First, tell us a little about yourself. Who is Gabi Ungureanu?
Gabi: Gabi is one of the Romanians who dreamed of a world full of possibilities, free of the frustrations and problems they faced for years in their homeland. Born in the last years of the communist period and raised in the chaos that followed, I still remember my childhood with great pleasure. I admit with some pride that I was one of the children brought up with the key around my neck, who enjoyed enormous freedom, always out playing and always surrounded by friends.
Graduating from a mediocre industrial high school, but excelling in sports, I chose to attend the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, where I later graduated as a teacher. A profession I never practiced, for a variety of reasons.
Motivated by my experiences in the "neighbourhood", I wanted to work in the police or gendarmerie since I was a child. Unfortunately, this was not possible. I quickly settled for a position in a military unit in my home town, considering myself privileged.
Weighed down by disappointments, I decided in 2010 to embark on the biggest adventure of my life. I truly believed that the only way to evolve and change my existence was to leave the environment I grew up in, embrace the unknown and test my limits.
What brought you to tulip country?
Gabi: From Romania we went to Denmark. There I met my current wife, of Dutch origin, who was studying there. After finishing her studies, she returned to the Netherlands. I stayed in Denmark, but we kept in touch and visited each other whenever possible. After about a year, we decided to live closer to each other and that's how we ended up in the Netherlands.
In the Kingdom of the Netherlands, you have chosen to follow one of your dreams - to become a policeman. Did you find it difficult to study in Dutch? What other challenges did you face?
Gabi: Yes, indeed, I always wanted to work as a policeman. The Dutch police not only allowed it, but welcomed me with open arms. Although it was very difficult for me in the first years after I came to the Netherlands, I accepted everything as a challenge. The challenges were constant and at all levels. But the fact that I was not alone made a big difference. My wife was a real guide to the Dutch way of life. Although we didn't live together for the first two years and we each had our own concerns, she helped me enormously to integrate into Dutch society. She encouraged me when it was difficult and supported me in all the decisions I made.
I was always aware that not speaking Dutch would always make me feel like a foreigner and that it would be very difficult for me to understand Dutch society. I started studying the language as early as in Denmark and continued diligently after my arrival here. When I moved to the Netherlands, I didn't know that Romanians were not allowed to work here. Scared that no one would hire me legally, I immediately registered with the Chamber of Commerce as self-employed and started looking for work. I worked as a painter, organised sports and self-defence workshops at various schools and opened a karate school in the area where I lived. That's how I earned my living for two years. The fact that I didn't have a steady job gave me the freedom to study Dutch. After two years in the Netherlands, I had managed to learn the language to an acceptable level.
Having been granted employment in 2014, I managed to get a job as a ticket inspector on a bus. Later I took the bus driver course in that company and worked for three years as a driver. Looking for a new challenge, I applied for a job as a guard at a prison, where I worked for a year. All these experiences helped me enormously in the integration process and indirectly prepared me for my studies at the Police Academy.
Still enthusiastic about wanting to work as a police officer, I applied for Dutch citizenship and subsequently to the Police Academy for the position of Chief Constable. Although I didn't know if my level of Dutch would be sufficient to graduate, I dedicated myself fully to the courses and strived to finish the academy with top results. A goal that I achieved with flying colours. At the moment, I work as a chief constable at the Burgwallen police office in the centre of Amsterdam and I am the only Romanian working in the Amsterdam police.
What is the community like where you live, did you feel welcome in the West?
Gabi: At first I felt invisible. As long as you don't fit in and actively participate in society, you don't exist. At least that's the feeling I had. Having no family or friends nearby, no social life, not knowing the traditions, customs and culture and not speaking the language, I felt incredibly isolated. After my experiences in Denmark, I didn't even necessarily feel the need to get in touch with other Romanians living in the Netherlands. I tried to rediscover myself in an environment where I didn't exist and rebuild everything from scratch.
But, as I mentioned above, being in a relationship with someone born and raised in the Netherlands helped me enormously in the integration process and gave rise to many opportunities. With baby steps and a lot of help, I managed to build a world of my own that I could call home.
If you were to draw a parallel between Romania and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, what differences do you see in economic, social and cultural terms?
Gabi: The differences are enormous. The Netherlands has its problems too, but a different kind of problems, on a different level. I sometimes miss the hospitality and warmth I was used to in Romania, but the living conditions, the standard of living, the Dutch mentality, the income, the services and the endless opportunities the Netherlands offers make it a country where everyone can have access to a decent existence and, why not, a high standard of living. Society globally is constantly on the move, and the pace is dizzying. In my opinion, Dutch society is adapting to global changes and at the same time pulling all social classes along with it, moving as a whole. No one is left behind, everyone has equal opportunities and there is room for everyone. Or at least that's the way it's meant to be. This probably also explains why more than 180 nationalities live in Amsterdam and more than 170 in The Hague and Rotterdam.
You have shown interest in collaborating with the Romanian community here through your job. Can you give us more details?
Gabi: The Dutch police maintain contact with the different ethnic communities living in the Netherlands. We call them netwerk-communication networks. The aim is to improve contact between different ethnic groups and the Police, to facilitate access to information for both citizens and the Police, and to improve the image of the Police in general. In the absence of a netwerk Romanian community in Amsterdam, we thought it would be interesting to try to get in touch with the Romanian community here. The aim is to bring the Romanian community out of anonymity and to try together to solve existing problems and, of course, to prevent undesirable situations.
Although I didn't know anything about the Romanian community in Amsterdam, I got in touch with the Rompro organization and I was pleasantly surprised by their good organization. The level of enthusiasm and commitment shown towards the Romanian community in Amsterdam and beyond is admirable. Not only was I very well received by the Rompro people, but they were very excited about the idea of collaboration. I have already visited the Romanian school in Amsterdam, where I was welcomed by the children. We are currently trying to organise an information event together.
One last question, since you have been living in the West for some time: do you have any advice for Romanians who are thinking of emigrating?
Gabi: I don't know if I'm in a position to give advice, nor do I feel comfortable doing so, but I can certainly say it won't be easy. Try to learn the Dutch language and integrate as quickly as possible, regardless of the length of stay. They will be appreciated for their effort. Respect local customs and values. Seek and accept help whenever needed, but don't be naive. They should not forget that they are Romanians and that in the eyes of the Dutch they represent, without meaning to, the entire Romanian community. Let them be honest and fair and they will be respected everywhere. And if they ever have the opportunity, they should introduce the Dutch to Romanian traditions and food.
Interview by Magda Mincu.
Magda has been living in the Netherlands since 2012 with her family. She is a translator by profession (predominantly from Dutch into Romanian) and has been part of the marketing team of the Rompro Foundation since early 2022. She chose to become a volunteer in the Foundation primarily out of a desire to socialize with other Romanians living in the Netherlands, but also to help with information and translations.
