If Romanians do not know Ukraine because they did not have direct contact with it until this year, the problem is just as real, and vice versa: Romania has never been a point on the mental map of Ukrainians. Most of them had a vague image of us, based on urban folklore and clichés that spread during the Soviet period. The year 2022 changed everything and, willy-nilly, several hundred thousand passed through Romania or temporarily settled here. EFOR asked them what surprised them the most when they arrived, which was completely different from what they expected. Some answers are predictable, but others are completely unexpected. Either way, it’s a good exercise to look at yourself through other people’s eyes from time to time.

Oleg, 19 years old, Dnipro

When I arrived in Bucharest, I thought I wouldn’t be able to get along with anyone, but I was surprised to find that most of them spoke English. I was also very impressed with how people here care about disabled/disabled people, no one looks at you strangely when you have this problem. In Bucharest, there are many green areas and playgrounds for children, they are everywhere, and in general I think that people love children and pay a lot of attention to them.

Svitlana, 55 years old, Mariupol

After arriving, I got used to always keeping an eye on my bag and luggage so they wouldn’t be stolen, but after a while I felt safe in Bucharest. Also, I expected people to be colder towards us because they didn’t know who Ukrainians are, but I was surprised how friendly Romanians are; now I’m used to it. I was pleasantly surprised that cars constantly stop here to give way to pedestrians, even if the traffic is in traffic.

Marina, 41 years old, Zaporizhzhia

I was pleasantly surprised by how well English is spoken in Bucharest and the compassion with which we were received. On the other hand, I was unpleasantly impressed by the aggressive begging on the street.

Oleksiy, 49 years old, Kyiv

In Romania, there are not many buildings above 10 floors, even in Bucharest. Public lighting near buildings is strange: LEDs are buried or placed near trees. Silly, but in a nice way.

Yulia, 27 years old, Mykolaiv

Coming from customs to Bucharest with the evacuation bus, the driver stopped at a gas station and bought us all a hamburger, because we did not have time to exchange Romanian money.

Some Romanians over 60 speak Russian, but most of them speak English, and in any case, even when we communicate through Google Translate, they always try to understand and help.

In the center of Bucharest, there are many ruined buildings that seem abandoned for some reason that I don’t understand, because some of them seem beautiful.

Igor, 16 years old, Poltava

In Bucharest, public transport is very diverse and you can easily reach any part of the city. I expected it to be more difficult to get around in such a big city, but it’s easy. Despite the fact that the drivers do not follow the traffic rules very much, it gives the impression that they do whatever they want on the road. There are also loads of great parks; I expected there to be only houses with some greenery in between.

Kateryna, 42 years old, Odesa

People are very friendly and ready to help. In general, I was surprised that Romanians solve everyday problems very quickly, it’s as if everything goes in an accelerated mode here, it is solved, repaired, etc.

Angela, 21 years old, Izmail

When I left Ukraine, I had two options: to go to Moldova or Romania, because both of them were not far from my city. I chose Romania because it seemed safer to me, but now it seems like the best option out of all the countries I could go to. People in Bucharest are very friendly, although at first I expected them not to care too much about us.

Before I arrived, I thought Bucharest was just huge buildings and few green spaces, but I discovered that there are many large parks.

Serhiy, 65 years old, Bucha

I did not expect that there would be so much traffic and people in Bucharest. Some elevators are very strange, you have to close the doors with your hands. I thought the subway would be difficult to use, but it’s actually easy to ride and fast.

Lyudmila, 57 years old, Human

Romania has very good roads, I didn’t expect it. Romanians are very friendly with us and very kind to children: when I see someone crying, I give them a candy. I didn’t see the baby snap or snap.

Inesa, 23 years old, Ocheakov

I discovered that in Romania, children go to school at the age of five and have a score of zero; here they go to school from the age of six or seven. I thought Ukrainian was difficult, but I found Romanian to be even more difficult. I was surprised that in Bucharest people don’t have breakfast at home, but on the way to work. Every day I see people eating in the subway.

Snizhana, 32 years old, Odesa

I was surprised to see how religious people are in Bucharest: when the bus passes the church, many people are praying. In addition, I see that there are many Orthodox churches; I thought the world was Catholic here. I was surprised how people gather in the evening near the house, with friends and acquaintances, drink beer, talk, joke, I think this is a very good tradition.

Romanian, 41 years old, Kyiv

In Bucharest you see a bunch of poor people sleeping on the street and the police don’t seem to pay any attention to them. I was also surprised that women in Bucharest don’t seem to pay much attention to how they look on the street; they negotiate a lot with us before going out.

Vyacheslav, 47, Lviv

I didn’t expect Romanian to be so difficult to learn. Fortunately, when you are not understood, people here try to explain to you in another language. It’s a bit strange that people don’t really use wallpaper in apartments, but just whitewash the walls.

Anna, 27 years old, Pervomaisk

I didn’t expect to see so many planes in the sky in Bucharest. I also thought people were dressed more traditionally, but I see they are very modern. I was afraid that it would be difficult to ride public transport with a baby in a stroller, but in fact it is very easy.

Denis, 31 years old, Ocheakov

Many volunteers were waiting for us at the North Station, who helped with food and accommodation. We thought it would take some time to get temporary protection, but one day we got it. I was also afraid that it would be difficult for us to get around the shops, but it turned out to be easy, people help us.

Volodymyr, 58, Oleksandrivka

I knew Bucharest was a big city and expected it to be dirty and messy, but it’s actually clean. I didn’t think we would find places near the block where we live to play with my niece, but there are plenty. Read the whole article and comment on Contributors.ro