It could be argued that communism prospered in Romania until the mid 1990’s and beyond. Iliescu and his cronies effectively took one step forward after the departure of Ceau?escu and little changed for years (apart from party names). Politicians of all stripes talked about capitalism, building a free market economy and the concepts of privatisation as the silver bullets that would transform the economy and drive rapid growth. The concepts are powerful if the execution matches them – sadly the temptation to dip into the cookie tin has proved to be too much for too many and the Romanian economy is still blighted by corruption and chronic inefficiency. Politicians, however, cannot resist meddling, and health care is the latest victim (and it was not exactly robust to begin with).

So why are there rioters on the streets of Bucharest and other Romanian cities?

At the end of December 2011, the Romanian Ministry of Health published a draft law for public discussion. If implemented, the new law will effectively change the nature of the healthcare system. Under these new provisions, the private sector will play a more important role and there are references to the privatisation of hospitals and voluntary health insurance made by private companies.

In response to the proposed laws, Raed Arafat, the polpular deputy health minister, stated that the new health law would destroy the integrated system of emergency response that is instrumental in solving very serious cases and provides a key element of the national security and defense policy of Romania against disaster, replacing it with commercial competition. The main objection was against allowing private medical operators to run their own ambulance service, which should offer free emergency services, as a competition to the state run emergency services. Having seen how some companies have dominated the private security sector and are moving into ambulance services, there is clear cause for concern.

Raed Arafat was appointed Under Secretary of State for Health on August 23, 2007, by a decision signed by then Prime Minister, Calin Popescu Tariceanu. In the ministry, Raed Arafat was in charge of emergency medicine. He is also the founder and coordinator of the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD), one of the most successful emergency systems in Eastern Europe. He was awarded with the National Order ‘For Merit’ in rank of Officer by President Traian Basescu in December 2005 he for his efforts in rescuing people from floods and for his daily efforts to save the lives of many Romanians. He is currently the coordinator doctor of SMURD (intensive care) of Targu Mures, and is undoubtedly a man that deserves genuine respect.

It must have been a blow for the government to see the resignation of Raed Arafat in response to their draft law on the reform of the healthcare system. President Basescu had already warned Arafat during a live TV interview “that the draft law is to be discussed, this is why it is open for public debate. The right approach is to present his concerns via the ministry and not create public outcry that this government wants to destroy the ambulance service.” This warning was arguably one of the key points leading to the resignation that subsequently sparked a series of protests that quickly transformed into protests against the regime itself. Many hospitals in Romania may amongst the worst in Europe but the system Arafat founded is one of the few things many Romanians think works properly – it literally saves lives. The proposal to restructure this was the spark to the tinder and 22 years after the first major round, demonstrators took to the streets.

After resigning as Under Secretary of State in Romania’s Health Ministry, Arafat condemned the draft law on health reform in the clearest terms possible, stating on January 10: “I have the obligation to warn, and not to shut up, not to stand still, hoping that this will be negotiated. This was not the first time an attempt to commercialise the emergency system has been made.” Arafat also added that he resigned because he felt by leaving the Ministry of Health he will have more chances to protect the emergency system.

In the face of this widespread opposition, B?sescu declared on Friday that the draft law should be withdrawn. As ever, Basescu displayed an alarming level of disconnection with the electorate when saying: “I reckon that very many are happy with the current health system.” Basescu appears to have assessed public opposition towards operating the health system as a market as opposition towards improving it in general. Since then the street protests have continued, highlighting the gulf between the country’s ‘elite’ class and the people on the street. People continued to gather in big cities, protesting in the name of a variety of causes.

Some of the international press are referring to these events as protests against the austerity measures that the government have had to agree with the IMF in return for monetary support. As ever, protesters look for key figures to direct their anger towards. Worryingly, the opposition have not been opposing the government, indicating that the entire political class is disconnected from the reality of the streets. This brings the harsh reality to light – when faced with choices between a leader like Basescu and leading opposition figures such as Crin Antonescu or Victor Ponta, Romanian voters could hardly be accused of being spoilt for options.

