reception booklet aiesec romania
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ÂTRANSCRIPT
"We are happy that you will be exploring your leadership potential together with us, in an AIESEC
Romanian adventure!"
Content
What is AIESEC?
AIESEC is a global, non-political, independent, not-for-profit organization run by students and recent graduates of institutions of
higher education. Its members are interested in world issues, leadership and management. AIESEC does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national, ethnic or social origin.
Our international platform enables young people to explore and develop their leadership potential, to have a positive impact in
society.
AIESEC Experience
We are all volunteers!
Our values
Activating Leadership
Demonstrating integrity
Living diversity
Enjoying participation
Striving for excellence
Acting sustainably
How do we do projects?
The projects organized by AIESEC are national or local initiatives that empower a certain category of people or institutions, bring a societal impact and have a high range of relevance – from local to
global. These projects offer impactful team and leadership experiences to our members, while delivering powerful GIP or
GCDP internships to students from Romania or from abroad, just like you.
What is an OC and what is the role of an OC?
We use a lot of abbreviations in AIESEC, because we like to be efficient in everything. The OC is the organizing committee of a
project, or so called organizing team/crew. These are the guys that take every detail into consideration and carefully prepare
everything for the smooth delivery of the project: from raising funds and inkinds and ensuring the sustainability of the project, to gather the necessary logistics, participants or institutions, provide
the accommodation of the EPs and plan the activities of the project. They are cheerful, hard-working and eager to meet their
trainees and complete the awesome team that will deliver the project till the end!
Capital Currency: Location:
About Romania
Population: 19,651,000 (March 2014)
Main Ethnic Groups:
Romanian 84%, Hungarian 6.1%, Gipsy 3.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.2%
Religions:
Christian Orthodox 81%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, Reformed 3%,Greek-Catholic 0.7%, Unitarian 0.3%, Jewish, other.
Form of State:
Romania is a semi-parliamentary democracy based on a bicameral Parliament: the Chamber of Representatives (Camera Deputaţilor) and the Senate (Senat).All members of the legislature are directly elected from Romania's 41 counties.)
Legal system:
Based on European models and Constitution of 1991.
Climate:
Temperate, four distinct seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter)
Spring: pleasant warm days with cool mornings and nights.
Summer: the hottest areas in summer are the lowlands in southern and eastern Romania where 100 F is often reached in July and August. Temperatures are always cooler in the mountains.
Autumn: cool (sometimes windy and rainy), with fields and trees producing colorful foliage, much like New England.
Winters: cold, especially in the mountains. While not the rule, abundant snowfalls may occur throughout the country, from December to mid-March.
Area: Time zone: Flag:
Clothing:Just to be sure, ask your EP buddy about the weather in your host city and for any other
advice regarding this subject!
If you come during summer, be sure you pack your bathing suit but also some sweaters, in case you will be traveling to any mountain cities or resorts. Weather can differ from south to north, field to mountain regions! During summer you can have a short vacation at the Black Sea or travel the country and you will be enjoying your time in Romania for sure!
If you come during winter, be sure you pack your warmest clothes and come prepared for snow and freezing temperatures, especially in some cities of Romania (like Brasov, Suceava, Sibiu, Tg Mures, Bucharest and not only) the temperature can get very low! Come prepared for snow sports and fun, if you are an amateur! :)
Country shape
There are 263 towns in Romania out of which 25 have a population of more than 100,000 while 8 cities count more than 300,000 inhabitants.
45 % of Romanians live in rural areas: 2,868 communes and 13,285 villages.
The administrative divisions are called "judet" (county).
There are 41 counties in Romania.
The capital city, Bucharest, has the status of a county.
Foreign visitors consider Romanians among the friendliest and most hospitable people
on earth. Romanians are by nature fun loving, warm, hospitable and playful, with
an innate sense of humor.
Romaniansin general
Constantin Brancusi — one of the most acclaimed modern sculptors.
Angela Gheorghiu, one of the world's greatest opera soprano -www.angelagheorghiu.com
Alexandra Nechita — a young Romanian painter living in California, known for her distinct style. For more info about Alexandra and her art please visit:http://alexandranechita.com/
Romania is associated with big names in arts and sports:
Ilie Nastase — Twice ranked as the world's number one men's player in the early 1970s, Ilie Nastase won two Grand Slam singles titles during his illustrious career - the US Open in 1972 and the French Open in 1973.
