Life in Romania

Hi,

I've been away in the UK for a few months and then when we returned it was the peak of the summer holidays. But schools are back and things are returning to normal.

So while I was gone Romania got accepted to join the EU... Interesting... Obviously the EU commision haven't been to this part of Romania if they think Romania is ready for the EU!

More on that soon!

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We thought we had escaped! Last week the men in their space suits came and only killed the chickens on two or three streets. But then yesterday it was annouced that all the chickens in the whole village would have to be killed. They started yesterday and I know some people who had their chickens killed already. Today it looks like they are on my street. I will try and get a photo!!!

It looks like the men in their space suits will be moving into our village next. The rumour was that we would go under quarantine today but someone I know checked with the vice-mayor and it seems that we will not be quarantined but they will start killing the chickens and adding disinfectant baths on the road exits from the village!

Just a little story to show that these quarantines of whole towns and villages are really just a farce and political moves to be seen to be doing something. I have heard lots of stories of people being able to break the official cordons. One story was about a guy who drove in and out of a quarantined town the whole week it was closed off as when he reached the barrier he just drove on and no-body bothered to chase him. Someone else told me of someone who simply just left (and later re-entered) a sealed of area by walking through the woods!

Finally, I am no expert but spraying my car won't stop the mud or animal dung on my shoes or boots!

According to the news things are getting worse. More cases are being found in our area and now the biggest city in our county has suspected cases! The good news is that day to day life here in my village hasn't been effected too much. I needed to change some money today and I was able to leave the village (which is OK as we aren't yet under quarantine) and head away from the quarantined town to another one (about 13KM away). They have a bank there and I was able to change my money!

Apparently the state has started criminal proceedings against one chicken farm for criminal negligence.  I wondering if they will ever convict anyone... These things have a tendency to go quiet after a while!

Bird flu has struck here in our district. The closest town (just 7KM away) is now under quarantine and there are lots of rumours about dead chickens here in our village. At the moment day to day life isn't affected too much. I had a meeting today with some board members for an organization in which I am involved and the other members were able to come and go as long as they chose their routes carefully to avoid any road blocks.

Watch this space...

The European Union has failed to come to a conclusion on whether to allow Romania and Bulgaria to enter on 1 January 2007 or delay entry until 2008. Instead the European Commission will review the situation by October.  European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said Romania needs to “demonstrate further results” in the fight against corruption, investigations into graft and implementation of judicial reform.

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Romania the is the only European country where you can get fined for having a baby! Most countries try to help out, but no, not here.

In my last post I mentioned that I got my new resident's permit, but what I didn't tell you was that when I went to collect it the police officer told me I had to pay a fine. Why? Because my wife had given birth of course! Apparently any foreigner in Romania, who is the parent of a child born in Romania, has to inform the local police within 15 days of the child's birth! My boy is almost 1 years old now!

It doesn't matter that the boy has a Romanian birth certificate, that his mother is Romanian... Oh no... You are a foreigner so you must pay a fine.

Life in Romania!

G.

If you remember during the New Year I got my wallet stolen. Well now 4 months later I have manged to replace all my documents. First I got a new passport, then I had to get a new resident's card, which I received this week and finally with the help of some friends on he UK I got another driving license.

The good news that my resident's permits is valid until 2011 so I shouldn't have to worry about fighting the bureaucracy for a while!!!

G.