After riots on Sunday January 15^th the Prime Minister, Emil Boc, called for dialogue. According to Boc, following the withdrawal of the draft law, Raed Arafat will return as Under Secretary of State in Romania’s Health Ministry. The streets will hopefully be restored to peace, but the underlying problems will not go away. When you live on a pittance and drive a Dacia 1300, watching the politicians swan around in their expensive limousines and gas guzzling SUV’s from expensive housing to expensive restaurants must create some bewilderment. It appears that there is some steel behind the discontent and we can only hope that the government can address concerns and drive a peaceable end to the protests.

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Just the other day we spoke with a husband and wife who both come from completely different walks of life. The wife – born and raised in New York City is a true “patriot” from the modernized and twisted definition. She believes that the US is the greatest Country in the World across the board. She believes that the US has the best food, the best healthcare, the strongest as well as most accurate beliefs, the greatest educational system, and the best quality of life overall. We’re not going to argue this point. Not because she is right, but because you simply cannot argue…period. For people like this, the US is the greatest. Is the US good at some things? Maybe. Bad at other things? Of course. Can we tell you what is the greatest Country of all? Not likely. Nonetheless, this is her point of view. Her husband on the other hand, was born and raised in a northern Italian city. His views are not only drastically different, but also slightly less voiced. Imagine that. While one can complain with reason about the quality of dental care in some European countries – Romania included – how can anyone in their right mind defend the chemical and hormone laced “foods” the US dare allow distributed? The conversation with these two was very interesting. It allowed us to truly “grasp” the evolution of a belief – the movement from one paradigm to another. Both are well-traveled. The wife worked for an airline for many years, which flew around the World to near-unlimited destinations. Although well-traveled, it would be a stretch to say that one in this line of work would be able to fully immerse themselves in a different culture for any meaningful period of time. A hotel is a hotel. The husband, a chemical engineer, also traveled around the World for work. His stays were likely longer, and as such he veered off in a much different direction mentally. Currently, this couple is living four months in Europe (Italy), four months in the US (New York), and four months in the Caribbean (the Dominican Republic). While this seems like as reasonable a division as any, their life is still torn. She would like no fewer than these four months set aside for life in what to her is the greatest Country on the planet; and he would like nothing more than to drop life in the US altogether. In fact, it was difficult for him to remain part of a conversation in any serious fashion when the topic revolved around the greatness and pure desirability of life in the US.

So there the stage is set – two drastically different people and trains of thought put together. But what does this really have to do with September 11th? We’re getting to that.

It is very interesting to note that the more “experience” Americans in particular have outside of the US, the more they begin to “see the light”. We’re not talking specifics here, but just in general. In order for one not to believe that T.G.I. Friday’s or Kentucky Fried Chicken is NOT the best when it comes to steaks or chicken, one must experience something that is… well… better. In order for one to realise that paying nearly $500.00 USD (much more if you carry health insurance) for a visit to the doctor to cure a sinus infection is unreasonable, one must experience the ultra-low costs comparatively for the same service in Bucharest or other cities. For one to understand that the educational system in the US may not be all it is cracked up to be, one simply needs to speak with a foreigner. Notice how the foreigner understands and speaks English even if it is not their native tongue. We can count on one hand the number of Americans we know that speak anything other than American and Canadian.  This brings us directly to the one thing that stands out in the eyes of an expat more than others regarding a shift in perspective; the media.

As Americans we tend to put a lot of emphasis on what we see on “Fair and Balanced” media outlets such as FOX News, or CNN. How often do we try to catch the news to see what’s going on in the World? Quite often? Interestingly enough as we are exposed to more and more “reputable” networks we are also exposed to more and more variations of the same story. As our minds try to sort out the “differences” we are also faced with a challenge: the challenge  to subconsciously (or consciously really) try to figure out which story is true and which one is false. As Americans do we gravitate towards CNN or Al Jazeera? FOX or Antenna 1? Of course we rely on what we feel to be the most factual of reports. We err on the side of what we are comfortable with. The problem is, it isn’t long before we start to realise that the Ministry of Truth may not be all it is cracked up to be. You see, while we can exist in part, isolated – starring only at the internet and tv – we inevitably must interact with society at some point in time. In doing so, we again, inevitably, come into contact with people from different walks of life that, also inevitably, have a different perspective, or “outlook” regarding the World today.

