It is no secret for anyone Romania is not a rich country, at least in Europe, to use the most common comparison. To be more precise, the average income was about EUR 439 per month (before taxation), respectively EUR 319 per month (taxed) at the end of 2010. Also, according to the IMF data, the country ranks 67 of 182 investigated in terms of the GDP per capita, with USD 7390, between Panama and Costa Rica. In Europe, that is 4.37 times less than the EU average of USD 32283, respectively 5.48 times less than Germany, which ranks 19 in the world. Also in Europe, Romania is doing slightly better than Bulgaria or Montenegro, but slightly worse than Poland or Russia. On a world scale, Romania’s GDP per capita is roughly USD 1600 below the world average (2010 data). And, expectedly, statistics say little about the countless doing underground, paperless jobs or about those that are on the starvation threshold while making EUR 100-150 per month in small communities but not exclusively there.

However, when crossing large cities like Bucharest, Constanța, Brașov or Cluj, one stares in wonder at the bonvivance that goes all the way to a seemingly care-free life that fills bar and designer store-lined streets, as well as those ever more widespread, but equally crowded malls. And people rarely look for the bottom line bargain while there. Of a romance (or Balkan, put it as you may) nature, people here have always liked to congregate, eat and drink, have a good time and chat, while everything is overwhelmed by an atmosphere somewhere between endless complaints and the above-mentioned carelessness as far as the future, any future, is concerned. Starting with grandma’s tea and homemade jam chatting sessions on a hot August Sunday afternoon and all the way to the packed dozens of locales in Bucharest’s Old Quarter on next to any night, the shape might have changed, but not the core.

There can hardly exist a routine in this country, as people enjoy having a good time and, at the end of the day, spending. Simply crossing any of the larger cities in this country will show enough contrasts for a while: the latest Mercedes or Porsche will often be parked in front of the insipid, typical Communist era apartment building located in a crumbling faubourg. People will often spend half a day (or even a full day) while shopping, dining out and watching movies at rates similar to those in Germany, if not higher. Shopping is an as serious as one can get businss here: it is not the texture, fabric, design or price that matters, but the label. Many people prefer driving for well over an hour in Bucharest to and from work instead of taking the subway for 20-30 minutes, as this is, in their eyes, an inferior, demeaning means of transport; I shall never forget the Greek tragedy-like sadness in a colleague’s eyes when, Christ, he had to use the public transport for a couple of days. Cooking one’s food (even using 10 in 1, ‘do-it-yourself’ frozen or dehydrated stuff) has turned into an obsolete thing one should be ashamed of even considering. Employees often spend EUR 5 for ordering food at work on a daily basis. Multiply this by an average of 20 business days a month and then subtract it from the average income or, let us be generous here, a 30%, OK, say 50% higher monthly income. Add on car fuel for an average of 10 km. in bad traffic every day, a weekly mall incursion, a few movies here and there, some clubbing nights, a few beers with friends and at least a new shirt every month. Rent, household expenses, bank installments, these come last in Romanians’ mind and, you have guessed it right, only once the other ‘basic needs’ have been accommodated. Savings, insurance, the / any concern for the future? You nuts or just plain stupid?

Bine, that is the Romanian’s option, one might argue. Indeed, but not later than the following day the very same person will complain with what might appear (but only that) to be concern in the eyes: “I have no money, I make such little money, ay, ay”. Does our fellow ever admit his fault and even attempt to put some ordnung in his life? Cut some expenses, work more, get a second job, be more diligent? Never. Why? As it is never his fault, but life’s. That bitch that is always so hard on him. To put it the Paraziții way that could hardly describe the Romanian routine in a more accurate way:

‘Life is a bad joke, don’t take it serious.’

Is Romania a poor country? One might argue Germany is poorer.