Nadia Comaneci — A gymnastics legend, stunning the world with her skills on the uneven bars, the first in the world to score a perfect 10. Nadia is practically single-handedly responsible for the popularity of gymnastics as a sport, thanks to sweeping the Olympics for gold medals in her youth.
Read more about other famous Romanians HERE!
18th place at English from non-
English countries
Official Language: Romanian
People speak English in the big cities, mostly the young people. Even if some people don’t completely understand you, Romanians are very sociable and helpful, ready to try to help you even through body language or redirecting you to someone who speaks English.
French is the second most used foreign language, you might get lucky if you speak it too.
Also, many girls here know or al least understand Spanish.
June
The Traditional Crafts Fair — Crafts enthusiasts from all over Romania gather at the Village Museum in Bucharest to offer free demonstrations of traditional woodcarving, rug weaving, textile weaving and embroidering, pottery molding, glass blowing, egg painting and more.
July
Bucharest of Old — Celebration of the city as it was 150 years ago. Parade of 1800s costumes, horse-drawn carriages, traditional food, music and special performances.
Medieval Days — Three-day celebration of medieval arts, crafts, music. Recreating the atmosphere of medieval Sighisoara using medieval arts, music, and crafts.
The Maidens' Fair (Targul de Fete) — Traditional matchmaking festival where villagers in traditional costume walk up to Gaina Mountain for dancing, feasting and choosing a mate.
Some of Europe's most traditional folkways are meticulously preserved here, with young celebrants wearing the same costumes and dancing the same steps to tunes played on instruments traditional to their forefathers since time immemorial.
Click here for 2014 events
calendar
Festivals provide wonderful opportunities for visitors to experience the amalgam of the people who make up this country whose Latin roots dating from the Roman Empire make it unique in East-Central Europe.
Major festivals throughout the year include:
Festivals and events
August
Dance at Prislop (Hora de la Prislop) — Traditional celebration of ties among three of Romania's main regions: Transylvania, Moldova and Maramures; villagers parade in traditional costume to Prislop Pass in the Carpathian Mountains, then participate in traditional dances, singing and feasting.
Romania's Folk Art Festival — Initiation in folk art creation (pottery molding, textile embroidering, woodcarving and more) offered, for free, by preeminent folk artists to those interested in traditional crafts.
September
Sambra Oilor — festival marking the return of the sheep herds from the Mountains.
October
Wine Making Festival — Celebration marking beginning of the grape harvest.
Halloween in Transylvania — Tours, shows and celebrations following the footsteps of Bram Stoker's novel character, Count Dracula.
December
Christmas Traditions Festivals
Christmas Markets
Of all the events enjoyed during the year, folk festivals are without a doubt the most spectacular. While some festival dates remain fixed, others change year by year so it's wise to check before your trip. For the latest updates and more information please contact the nearest Romanian Tourist Information Office.
"The central characteristic of the Romanian cuisine is its great variety. It is a cuisine influenced by repeated waves of different cultures: the ancient Greeks, with whom Romanians traded; the Romans, who gave the country its name; the Saxons, who settled in southern Transylvania; the Turks, who for centuries dominated Romania; as well as Slavic and Magyar neighbors. All of these influences gradually blended into the varied and delicious Romanian culinary tradition"
(Nicolae Klepper — Taste of Romania)
Romanian Foods
Appetizer
All kinds of cheeses, cold cuts and vegetable spreads.
A traditional drink enjoyed with appetizers is "ţuică" (a potent plum brandy) which varies in strength, dryness and bouquet according to the production area.
The main ingredients used by Romanian chefs are meats such as pork, beef and lamb, fish, vegetables, dairy products and fruit. A traditional Romanian meal may include:
Soup
"Ciorbă de perişoare" (meatball soup), "ciorbăţărănească " (vegetable soup, with or without meat), "ciorbă de burtă " (tripe soup).
Fish
"Saramură " (grilled carp in brine), "nisetru la grătar " (grilled Black Sea sturgeon) or "scrumbie la grătar " (grilled herring).