This brings us now back to the events in New York on September 11, 2001. “She” thinks this was the greatest act of terror ever on US soil which was clearly carried out and masterminded by none-other than Osama bin Laden. “He” thinks that this was the greatest act of terror ever on US soil which was clearly carried out and masterminded by none-other than those that would like you to believe it was Osama bin Laden.

Curiously enough, in talking with many Romanians, we find that the “conspiracy theory” is not the latter. Does this mean that the the events that took place on this date are not what Americans believe as whole? Who knows. What we do know is that everyone who is remembering this event today is remembering it in a slightly different way. We cannot say that Americans are upset for the “wrong” reasons but what we can say beyond a reasonable doubt is that people are upset for many “different” reasons. Whether it be a remembrance of the sad evolution of the political environment we live in today, or a reflection of those that suffered from a horrible tragedy, this is a day to remember.

For an interesting bit of reading for those that wish for a fresh perspective on the World today – consider stepping outside of the box for a moment. Available now is the book Crossing the Rubicon. Take look. This is one of those “must haves” for your reading collection. Here’s what the review has to say:

“The attacks of September 11, 2001, were accomplished through an amazing orchestration of logistics and personnel. Crossing the Rubicon discovers and identifies key suspects—finding some of them in the highest echelons of American government—by showing how they acted in concert to guarantee that the attacks produced the desired result.

Crossing the Rubicon is unique not only for its case-breaking examination of 9/11, but for the breadth and depth of its world picture—an interdisciplinary analysis of petroleum, geopolitics, narcotraffic, intelligence and militarism—without which 9/11 cannot be understood.

The US manufacturing sector has been mostly replaced by speculation on financial data whose underlying economic reality is a dark secret. Hundreds of billions of dollars in laundered drug money flow through Wall Street each year from opium and coca fields maintained by CIA-sponsored warlords and US-backed covert paramilitary violence. America’s global dominance depends on a continually turning mill of guns, drugs, oil and money. Oil and natural gas—the fuels that make economic growth possible—are subsidized by American military force and foreign lending.

In reality, 9/11 and the resulting “war on terror” are parts of a massive authoritarian response to an emerging economic crisis of unprecedented scale. Peak Oil—the beginning of the end for our industrial civilization—is driving the élites of American power to implement unthinkably draconian measures of repression, warfare and population control. Crossing the Rubicon is more than a story. It is a map of the perilous terrain through which, together and alone, we are all now making our way.

Michael C. Ruppert is the publisher and editor of From the Wilderness, a newsletter read by more than 16,000 subscribers in 40 countries. A former Los Angeles Police Department narcotics investigator, he is widely known for his groundbreaking stories on US involvement in the drug trade, Peak Oil and 9/11. “

For those of us that wish to not go through all the hassle of having a book delivered, then consider the Kindle Edition for the Amazon Kindle reader. Those of you that are aware of the Kindle are aware of how great a device this is for the traveling person that loves to read. Not nearly as bulky as a laptop and not nearly as pricey as the iPad, the Kindle reader is at home in our backpacks. The second link on this page for Crossing The Rubicon is the Kindle E-Book Edition.

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We have to be honest and admit that before the weekend we were not asking this question, but after a visit to London it is now at the forefront of our minds.

A member of the Bucharest Expat team spent the weekend in London catching up with old friends and a game of rugby. Knowing of our interest in all things Romanian, some friends were very keen to show the crown jewel of the global drive to increase tourism to Romania – the Romanian National Tourism Office.

