After living for so many years in the Netherlands, we started to appreciate the idea of a community of Romanians, we started to understand that it would be very good to find out about one another, who we are, why we are here, why we feel good in this country.
And so the project Noi Rădăcini – New Roots – was born: a format based on short interviews, which will be published every week for a year. 52 interviews in total.
Who is it for? First, to say that Romanians feel good when living in the Netherlands. We can collect their stories, some different from the culture and traditions they left behind, and we can learn from them. We, Romanians, want to learn about other Romanians, to understand the different facets of living and being successful in the Netherlands.
Second, Noi Rădăcini wants to be a credible source of information for the Dutch people, focusing on the good things Romanians actually do in the Netherlands, from things that are tangible and easy to appreciate, to less tangible things that nevertheless make the Dutch society work.
There is also a third reason for Noi Rădăcini to exist, a reason perhaps only meaningful to the authors: we were and remain curious about Romanians living in the Netherlands. Who are these beautiful and courageous people?
I’ve learned to stop labelling, to make things relative. I’ve learned that you’re not the only one supposed to win, but you need to let the other one win as well; and that you need to think in perspective. I’ve learned you cannot accomplish anything on your own.
“… by learning the language I could understand the group, the community, the society. An important milestone was when I started getting the neighbors’ jokes and I could reply. I think this is an essential aspect of being able to enjoy other people’s company in a new place, it made me feel at home.”
“… here a public official will never expect to receive a graft from you. Never! If I think that something could be solved easier, I offer them an alternative and we have a dialogue – “Have you thought about this solution?” “Oh, yes, of course, this would be good.” Or: “No, this is not possible.”
“If the community you refer to is the people who participate in the life and society in the Netherlands with all their heart and soul, I am one of them. But I want to stress again that I feel I am an international citizen.”
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