Entree
"Tocaniţă " or "tochitură " (meat stew seasoned with onions and/ or spices),
"ghiveci " (over 20 vegetables cooked in oil), "sarmale " (pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with a mix of minced meats, rice and spices) and "mititei " (The "Wee Ones" - small skinless grilled sausages) are among the favorites.
Dessert
"Papanaşi " (cottage cheese donuts, topped with sour cream and fruit preserve),
"clătite cu brânză " (crepes filled with cottage cheese, raisins and spices) and
"cozonac " (traditional holiday sweet bread filled with walnuts, poppy seeds or cream cheese).
Cheese and tree bark don't seem like a natural fit. But this specialty of southeast Transylvania, especially in the towns and villages that include Moeciu and Fundata, may go as far back as the 14th century.
A unique Romanian cheese
Dairy farmers needed a way to store the surplus cheese, and the local evergreen forests provided the perfect vehicle. After all, woody bark provides wonderful protection for trees. Strip the bark from a fir tree, wrap it around the cheese and presto: the dairy product remains moist and preserved from the elements.
Communication and gadgets
This is how sockets look like in Romania, so be sure you bring an adaptor (or you can buy one from here).
Bring an unlocked phone with you, so you can buy a SIM card as soon as possible (maybe at the airport, to call your trainee buddy). SIM cards in Romania are usually normal size (mini-SIM), for micro-SIM you have to pay extra.
Laws that may affect you are:
o traffic regulations: don’t drink anything when you drive a car or ride a bike, make sure you don’t break any traffic rules, hit-and-run driving is a crime, watch the traffic signs
o gambling: it is against the law to gamble outside official agencies
o bribery: it is a serious crime to bribe anyone, especially a policeman or government official, so don’t offer them money for any of their services.
o noise: it is against the law to make loud noise which may annoy your neighbors or other people between certain hours (eg. 10pm-7am or at noon), consider this when you are partying. Your neighbors can call the police
o alcohol: be careful and don’t consume it in public places
Your legal rights:
o Your most basic right is that you must be considered innocent until you are proven guilty in a court of law
o Never insult or shout at a police officer!
o Smoking in public , on the street or in bars is socially acceptable.
The legal age for drinking is 18 years.
Romania is a safe country and usually there are no major conflicts in any city. Just to be sure, watch your things and try not to bring to
many jewelry or cash money if it is not the case – accidents can happen in any country. Make sure you lock them in your dorm
room or apartment, to avoid robbery :)
Safety first!
Here are some basic items and the prices. For other or if you plan to also visit other countries check the link form below.
1 Romanian Leu (the official currency) equals 0,23 euros or 0,31 US dollars.
What Avg. Price
Restaurants [Edit] Avg.
Meal, Inexpensive
Restaurant18.00 lei
Combo Meal at
McDonalds or Similar18.00 lei
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter
draught)5.00 lei
Cappuccino (regular) 5.69 lei
Markets [Edit] Avg.
Milk (regular), (1 liter) 4.00 lei
Loaf of Fresh White
Bread (500g)2.21 lei
Rice (white), (1kg) 4.83 lei
Eggs (12) 7.35 lei
Local Cheese (1kg) 19.96 lei
Chicken Breasts
(Boneless, Skinless),
(1kg)
18.45 lei
Apples (1kg) 3.63 lei
Oranges (1kg) 4.55 lei
What Avg. Price
Tomato (1kg) 4.65 lei
Potato (1kg) 2.09 lei
Lettuce (1 head) 2.32 lei
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 2.41 lei
Bottle of Wine (Mid-
Range)15.00 lei
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter
bottle)2.85 lei
Pack of Cigarettes
(Marlboro)13.80 lei
Transportation [Edit] Avg.
One-way Ticket (Local
Transport)2.00 lei
Monthly Pass (Regular
Price)50.00 lei
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 1.79 lei
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) 1.68 lei
Taxi 1hour Waiting
(Normal Tariff)15.00 lei
Numbeo
Click on the button below and find out the cost of living in Romania and any other country in case you want to go for a visit!
During the day – beside regular work or study activities, Romanians use to go to parks, museums, to cafes or bars, go to the pool (during summer), do sports or have a barbeque. It depends on
how much free time do you have and which are your hobbies.