Believe it or not, in its growing attempts to brand the Country as a whole and promote tourism and the “allure” of this area (more specifically the delta region and Transylvanian regions) Romania “branches out” to bricks and mortar. In this case, The Romanian Hospitality Industry welcomes you with open arms into their new, ultra-high end, streetside tourist office… well… sort of.

Curiosity engaged, we took a stroll to have a look and to see if we could get some information worth sharing. The office / shop is in a prime London location, just off Marylebone High Street. If you are also curious and you would like to visit (if in London) then you can find it at:

22 New Cavendish Street
London W1G 8T
+44 207 224 3692

Having seen the office, the strategy behind this place is not exactly clear. Establishing a physical presence is an interesting approach to take in this day and age. Most countries establish a customer focused website to enable maximum communication potential for minimum cost. Countries with bigger budgets advertise on CNN. The Romanian budget is clearly in the A League as they have taken a prime piece of real estate in one on London’s more exclusive and expensive areas. Maybe this is to send a message to other countries competing for the premium end of the tourism market and establish a niche.

We stood outside the ‘office’ and speculated about the decision making process behind this. Considering the investment in the location, the limited variety of brochures in the window was not inspiring. We concluded that there might be more inside, plus some on hand expert knowledge to draw from.

Take a look at the photo here. You’ll see the simple laminated sign in the window, allegedly hung by a one-armed fellow with three fingers, the IKEA-esque desk on the inside with well-situated government issue metal framed chairs, and the make-shift window shelf for the sole purpose of adequately displaying everything Romania. Clearly a work in progress.

The challenge is going to be actually catching someone to speak to. Having established the office in this prime location, an element of budgetary reality must have been set in. To keep running costs (personnel, electricity etc.) down the office is only open for restricted hours. The options to pop in for some holiday inspirations were clearly posted on the door to the office. Visitors can call in during the following hours:

Monday / Wednesday / Friday
12:30 – 17:00

Tuesday / Thursday
09:00 – 14:00

From this we can draw several conclusions. The first is that no thought has been put into this venture and that budgets have no restriction as real estate in this location is almost the most expensive in London (and therefore the UK). The second possibility is that the person responsible hasn’t got a clue about anything other than the fashionable Marylebone area. The third is that the Romanian tourist department has no idea about modern age communications as a UK dedicated website would have cost a fraction of what the office is costing and have a massively broader reach and may actually have led to some tourists visiting the amazing nature of Romania.

Combine this with the enviro-leaf branding campaign for Romania that has been a global hit (ha ha) and it is no wonder that tourism into Romania is at an all time high. I would venture to guess that Bucharest Expat alone has been responsible for more tourism to Romania than the entire branding campaign of Romania. During your next visit to London, stop in and say hello; make their investment worth the while.

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That brings us now to the emigration of many Romanians to the land of opportunity and the home of the free…

Many individuals we come into contact with in Bucharest (not limited to this city of course – for those who wish to consider this an insult) suffer from severe delusions when it comes to the U.S. and all it has to “offer” based on what they read, hear, and see through the media outlets. For example, everyone seems to think that New York is a carbon-copy of Sex And The City, Miami offers a life filled with yacht parties and art-deco penthouses, the mid-west is a place for Cowboys and re-runs of “Dallas”, and best of all many still believe that Hollywood is a sure ticket to fame and fortune (apparently word never got out 60 years ago that this just isn’t so). Everywhere you walk in Bucharest nowadays is awash in venues designed in a way that they [non-locals] believe is “the way they do it there”. From clubs to restaurants, shopping malls to boutique shops; even simple conversations between Romanian Bucharestians make it subtly apparent that their entire “aura” is geared towards Americanisms. Recently in the media you will likely have seen that regionally-famous bimbo Monica Columbeanu (now Minican Gabor)has jumped ship with her oompah-loompah-esque sponsor Irinel Columbeanu for someone with “real” fortune; a Chinese millionaire with supposed ties to the film and modeling industry in Hollywood. Now Monica has a chance to take her brand to new heights (cough, cough). This “venture” in and of itself is a dream that many Bucharest girls dream about (the dream is slightly different for the Bucharest male, but shares the same concept). Work as hard as you can and claw your way to the top of what you feel is a mountain of fame, fortune, glory, and prosperity. We have an American University in Bucharest handing out degrees in Business and Marketing to anyone with a pulse and a pocketbook, and a local media that thrives almost purely on westernized gossip. Sooo, now the Los Angeles, California is the new “it” destination for the “who’s, who” of Bucharest (case in point – Oana Zavaranu is following in Monica’s footsteps – just watch ProTV for the latest American-Romanian gossip updates) we really were unexpectedly surprised when we had the conversation with an expat we’ll share in a moment.

