ve got Dacia Dusters up and down the roads of the United Kingdom, we’ve got Ford exports produced in Craiova… so Romania has got some very significant interests in ensuring that the UKEU relationship going forwards is as flexible and as big as possible. But that’s going to be something where Romanians are going to have to argue within EU structures for that maximum approach.” A No Deal Brexit may also leave in its wake an unexpected class of victims. “Pets are always the most emotionally demanding question, and having just acquired a dog I am fully bought into the area,” the ambassador acknowledged. “If you’re a resident in Romania, and you have a Romania registered pet within the EU scheme, the UK will continue to honor that EU pet passport. If you are in the UK, coming in this direction, that is, I think, the one area that we have not had an official response from the Romanian government on, as to what it will look like in the future.” The Ambassador said that as soon as the UK does receive a final answer on the pet question, the government will make the information public, and advised Romania-inclined prospective relocating British pet owners to continue to check for online updates, including visiting ‘Living in Romania’ official pages. •

OZB’s David Shoup Interviews British Ambassador Andrew Noble on October 16th W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

Ambassador Noble Clarifies Post-Brexit Possibilities for Brits Living in Romania

ELECTIONS

A Post-Communist History of Presidential Elections in Romania and Who’s in the Race for Cotroceni this November by Marco Badea Dialectica.ro journalist and political marketing consultant/entrepreneur

During the last 30 years of Romania’s democratic transition, presidential elections almost entirely took over both the public space and the political arena. Currently, these are the only elections to take two ballots and focus on the person, rather than the party. Better said, presidential elections are the most individual-centric, but also the most awaited and debated elections in Romania.

his November, Romanians will vote for president for the eighth time since the 1989 revolution. The very first post-communist presidential election took place on May 20th 1990, and was won, from the first ballot, by the National Salvation Front’s candidate, Ion Iliescu, who received 85.07% of the votes. This was the only post-communist election in Romania that had almost 15 million Romanians go out and cast their ballot approximately 86.19% of all voters. On September 27, 1992, Romanians were 22

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called to vote again, this time in a two-ballot election, this time with a new constitution in place. The second round took place on October 11, 1992, with the main fight between the National Democratic Convention’s candidate, Emil Constantinescu and incumbent Ion Iliescu. Iliescu won, even though in the almost three years since the 1989 Revolution, Romania went through several economic and social challenges, including the 1990 “mineriada”. The “mineriada” was the suppression of anti-National Salvation Front sit-in protests

Marco Badea

in Bucharest by the physical intervention of groups of industrial workers as well as coal miners, brought to Bucharest by the government to counter the rising violence of the protesters. The first big post-communist moment of shock took place in November 1996, when the Romanian Democratic Convention (RDC) won the presidential elections, with candidate Emil Constantinescu, who beat Ion Iliescu in the second ballot, winning 54.41% of the votes The fourth post-communist Ro-

NOVEMBER 2019 A Post-Communist History of Presidential Elections in Romania and Who’s in the Race for Cotroceni this November

ELECTIONS

manian presidential election took place between November 10th and 26th, 2000, when Ion Iliescu won on the second ballot after running against anti-system, nationalistic candidate Corneliu Vadim Tudor. Tudor’s accession as a candidate in the final round mobilized even Iliescu’s former opponents, who considered Tudor an extremist. 2004 was the year when Bucharest Mayor at the time, Traian Băsescu, ran for president as the candidate for the Justice and Truth Alliance, made up from the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Party. On December 12th, 2004, Băsescu won against incumbent Prime Minister Adrian Năstase. These were the first presidential elections to take place after the revision of the Constitution, which increased the duration of the presidential mandate from 4 to 5 years and prepared Romania to join the European Union. Traian Băsescu was also the first Romanian President to serve out two presidential terms, winning the 2009 elections against Mircea Geoană, the Social Democrat Party’s candidate, and a former Ambassador to the United States. In 2014, the main candidates for President were former Sibiu Mayor, Klaus Iohannis, from the National Liberal Party, and Victor Ponta from the Social Democrat Party. Iohannis won, thanks in part, to the mobilization of the diaspora vote.

2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS The presidential race officially started on October 12th, with 14 candidates running for President this time. The Central Electoral Bureau announced the order and wording the candidates will receive on the ballots. Klaus Iohannis – National Liberal Party; Theodor Paleologu – Popular Movement Party; Dan Barna – USR-PLUS Alliance; Kelemen Hunor – Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania; Viorica Dăncilă – Social Democratic Party; Cătălin Ivan – Alternative for National Dignity; Ninel Peia – Romanian People Party; Sebastian-Constantin Popescu – New Romania Party; John-Ion Banu – Romanian Nation Party; Mircea Diaconu – UN OM Alliance; Bogdan Marian-Stanoevici – Independent; Ramona-Ioana Bruynseels – Humanist Power Party ; Viorel Cataramă – Liberal Right; Alexandru Cumpănaşu – Independent. The incumbent, Klaus Iohannis, has a lot