Romania's nightlife can be easily matched with the one that you usually see in other European countries. There is something for everyone here, and the lively people and the great atmosphere make any choice as a good one for a night out. Whether you are having a traditional dinner in a fancy restaurant, get a cheap and
tasty beer in a student's bar or just dancing all night long in a posh nightclub among beautiful Romanian women, you will definitely
get the taste of true fun and spirit of the locals.
Lifestyle
Clubbing in Romania
Nightclubs
The nightclubs are the favorite places for the wealthy to steam off, but students also love the hip-hop haunts and the latest sounds of the pop charts. The entrance fees are much lower
than the western ones, ranging somewhere $2 to $5.
Generally, the safety in Romanian nightclubs is not a problem. The only caution is: avoid leaving any handbags or personal items (like cell phones, sun glasses on the table while heading on the dance floor).
The best clubs are concentrated in or around the center of the towns, making club-hopping a great option for the tourists who want diversity in one night. If you are looking for the same quality that you usually find in the great European countries, the choices might narrow down to up to ten clubs in the main cities.
Bars
Young Romanians like to gather in bars and have cappuccinos, imported beer and cocktails. It is a great way to spend few hours with your friends and check the local atmosphere. Locals also love to go in underground pubs, with good live music and medieval atmosphere;
Dress code
Generally, dress code is casual, except the case you are heading for the casino or fancy night clubs. Romanian people don't get dressed up when going out like people do in NY for example. This is a good thing, as the local atmosphere is more funny and relaxed.
Romanian seaside – Black Sea
Places to travelCHECK HERE RECCOMENDATIONS about what you should
visit in Romania
o Recommendation 1
o Recommendation 2
Bran Castel – Dracula’s Castle
Romanian countryside
Carpathian Mountains
Bucharest Parks – here you have Carol Park
Getting to Romania by Plane
The airlines member of the Sky Team partnership (Delta, KLM, Air France
and Alitalia) offer excellent connections from all major airports in North
America to Romania's capital city - Bucharest.
Romania's national airline Tarom as well as most European Airlines
are offering flights from cities in Western and Central Europe to
Bucharest, Cluj, Iasi, Sibiu and Timisoara.
Arad, Bacau, Bucharest, Cluj, Craiova, Oradea, Sibiu, Targu Muresand Timisoara are also connected with cities in Europe by low-cost
airlines
such Air Berlin, Blue Air, Carpat Air, Niki and Wizz Air.
Transportation
Domestic Transportation - Train
Romania has a well-developed railway network that covers virtually the whole country. Trains are one of the most popular means of
getting around Romania.
They are inexpensive and generally on time.
Three different services are offered.
The cheapest and slowest are local the local trains - Regional ( R ).
Faster and more expensive are the InterRegional trains ( IR )
that require a seat reservation along with the ticket.
The fastest and the most expensive are Inter-City Trains ( IC ).
You can check the rail map of Romania here:
http://www.romaniatourism.com/romania-maps/romania-rail-map.html
Domestic Transportation - Bus
There are several bus companies that offer fast and inexpensive connections between Romania's main cities.
Inter-City bus stations (Autogara) are usually located near to the train station.
To check bus schedules (domestic routes) please visit: www.autogari.ro
Bus, rented car or taxi might be the only available option for travelers interested to explore some remote areas.
Domestic Transportation - Taxi
Taxis are available in every city and larger towns in Romania.
They can be summoned by telephone or hailed on the street.
Authorized taxis can be recognized by the TAXI sign on the roof.
All Taxis should be equipped with meters.
Taxis can also be ordered by calling specialized companies which
can confirm the rates / mile and approximate cost of the ride.
Drivers approaching you at the airport or at the train station in Bucharest
are likely to inflate their rates; please avoid them.
PAY ATTENTION TO TAXI DRIVERS FROM BUCHAREST! PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER IF THEY INVITE YOU FOR A CAB!!! USUALLY some of
THEY EXTRA-CHARGE, so PLEASE do NOT take the RISK!
For longer trips outside the city limits rates can be negotiated.
Taxi tariffs vary from city to city:
upon entry $ 0.5 - $ 1.2
trips within city limits $ 0.8 - $ 2 / mile
Here you have the contacts of all Local Committee Vice-Presidents:
http://aiesecromania.wix.com/igcdpromania#!contact/c1ttv
+40 726 445 338
Bianca PaulGCDPi National Vice-President
National contact
We are waiting for you!
Thank you for reading!