Bucharest is included in the Top of the European capitals preferred by the expats. Actually, the expats love Bucharest, since this city provides them with a life that perhaps they were not able to live in their native country.
Even though we, Romanians, are somewhat accustomed to complain that we hate this, are bothered by that, and to claim that life abroad is better, reality contradicts us from many standpoints.
The journalist occupation granted me the opportunity to talk with many expats working in Romania. Every single one of them declared themselves delighted with the way Bucharest has progressed and with the changes having taken place in our country. Unlike us, the foreigners visualize much better the city’s progress, which, from their standpoint, is spectacular.
Perry Zizzi, Managing Partner within one of the most important global group of law firms, came into contact with Romania ever since his Faculty years. This encounter took place sometime in the ’80s, when he attended a number of classes in Eastern Europe and Russia. At that time, he didn’t consider even for a minute the option of settling down in our country. Moreover, under the influence of some tales told by his close friends, when getting the chance to revisit Bucharest, during a layover in the capital, he preferred to stay in the airport, „being afraid of the dangerous packs of dogs roaming on the dimly lit streets.”
In 2003, nevertheless, he was going to persuade himself that preconceptions can cause you to miss important things. Driven by his occupation, of a business lawyer, Perry Zizzi came to do business in Bucharest. Today, after more than 15 years since he has started to work in the capital of Romania, he is one of the expats who love Bucharest.
He is not possessed of the hypocrisy, which we encounter in certain cases, to say that he is a Romanian. Because of his occupation implying business journeys throughout the world, he cannot be naturalized either. However, Perry Zizzi says that he likes the city, is feeling great here, and when he has spare time, he explores it. Moreover, when he is visited by friends from abroad, he is delighted to show Bucharest to them and walk them through unique places.
He is the advocate of simple pleasures, so, when off-work, he goes to the swimming pool or ice skating (the choice depends on the season) or he simply tours around Bucharest Parks.
Romanians are Open Toward Foreigners
Another „senior” expat in Romania is Markus Piuk. The lawyer with Austrian origin had his first contact with these lands as a student, when he spent his holiday in our country. The places he saw impressed him and he was determined to return as a trainee lawyer. The destiny caused him to find his other half in our country.
Markus advocates that to a young graduate that he was, eager to build himself a successful career, Bucharest represented the ideal place to develop for himself a small business. What he enjoyed the most was the fact that the local people were extremely hospitable and have always had an open attitude toward foreigners.
Daniele Iacona got to Romania absolutely by chance, coming in January 2007 with a three-month scholarship from the European Union.
During his studies, the Italian lawyer received a collaboration offer from a company, and thus he established a work relationship in our country, getting to develop a successful international career for himself.
His first contact with Bucharest was not so appealing to him. Daniele recounts that for a while he lived in Piaţa Unirii / Union Square area and was very much bothered that the streets were not lit during the night. However, things changed, and all this time the lawyer discovered another facet of the capital of Romania. He spent a great part of his spare time exploring the historical areas in Bucharest. The long strolls in the Lipscani area, where he was fascinated by the scent of the old buildings, represented one of his favorite activities. That is the way he came to love the city and to conclude that Romania has a lot to offer.
The life stories of the three foreign lawyers come to highlight the fact that Bucharest is a friendly city toward the expats; it is a city offering a multitude of possibilities to those who wish to develop professionally. The important thing is to discover those levers which can support you and to be always possessed of the openness to accept the change.