of people thinking he will be the winner of the election. So, in fact, the race is for Iohannis’ challenger on the second ballot. For the November 24th ballot, one of these four names might be fighting Iohannis for the highest position in Romanian politics: Viorica Dăncilă, Dan Barna, Mircea Diaconu and Toader Paleologu. Viorica Dăncilă, the incumbent prime minister, was dismissed (together with her government) as a result of Parliament’s vote of no confidence on October 10th. This is the fourth time the country’s leadership has been ousted after a no confidence motion since 1989. Dăncilă is the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, but has fewer chances, as the days go by, to make it into the second round of the elections. Dan Barna, the USR-PLUS candidate, is Iohannis’ strongest challenger. Sociologists state that he is capable of capitalizing on the electorate’s emotions. Independent Mircea Diaconu benefited from the fall of the Dăncilă government the most. The Social Democratic electorate may vote for him, as he is endorsed by former social democrat party leader Victor Ponta. Toader Paleologu is the Popular Movement Party’s candidate. Discourse-wise, he is the best prepared of all the candidates, but his occasional conservative appearance prevents him from delivering a strong message to the electorate. Romania has been undergoing a serious political crisis with grave implications in the financial sector. It appears that the only political leader whose brand didn’t suffer too much in these tumultuous times is Klaus Iohannis. However, aside from his foreign policy contacts, the incumbent president disappointed a lot, hesitated even more, played the populism card and came too late at the mediation table when he needed to take a stand balancing state actors’ power. The Presidential campaign ends on November 8th, 2019. Romanians living abroad will be able to mail in their vote between November 8th and 10th, for the first ballot, and again between November 22nd and 24th, for the second round. I urge you, as you hold the power to vote, to think in perspective, medium to long term. Go vote and stay emotionally detached. Vote pragmatically, efficiently, in an informed way, and let your vote stem from your mind rather than your stomach or wallet. •

SUSHI

For the best, freshest, tastiest Sushi in Bucharest, visit Sushi2Go in the Strip Mall on Iancu Nicolae, Pipera. Or visit:

www.livrare-sushi.ro to see the NEW menu & call 0770 902 782 for delivery. Minimum order 100 lei, further conditions apply. Mention this OZB advert when you order either in person or over the phone and you will get a free soup/drink/Kapa Maki.

Yoi shokuyoku

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ELECTIONS

motivated to get into politics when they want to change something,” Calinoaia said. “I always felt that the proper response to this, instead of just complaining, should be actively involving oneself to change them.” Before making a decision in the election, he said that candidates’ own histories of corruption will factor most significantly into his vote. “Another big issue will be the measures that could be implemented to bring back some of the Romanias who left, or at least ensure that as few as possible will continue leaving,” Calinoaia said, pointing to the astounding numbers of Romanian emigrants who have left since 1989, mainly in search of higher paying jobs.

For 24 year old George Valentin, this month’s election will be his second presidential campaign.

The youth vote is expected to be high this presidential election, with young Romanians having the most at stake

Young Romanians Weigh in on the Presidential Elections by David McLean Shoup

ith the Presidential election just weeks away, OZB Magazine spoke with young people in Bucharest about who they are supporting and which issues will most impact their vote.

Iulia Andreescu, 24, moved to Bucharest recently to begin work in finance. She said that the latest killing of a Romanian forest ranger is evidence that something needs to change in political leadership.

“In my hometown in Maramures, nearly everyone is sticking with the PSD, but I see more hope for change in USR,” Andreescu said. She will vote for Dan Barna on November 10th. 24

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25 year old Diana Mateescu received her MD from Carol Davila University of Medicine last month. But, following the collapse of the government on October 10th, her medical residency exams, along with those of all other prospective doctors in Romania, have been indefinitely postponed.

“It’s crazy that political incompetence is going to have such a profound negative impact on our medical system, particularly for new doctors at a time when we have a shortage of doctors across Romania,” Mateescu said. Although a USR supporter, Mateescu will be supporting President Klaus Iohannis, she says, to maintain political stability and because she believes he is the most dependable leader to steer Romania through this current period of rockiness.

For University of Bucharest student Andrei Calinoaia, important issues to consider this election season include the education system, healthcare, wages, and infrastructure. But, like every other young Romanian interviewed by OZB this month, corruption is at the forefront. While Calinoaia is still undecided, he said that the most important thing is to stay informed and get involved in the political process. “I think pretty much everyone feels

NOVEMBER 2019 Young Romanians Weigh in on the Presidential Elections

“I strongly believe it's my generation's responsibility to change society’s beliefs about politics and change some of the things going in Romania,” said Valentin. Valentin is campaigning for Mircea Diaconu, the former actor who served briefly as Culture Minister in the Victor Ponta administration and is now running as an Independent with support from ALDE and PRO. Valentin said of Dianconu, “He's an honest man guided by liberalism. Compared to other candidates, he's occupied with problems that really matters, not political advantages.” In this campaign, Valentin has primarily worked on the online communications side of the campaign. “I like it because I'm in direct contact with citizens and it helps me find out how they think. Unfortunately, the election is going in only one direction. In Romania we have a big problem with external interventions as well as corruption.” Valentin said that while many older Romanians still feel nostalgic about the days of pre-1989 socialism, he feels that the needs of the younger generation today extend well beyond that which could have been imagined in the past, to include internet access and unrestricted movement throughout the European Union. Whichever candidate pulls through on November 10th, they will have to answer to the growing number of passionate young Romanians who will inherit, for better or worse, the wide plethora of complex issues that face the nation. •

