Why Romania?
What made you choose Romania as your study destination?
The initial reason that I chose Romania was because of the full scholarship opportunity to pursue my bachelors degree, however the reason I decided to remain in Romania was because of the warmth of the people and the opportunities that were available to me, even as a non-European. Romania is culturally rich and is growing everyday in diversity and those are two things that are very important to me.
How has your experience in Romania been so far?
Tell us about your studies, daily life, and what stands out most to you. (In what ways has this experience supported your
academic or professional growth?)
My experience in Romania has been one of the best and boldest adventures I've had so far. Moving from the Caribbean to Eastern Europe was a very big jump and I went into it completely alone, completely on faith. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made because I have been able to pursue opportunities that I have only dreamed of and been in spaces that I could have never imagined. The experience of being in Romania is one of personal and professional growth because it forced me to find myself and become secure in who I am and what I want in life. What stands out to me the most is the balance. While there are many internships, courses, programs to develop academically, there are just as many opportunities for meeting people, unwinding, forming connections and prioritizing myself.
What do you think about your study programme, instructors (teachers, staff), and university facilities?
How do they compare with what you expected before coming here?
I think the study programme, instructors, and university facilities are generally good. Things are mostly what I expected before coming here. There have been positives and a few areas that could improve; for example, there may be language barriers between students and professors or the fact that the school system in Romania may be difficult to assimilate to depending on where you are coming from. Overall, it’s been a decent experience. The biggest positive thing is that there are many opportunities for internships and volunteering; for example, I am a Peer-to-Peer Student Tutor for International Students at my university and through that program, I was able to receive volunteering credit and also complete the internship that is required of students. There are also multiple job fairs during the school year so it's a perfect opportunity to network.
What have you learned in Romania — academically, professionally, or personally?
What’s something valuable you can truly say “I learned that in Romania”?
In Romania, the biggest lesson I've learned is that no man is an island; we all need a support system and community. It is easy to get lost and isolated, especially moving away from the life and home you've always known. However I've discovered that with the right people around you, you can create that sense of community and support and that definitely lightens the load. I've found that this can be applied to work, personal life and school life.
What do you enjoy most about living in Romania?
(It could be about the culture, people, food, cities, or your university experience)
The food. I am naturally a lover of food and this is something I was initially worried about when moving here, but I was very pleasantly surprised. There is such a wide variety of cultural foods available here and they’ve become very comforting to me. I've found that food helped me connect to Romania and to discover the beauty and warmth of the country.
Do you have any advice for future international students considering studying in Romania?
What would you say to someone thinking about studying in Romania?
My advice would be to come with an open mind. I know as humans we love our comfort and tend to reject things that are not familiar to us, but in order to get the full experience, you need to have an open mind. Try new things, learn the language, try to understand the culture, expect to make mistakes. This isn't a linear process and it will be hard and you will make mistakes but it is all a part of the experience.