In this blog, I interviewed international students and asked them to tell us what they like about their home countries. Since we international students come from many countries and it is difficult to introduce the best of all countries at once, we interviewed international students from Romania and New Zealand! I would be happy if I could share with you the love of their home countries!
Nicoleta (From Focșani, Romania)
Q1. What sightseeing spot should we definitely visit?
The famous spot is Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), which is linked to the legend of Vlad the Impaler, a historical ruler who was known for punishing thieves and protecting his people. Peleș Castle, a royal residence surrounded by mountains and forests, is also popular. It looks like something out of a fairytale!
Q2. Tell us about your delicious cuisine!
One of the most popular traditional dishes is sarmale – cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice. For dessert, papanași is a favorite – a fried or boiled doughnut with sour cream and jam.
Q3. What souvenirs should we buy?
There are many unique souvenirs. Many are handmade from wood or clay, like pottery, traditional masks, or painted Easter eggs. These crafts represent Romanian traditions and are often made in small villages.
Q4. What are some interesting cultures and customs in your country?
We have beautiful churches, including wooden ones that are centuries old. A special place is the Merry Cemetery, where the tombstones are painted in bright colors and tell funny stories about the people buried there. Our weddings are famous too – they often last three days, and at midnight, there’s a fun tradition where the bride is “kidnapped” and the groom has to “rescue.”
Aaron (From Thames, New Zealand)
Q1. What sightseeing spot should we definitely visit?
Hobbiton is a popular place to visit if you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings movies.
Going to see the glowworms at Waitomo Caves is something fun to see.
Plenty of beaches to visit and places to hike.
Q2. Tell us about your delicious cuisine!
Fish and chips is very popular in NZ. Meat pies are also something we like to eat; mince and cheese is a popular flavor. Hangi is a meal from the Māori culture that is traditionally cooked in the ground. Pavlova is a meringue dessert topped with whipped cream and fruit.
Editor’s note: Chips in New Zealand are Fries in the United States.
Q3. What souvenirs should we buy?
Necklaces are usually made from bone or pounamu. Paua (abalone) shell is usually something that makes a nice decoration in your house. Or you can get jewelry pieces with the paua shell in them. People like manuka honey, which is made in NZ.
Q4. What are some interesting cultures and customs in your country?
Rugby is a big thing in NZ culture; it is our national sport. In the Māori culture, we use hongi to greet people; this is where we press our noses together. We have the haka, which is a traditional dance that is used for many things, such as sports or celebrations.
In this blog, I introduced Romania and New Zealand. I hope I have shown the love for their home countries well, and if you ever have a chance to visit Romania and New Zealand, please refer to this blog.