ART

Profile: Actress and Painter Kira Hagi by Dana Tudose Tianu

show and follow my own rules. Anything inspires me, anything I feel, anything I live. I am inspired by people and their ideas. The state I’m in when I start to paint is also very important. What do I offer to the world? A part of my experiences, of my shyness, of my obsessions and my creativity.

which helped me mature and realize that the time we live right now is one of great opportunities, when compared to the times my grandfather and great-grandfather lived. My grandfather’s story is close to the one in the movie, because his father was a political prisoner and died in Aiud.

n early October, I saw Kira Hagi’s exhibition at Galeria Alexandra’s in Bucharest. I didn’t know very much about her at the time, but I knew she had just starred in a movie launched on October 1st: Between Pain and Amen (Intre Chin si Amin), directed by Toma Enache. It’s better, I think, that I am not a great soccer fan, although I admire Gheorghe Hagi, because I looked at Kira’s paintings without any reference, in my mind, to her famous father. Her paintings stir strong emotions. I saw pain, I saw hardship, but I also saw such a powerful connection between the collective past and the present moment. I could see that Kira found great inspiration in her own family’s past, which is not free of painful stories. She says, herself, that her great-grandfather’s and grandfather’s stories helped her prepare for her part in the movie. I could sense her emotional roots coming through in her paintings, too. Kira was born in Barcelona, in 1996. She lives in Bucharest but feels at home wherever her work and projects take her. She studied Arts at the International British School of Bucharest and graduated CIE Advanced level Art & Design in 2014, under the mentorship of professor Jane Broadhurst (Head of Art Department). In 2014, she received a scholarship from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and three years later got her bachelor’s in Acting for Film. Currently, she is rehearsing for a play about Princess Martha Bibescu, which will run at the Nottara Theatre in Bucharest. I interviewed Kira for our OZB readers, thinking that she exudes emotional authenticity and that she is the sort of person who simply must wear her heart on her sleeve - thanks, in no small part, to her family and the way she was brought up.

Not intentionally. But I had the opportunity and the luck to work on projects (editor’s note: the movie Between pain and Amen) that made me take this bridge. Family, culture and the community in which I was raised made me who I am today. My paintings, not just my acting, are a little fragment born out of these experiences, too.

What is the key emotion that inspires you to paint, and what do you feel you are offering to the world through your art?

What did acting in the newly-released movie, Between Pain and Amen (Intre Chin si Amin) mean to you?

To me, painting is freedom. When I paint, I feel I can let intuition run the

Are you trying, through your art, to mediate, to create a bridge between the past and the present?

Who guided you or inspired your throughout the choices you made in your career and studies?

I get attached to people I have a lot to learn from. My mentors are people who are happy with the professions they chose. Who patiently guide me and who are able to see in me what I often times fail to see in myself. These are people who have been in my life for quite some time – family members, close friends, directors, professors, fellow actors… •

It was a movie that was hard to make. It was an unforgettable experience, W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9 Profile: Actress and Painter Kira Hagi

ART

Oana Visoiu Cutucache

From Financial Consultant to Gallerist An Interview with Oana Visoiu Cutucache by Dana Tudose-Tianu

fter 20 years in banking and financial consulting, Oana Visoiu Cutucache, 45, opened the Renaissance Art Gallery in Bucharest in 2017. Oana was born in Bucharest and is the mother of two children: Ana Maria, 12, and Matei, 9. Candidly, she tells me that she is unsure of how much inspiration her children are drawing (yet) from her work

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as a gallerist, as it has been taking up an important chunk of time she would otherwise be allocating to them. (Note: Female entrepreneurs all over the world, who have children, share and empathize with this personal frustration and conundrum). What is inspiring about Oana’s story is her financial mentorship to the artists she works with, but also her desire to make contemporary Romanian artists well known abroad. Oana is both comfortable with people and numbers. A question she still finds amusing, from friends and strangers alike, is “and do you make money from an art gallery?” Wisely, she told me, too, what she usually answers back to those who ask: “Never start a business just to make money. Start a business to make a difference. Ten years from now, I hope my small contribution to the art world in Romania would have made a difference.” In the two-and-a-half years she has been a gallerist, Oana ran 13 exhibitions, and she has 3 more to come before the end of this year. The bonds she created with the artists she worked with have been one of the greatest added values of her work. What follows is a short interview

NOVEMBER 2019 From Financial Consultant to Gallerist

which took place in the latter part of October:

What did you learn and what did you have to unlearn in the past 2 and a half years since you opened Renaissance Art Gallery?

I’ve learned that I have to stick to my plan, and not say “yes” to things that are not in line with my dream about the gallery. I needed to unlearn saying “yes” all the time, to everything, because I thought I had to. I had so many proposals for collaboration in the beginning, and, because I felt I couldn’t say “no” to them, I became overly stressed.

How is the life of a gallery owner in Bucharest? What does your regular day look like?