This expat friend of ours has been living outside of his home Country of Argentina for close to 15 years now, of course with return visits home. He travels the World as we all do and as such has many interesting experiences and stories to share. We were having a general conversation that including many of the elements discussed above. This fellow comes from a very wealthy old-money family and in no way is he allowing money to drive his decisions nor his opinions. That isn’t to say that he is not able to look at life with a proper perspective, he simply is free enough from outside pressures to combine deep thought with educated decisions. For many years this expat was actually courted by the US. He was sent letters, solicited by locals in his home town that worked for the embassy, and even called on the phone. He was being solicited for the receipt of a U.S. Visa. The U.S. wanted him as a citizen. They wanted his money, the wanted his family’s respect, they wanted something from him. You don’t need me to tell you that this does not happen very much. When it happens, you can rest assured that most people would jump on this “opportunity” likely out of pure ignorance, insanity, or desperation. I don’t mean that in an insulting or derogatory fashion at all. I simply mean that if and when people explore the positives of other cities such as Bucharest, and make a factual comparison, they will realize that what transpired next in this conversation is not only plausible, but likely as well. The response this expat gave to all that solicited his entry to the US was shocking, even for us to hear. His verbal reasons were finally submitted in written form to the USCIS in response to the continuous letters they were sending him. He simply stated the following:

” RE: United States Of America Visa –

1. Americans Are Terrorists. Your Country Is Not Secure.
One must not look far to clearly see that the United States is pushing the limit of global policing more and more; on an exponential scale. Your Country continues to theatrically rule the World with an iron fist. Sooner or later this will catch up with you as evidenced through the events of 11 of September. I have no interest in actively risking the lives of my family and myself.

2. You lie about your accounts to the World.
Although financial deceit is widespread throughout the World, the U.S. regularly misrepresents their economic standing with such panache and ease that only harm may come. This harm will not only come to you but to the others that depend on your integrity. I wish to not partake in this particular pastime.

3. Your Country is racist.
I find it very interesting as well as subtly amusing that you are courting me, a foreigner, to enter into your Country. Why is it that you wish for me and my family to enter when you are currently pursuing the deportation of many “illegal immigrants” as you call them who are clearly a benefit to your society? Why would any rational being believe their fate to be any different? It is also very apparent to me that personal freedoms are heavily controlled – controlled in such a fashion that as long as I comply to your ways of being and believing I will remain temporarily unscathed. Your Statue of Liberty claims “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” yet due to current events at seems as though you have long since forgotten your very own promise.

4. The U.S. Is Far Too Strict On Business And The Pursuit Of Opportunity.
Your taxes are much higher than many are led to believe. Even your own citizens are highly unaware of the monetary contributions they unknowingly pay in to your system. Your Country has one of the most corrupt economic systems on the planet. This corruption is bribery and extortion at its very worst. I say this because what other Countries call questionable, your Country simply deems necessary under the guise of various laws and regulations. The cost of doing business, whatever that business may be, and the regulations one must comply with in order to legally operate said business, are far greater than I wish deal with. From a business perspective, the path of last resistance for me and my family is simply not to attempt such a venture in the first place. Taking this and the fact that your Country is racist into consideration, you can clearly see why I feel my opportunities lie elsewhere.

Thank you again for your consideration, however I feel that it is not in my best interest to accept your offer.”

