Romania through the eyes of a serial hedonist. Several moments to remember

Romania has been an alluring mistress, managing to draw me here in my twenties and keep me interested until now, where I meet my early forties. Although I’ve aged, and become grey haired, she has not. Romania remains the most intriguing of pleasures, offering experiences and achievements that I could have only dreamt about had I not arrived here all those years ago.

By Charlie Crocker

Who else do you know who can say they were responsible for laying the first ‘cats’ eyes’ on the Romanian roads? They lasted approximately 12 hours before being dug up and attached to every horse and cart on the open road. My enthusiasm for repeating this venture was quashed and I pursued my love of people – and began my career in human resources!

It’s hard to believe I’ve spent more of my life here than in my own country, but what an amazing journey it’s been.

What’s kept me here for so long? The opportunity to create and build businesses; the unpredictability that every day brings; the strange, weird, sometimes frustrating, hilarious sights, sounds and experiences that are a daily occurrence in this exciting fast-changing environment. All the above and far more.

Some Romanian moments to remember:

l Queuing for oranges and bananas in Dorobanti market December – 1990; my first and last cioba de burta – 1991; skiing in Poiana Brasov wearing nothing but a black-tie – 1992; driving from Bucharest to Brasov in an hour and 45 minutes – 1993; Romania’s first Toga Party – 1994; crossing the Fagaras Mountain range in a 4×4 convoy including 10 vehicles – 1995; Romanian Easter in the painted monasteries – 1996; the first Romanian International cricket match played at the FRR National Stadium – July 2007; my three children being born – the youngest in Romania in 2007.

All in all I feel extremely lucky to have shared in the Romanian adventure over the last two decades, to experience history in the making whether it be Romania joining NATO or the EU last year, or the setting up of the first Romanian HR Club. Every day there are positive things happening and every day we are sent challenges to overcome, which only makes the achievements that much sweeter. Thank you Romanians and Romania for this and so much more.