Like many Western Europeans, having focused their main geographical and cultural interest on other regions of the world, I came to Bucharest some six months ago. Being the new director of the Bucharest Goethe-Institut, one of my first acquaintances was Professor Dr Andrei Plesu, director of the institute for advanced studies New Europe College, who welcomed me to Bucharest with the remark: 'there are rumours that you came here voluntarily.' Professor Plesu's well phrased words set me thinking for quite a while. Indeed, Bucharest has never been one of my colleagues' absolute favourite postings. Nevertheless, this lack of enthusiasm derives in a good measure from a lack of knowledge and more thorough information about Romania, the Romanians and Romanian culture.