Now, although this seems a bit harsh and “controversial” to say the least, it certainly contains a lot of points that are pertinent to how expats think and view cities and countries around the world. We all try to educate ourselves on the systems and ways of “target” destinations from a logical standpoint; the pros and cons if you will. While clearly this message points out the cons, it is reason enough to dismiss the invitation altogether as this particular expat did. Why put yourself in a negative or potentially negative situation if you don’t need to? Isn’t that why a lot of us came to Bucharest? Isn’t that why a lot of us travel to other destinations? There is a very solid handful of expats that fall within the group of people that are constantly seeking a “better” place to settle, retire, or just live life to the fullest. As we know, Bucharest is one of these places. There are things we love, and things that irritate us almost to the core. But we all came here for a reason, and rest assured, at the end of the day, we stay because we believe in what Bucharest has to offer.

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Romania is going green. No more Dracula, no more sharp-edged mountains, dark forests, castles, river deltas, and rich culture. Romania should now be referred to as “eco-tropical Green Country”.

Here’s what has transpired so far in a nutshell with the Branding Of Romania:

On the 6th of last July, Romania’s Minister of Tourism Elena Udrea announced the “One Country, So Many Experiences”  catch phrase for the new image of Romania.

The process of re-branding of Romania goes back to the World Expo of Shanghai, where Romania introduced the “Greenopolis” concept (by the same designers of AFI Palace Cotroceni or vice-versa??). This concept was intended to alter the general public’s perception or pre-conceived notions of Romania.

The Completed Romania Pavillion At The Shanghai World Exp

Romania should now be perceived as an environmentally aware (in practice as well as mindset) country that prides itself in sharing its rich wonderland with all that desire the greener elements in life. That’s the pitch.

Introducing Romania’s new “logo”; the brainchild of Barcelona based company THR, creators for the new Espana logo as well.

Let’s analyze this new logo:

The first thing one notices is that this logo is green. Very green. Does Romania wish for us to think that this is because of their “green” mindset as portrayed by “Greenopolis”? Does Romania wish for us to believe that this country features a lush landscape awash with greenery? Either way we’re not fooled. No, Romania is not located in the rain forests of South America, the outback of Australia nor the jungles of Madagascar.

The leaf. Yes the famous leaf. This leaf was the center of controversy for quite a while. A whopping 900,000.00 Euros was estimated to have been spent on this logo. The company that created this logo, THR, is under suspicion of “stealing” the art for this clearly clip art-esque design. While stealing is a strong word (many great logos and designs are created through mixing various elements including clip art) this certainly is not a nine hundred thousand euro design. Plain and simple. Someone lined their pockets on this one. The leaf was clearly sourced from the “Eco-Image Collection” within iStock Photo, a common clip art distribution website.  THR allegedly claims to have hand drawn this element of the logo. Yeah right. Accusations of plagiarism should go ignored here, as we have no doubt that THR was able to pay the sub-$50 licensing fee to iStock Photo in order to cover their ass. So, plagiarism and copyright infringement? No. Creativity? No. Lame-ass B.S.? Yeah.

This Is The Leaf Clip Art From iStock Photo. Look Familiar?

“Explore The Carpathian Garden”. What the **$%? Romania is not the only country in Eastern Europe with the Carpathian Mountains. When we close our eyes and think of the Carpathian mountains do we honestly envision lush river-valleys straight from Disney’s The Jungle Book? Are their parrots circling around the tree canopies while chimpanzees swing from vine to vine? Not really. Why not play off of what Romania and the Carpathian mountains are actually known for? Is it so bad that the mountains are some of the most unique and dramatic in the entire world? Is it so bad that there are many castles and mystical “areas” throughout the Carpathian Mountains in Romania? For those of us that have “been there” we of course envision the impressive vistas, the amazing transitions as you drive from city to city through the jagged mountain passes (the occasional petrol refinery) and more undisturbed land than a westerner may have ever seen? They could have played this up rather than switch gears altogether (leaving out the petrol refineries… or not).

