Reghin through new glasses

Having spent this winter vacation in Reghin after living for a long time in another place, I've been able to see my hometown through different glasses than that of a resident. What I saw really impressed me and it made me wonder why I didn't notice these things before. The conclusion is that it isn't such a bad town to live in as I thought before.

Why?

Let's analyze it according to the already established criteria for evaluating a town.
- Transportation - within an hour drive to an international airport which connects you via Budapest (the capital of Hungary and not of Romania) to the entire Europe
- Free time activities - more than I imagined. Cultural activities: theater and cinemas within one hour drive; opera within one and half hour drive. Spas and wellness centers - within thirty minutes drive. Outdoor activities - mostly hiking, skiing - within one hour drive.
- Clubs and bars - this is still a minus for the town, as there is a very limited offer.
- Safety - as most small towns, it is very safe, also during the night.
- Education opportunities - elementary school in three languages: Romanian, German, Hungarian existent in town. High schools with the most common specialization - in town and within an hour drive. University - a limited choice within an hour drive and a very good university center within one hour and a half drive.
- Utilities - such as hairdresser, solarium - wide offer in town. Fast moving consumer goods shops - in town and bigger shopping centers within an hour drive.

However, what is missing are the people with the same education level and life aspirations.

So, what I wonder is: how does a town develop - it is the "right" creative people who should come first or the "right" amenities to attract them?

Apparently for Reghin, one of the problems seems to be how to market the town so that people get an accurate image of what it nowadays offers and shadow the old impressions of an isolated place.

Christmas modernity

Father: So, here's the Christmas tree. It is pretty uniform...

Daughter: Please bring it in after you refine its height.

Father: But what about the artificial tree that I bought last year? It's in the garage. It looks like a real one and it doesn't even leave any leafs. 

Daughter: ....I see...and what about the typical Christmas tree smell?...

Father: But you see, because of the temperature, the real one will soon dry and its leafs will start falling. 

Daughter:..I understand...ok, bring the one from the garage. I'll try to make it look real. However, what do we do then with the real one? 

Dana (a co-worker) is just arriving. 

Father: Dana, do you already have a Christmas tree? 

Dana: No, I don't. 

Father: Would you like to have this tree? Look how nice it is. It will be perfect for your apartment. 

Dana:  Thank you, sir. Do you mind if I come to pick up the tree only tomorrow?

This snapshot shows how modernity is seen in Romania. Artificial trees replace the strong scent of the Christmas tree, the smell of home made cookies are replaced by the series produced cookies bought in the hypermarket. 

Why did the old traditional values go? 

The generations that are now between 40-50 years old have been raised during the communism, when traditions and values were suppressed, religion was banned and larger group gatherings interdicted. 

Now, when they start affording the goods they didn't find or could buy before, they are rushing to internalize them in their homes. 

Question: Why did you buy that curtain? I once asked my mom. It doesn't really fit to the style of our house.

Answer: The lady from the shop told me that these curtains are the trendiest of all. 

Examples such as the ones above show how Romanian middle class people from mid and small size towns think. Even though one might argue that it is not representative for the entire land, it is the kind of thinking that I often deal with when talking to 40-50 year old. 

That's why I miss the Christmas feeling, the Christmas cooking activities and the Christmas cookies smell, the wine, the carols...and I actively try to influence people to revive it. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

...with the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"...

...with the fuel price dropping and everyone shopping...

But why is this the most wonderful time of the year? Depending on whom one asks this question, the reasons might be:
- we have a new government which promises us to finally build the first highway to connect us to Hungary
- US carmakers can already celebrate Christmas with the $17.4 bio. emergency loans received from the government
- oil price is at 25% of its value 6 months ago
- Fed decreased interest rate to 0% in an attempt to boost the economy from recession

Even though outlooks look grim, we push the "PAUSE" button for the next two weeks and enjoy Christmas season. 

But what is left of the original Christmas spirit and what do we actually celebrate nowadays?
If we look around, we notice that the Christmas spirit has been downgraded to selfish and materialistic concerns about: where do we go on holiday? how much meat, pastry and drinks should we buy? are there enough presents under the tree?That is, we have lost any connection with what we are really celebrating.We know who's responsible for this, but is it really that bad?

Let's try to look at this through different glasses and appreciate the fact that the winter holiday season allows us to spend more time with our family, to disconnect our brains from the daily activities and just enjoy the free time. However, what is even more problematic is that we allow ourselves free time only so rarely and that we spend most of lives challenging ourselves. The desire for self improvement is indeed positive, but let's not forget that we should allow our minds and bodies a rest more frequently than 2 times a year. 

With this, I wish you a happy Christmas and take care.

Quality of Life vs. Quality of Living

While visiting the no.1. ranked city in the world on quality of living, I was thinking: Zurich is not even that special. Why should it be so high ranked?

Definitely, if I start looking at the factors which are taken into consideration for this classification, namely:

- internal stability, crime, law enforcement

- public services and transport

- banking services

- schools 

- recreation 

- housing 

- natural environment

...then it might be understandable the outcome. 

However, if a city is ranked number 1 in the quality of living does it mean that it has the same place when ranked to quality of life?

or in other words....

Would you prefer to live in a city with a high quality of living or in one with a high quality of life?

Had I been asked this question, I would definitely pick the second one, with the high quality of life. Why?

It's quite simple. Quality of life is a subjective measure and if I imagine been given the chance to live in a high ranked city on quality of living, but where I have no friends, I would feel miserable and I wouldn't care less that I can feel safe there, or that I have a high variety of recreation activities. What are they good for if I don't have anybody to go with to enjoy that high quality of living?

To sum up, I realized that I would prefer to be in a city where I have friends, even if it's dirtier, noisier, more dangerous and poorer in facilities than in a glamorous, safe, full fetched city all by myself.

That is, I'd rather stay in a 3* hotel which has a homey atmosphere than in a 5* all inclusive impersonal hotel. 

What would you choose?