I opened the gallery in March 2017. In the first year, I was really living the life of a “regular” gallery owner. The gallery was open from 8:30 am, when I got there after dropping my kids off to school, until 4:00 pm, every day. It was obviously open during the evenings when I had

ART

events, exhibitions or special meetings with potential clients. Of course, the gallery was also open on the weekends. Buying art is a family decision, too, especially if it goes in the family home, so family members would come together during the weekends to choose something and be in agreement about their choice. Now my gallerist life is different. I closed the permanent gallery space and I do exhibitions in different spaces, depending on the theme of the exhibition. I work mostly from home. I have two companies: the gallery and a financial consulting firm, specializing in title insurance. Currently, there may be a day in the week when I don’t have any galleryrelated activities, but I highly enjoy all my art-related work. I like to go and visit the places where I have art exhibitions. I love to visit the studios of the artists I work with, to discuss future projects. I like it better like this, without having a permanent gallery space where I store the art. I enjoy working with different spaces because I feel that every single exhibition has its own personality.

curated it. I worked with her both as a curator and as an exhibiting artist afterwards, for the Hide & Seek exhibition.

What are the latest exhibitions you have done, and who are the artists?

OVC: This year, in February, I had an exhibition called “Essentialism”. The artist was Alexandra Andone, from Cluj. The exhibition took place at the Intercontinental Hotel, in the Intermezzo Lobby Bar at the ground floor. It was a big success and now you can find the paintings on Artsy. Another project dear to me is called Portal, an exhibition of the Romanian artist Anca Irina Lefter, who lives in

you feel you’ve developed a special bond with?

In two and a half years, I’ve had 13 exhibitions, with 3 more to come this year. Two of the previous 13 were group exhibitions. I worked with 16 artists until now. Two have left the country, as they were foreigners living in Romania. I have a special bond with all of them. I have a special relationship with an amazing artist, a Syrian living in Romania for 15 years now, Ammar Al Nahhas. We had an exhibition called “From East to West” and we organized several events together.

What projects do you have

Are you involved in educational art projects?

In the first year after I opened the gallery, when I had a permanent space for it, I was organizing art courses in the gallery. Now, I feel that my role is to educate the artists financially, to educate Romanian artists on how the foreign market works, because, in the meantime, I gained more experience by going to international art fairs. A year ago, I was accepted as a partner gallery on Artsy, the biggest international website specializing in working only with galleries. What I’ve learned from the foreign art markets is that artists have to produce art and galleries have to represent them. Gallerists are more like managers for the artists, whereas, in Romania, I felt that gallerists are perceived more as offering a nice space where someone can pay and exhibit.

How was the first exhibition you ever put together?

Elysium, my first exhibition as a gallerist, will always stay close to my heart. It was a group exhibition and I thank the artists for putting their trust in me. Thank you Vali Irina Ciobanu, Ramona Pintea, and Mariana Villanueva. Iulia Toader, who is an architect, interior designer, painter and curator,

Bucharest and is also a designer. This had its opening in November 2018, at Palatul Universul in Bucharest, and consisted of 10 paintings with special meaning, representing the five elements. Now, Portal is actually exhibited at the Intercontinental Hotel and was a part of NAG (White Night of Galleries) which happened just recently, in October. “From the Darkness into the Light,” by Victor Andrei Ionescu, took place at the Renaissance Art Gallery Art Space. On Nov 14th I will have another exhibition with Victor and another artist, a sculptor, Darius Hulea, at Intercontinental. The theme is still a surprise.

How many exhibitions have you organized so far? Is there one particular artist

for the future? What’s your big dream?

There are three exhibitions coming up: the first, on November 2nd, is called Journey to a Drifting Star, by Painter Mirel Vieru, who is from Cluj. Mirel spent 1 year in Iceland and was inspired by the sky and Aurora Borealis. The second will be on Nov 14th at Intercontinental, Intermezzo Lobby Bar. The last exhibition for this year will be on Nov 21st, at Qreator by IQOS, by surrealist graphic artist Marian Simon, a student of Marcel Chirnoaga, and it will be called Nirvana. My big dream is to participate in international art fairs with my artists. I have to make sure I have a good group of artists and a good program. • W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

FINANCE

2. Talk With Your Partner. 4. What Will Happen To What’s Left After You Are Does your partner have the same ideas Gone? and thoughts about retirement as you?

4 Things You Must Do Before You Retire by James Lawson

Firstly, you have to ensure you don’t outlive your money. You just can’t afford to run out of money before you die!

ou’ve got a retirement checklist, right? Well probably not, it’s hardly the most exciting way to spend a weekend — but the potential benefit in doing this is hard to overstate. To successfully retire and let’s face it, a lot can go wrong, here are four steps to take, as you get ready to retire. This will ensure you don’t outlive your money. The last thing you want to do is outlive your money.

I’m guessing that you’ve had some conversations about where you’d like to live, or places you want to visit and how you’d like to spend your time. What about everyday life? One of you may be excited to travel and pursue active hobbies, whilst the other may want to read and take on charity work. Make sure you both know what lies ahead before it’s too late.

3. Set Up a Systematic Income Withdrawal Plan

It’s a good idea to arrange to receive monthly income from your investment portfolio, that is fixed and covers known outgoings. Any natural income payments from your investments should be reinvested back into your portfolio. Automated and fixed income withdrawal will help you plan day to day finances more effectively. So, how much should your withdrawals be? That depends on how much you need from your private and State Pension income. Taking more money out of your investments than you need for spending will leave you with too much money in your current account or deposit accounts. A good adviser can help you manage your income withdrawal needs.