The diacritics above the “a” is meant to be a mountain peak with a sunset behind it. Well that’s original. Looks more like a boomerang than anything else. Was this the design for Australia Tourism?

The stem of the leaf is blue. Is this water? Is this the Danube? Romania wants you to know they have a river. This is clearly an important element of the country that should be brought to your attention. Now you know.

Attention Romania - try focusing on what you are actually known for and what you actually have to offer. Don’t try to be something that you’re not; leave that to the residents of Bucharest.

Here are the main points we at Bucharest Expat wish for you to take away from this article:

There is nothing wrong with using clipart to assemble a logo as long as it paid for and copyright free. Romania paid approximately 900,000 Euros for this logo. Instead of Romanians stealing from other countries, the other countries (Spain in this case) were able to successfully pull one over on Romania. Bravo.

Romania should brand itself based on what it HAS to offer, not on what it thinks people want it to have. This can be compared to the fitze (fite) group of people. They are trying way too hard to portray an image they believe others wish for them to be rather than just being themselves.

Romania does have amazing natural land. It is lucky that Romania hasn’t f’d up this unspoiled land. Good thing Ceausescu didn’t promote urban sprawl. He centralized his destruction.

Check out some excellent article on the web regarding the Branding Of Romania. Cafe Babel and All Romanians Are Vampires.

We At Bucharest Expat Decided To Throw Together Our Very Own “Sample” Of What Could Have Been (we did this in about 45 minutes by the way… please deposit 900,000 Euros times two in to our account)……….

We "Borrowed" A Clip Art Image From A Google Image Search Then Added Text With "Party LET" Font And Colorized It. Total Time Was Around 15 Minutes.

We Again "Borrowed" A Mr. Burns Image From Google And Edited It To Resemble Basescu. We Then Added The Text Using "Arhaic" Font. Total Time Invested Was Around 30 Minutes.

Hope you like our contribution to the re-branding of Romania. We didn’t even charge the Ministry Of Tourism for our services even though it likely took us more time and effort than THR.

As always, we value your input! If you have a version of a logo for the Branding of Romania or any other Romanian-branding-gone-awry logos please send them to us at Bucharest Expat. We may feature them!

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Recently a local media outlet was gracious to supply is with some “photos” of these “starter-mafia” individuals. Along with the photos they discuss the “split” of the families or “groups” that make their own laws essentially in each of the 6 sectors throughout Bucharest. Again, this is not something we really wish to type here, we will let the links speak for themselves. We do however think it is very “insightful” to say the least. So here are some links to enjoy that give you a glimpse in to how he mafia makes their money, where they are spread about, and various other interest fact… allegedly. Here are some links we found quite amusing to say the least as well as the links to the articles of which this information was sourced:  Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 It didn’t come from us. Enjoy.

** If you wish to have your photos removed from this post, please contact us at:

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In an attempt to essentially reroute the oil through a “cut” and modification to the lower pipe BP has done nothing more than to increase the rate of “gush” into the ocean. Imagine that.

As of this writing, the most recent update is that the spill is “nearing” the Gulf coast, more specifically the Florida panhandle. Apparently the US news is deceiving us! Who would have imagined such a thing! From a leisurely stroll on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico by one of our “Expats” on his recent trip to the US, we can assure you… the spill has reached the shores. Not only has it reached [all] the shoreline, but the major part of the spill is nowhere NEAR where the US media claims it to be!

The spill is growing exponentially and is ready to spread its love around the world, hooking up with the gulf stream down in the Caribbean where it will hitch a ride north-east through the Atlantic. But that’s not in the news… so it can’t possibly be true right? Well, here’s the proof from our flight recently to the Caribbean. In the pictures below you’ll see the photos from our seats on the airplane on our approach to the Dominican Republic. The size of this thing is massive, and consider that 99% of the spill has “suspended” itself below the surface (imagine mixing oil and vinegar and shaking it up… once the churning stops it will seperate again). So maybe this will make its way back to the Arab Nations where they will of course clean it up, barrel it, and sell it back to the US… hopefully at a nice mark-up! Enjoy…

