Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs

It is election time in the United States. That makes it a good time to reflect upon on how Americans are perceived here in Romania. The truth is, it is a pleasure to serve in this country because of the respect nearly all Romanians have for America and Americans.

In general the United States is viewed in a very favorable light. English is the most often heard language and America is the destination of choice for many who go on summer internships and work study programs. It is difficult for Romanians to get to the U.S. because of our visa restrictions, but that doesn’t seem to deter many from wanting to go for a visit or to work. Many have family and relations in the U.S. and everyone asks us which state we are from. We reply and then are asked “Do you know Michigan, or California,” or where ever it is that the relations lives.

American music is everywhere. American movies play with sub titles on the T.V. and in the theatres. Many young people will answer that they learned their English not is school but watching movies or listening to the radio.

It is with more than ties of culture and destination however. America is viewed with respect for exactly the same reasons that many other countries are uneasy with our foreign policy.

The United States is seen as the most likely, perhaps only, defender of Romania’s freedom. That may seem a little strange but what appears to be the great fear in this country is that somehow Russia will return. Russia was the sponsor of the hated communist regimes and the U.S. is viewed as the only power that would stand up to the Russians. France and Germany are natural allies to Romania, but I feel that many here are unsure of the pacifist tendencies of those countries should Russia again wish to dominate Romania. Only the United States is willing to make the sacrifice to stand up for the interests of freedom around the world. That gets us into confrontations around the world and sometimes we confuse what the interests of freedom are, but the only security that Romania has from a resurgent Russia is the U.S.

Many Romanians read history in that the United States and Britain abandoned them at the Yalta conference near the end of World War II, but it is only the United States and Britain that now guarantee the freedom that now is flourishing in this country. Nancy and I and the rest of the Peace Corps presence here, help to promote the image that America is a country that cares. This January Romania is due to join the European Union. There is much excitement and trepidation on that achievement, but if I read the sentiment here, people would much rather be the 51st of the United States than the 26th of Europe.