Observing Romania's different forms of transportation can teach you a lot about Romania's culture and environment. For example, last December, many public buses in Constanta displayed the message "La multi ani, Romania!" (Happy Birthday, Romania!) This message was displayed on buses to celebrate 100 years after Romania was first unified on December 1st, 1918. I also experience aspects of Romanian culture when taking maxi taxis. The drivers often play news broadcasts or music on the radio, which is a great way for me to listen to the Romanian language and discover new Romanian songs. When I take taxis at night, I like to practice speaking Romanian with my driver. It can be challenging at times, but I feel proud and gratified when I successfuly hold a conversation entirely in Romanian. Lastly, when I take a bus or walk around town, I often pass by communist era apartment buildings. These buildings typically look plain and rectangular and are usually painted in dull colors. Although these apartment buildings are physically uninteresting, they reveal traces of Romania's history as a formerly communist country. Regardless of which mode of transportation I use, traveling around Constanta allows me to examine my immediate environment and to connect what I see to Romania's history and culture.
