ROMANIAN Local Market & Getting Lost | Moving Abroad Ep.34

In this video, join me as I explore a Romanian post office and local market for the very first time!
Upon arriving at the post office, I am met with confusion and a flurry of activity. Undeterred, I bravely navigate my way to pick up my package.
Next, we head to the local market to experience the vibrant culture and flavor of Romania! There is so much to see and explore here amidst the colorful stalls and delicious smells. As we wander through the market, I take in all of the sights, sounds, and smells, and met some of the friendly vendors who call this market home.
Join me on this exciting adventure as I experience the vibrant local culture of Romania for the first time!
Thank you for being here, for all of your support, and for experiencing life, learning, and growing with me XOXO

[@sierramarie]

This was so much fun! I love exploring the markets in Romania. I feel like every time I go, it’s brand new again ☺️

[@RaduRadonys]

Besides the history, the difference between Lei and RON is pretty simple. Lei is like saying dollars in the US, while RON is like saying USD, which is the international 3 letter code assigned by ISO (in this case the standard is ISO 4217). So RON is rarely used, mostly used in exchanges (eg. RON to EUR, etc). Other 3 letter codes are for instance CAD for Canadian dollars, EUR for Euros, JPY for Japanese yens, etc. Hope this helps :) also, don't use post offices for packages, post offices are kinda obsolete in Romania, better use couriers like FAN, Cargus, DPD, Sameday, etc. With many of these you can take your package from lockers, based on a QR code or SMS code.

[@sierramarie]

That is extremely helpful, thank you!!! Now I will use Lei ☺️ & great tip on the post office- I don’t think I’ll be returning there soon 😂😂

[@realjx313]

RON is from New Romanan Leu (lei is plural). So RO is the indicative for the country and N is for New Leu. At some point four 0s were removed (high inflation the 90s) and RON became the new ticker. Leu means lion and lei is lions. And the banknotes are hard to damage but they end up breaking (usually) in half after a while as everyone tends to bend them in the middle. Canada, Australia and many others have plastic money too. Ban is a cent while the plural is bani. Bani also means money. And ban can also be a somewhat archaic term that means some sort of leader like a king/tzar. And in latin it also means law, edict as far as i remember. So, for example, contraband comes from contra/counter so against and then ban, the law of the land.

[@evaherera1540]

I love your content and energy, keep being you and give us good vibes and great informations 💙

[@sierramarie]

Thank you so much Eva! 🫶🏼

[@user-ui1tz3tr7q]

Hi. I'm romanian but I live in Denmark from 1998. You manage very well in Romania. You must to talk with teenager og mature persons, because they talk english over 70%. I like that you show all the tninks from Romania, very objective.You are a sweet girl ! Respectly, Cristian

[@sierramarie]

I definitely have noticed that younger people speak English more! Also, thank you for your kindness!

[@ursdaniel]

Repetition is the mother of PERFECTION!! Keep talking in romanian so you get the PERFECTION!!

[@foxtrotcalifornia5492]

HALLO MARIE YOU HAVE HALLO MARIE

[@silviuvelovici8307]

Your first Romanian words. Not bad! 9/10. Ci is pronounced like in Da Vinci or in Chipotle.

[@sierramarie]

Okay 👌🏻 I will take 9/10!!! 🥳 Also, thank you for the tip! Very helpful!

[@silviuvelovici8307]

@@sierramarie Also, CE is pronounced tche like in the Czech Republic.

[@tanasaflorin3699]

You've got a lot of potential.

[@sierramarie]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@countdemoney9598]

that's Cluj my hometown

[@zerefcifer]

I don't know why I thought you were in Bucharest all this time. But yeah, seems like Brasov or Cluj from the landscape. Beautiful towns, much prettier than Bucharest, IMO. :)

[@sierramarie]

We haven’t been to Bucharest yet- I’m very curious!! I’ve heard mixed things about it 🤔

[@zerefcifer]

@@sierramarie More people, bigger stores and variety, but I wouldn't say it's pretty.

