ROMANIAN - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Transcription

1 ROMANIAN - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Welcome to Bucharest We hope that you had a comfortable travel experience and we wish you a warm welcome to Bucharest, Romania. This pamphlet will give you all the information you need to make an easy transition to life both as a student and young adult in Romania - ranging from your post-landing procedure to traveling around the University as well as the city and even to movie discounts and restaurant recommendations. As you read through it, you will find experiences that previous international students encountered, as well as many quick tips. 1

2 Post-Landing Procedure After landing at the Henri Coanda International Airport, there are a few ways that you can arrive at the Romanian-American University. Getting a Taxi In order to call a taxi from the airport, you must use a touch-screen machine inside. You simply select the taxi cab service of your choice (Speed Taxi would be highly recommended), the machine will print a receipt with the taxis number and will tell you the amount of time it will take to arrive. Take a cab that has a fare of 1.39/km; Speed Taxi would generally be recommended. You can then step outside and wait for it to arrive. When you enter, tell the driver to take you to Romanian-American University on Bulveardul Expozitiei (Bu-le-var-dul Ex-po-zee-tsi-ay). It is approximately a 15 to 20 minute drive and should cost around 15 to 20 lei. Going by Bus Another route to get from the airport to the University is the 783 bus. It stops directly in front of the airport and goes toward Piata Unirii, which is in the center of the city. Take the bus for four stops and exit at Piata Presei Libere. Head southwest on Soseaua Bucuresti-Ploiesti toward the World Trade Center. Continue to walk down Bulevardul Expozitiei for about 500 meters, finding the University on your left. 2

3 Getting Settled Currency Romanian currency is the Leu (plural Lei; also referred to as Ron) If you want to exchange some money, the primary option is an authorized exchange office (if you want to exchange to lei) or a bank (if you want to exchange lei to other currency). 1 EUR = 4,42 LEI 1USD = 3,22 LEI 1GBP = 5,42 LEI Dorm and Internet Payments The price per month for a dorm room is 100 EURO per person. This payment should be made on the 1st of the month. You can exchange money at the bank on the ground floor of the dorms, then go to office number [ ], which is in the University building, where you will receive two receipts of your payment. Afterwards, give one of the receipt copies to Sam, the administrator of the dorms. The price per month for internet connection is 17 EURO per room. You will make the payment in the same office as for the room, however you have to give the receipt copy to the staff in office number [], which is the IT Department. You can also go to this office if you are experiencing problems with your internet. Phone Plan There are three main phone companies throughout Bucharest: Vodafone, Cosmote and Orange. You can stop at any of the three stores and create a phone plan suitable for your needs. Students have recommended Orange as being the most reliable. Dialing within the country: 0 + nine digit phone number when calling to mobile phones seven digit phone number when dialing a number in Bucharest International dialing: From Romania: 00 + country code + area code + phone number To Romania: area code + phone number Student Life Inside the University Dorms 101 As you enter the dorm building, you will see a BRD Bank on the right side. There is an ATM machine outside the bank where you can easily withdraw or deposit money through your bank card. 3