Ensuring you don’t run out of money is one thing, which must be your number one priority. But what are your plans for what will happen with any residual pension and investments once you are no longer here? Again, it’s sensible to discuss this with your partner. It’s not necessarily an easy conversation, but it is one you should have. If you can, put a clear plan in place, to ensure that your money goes to were you want it to after you’re gone. This almost inevitably means making sure you have a valid Will in place. Speak to your financial adviser as they will be able to guide on how best to structure your investments, to smoothly transition to the next generation. • Action Call Contact us today if you want to discuss your investment portfolio and retirement plans. We can review your current situation, and advise what options are available to you. If you would like to talk to about financial planning, please get in touch for a confidential no-obligation meeting. Go to our website www.berkeleywm. com/ro or call +400736 805574 or send an email to contact@berkeleywm.com

1. Be Sure You’re Ready!

I mean this in more than just one way. First, make sure you are financially fit and ready. The average woman at 65 years old today, will probably live until the age of 89; for a 65-year-old man it’s around 85. For both men and women, that’s about 2 years longer than back in 2000. We are all living longer. We expect this trend to continue – so you need to make sure as far as you can that you are not underestimating how much money you will need in retirement. Secondly, what are your plans, and what will you do with your time? Most of us have been working for decades and really should have a great retirement. Knowing what you want to do with all that time on your hands is important. 28

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Melting Watch, 1954 by Salvador Dalí

NOVEMBER 2019 4 Things You Must Do Before You Retire

ADVERTORIAL

Experimenteaza.ro, talked to OZB about shaping the market of experiential gifts in Romania.

How did you come up with the idea for E x p e r i m e n t e a z a . ro ? What was the mission you took on?

The idea of gifting your family and friends experiences, rather than things or cash, came to me a while ago, when my work colleagues gifted me an envelope with cash as a birthday gift. I thought it was an uninspired gift and felt, in a way, offended. I thought about the gesture from the perspective of a team’s or Florin Genet community’s cohesiveness. In the corporate environment I was working in, as is the situation in many companies, people change jobs pretty often. Strong bonds don’t have the time and context to form, people don’t get to know each other, so they don’t even try to find out more about what is important to each of them. For a colleague’s birthday, the easiest “way out is a store gift card, or just cash, which basically clears the giver of a bigger effort. In Romania, as opposed to the UK or the US, the experience-gifting market lying in a helicopter over the Romais just emerging. In the UK, this market nian seaside, or in a hot air balloon, was estimated at over 8 billion pounds in test a race car or scuba dive, go on an 8-day yachting trip, have dinner with or 2015. France, Germany, Italy have pretty even play against professional tennis player big markets too. The mission we took on was to Victor Hanescu, create your own perfume educate the market and the Romanian or learn how to be a barista for a day at a consumer, and show them why choosing Café in Bucharest….these are just a few of experience-gifts is much better, show the dozens of creative, original, extraorthe bigger impact on the receiver’s dinary experiences you can gift people in life, creating a long-term memory and your life through experiementeaza.ro producing more satisfaction on both The online platform, created by sides. entrepreneur Florin Genet, offers many I flew a plane about 10 years ago gifts/experiences which fall under these and I remember the sensations I had in categories: adrenaline, sports & hobby, pretty much detail, even today. But if personal development, food & drink, you ask me what things my friends and travel, romance, relaxation. Both the family gifted me last year, I have to try people who purchase these experiences hard to remember. for their partner or friends, and the receivers, are not your average shopping mall gift-giver. They want to live original What was your experience experiences, bring variety in their life, before starting this escape daily routine. Most of the people project? What is your who receive the gift of an experience end background? How does up using it. Less than 5% of the receivers your past skills and have ever asked to exchange their gift for expertise tie into what you something else that the platform offers. do now? My work experience began in Florin Genet, the founder of 2002, with various jobs I had before

Give The Gift of Experiences, Not Things!

actually discovering my vocation. This vocation became clear in 2009, when I worked for Procter & Gamble. My career as a supply chain/logistics/planning professional started there. I’ve always been a very organized person and I realized that working in supply chain fit me like a glove. I ended up holding positions on the boards of the companies I worked for as Supply Chain Director. Aside from these skills, I also experienced working in sales and learned how to manage client relationships.

Who shops on Experimenteaza.ro and how is your clients’ mindset about giving gifts different than others’?

Most of our clients are women, about 65%, 25-44 year old. They work in companies and buy experiences for their spouses, friends and colleagues. We have an advisory role for our clients, too. Some of them see the experiences we offer on the website and choose what they think will fit the receiver, but we have clients who call us and ask our advice as to what type of gift would fit a certain type of person. We come up with different proposals, within the client’s budget.

How do you want to continue growing the platform?

Our development strategy includes events creation and management for companies. We started to have our own events themes, like a Party by the Pool, for example. The next step will be to organize large themed parties for the general public, who would register online. This Christmas we are launching a gifts basket line, where our gift baskets will help promote local business, include experiences. We have clients who ask us for concierge services, such as planning a trip to a certain location where they want to have a certain type of experience. Even if we don’t have established partnerships in that location, we make sure they get the experience they want. •

W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9 Give The Gift of Experiences, Not Things!

