“Bucharest is literally a buzzing city.”
Semester abroad in the land of Dracula?
Romania. What do you think of first? Land of the gloomy Dracula, communism, old ruined castles… At least that was my first thought. As I wanted to get to know the country and the culture behind these preconceptions, I decided to spend a semester abroad at the Romanian American University in Bucharest.
Application process
After an informative interview with the International Office, I sent off my application. The entire application process went smoothly, I quickly received positive feedback and was able to start planning. The International Office was always available to answer any questions I had, both before and during the mobility.
Even before we arrived in Romania, we were in contact with Anna Maria, the Erasmus coordinator at the Romanian American University (RAU). She was able to answer our questions about the student residence, our courses and possible leisure activities on site.
Planning and arrival
As I was lucky enough to be traveling to Romania with two of my fellow students from Bielefeld, most of our planning consisted of deciding whether to move into the university dormitory on site or rent our own apartment. In the end, we decided to move into the hall of residence for the first month. On the one hand, we wanted to make contacts more quickly, and on the other hand, we wanted to be able to view the apartments directly on site. We booked our flights online via Wizz Air. And so we were finally ready to go.
The first days
We flew from Dortmund airport to Bucharest. As we had already joined an “Erasmus in Bucharest” WhatsApp group beforehand, we knew that we could take the 783 airport bus directly to the university dormitory. When we arrived at the Romanian American University, the dormitory manager Mr. Sam welcomed us. We filled out all the necessary documents in his office. It should be mentioned at this point that you have to pay a deposit of 100 euros, which you only get back later on the condition that you don’t move out early. Our room was quite small, but sufficient for the time being. However, after just a few days in 25 square meters, we were soon sure that we would like to move into our own apartment.
We met up with other Erasmus students even before the semester officially started. As the weather was still super nice at the beginning of October, we went to the park or explored Old Town. The semester then officially started with a big ceremony in the assembly hall. Unfortunately, the entire ceremony was in Romanian, so we didn’t understand a word, but it was still interesting to see how the start of the semester is celebrated in Romania. Afterwards, all Erasmus students were given a tour of the university and we received small goodie bags from the RAU.
University and courses
The semester in Romania is divided into two sections. You have one part of your courses in the first section and the other part in the second. I personally liked this very much, as it kept the stress before the exams to a minimum.
You have lessons in relatively manageable classes of 12 to 20 people. The professors speak very good English and are always happy when you tell them something about the German economy. In general, the Romanian students are very interested in all Erasmus students and are happy to show you around Bucharest and the surrounding area.
Life in Bucharest
Bucharest is literally a “buzzing” city. Outdoor dining is celebrated in Old Town like nowhere else, because even in December when it’s below zero, people are still sitting under radiant heaters in front of cafés and restaurants. There really is always something going on. Whether you want to go out during the week or simply enjoy a coffee on a Sunday, Bucharest is definitely the place to be. As a German student, you can even treat yourself to a coffee more often at lei prices.
After the first month in the hall of residence, the three of us rented an apartment in the city, so we really felt like we were living in Romania. We had the odd nice cooking evening with our Erasmus friends in our kitchen.
Travel in Romania
Cluj Napoca, Sinaia, Bran, Alba Iulia, Sibiu, Brasov – these are just a few examples of cities that you should definitely see in Romania. With the Romanian student card, students in Romania can travel around the country free of charge. All you have to do is pick up a ticket at the station (which is free of charge) to reserve a seat on the train.
The Erasmus trips organized by the Exchange Student Network are also highly recommended. For example, we went to Dracula’s Castle in Bran on Halloween with lots of other students from all over the world and visited Christmas markets around Sibiu on the winter trip.
Conclusion
Have my prejudices been confirmed? Yes and no. Romania is definitely the land of Dracula, but very different from what you think. What’s more, the country and its people surprised me in a very positive way. Bucharest is a city full of contrasts that will always have a place in my heart and with which I now associate many memories. Erasmus also gives you the opportunity to get to know students from many other European countries and you learn a few new words, gestures and customs that you can now bring back to Germany. Would I choose Romania again? Again and again!
