Romanian culture
Admin stuff
@ Bu Summer
AIESEC Bucharest
Romanian culture
Information about Romania The way Romanian people roll Bucharest Language
Info about Romania
Official Name: Romania National Day: 1st of December (anniversary of the 1918 union of all Romanian regions into one single state) Capital: Bucharest Official Language: Romanian Currency: Romanian Leu (RON) Territory: 237.500 km2 Time zone: EET (UTC+2). Summer EEST (UTC+3) Population: app. 23 million people Ethnic groups: 89.5% Romanians, 6.6% Hungarians, 2.5% Roma, 1.4% other minority groups Climate: temperate continental (4 seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn) Religion: the most of the people are Orthodox Christians National Flag: blue, yellow and red EU accession: 1 January 2007 Drives on the: right Calling code: 40
Info about Romania
In Romania you will have the opportunity to see a varied relief: mountains (the Carpathians), sea-side (the Black Sea) and the natural paradise of the Danube Delta, which hosts 300 different animal species. You also shouldn’t miss Romania’s most beautiful cities: Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Arad, Timisoara, Constanta or Iasi. Each of them has a different history & background and it’s special in its own way.
Romania is a hierarchical society where age, position and tradition are respected. - older people are viewed as wise since they have earned life experience. - it is expected that you will use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. (not in AIESEC ) First meeting with a Romanian Initial greetings are pretty formal and reserved: a handshake, direct eye contact, and the appropriate greeting for the time of day. - some older Romanians kiss a woman's hand when meeting them. Foreign men are not expected to kiss a Romanian woman's hand. - close friends may kiss and hug each other when they meet. When kissing, expect to kiss twice, once on each cheek starting with the left cheek. Allow your Romanian friends to determine when your relationship has reached this level of intimacy. All in all, Romanians are usually committed to both their friends and their family. You won’t find it hard to make friends here
The way Romanian people roll
Bucharest was founded in 1459 on the banks of the Dambovita River, and centuries later became the capital city of the princely court. In the 19th century it was called “The Little Paris”. Nowadays it is a cultural European city, constantly developing.
To get a taste of the life of our capital city, you should walk around the five main squares in Bucharest: Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, Piata Revolutiei, Piata Universitatii and Piata Unirii. The Old Center (Lipscani area) is a testimony of Bucharest’s interesting history. We recommend you a walk through the Old Center, where you can try different pubs & traditional restaurants. If you want to go to some museums we recommend you: Romanian National Art Museum, Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Village Museum. The most beautiful and famous parks are: Herestrau, Cismigiu, Carol and the Botanical Garden. And…if you are in Bucharest we’re sure you wouldn’t want to miss the world’s second biggest building – The House of Parliament.
Bucharest
Language The official language of Romania is Romanian, an Eastern Romance language related to Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan. Romanian is spoken as a first language by 91% of the population. The majority of the young Romanians speak English. Here’s a list of some Romanian words & phrases that might help during your stay: Yes/No = Da/Nu I am hungry/thirsty = Mi-e foame/sete Please = Vă rog Ten/Twenty/Fifty = zece/douăzeci/cincizeci Thank you = Mulțumesc One hundred = o sută Hi/Hello = Salut/Bună Two thousand = două mii Good-bye = La revedere One million = un milion Bye! = Pa Where is X? = Unde este x? How are you? = Ce faci? When/ Where/how = când/unde/cum How much does this cost? = Cât costă? Good morning = Bună dimineața Good evening = Bună seara Don’t worry! Your trainee buddy will help you with the pronunciation!
Admin stuff
Prices & currency Transport & maps Emergency call
Prices + currency
The national currency is Lei (RON) and it has banknotes for 1, 5, 10 , 50, 100 or 200 RON. Money can be exchanged at banks, hotels or private offices. ITEM
Prices (â‚Ź)
Prices ($)
Prices (RON)
1 bottle of water (0.5l)
0.47
0.74
2 RON
1 bottle of Cola (0.5l)
0.83
1.29
3.5 RON
1 sandwich
1.30
2.02
5.5 RON
1 pizza
2.84
4.42
12 RON
1 beer
1.18
1.84
5 RON
Bread
0.24
0.37
1 RON
1 l of milk
0.83
1.29
3.5 RON
1 box of cereal
1.89
2.94
8 RON
1 bus ticket
0.31
0.48
1.3 RON
2 subway tickets
0.59
0.92
2.5 RON
Tips&Tricks: There is a major difference between the currency at banks and the one at private offices. It’s more efficient to change your money at the bank.