4 The actual bank offers Western Union as well as money exchanges, which will be necessary for payments such as your room, internet and cell phone, as well as for day to day activities. Adjacent to the ATM machine, there is another machine that performs several services. As mentioned above, you will need to recharge your phone plan once every month. This payment can be easily made by selecting the phone company of your choice, scanning the statement with your payment and inputting the money, all through this machine. When meal time comes around, there are a variety of options that you can choose from. The cafeteria, which is on the first floor of both buildings, has a range of Asian, American and Romanian food, at an average cost of 15 lei per meal. If you leave the University, take a left and walk straight for approximately 10 minutes, you will reach Mega Image. Mega Image is a supermarket that can fulfill all of your grocery needs. They also have a few student discount options. If you leave the University and take a right, you can find some fast food places, as well as a few restaurants. A student favorite would be the Gate Cafe, is a great place to stop and have a coffee with some friends. In terms of restaurants, the 18th floor is quite a nice one considering the beautiful panoramic view it gives of the city. It is one of the fancier and pricier restaurants, but they do have a great deal during lunch hours where you can enjoy an all you can eat buffet for the price of 20 lei. Ordering food is another common practice among students in the dorms. You can order pizza, Asian food, Mexican food, etc. which usually comes between minutes, with a minimum order fee of 30 lei. Between classes, there are snack bars on the 1st and 3rd floors so that you can get a quick bite during school hours. On the main floor of the University building, there is a fitness center complete with modern exercise equipment, a sauna, exercises classes and more The price is very affordable at an all inclusive 240 lei for 3 months and 420 lei for 6 months. Both in the World Trade Center and in a location approximately 2 minutes right after exiting the University, you will find pharmacies. If you are in the need for medication, headache pills, skin care, etc. these two pharmacies are conveniently close by. If you are in need of medical assistance, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. Health and travel insurances are accepted in medical establishments in Romania, provided payment is confirmed first by the foreign insurance company. The dorm building is divided by gender, with 2-6 being for girls and 7-11 being for boys. Socializing often happens in the staircases or lecture rooms that are on each floor of the building. Being that your classmates are foreign as well, you will find that several of them reside in the dorms, which can help you get to know them better and greater your experience. Academics Beginning with October 1st, your academic year is divided into four semesters of 7 weeks each. The last week of each semester is a pre-session exam week; the last few weeks of the 2nd and 4th semesters is the session exam period. You will have 4 classes per semester and as far as your first year is 4

5 concerned, you will have at most 4 days of classes, ranging in hours. You will be given assignments and projects throughout your semesters, with one big exam at the end of each, as mentioned earlier. If you pass your pre session exams with an 8 or higher, you will not be required to take the session exam. However, if you score lower than an 8, you must take the exam again during the session period. Your class schedule will be posted on a Facebook group that will be made for you and your colleagues, where you can also discuss questions and comments that you may have. Keeping your grades up is critical to getting the most out of this University. All of our faculty are willing to answer any questions that you may have and help you pursue the career of your choice, if you are willing to reach out to them. Furthermore, if you manage to get a 7 or above on all of your exams, you qualify for the ERASMUS program, which is an exchange program that allows you to attend a University in another country for a period of 6 months up to 1 year. >Aside from the courses required for your curriculum, there are a number of optional courses that are taught by American professors for a period of 2 weeks. They are free of charge and have a wide range of topics. Important Office Numbers International Students Office: 308 Office for Dorm Payment (Financial Office): 412 Office for Internet Payment: 521 International Business Secretaries Office: 103 Computer Science Secretaries Office: 503 Medical Office: 509 American Programs Office: 305 European Programs Office: 306 5

6 Student Organizations and Activities CS-URA: Our University offers a Students Club, known as CS-URA. This Students Club gets involved in several activities, including business projects, charity work, parties and other events for students. The team is divided into four departments: Human Resources, Public Relations, Media and Academics. Each department is responsible for different aspects of each activity, while working together to ensure a successful end result. International students are welcome to join, as the majority of the members speak English. The recruitment period begins during the middle of October; you will see posters and flyers around the school reminding you of when and how to apply. Department of Asian Studies: Our University also offers several Asian language courses, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Azerbaijani. Aside from simply learning the language, you will also be able to take part in respective cultural activities, learn about history and even get to travel. For more information about the programs and their costs, you can check [] or inquire at office []. >Sports: In terms of sports at RAU, a sports and recreation field opened recently with basketball and tennis courts as well as a football field, which is free for students. Our University also has a basketball team called URAganii. >Microsoft Innovation Center: This program aims at establishing a connection between academic teaching and the demands of the labour market concerning the IT field. This center offers a productive environment in which students with a major in Business Application meet and develop their abilities of working with high technology through the online Microsoft platform. >The Tourism Club: Travel Mates is a group of students led by a tourism professor that organizes trips around and outside Bucharest, participates in projects and fairs related to tourism, organizes events and conferences. Their speciality is a walking tour in the center of Bucharest, called Bucharest on a shoestring. It was organized for students and teachers in English and Romanian languages more than 10 times already. Student Life Outside of the University Getting Around Bucharest Metro, Trams and Bus Services Bucharest has a relatively extensive metro system consisting of our lines; M1, M2, M3 and M4. You can purchase a ticket at a booth in every station, being 4 lei for a two way ticket. Below you will find a map of the metro lines and their stops. However, there is no direct 6

