I've spent some of my most beautiful moments here in Belgium during Erasmus but I can't help missing my country...so I unintentionally compare it to Belgium sometimes... that's why I've decided to write a bit about the difference between my home country and Belgium- that has become my second home :)
First of all, we are latins so by definition we are more emotional. Belgians are supposed to be emotional too but I feel the difference between the two nationalities, I think Belgians are more realistic, more pragmatic, at least this is the impression that I have. That's why it was very easy for me, coming from Romania to make friends very quickly among the Spanish people for example, we are more alike.
Secondly, romanians are more religious than Belgians. I don't say this in a good way nor in a bad way, religion is always a touchy subject to discuss, I just felt this difference and I have to say it since it was a shock for me to see a public toilet just outside a church. I think this is related to the first difference, we tend to be more emotional instead of pragmatic.
Then of course we do have that manana attitude that latins have, but I realised that Belgian people are sometimes easy going too, they are not so serious as they look at first sight. :)
The meeting etiquette is similar in Romania and in Belgium, a brief handshake is the common greeting among people who do not know each other. Once a relationship is developed people kiss 2 times in Romania and 3 times in Belgium but men don't usually do that with other men.
Also the gift giving etiquette is similar in those countries, usually people bring flowers or chocolates to the host. Just remember to bring flowers in an uneven number. In Romania you can also bring a bottle of alcohol, in Belgium that happens only between people who know each other well as I've heard.
In referrence with the business etiquette, this is not a big difference, both countries are somehow bureaucratic, there are many decisions an a great deal o paperwork. Punctuality is appreciated in Romania as well but when dealing with state companies be prepare to wait :D Also, beware of Romanian negotiators, we are very good at this, mostly because there is a fear of not being taken advantage of us by foreign negotiators :D Besides that ,Romanians tend to tell people in a meeting what they want to hear and they are more oriented to high context communication that Belgians.
In conclusion there are similarities and differences between the two cultures and I think similarities gave me a warm, familiar feeling when being here in Belgium while the differences made it interesting to be here!
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