[@sierramarie]

What is your favorite city in Romania?

[@zerefcifer]

@@sierramarie I like Brasov, Cluj, Iasi, Timisoara, Piatra Neamt. There are many. Probably my favorite is Brasov. :)

[@sierramarie]

Brasov is on my must visit list! Along with Sibiu ☺️ I’ll have to look up the others you mentioned

[@alecsdimitriu]

Pretty girl,with beautiful eyes!🇷🇴🇷🇴🇷🇴

[@MrQ454]

In the post communism was of a period of high inflation (In 2003 1 Euro was 40 000 Lei), there were banknotes of 1000 000 and 5 000 000 lei! ” On 1 July 2005, the leu was revalued at the rate of 10,000 "old" lei (ROL) for one "new" leu (RON), thus psychologically bringing the purchasing power of the leu back in line with those of other major Western currencies. The term chosen for the action was "denominare", similar to the English term "redenomination".” So the term for Leu remained RON from then, even the old Lei disappeared from long time.

[@user-Jab1000]

Haven't been to cluj before; that market looks very small compared to the ones in Bucharest.

[@sierramarie]

I haven’t seen the ones in Bucharest- I’m curious how they differ!

[@user-Jab1000]

@@sierramarie The one in Obor (Bucharest) is huge and they have an awesome assortment of everything.

[@PopescuSorin]

3:06 7/10 for pronunciation 10/10 for trying

[@sierramarie]

Honestly…. Not bad!!! 👌🏻 I’ll take it 😁

[@realjx313]

You have to learn the alphabet, what sound for each letter and then there are a only handful of rules/exceptions for spelling. It's super easy and much easier than in Eng. The only difficult sound for Eng speaking people is â as it doesn't exist in English, expect when you say chicken with a certain accent and even there it's kinda vague. You can easily find the sounds online, maybe even on wiki. You pronounce the C in face the same as the as in mersul so as an S but it's not that. C followed by an E is an exception , CE is like in Che Guevara And CI is like the chi in chicken. And piciorul you pronounced as something that would be spelled pichiorul. CI is like the chi in chicken. You stumbled on 2 of the exceptions so it's ok, no big deal and now you know. GI and GE are like that too.

[@djprojectus]

You are like Alice in the Wonderland 😊👍

[@sierramarie]

Just follow the yellow brick road ☺️

[@realjx313]

Snacks that were in communist times too kinda, just lower quality back then pufuleti, ROM, Eugenia. Salam de biscuiti if you find them too. Also sunflower seeds (roasted and salted, you'll find bags in store) and even pumpkin seeds but not sure if they are all that popular nowadays - oh and don't eat these in public and obviously don't eat the shell , peal them. For more modern ones, i'll let others make some suggestions. And try the lemonade in RO (some foreigners really like it for some reason) and elderflower lemonade too, in restaurants, not bottled.

[@sierramarie]

Thanks for some suggestions! I have tried the ROM chocolate once- I was SHOCKED 😳🤣

[@sierramarie]

That’s really intriguing! I’ll have to check those commercials 😁

[@sorinpopa1442]

Think those people where starring at you, not because u look "different" it was because of the camera most likely ^^ One of my cousin girl , looks pretty similar to you and she is romanian ^^

[@sierramarie]

I have actually heard that a few times now! Very interesting 🤔

[@sorinpopa1442]

@@sierramarie ya some people here dont like to be filmed ^^ especially older people., or people from smaller towns. also u where talking to the camera basically in english (ur viewers) they prob. didnt knew whats happening who u talking to haha.

[@sierramarie]

@@sorinpopa1442 I can definitely see how people are probably like “what the heck is this lady doing” 😂😂😂

[@sorinpopa1442]

@@sierramarie ya exactly :)) she must be crazy talking in english to herself ^^ not easy to be a youtuber or streamer outside , talking to a cam. non stop :)) and carrying that cam. also . must hurt ur arm after a while.