7 metro stop to our University, but there are a few bus routes that you can take. Purchasing tickets for the bus is a bit more complex than that for the metro. There are booths that you can find at most bus stops, where you can purchase a student discounted ticket for 30 lei/month. When you enter the bus, you must scan your card on a machine. Every so often, you will encounter workers who enter the bus and ask riders for their card. If they check your card and you have not scanned your card when you entered the bus, you will have to pay a fine. You can use this card on trams and in the metro as well. Transportation to our University: Buses 105, 131, 205, 261, 304, 335, 449, 780, 783; Trams 41 and 42; Metro to Aviatorilor with a transfer to buses 131 or 335 Taxi Services Living in Bucharest The average fare for a taxi in Bucharest is 1.39 lei/km. Make sure to check that the taxi you are entering has the respective tariff on the outside, as taxi companies can charge up to 3.50 lei/km. Taxis are fairly easy to find, however if you find yourself in need of a taxi with no popular areas around you, there are a couple of applications you can download on your phone in order to get a taxi right at your location, called SpeedTaxi and Star Taxi. Once you have the app, a map will come up displaying your location, select get me a taxi and one will arrive between 3 to 10 minutes. Bucharest is the capital of Romania and its largest city. It is located in the South-Eastern part of the country, on the banks of Damboviţța river. The city was called Bucharest after the name of its founder, a shepherd, whose name was Bucur. It used to be one of the residences of the prince of Vallachia Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), but later, in 1862 it became the capital of Romania. In between the two world wars the city used to be called the Little Paris of the East, because of its elegant buildings and sophisticated elite. Over the years Bucharest has changed significantly. Nowadays the city is filed with historical and elegant buildings, both vintage and modern blocks, as well as an influential mixture of cultures across the globe. 7

8 Visiting Architecture lovers should pass by The House of Parliament, Romania Athenaeum, Casa Presei Libere, National Opera, Arcul de Triumf, CEC Palace, Palace of Justice, Cotroceni Palace and the old center. The ones who adore history should plan a walk through main squares and streets of the city: Victory square, Roman square, Revolution square, University square, Union square, Constitution square, Victory street, Lipscani street. Museum strollers shouldn't miss the National Museum of Art of Romania, Curtea Veche, Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, Geology Museum, National Military Museum, National Museum of Romanian History. People interested in religion can visit Stravropoleos Monastery, Anglican Church, Saint Spyridon the New Church, Kretzulescu Church, Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral and others. Recreation Warm and sunny days in Bucharest can be spent riding bikes, rowing boats, playing frisbee or just having a walk in one of many parks in the city. In winter these parks also offer ice-skating and small kiosks selling snacks and hot wine. The most known parks are: Carol, Izvor, Herăstrău, Tineretului, Cișmigiu Gardens, and Bucharest Botanical Garden. Entertainment Going out: Bucharest is definitely a nightlife city. Most people usually gather to the old- town, in the so called Lipscani area. Numerous pubs, clubs and restaurants are located here. There are so many places to go that sometimes it is really hard to choose. You can select by which music genre that you would like to hear: rock, pop, oldies, jazz, etc. or culture that you like: Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Indian and so on. There are clubs for every type of person and interest. Student parties usually happen Thursday and Friday nights. For that, try clubs: Expirat, Club A, Mojo, Fire, B52, Goblin, Kulturhaus, Bamboo, Fratelli, El Comandante. Movies: The huge selection of cinemas in Bucharest gives options for everyone. Most known Bucharest cinemas are: Baneasa Cinema Complex, Cinema City Cotroceni and Cinema City Sun Plaza, Shopping: Bucharest offers numerous malls for shopping: Unirea Shopping Center, Bucuresti Mall, Băneasa Shopping City, AFI Palace Cotroceni, Liberty Center, Sun Plaza and more. Common shops frequented by students are: H&M, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Zara, Deichmanns, Pimkie and more. 8