Anyone from or currently living in Romania?

[Eyesopenwideawake]

After 19 years in Portugal I'm looking for my next adventure. I'm drawn towards Romania or Bulgaria, but the language of the former is very similar to Portuguese which is a big advantage.

Any Mumsnetters with personal experience, good of bad? Specifically re Sibiu, Cluj or Oradea.

Thanks.

I understand the language was similar to Italian, which is quite different.

Yes, me! I am here now. Happy to answer any questions.

How is life there for people who speak only English?

It’s a Latin based language that evolved into Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian. My Romanian daughters in law speak Spanish and Italian fluently along with English and one of them is also fluent in Portuguese as it was her chosen language at school or university. The parents and extended family of my daughters in law also speak Italian.

Hello! Gosh, where to start?! What's the good things about living there, and what's the bad. Looking from the perspective of a 62yr old single woman.

Mulțumesc!

Sorry OP, ended up super busy at work!

Good:

• I think people are generally very friendly but I am coming from living in other areas of the world which can be more reserved, whereas you’re coming from Portugal!
• Very cheap, I know prices are rising as they are everywhere but compared to UK it’s so cheap - I’m in the capital
• Weather very seasonal which I enjoy - you really feel all 4 seasons
• Outdoor lifestyle is big here, lots of places to hike and camp and explore
• Language is easier to pick up and people are very used to foreigners speaking no Romanian at all so they are delighted to find you speaking any and are very encouraging
• No problem at all speaking only English here in day to day life except from when sorting out services like wifi, documentation etc
• Cheap flights to Italy, Greece, Turkey, many other locations
• Pfivate healthcare pretty cheap

Bad:

• I don’t mind this but my family find it difficult compared to other places we’ve lived - it can be loud, chaotic, very in your face
• Travel within Romania is either long or expensive - trains are slow, roads are extremely busy, internal flights are very expensive
• Can be quite difficult to organise things - you book something, they never turn up, you make an appointment, nobody has it written down anywhere etc

Sorry that’s quite general! Happy to help with any specifics

@helpinghand100 Thank you so much! I've book a flight for 3 weeks in October - starting in Bucharest then a train trip to Sibiu, Timisoara, Oradea, Brasov and back to Bucharest. Of those cites which is your favourite?

I absolutely love Sibiu and Brașov. Brașov gets very busy as it is only two hours from Bucharest so lots of people from the city head up for the weekend, but even with crowds of tourists I adore it. I have not visited Timișoara but I know people say it is equally as beautiful as the other two, if not more. I know little about Oradea other than the fact there is a rapidly growing expat English speaking community there which would work well for you.

Bucharest is very unlike the other cities you have mentioned but it really does have my heart - it is manic, loud, chaotic, you name it. But so full of life.

I’m in Romania too! I love Brasov, hate Sibiu. Currently in a small town close to Sibiu, Cluj and Timisoara. I’ve also lived in Bucharest for many years, and studied in Brasov and Isai. I would recommend Cluj or Timisoara to you. We’re a similar age - feel free to PM me.

@MrsSchadenfreude have done so!