ECO

Workers from the Strîmbu-Băiuț Forest Management Unit harvesting FSC-certified beech trees. Maramures, Romania. Photographs by James Morgan

‘Tis the Season to Save Forests by Adriana Trocea World Wildlife Fund

There’s probably no better season to enjoy forests in Romania than Autumn. Hop on a train and, no matter where you are, you’ll soon pass by a forest dressed in the warmest colours. What a show! And now imagine your world without these colourful moments. 30

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What’s in a name?

The truth is that so many forests, some you pass during your daily commute, the ones by rivers, on hilltops and near communities, are not considered forests. What’s in a name, as the poet would say. Well, in this case, what we choose to call them defines how they are taken care of, how they are protected. Long story short, as long as they are not officially called forests, these forests are not protected. How is this possible? Well, where you see a forest – trees, bears, flowers, berries, mushrooms, fresh air, birds chirping, trails and beauty – others see just timber. Just land. Just resources waiting to be depleted. And when you reduce a forest to a component, you stop seeing it as a forest. In Romania, over 500,000 hectares of forests are not recognised as forests. What does this mean? Some see 150 million Euros worth of timber, others 5 billion Euros worth of planting trees (and if we were to take on such a task, we would honestly need 500 years to complete it). No one ever added up the numbers for what these forests are worth when it comes to shelter, flood protection, culture and leisure services. And no one can put a price on the beauty of Autumn leaves.

NOVEMBER 2019 ‘Tis the Season to Save Forests

What makes a forest so valuable?

All forests are priceless and, even some that are not yet officially called forests. And out of the total 7 million hectares of forest in Romania, at least 10% are incredibly precious because they shelter species that are highly threatened with extinction and play a critical role in protecting the local communities. There are over 700,000 hectares of forest, which the specialists call high conservation value forests. "Of these, WWF has identified over 32,500 hectares so far, but we want to do a lot more. For great results we need all of us, ” says Radu Melu, national coordinator of the Forest Department at WWF Romania. WWF’s “Together, we save Romania’s priceless forests” campaign aims to protect these from irresponsible logging. This doesn’t mean there will be no cutting, because sustainable forest management doesn’t mean you can’t use or cut trees. It means that WWF wants people and forest owners in particular to remember to see forests. Never just timber or land. "If 20,000 people get involved, we will be able to protect the first area.

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We will evaluate in our project areas 100 hectares of forest where we will identify the high conservation values and will implement the procedures and formalities necessary for protection” adds Melu. After identifying the values of this forest, for them to be protected in the long term, any kind of work that could harm them will be prohibited. In addition, WWF experts will ensure, by contributing resources and technical knowledge, that locals will continue to benefit from the ecosystem services offered by these valuable forests. The first 100 hectares thus protected will be an example and will pave the way for saving all over 700,000 hectares of high conservation value forests. "We will apply the same model to save the rest of the high conservation value forests, by satellite identifying the forests that represent rare ecosystems, going to the field to validate these areas and ensuring that all the necessary procedures are applied", concludes

Radu Melu. There’s probably no better season to enjoy forests in Romania and definitely no better season to protect them. You can also get involved by sending an SMS with the word “PANDA” at 8844, you donate 2 euros a month*. •

*The value of each donation is 2 euros per month. The sum that goes to the cause is 2 euros. No VAT will be added for mobile subscriptions. For prepay numbers in Digi Mobil, Orange and Telekom Romania Mobile, the VAT has already been paid when adding credit to your phone card. For prepay numbers in Vodafone, users do not pay VAT. You can stop the donation at any time with an sms with the word “STOP” sent to 8844. Campaign powered by Digi Mobil, Orange Romania, Telekom Mobil and Vodafone Romania. More information: +40213174996 and wwf.ro/ajutapadurea

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•

70% of rural Romanians are facing poverty this

• •

shopping, buy extra presents or food and send it to us at the address below (encourage your friends to do the same). Also help the environment by not sending Christmas cards, and donating to us the money you saved! Encourage Romanian firms to direct 20% of their taxes to us. Organise a fundraiser for us! Ask your family/friends to make a donation to us, instead of buying you presents.

Christmas but YOU can

WHERE WILL YOUR DONATION GO?

HOW? • Make a cash donation to help us buy food, toys and clothes for up to 2000 vulnerable people! • When you’re doing your Christmas

You can choose! Asociatia Bunul Samaritean has been active in Nicoresti, Galati, Romania since 2003. We have a home for adults with severe disabilities, all of which we rescued from horrendous government institutions. We also have a Day Centre for children from families with social problems. And, in our community, we support hundreds

help make a difference

of elderly, sick, disabled and poor people. When you make a donation, you can choose which group you would like to support this Christmas! On their behalf, thank you! Claire Melinte Asociatia Bunul Samaritean Com. Nicoresti, jud. Galați 807215 Mobile: 0768821843 Email: asociatiabunulsamaritean@gmail. com Bank Account LEI: RO62 RZBR 0000 0600 0499 1770 CIF: 16291453

Belgian Chocolates With Love Messages. available in Park Lake Mall, Bucharest facebook.com/timcudragoste

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NOVEMBER 2019

www.asociatiabunulsamaritean.ro

PROPERTY

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Wild Transylvania

have a long standing personal interest in Romanian rural ecology, studying how people interact with their environment and what effect these activities have on local flora and fauna. I spend a lot of my time with transhumance shepherds in Transylvania who have a deep understanding of human/predator coexistence and I document how they protect their livestock from wolf and bear depredation on remote high forest meadows. If you would like to read more about my work please head over to my blog at www.wildtransylvania.com

Paul White, Photographer

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NOVEMBER 2019 Wild Transylvania

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W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

HEALTH

exercise into your morning schedule, while it’s still dark outside. This is a proven way of staving off heart problems and seasonal depression. Remember the Nike motto when you’re not feeling so great on those dark, cold mornings. Whether it’s going to the gym, doing basic stretching and calisthenics on your floor, or throwing on some winter athletic gear and hitting the street for a run, Just Do It.