Bucharest boasts the largest transport network in Romania, and one of the largest in Europe. The Bucharest transport network is made up of a subway network and a surface transport network. One can also travel by taxi. Subway Network Bucharest has a fairly extensive subway system consisting of four lines (M1, M2, M3 and M4). There are 2 types of passes one can use to have access to the subway: one available for 1 day and one available for 1 month. Another option is to buy a ticket for 2 ways or one for 10 ways. It doesn’t operate between 11.30 pm and 5 am. The Surface Transport Network The surface transport includes a network of buses, trolleybuses, trams and light rail. A bus pass is valid for any type of surface transport. It doesn’t operate between 11.30 pm and 5 am. You can find a taxi in front of hotels, at the airport and cruising streets or you can call in advance at one of this numbers: 021.9451 or 021.9494. Another fun way to travel in Bucharest is by riding a bike. You can rent one for free by using your student card or by paying 6 RON / hour (2.21$ /1.76€). Tips&Tricks 1.) Taxi drivers might try to charge you more than they should because you are a tourist. 2.) The tickets should be punched immediately after you get on the vehicle (bus/tram/trolleybus)
Transport + maps
This is the map of Bucharest’s subway network:
Transport + maps
Emergency call
We hope you won’t be using this part of the booklet, but still‌just in case the national emergency number is:
112
AIESEC Bucharest
@ Bu presentation Our reception A trainee’s point of view
@ Bu Presentation AIESEC Bucharest was founded in 1990 by Cosmin Alexandru. AIESEC in Bucharest was the first local office AIESEC in Romania and also the first student organization present in the Faculty of Economical Studies in Bucharest. Our contribution to the international network was organizing ITC in 2001, our first international conference, IPM 2005, ITC 2007, Euro eXpro 2009. Today we are one of the largest student organizations from Bucharest. We are striving for consolidating our international platform by creating a great culture of eXchange & we’re sure that YOU are going to help us!
AIESEC LC Bucharest Contact Information Str. Frumoasa, nr. 31, sector 1, Bucuresti +4031.805.63.41 Fax: 031.805.63.42 Further contact data Alina Tugulea, VP ICX: +40751120018,
In AIESEC Bucharest, we pride ourselves with one of the best receptions in AIESEC network, with quality internships and a lot of very satisfied trainees! We want our trainees to be happy. That’s why we have a reception plan for you: - before your arrival you will get a trainee buddy. If you read this you’ve probably met her/him already. Feel free to ask him/her whatever you need. - a group of crazy AIESECers will wait for you at the airport/train station and will get you to your accommodation place or if you are not tired, to the @office. - study tour around Bucharest - welcome party - cooking nights -Global Village. Please don’t forget to bring something traditional with you that you can use at the Global Village (food, drinks, national flag, different traditional objects) - Romanian lessons (only if you wish) - learning circles and the list goes on…because…in AIESEC Bucharest YOU will have a life changing experience!
Our Reception
A trainee’s point of view
The fear of landing into a new country, a completely new environment, starting a new life is quite a difficult one for most people. It was for me too. Arriving at Otopeni airport, I realized I’ve left family, friends and everything I ever had a few thousands of miles away. All for a group of people calling themselves AIESEC Bucharest, assuring me that I’m gonna have a great experience. I feel proud writing about the greatest time I’m having in my life – and I’d like to thank AIESEC Bucharest for that. From the craziest and friendliest welcome at the airport, to a great homestay, to finding the awesomest place to live in, to the wildest parties, AIESECers have been there with me all along. Apart from being the organization that truly strives towards making experiences life changing for their interns, AIESEC Bucharest is a part of my life. It’s where I go everyday after work. It’s family. It’s home. I heartedly wish all the incoming interns a lot of luck and the best times of their lives with AIESEC Bucharest! Proud intern at AIESEC Bucharest, Rehman Abdur
We are looking forward to meeting you! ď Š