[@sierramarie]

Haha so true 🤣

[@PopescuSorin]

leu - RON dollar - USD

[@ursdaniel]

I am so confused...you didnt supposed to go with your american girls(Pam included) to the tradițional food market?

[@sierramarie]

Yes ☺️ I try to be mindful showing others just in case they don’t want to be online

[@ursdaniel]

@@sierramarie I have a sugestion for future visits to local market. Every tuesday and wednesday from 10 am - 4 pm, and saturday from 7 am - 4 pm, their is a tradional local food market next to the big stadium, where you went to Untold. I Guess your girls, especially Pam who has been here for last 8 years, knows the place. I think its also somehow near to your place where you live. Maybe you will make the visit to this local fruits and vegetable market . :)

[@sierramarie]

Thanks for the suggestion, I haven’t heard of this one yet! I’ll have to check it out. Is it indoor or outdoor?

[@ursdaniel]

@@sierramarie outdoor. Snowing not included into the offer!!:))

[@sierramarie]

Well thank God 🙏🏻- I’m OVER the cold 😆

[@onkarjassal456]

What’s the best app for Romania to order taxi and food ?

[@sierramarie]

In major cities bolt is a great option for taxi- that way you can pay ahead and don’t have to worry about having cash handy & for food Glovo is our favorite!

[@onkarjassal456]

Great. I’m planning for visit soon to Romania this will really help. Thanks 🙏

[@sierramarie]

You are welcome, that is awesome!! I’m so excited for you ☺️

[@sierramarie]

In the larger cities you should be able to navigate with English only. Although, Romanians do appreciate the effort to try to speak Romanian, but they are also kind and understanding if you don’t. If you run across someone who doesn’t speak English just tell them sorry I don’t speak Romanian, it should be okay still. I recommend learning a few basic words like hello and thank you, it’ll go a long way. Overall people are very kind so I think you’ll be fine! 😊 Make sure to download google translate, that’ll come in handy in the grocery stores and if you need to speak to someone without English 😄

[@onkarjassal456]

@@sierramarie great . Yes I do use google translator to communicate with non English speakers and it’s really helps. Even when I was on Georgia 🇬🇪 it’s helped me. Thanks for your information and advice 🙏

[@user-ui1tz3tr7q]

Sorry....all the things..😮😂

[@ursdaniel]

No video this week? All good? :)

[@sierramarie]

It’s coming ☺️ today @ 4 pm!

[@ursdaniel]

@@sierramarie great!! On my way to Cluj-Napoca, I will watch IT!!

[@ursdaniel]

7k steps..hmm...thats strange...you ve walked a lot. Îs that Apple App Any good? :)))

[@sierramarie]

I think am getting ripped off 🤣 I definitely should have gotten 10K! I should manually count from now on lol

[@ursdaniel]

@@sierramarie haha. Good idea:))

[@ratiuvictor9533]

You don't want to leave in those kind of flower shops

[@sierramarie]

It would be the most beautiful home 🙂

[@ratiuvictor9533]

@@sierramarie You know that those big flower arrangements are for funerals. It's traditional for every family to get one so at a funeral there are dozens around the coffin and on top of it. Those shops usually also sell coffins, Candles and other things related to funerals.

[@sierramarie]

I was aware that is one of the reasons they sell flowers- it is the same in the states 🙂 Even here, to get flowers each year & take them when you visit loved ones!

[@foxtrotcalifornia5492]

SO APROPO ABAUT THE ROMANIAN MANY ARE FROM PLASTIC WE KEN "WASH MONEY " LEGALLY

[@sierramarie]

🤣🤣🤣

[@befreetv354]

ROL = Romanian Leu RON = Romanian New Leu (Lei plural) is the Original name.Its used widly in Romania

[@cornelspoiala623]

Chill out you look to scare we romanian do not eat so just calm down

[@sierramarie]

Chill is my middle name 😎