H2O for the Winter Win

Tips for Healthy Living Through the Romanian Winter by Ilinca Maria Prundea

he long nights and dark days that befall Romania from November through early April can be more than just a buzzkill for those of us who have to rise in the pre-dawn hours to get ready for work or school. Winter is the most dangerous season for humans, with the months responsible for the most heart attacks, strokes, and suicides. There’s a lot you can do to make the most of your Romanian winter, and while some of these tips may seem obvious, it’s easy to forget the basics when we get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of working winter days.

Don’t Oversleep

Sleeping in is tempting, especially

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on weekends and days off, and this desire is accentuated in cold and dark mornings. But as paradoxical as it might sound, sleeping more than you need is really not good for you, and will more likely than not kill the chances of having a productive remainder of your day. Most adults only need 6-7 hours of sleep per night. Some superhumans can get by with 4, and others need as much as 8. But no one needs more than 8 hours of sleep, and unless you’re sick, pushing past 9 or 10 hours of sleep is going to create just as much fatigue as if you under slept. So double up your alarms and put the alarm clock far enough away from your bed so that you have to physically remove yourself from the comfy confines of your sleeping quarters to turn it off.

Keep Up the Exercise

The vast majority of humans in four season environments put on weight during the winter. This is a biological intuition that we share with mammals of all shapes and sizes. When you’re skinny, the winter feels much colder, and a little extra fat keeps us insulated like blubber on a seal. But guess what, its not 10,000 B.C. anymore. We’re blessed with indoor heating and jackets, so overcome your biological instincts and keep exercising through the winter months. Don’t wait for New Year’s resolutions to renew that gym membership. An easy way to maintain a healthy routine through winter is to build your daily

NOVEMBER 2019 Tips for Healthy Living Through the Romanian Winter

Many people start the day with coffee or tea and breakfast, perhaps with a glass of water to go with it. It’s easy to forget that water is the most effective cure to the majority of medical problems afflicting humans and animals alike. You should always start your day with plenty of water, before eating anything. This is good for your digestive system, your heart, your skin, and also your weight. If you drink two glasses of water in the morning before any breakfast, your daily metabolism will increase by as much as 30%. This will make a huge difference for weight watchers, particularly for the millions of Christmas bingers out there. Following these three basic guidelines can make all the difference in the world to those who struggle through winter. There’s a lot of brightness through the darkness, with traditions created by our ancestors long ago that have kept people going through these cold months. One reason that our EU brothers and sisters in Denmark are consistently ranked as the happiest people in the world, despite being a very cold country, is their cultural value of Hygge, which roughly translates to coziness. It sounds simple, but Danes are very conscientious about placing lots of candles inside their living rooms and communal areas, maintaining a consistent fireside vibe which can be a good cure for bad moods and seasonal depression. The Danish equivalent of Vin Fiert always on hand can make a big difference too, but try not to overdo it. And remember to blow out those candles before bed. Happy Winter! • Ilinca Maria Prundea is a fifth year medical student at Carol Davila University in Bucharest. She has researched cardiovascular health and interned in intestinal surgery in Leipzig, Germany’s Heart Center and University Medical School.

HEALTH

DENT ESTET Launches

The Digital Implantology Masterplan

Dr. Alexandru Georgescu, Primary Doctor, Dental Implantology & Periodontics, talks about changing people’s smiles and lives through implantology.

“B

eing a specialist in Periodontics, Dental Implantology was the natural step forward in my professional evolution. As periodontitis is the most common cause of teeth loss, it felt professionally fulfilling to specialize in dental implantology and to be able to offer my patients the safest, natural and most biocompatible solution for replacing a tooth. From the first encounter, my patients and I go on a journey together, designed to regain their confidence. When they come to me for implants, patients have sometimes already experienced the negative effect their dental problems have had on their social life. They want to regain their beautiful smile, their confidence, and, of course, full mouth functionality. At the end of the journey, my patients feel emotional, because the change is so significant. Some want to take a picture with me so that they can remember the moment which feels like a new beginning in their life. I have been working with DENT ESTET for 17 years, and I’ve attended numerous international courses and trainings in dental

implantology. For me, all this continuous learning is more than a duty, it means taking full responsibility for my patients’ trust. They put their trust in me when they enter the dental office with a health problem and they leave happy and healthy.”

