A year ago I re-discovered Romania. I say Re-discovered , because I was there in 1985 and never came back again until September 2011. In 1985 I was 13 years old and Romania was under Communism. It’s different now. However, Romania is still a challenge filled place in many ways, but also a warm, dynamic amazing place to be.

Since September 2011 I’ve visited Romania seven times and I’m now writing a book about the country and I’d like to share how re-discovering Romania has changed me.

To put it into perspective. I’m 40 years old and grew up in the very north of Sweden. I lived abroad for 12 years, purely out of desire for traveling and curiosity in meeting people from other cultures. I am a 'village girl' who has lived and assimilated life equally well on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean as in cosmopolitan London or France's rural sun drenched Provence.

Romania, however, is not like anything else.

I thought it was. In the beginning I thought I could compare it to France or Italy. But no. Romania is truly something else. Romania reminds me a bit of life in Southern Europe. The food, the wine, the sunshine, some of the architecture, the temperament, the style of driving a car. However, Romania is its own special, eclectic , unique 'being.'

I don’t know why I am so fascinated by this place. Maybe because it’s a country that has been hidden for so long?

Re-discovering this amazing country and meeting people here reminded me of some of my core values.

Human touch - rather than focusing on using and trusting technology all the time. Focusing on calling people and hearing people’s voices instead of texting and emailing. A big step for me, coming from technocratic Scandinavia where we, for example, are starting to see banks that only handle money on the net. Yes, Scandinavia is very efficient in many ways. However, I hope people here will not get swept away with technology, losing the human touch in the process.

Appreciation in general. In Romania people struggle with average salaries of 2-300 euros per month. They struggle with a government that is constantly disappointing its inhabitants and Romania is the EU’s second poorest country. But people there still smile at me, party hard and are incredibly hospitable.

Waste less. Consume less. Reflect on my every day usage of things. Calculate more.

Questioning common media. As a journalist, I constantly ask myself what I am actually reading in the press and seeing in the news, whose press it is and what interests the media I consume represents. In short, Romania is a place where there is a lot of mistrust, for obvious reasons. Scandinavia is completely the opposite, we trust the world around us. Sometimes too much, I think. Sometimes to the extent of being naive, because the place we grew up in treated us so well. It is indeed a strength to have trust. I just added some streetwise attitude to it after being in Romania.

Seeing strength coming from inside, with no need of constant 'Facebook-praise'. I’ve seen many Romanians with this inner strength, no need to have it highlighted or shouted about. They just do it. I admire them as a people. For their strength and endurance. I’m talking about the older generation and my generation - they have it all. The knowledge any leadership trainer in the world ( me included ! ) is teaching managers and employees, Romanians already have, because their lives have required all these tools.

Less complaining - if these Romanian women could live and thrive under really challenging circumstances, then I should be able to do it too. I also think of my own grandparents, especially my mum’s mother, who had seven children in cold, Northern Sweden 50-60 years ago. if they didn't complain, how can I?

Friends on Facebook. I decided to change my Facebook usage. On my private page now are only personal friends and /or people I have worked with. Meanwhile the Bucharest Lounge page is born out of passion for Romania, with a mission to spread positive and meaningful posts about the country. The distinction between a private page and an official page was important to me.

Actions speak. I can talk a lot. I love words. However, I have practiced choosing them more wisely during my year in Romania.

The most important thing, for me personally, has been not to rush things, go slower, keep things simple and keep on doing the things I do with heart and soul.

By Yvette Larsson, Guest Writer 

Yvette Larsson is Swedish and in the last 12 years has lived in Norway, Denmark, England, France and the French Reunion Island.  She holds qualifications in languages and journalism from Umeå University, Sweden and has 10 years experience in sports management. Yvette now owns her Coaching and Leadership Consultancy business and is   currently blogging and writing a book about Romania, while searching for project opportunities in Bucharest. 

(photo by Yvette Larsson)