Many Romanians live in shared houses in Great Britain. Communal living often comes with unexpected challenges, such as having to lock your kitchen cupboard to avoid running out of food. The situation is not singular.
Romanians from England locked their kitchen cupboard. PHOTO: UK ad
Many Romanians working in England live in so-called “share-houses”, houses that they share with several people.
Given the exorbitant rents, many prefer to live with compatriots and share common areas of the house, such as the kitchen and toilets.
Communal life can come with great challenges, however. A Romanian who lives near Manchester put a lock on one of the kitchen cupboards, so that his food wouldn't be stolen…
“That's how abroad is, brothers, stop judging us… and stop saying that we're stingy if we don't drink when we come to Romania… That no one knows how hard life is in England. At least, in London, it is full of our countrymen who live in these conditions”says Ionut Oprea, settled in the UK, who saw with his own eyes how people live in some houses occupied by Romanians.
Ionuț even made a video on this subject and put it on a social network and specified that the images were taken from a friend's house.
He explained to the UK Announcement how this situation came to be: “The boy was honest and told me… His girlfriend made a tray of breadcrumbs and potatoes in the oven, and when he came home from work and wanted to sit down to eat, he found the breadcrumbs eaten… From what I understand, there are 9 or 10 in the house, but none of the housemates admitted anything, and he's kept everything under lock and key ever since.”
The young man posed with the “strangeness”. PHOTO: UK ad
“I suffered too”
Although the story seems hard to believe, several Romanians commented on the post showing that they had experienced similar situations.
“It happened to me too, but I was happy that someone else could eat, she was Bulgarian. It was more difficult when that person told a newcomer to the house that me and the other Romanian friend were stealing the food. But as the lie has short legs, it was quickly found out who and what he is doing. This is how we become strong”Gabriela told.
And Loredana went through a similar situation: “Yes, it `s very true! I suffered too! Something always disappeared from the fridge, something from the cupboard! I wanted to make food, knowing that I had, for example, potatoes, broth, oil, I thought I didn't have any more! And the bigger problem, they didn't even say that they had taken it, so I would know to buy it! That's it brothers, the Romanian still remains Romanian! I say it with regret! Have a nice weekend!”she said.
Mona replied that “everywhere is the same.“
Nicoleta argued that such situations do not only happen in England: “They steal in Romania too, said a colleague who shared the house with several people… She made beans and until they cooled down in the kitchen, she was taken. He never even found the pot again. Best alone with your family. Hard, but sure.”
Liliana claims that she prefers to pay more for rent, but to live alone: “I have never been in a community. I have been in the UK for 14 years and I have not lived together. I give more money, but I stay alone.”
“Sad but true!!!!”commented Constantine.
“It's true if you live in a share house you have to do this”Ella claimed.
“What's funny?? I also share with others and when I go on vacation I don't lock things, but everything I have in the kitchen, bathroom, I take to my room. It happened to me that things were taken from me without consent, even allowing the owner to do so”Denisa told.
A Romanian living in a shared house in England put a lock on his cupboard. PHOTO: UK ad
“Stop taking houses with Romanians”
“Stop taking houses with Romanians”suggested Cătălin.
Daniela claims that other nations also steal, not only Romanians: “Even some English people steal, I've had it happen, they even stole tea bags from me.” “An Englishman with whom I lived in the same house and shared the kitchen took my Polish. He returned it to me after a few days, he said he had to prepare some powders”Daniela told.
“And other nations steal, not only Romanians. My friend is Bulgarian and she lived in the house with Poles and Filipinos and her food was always stolen. But if you don't like sitting with the lock on the refrigerator or cupboard door (his case), why doesn't he move himself?”Alice asks rhetorically.
“It doesn't matter the nation… I've had it with people I didn't expect: English people from the music world (brothers and sisters) crammed into a room, but if you google them, they say they're staying in Mayfair”is Anca's opinion.
“It's clear there are many tenants in the house… and one/some more….. they're scrambling… … Share house risk…”commented Mioara.