How do you work to eliminate two factors that may keep patients from coming to see you: fear (because of many unknown pieces of information related to implants) and procrastination (patients waiting until they have almost lost all their teeth)? We practice dentistry at its highest level. This means we offer modern treatments assisted by state of the art technology, like the computed tomograph CBCT, digital surgical guide, intraoral scanner, laser dentistry, all of which help us offer patients safe, painless, comfortable and minimal invasive treatments. The technological evolution in dentistry has also brought an unparalleled benefit for the patient, such as faster treatments and less time spent on the dental chair. So, with the help of digital technologies, the doctor can explain and show each stage of the treatment to the patient, making the final result predictable while the patient stays well informed. Also, for the anxious patients, there are controlled methods of conscious sedation that make the patient feel comfortable during the treatment. An important role can be attributed to the continuous dental education campaigns

that DENT ESTET is doing for the benefit of the patient. The one thing we communicate to patients from their first visit is the prevention factor. It’s not enough to treat a problem, it’s important to take good care of your smile and oral health, everyday, by brushing twice a day, using dental floss daily and visiting the dental office for prophylactic cleaning and regular consults twice a year.

What is DENT ESTET's latest implantology protocol and how will it improve the services you offer, as well as patients’ lives? DENT ESTET is the first completely digitized dental clinic in Romania. Because of the higher request for dental implants, DENT ESTET has created the Masterplan of Digital Implantology, a protocol that facilitates the access to premium dental implantology treatments in all our clinics. Talking specifically dental implantology innovation, there are now on the market extraordinary premium dental implants that provide many benefits to the patient from faster osseointegration and healing, to extraordinary esthetics. Worldrenowned producers like Straumann® and Nobel Biocare ®, offer premium dental implants validated by many years of research and studies and also full mouth reconstructions in 24 hours with fixed prosthesis with lifetime and international guarantee. • W W W.O Z B . R O N O V E M B E R 2 01 9

DENT ESTET Launches The Digital Implantology Masterplan

SIGN OFF

Sulina at sunrise

The Danube Delta in an Uncertain Climate by David McLean Shoup

owards the end of October, twenty two degree noons in Bucharest and a visiting buddy all the way from the land down under inspired me to take my first trip out to the Danube Delta. I was in particular on the lookout for swarms of migrating birds that ought to be heading from Russia to the Southern Hemisphere. Like in the happier opening quarter of an Agatha Christie novel, cramped boat rides break down cultural and language barriers, and we were soon deep in Timisoreana-assisted conversation with weekend fishermen from Targoviste, one communicating with my Australian buddy in rusty but solid German while I did my best to gather food recommendations from another in the best 250 words of Romanian I could manage after a few months away. Sulina is the easternmost town in Romania, which also makes it the furthest eastern reach of the European Union. The only way you’d know it is the pair of Romanian coast guard patrol boats flanked by one intimidating armed frigate moored to the northern bank of Sulina, a few kilometers shy of the Bessarabian border with Ukraine. So an Australian and an American walk into a bar, and it was empty. The same went for every other restaurant in Sulina. Save our merry band 38

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of weekend fishermen from Targoviste, the coast guard, and a handful of locals, Sulina was a ghost town. The dockside movie theater looked like it had been shuttered since the 90s, and concrete shells of what might have once been classy hotels and apartments reminded me of Constata in the years since their Madagascar-bound mayor skipped town with suitcases full of re-allocated EU funds. Nevertheless, somn prajit and crap gratar (fried catfish and grilled carp, respectively) were aplenty. The aptly named Black Sea Restaurant along the south wharf was particularly memorable, serving up the best ciorba legume I’ve ever had to compliment the grilled carp and an anchovy salad tossed with spring onions, pickles, olives, and fresh tomatoes. The next morning we strolled down to Sulina plaja, passing the ubiquitous roadside grave marker unique to Romania. The dates on this cross revealed its namesake had been seven years old. “How could that have happened?” my Australian friend asked. Seconds later a cab roared past us and zipped around the corner at about 90 kilometers. On a dirt road. “Like that,” I replied glumly. For late October, the Black Sea water was incredible, making for a warmer swim than the lakes of eastern Germany manage in peak summer months. Despite the weather, the half dozen beach house rentals along Sulina beach remained shuttered. I thought about the UN estimate that sea levels will rise up to 20 feet (5-6 meters) in some coastal areas within the century. Even at half that estimate, Sulina will be gone. For those at home thinking about property investments, Constanta’s Old Town stands at significantly higher ground and could certainly use a residenThe Danube Delta in an Uncertain Climate

tial/commercial property boost. All the same, there’s a real beauty, natural and manmade, to the Danube Delta. There’s still fishing boats aplenty, from comically camouflaged dinghys to wooden skiffs, manned by local fishermen determined to bring in a fresh haul. Sulina is best enjoyed at dawn and dusk, so it works out that the Monday ferry upriver departs at daybreak. A heavy fog settled down as the 7am pontoon drifted away from the Sulina docks en route to Tulcea, casting a ghostly aura over the scores of abandoned concrete buildings lining the north shore of the Danube. A Panama-based freighter loomed out of the mist. Just as Sulina faded from view, my long awaited flock of birds, a massive formation blackening out a tenth of the burgeoning dawn, flew south towards Africa, the first sign that winter is on the way. •

A company dedicated to assisting foreigners to settle in Romania. We can help with visas, permits, company setups, car registration, insurance, orientation tours and basically anything that a newcomer to Romania might need. +40 729 166916 www.moorcroft.ro dean@moorcroft.ro

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