Hey, where's my change?

Often, when I go to KFC to buy a 5 piece chicken strip meal (which costs 9.90 RON), I give the cashier a 10 RON note and after a few seconds of hope, I realize that I'm not going to get my 10 bani coin back (bani are like cents). Why does this happen?

Hmm, I have no idea but this is a strange fact about Romania - they often don't give you back correct change. It's not always a loss to you either - give or take 10 to 20 bani above or below the actual price of the item, vendors often think it's just easier to "not worry about it".

But ... hey wait.. how do you say in Romanian, "I'm worried about it"? :(

Bryan

Attack of the foreigners

If I had a RON for everytime I've been asked "So, why Romania?", I'd basically still be a poor westerner living in Romania, but at least it would help pay for the ever increasing prices in this beautifully strange country.

Many times accompanied with a subtly accusitive smile, this question "Why Romania?" always leaves me with one basic feeling -- the feeling that I need to provide a good answer. So the real question is - what's the right answer? Why are all these foreigners here? What do they want? And will they leave? :)

Well, the quick answer to this question is "why not Romania?" Besides, it's a beautiful country filled with an intelligent and proud people, working hard and pushing Romania forward in new ways. Yes, there are negative aspects of Romania - as there are in all countries -but in the end, what I see is an honest and loving people that are slowly but surely trying to change Romania for the better.

Bryan