"Come with an open mind and forget about cooked food."
Ana Ghiban is a student in The Hague and a ROMPRO volunteer where she helps with English translations.
What made you come to the Netherlands?
International atmosphere, liberal attitude and quality of education and life.
Before leaving Romania, did you feel informed about what was waiting for you here? Did you have any pleasant surprises or the opposite? What do you wish you had known or had available that could have made the process easier for you?
Not coming directly from Romania, I cannot speak about the experience of direct transition between the two cultures. However, a visit and a lot of time spent reading prepared me quite well with correct expectations about the Netherlands. The surprises were mostly pleasant, the only exception being the amounts of bureaucracy in Dutch.
How long have you been here? Have you adapted well to the new culture? How was the process and how long did it take? How long did it take you to feel at home? What problems did you face or are you still facing?
I have been in the Netherlands for almost a year. From a cultural point of view, my transition here has been very smooth and natural, with obstacles more related to being a student than to being Romanian. I see The Hague mostly as an extremely welcoming city and I really enjoyed the process of getting to know it. I felt at home after only a few months.
What do you still find difficult to understand about Dutch culture?
The spirit of independence at a young age amazes me.
What has changed in your way of life since living here?
I have certainly become much more pragmatic and practical, as well as much more careful about spending. I cycle much more often and appreciate the sunshine enormously. I've also learned to appreciate the beauty of order, but also of disorder.
How do you see the relationship with other Romanians and the preservation of the Romanian identity abroad?
I see them as important, but difficult to achieve. From my point of view, Romanian identity lacks a spirit of patriotism and community, especially compared to other countries. At my university, for example, many groups have been formed with students from France, Italy, Spain, etc. But Romanians, although there are enough of us, do not have such a defined group. Although this makes me sad, I am passionate about preserving the Romanian identity and I hope I can contribute to the mobilisation of our community through various events and organisations like rompro.
Why did you choose to get involved in the Foundation's work and what would you like to achieve through your contribution?
On the one hand, for the reasons explained in the previous question. On the other hand, I hope to strengthen my personal relationship with the Romanian language and culture by helping with translations and keeping up to date with the events of the Romanian community in the Netherlands. I am also excited to support efforts to unite Romanians abroad.
What do you like to do? What profession have you chosen and why?
Currently, I am a student in the fields of governance, economics and development, largely inspired by my childhood experiences in countries like Romania and a few countries in Asia with growth and development potential. I want to eventually return to these communities and improve situations there.
Would you like to tell us about a funny, interesting or maybe not so pleasant event that you experienced in the Netherlands?
To counter my earlier example about the lack of patriotism at my university, I will recount an event that really made me proud to be a Romanian here. We had a 'Culture Day' where many countries represented by students, including Romania, held stalls with food, music, decorations, and other cultural items. At this event, Romania's stall was by far the most cheerful, popular, and decorated, with the loudest music and the longest party afterwards. What it means to be Romanian is much clearer abroad.
What are your plans for the future and how will you put them into practice? Do you consider Dutch society to be a good environment for them? If not, what would be the obstacles to their realisation?
With my academic background, I dream of a career in an NGO that helps countries develop economically and politically. Although the Netherlands has a lot to teach us, I am not convinced that this kind of work can be effectively carried out remotely from the comfort of the kingdom of bike lanes. However, I continue to believe in the educational environment and support Dutch methods based on efficiency, innovation, and tolerance that got the country where it is today.
Do you have any advice for people thinking of emigrating to the Netherlands? Or would you like to convey something specific that you couldn't through the answers above?
Come with an open mind and forget about cooked food.
Your motto or a quote that motivates you.
"I'd rather regret the things I did than regret the things I didn't do." -Lucille Ball
