“- Where are you from? – It’s complicated…’’

“- Where are you from? – It’s complicated…’’

Indeed. It is complicated to explain that I am a Romanian volunteering for 6 months in France, who is visiting Germany for the first time, just for the week-end. Why is that, you may wonder. Well, deep down, all European citizens know few things about Romania, which are not that positive. Eventually, when you say you are Romanian, they have that facial expression sort of “Oooh, Romania… I see…”. So you can imagine the invisible barrier that is immediately installed between me and my interlocutor. You may say I tend to exaggerate. Various people told me that, so you will not be the first. Still, when I start a conversation, I always fear that my interlocutor, whether he/she is also a foreigner or a native, will eventually pop the big question. And then all emotions and states of mind will invade my thoughts, gestures, voice…

Nevertheless, I have learned how to jump these invisible boundaries. Despite these awkward feelings which invade me, I have to repeat to myself that I can literally blow them up, even if they are invisible, by communicating in the language of my interlocutor, or one that we both know, so as to make a good impression when trying to expose my thoughts, in order to communicate.

Moreover, during my European Volunteering Service and my Erasmus scholarship, I had the chance to interact with different natives form different work domains. They have boosted my self-confidence by complimenting my foreign language skills, which eventually led to blowing up the invisible barrier that I was telling you about.

Furthermore, crossing several physical borders of different European countries, for different reasons that vary from studying, working to just traveling, gave me the chance to empower my self-esteem, as I have realized that I made it: I have arrived to a foreign country and succeeded in communicating and expressing my questions, opinions, thoughts, feelings etc.

Apparently, the only barrier was installed in my head, as many persons confirmed it and insisted on boosting a positive perception of the European way of thinking, which varies from one nationality to another, but which is the same when it comes to equality, multiculturalism, cultural exchange and personal rights.

Many people jumped these borders and boundaries before me and have achieved accomplishments in all their forms. Several were Romanians, so I now know that anything is possible if you just believe in yourself and your qualities. I know feel more confident, as my goal is to explore the European cultural richness, while adding more kilometers to the boundaries that I have already jumped in order to go to France (twice, in two different geographical areas), Germany, Italy and Greece.

To sum up, I now feel extremely relaxed when the big question pops up. The concise answer that I say out loud continues in my head with “Yes, I am Romanian and I have succeeded in being here today, talking to you and take part to this event.”