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On March 18th there will supposedly be a Metro strike in Bucharest. This has happened quite often, a memorable one being in 1999 when drivers went on strike demanding the average $113 equivalent monthly salary be doubled. This time, after listening to the “rumor mill” saying everything from their will be 10,000 cars intentionally blocking the road while the public transportation lines are blocked, to the “everybody will miss school and work”, to “we wish to create another Greece”, we’ve searched various media sources to find out the “probable” scenario for this strike: It looks like what is going to happen, is that on the 18th of March, as announced by the president of the trade unions of the Metro, 4,600 employees will strike, halting the main metro line “indefinitely”. As a result of this Bucharest Public Transportation Strike, more people will be driving their cars to and from their destinations. As is already well known around Bucharest, the traffic can be miserable at times. Most of the time. So if you drive or will be planning to drive as a result of this be SURE to give yourself ample time to get to your destinations just in case. If you can take the tram or are within walking distance you may be better off. Let’s see what happens!

Click Here for a direct link to the best article on the Bucuresti Metro Stirke

Click Here to see an article on the 1999 Strike

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The system is very similar in ways to the system in the US, which was adapted or implemented during a heavily industrialized economy. Now that we are well into and even beyond the information age, classes must adapt to the new desires of modern employers. From what we are reading, the new administration may have a glimmer of hope in at least “grasping” the concept of allowing students to pursue their passions and “move” their educational curriculum in a direction that will benefit them and their learning desires and abilities. This is taking the “No Child Left Behind” basic concept and pushing it to the next level.

So with the implied direction to be a focus on students “talents” rather than a general curriculum that causes “aimless job wandering” upon graduation, one could hope to see further economic growth in highly specialized fields… but also a potential “stand” from existing teachers who would no longer carry the “cache” they once did with their job titles in the past.

The reality of this change geared towards students talents will likely be pulled down via the “change resistant” demographic of Romania. Only time will tell. It’s the same in the US. Resistance to change on a massive level. I am currently reading Robert Kiyosaki’s new book about the Federal Reserve and US banking system, whcih everyone should take a look at, but he is the famed author of the “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” series of books, which spawned a game called “Cashflow”. This game was the beginning of a movement to reform the educational system. The concept was and still is basically the same. Forget about gpa’s and getting 100 percent in History if your primary desire and focus is computer tech. Where do you all think this will wind up?

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Now granted some may look at this picture and wonder what all of my complaining is about. They also may think to themselves that placing this in Baneasa is reasonable, as it is convenient for random escapes to the newly privatized airport, or be pleased in the fact that this is being built with 2 levels in order to “save space”. You may also want to let me know that the “reason” US embassies are fortresses is to protect against those evil foreign citizens that wish to harm all who believe in personal freedom. But again.. all just opinions. Anyways, below is a link to a website that has more information of this beautiful structure, and the safety, security, and grace of God it will bestow amongst Bucharest!

http://www.antena3.ro/stiri/romania/eco-ambasada-sua-de-pe-terenul-lui-popoviciu-va-fi-gata-in-2011_72524.html

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As this is NOT an image created by BucharestExpat.com, I must give credit and reference to the source: http://spicycles.velo.info/Portals/0/Bucharest/BucharestReport1.png

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The reasoning their are six sectors is pretty simple. It was established during the King times, before the Communist rule, contrary to popular belief. The 6 sectors were established in order to define social class and economic “standing”. Sector 1 was the best, sector 6 the worst. Period. The City Center, basically Unirii, is the heart of sector 1. You’ll find the nicest buildings here, although the massive houses of days gone by, exist no longer (You’ll need to head over Dorobanti to see the nicest in residential properties).

During the communist times, administrators and executives, for lack of a better term, were “given” the nicest residences in sector 1, and so on down the line to sector 6.

I’ll put a post of the sector map up here shortly. Keep an eye out for that. Let’s talk about the growth and development of the sectors, and what’s on the drawing board for improvements and changes in each…

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