Once Romania entered the European Union in 2007, significant advantages for the highly skilled and educated were created with the liberalization of the labor-market.
Gabriel B. lives in Germany since 2007, and is currently in the 5th residency year as a General Surgeon. After graduating medicine in 2007, Gabriel moved to Nordrhein-Westfalen in a city with about 25 000 inhabitants in order to start his medical career.
The hospital in which Gabriel is currently working, benefits of 150 beds for inpatient care and 59 beds for the surgical department. Offering high quality diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with comprehensive and modern medical equipment, combining high tech medical care with humanity and personal attention is a high priority of the hospital. The hospital benefits from:
- CT scanner
- Ultrasound devices
- High quality video and X-ray systems
- Zeus and Cicero devices
“Starting off in a smaller city and a smaller hospital is ideal for foreign doctors. Accommodation with the system and integration in the medical team is the key factor and one of the hospitals focal points when it comes to foreign doctors. Colleagues are patient and helpful, soon I felt like part of the teamâ€, stated Gabriel.
“Social integration is also not an issue. Living in a smaller city, and working with people for people, especially in the respected field of medicine grants you rapid recognition. People greet me on the street, so we get to know each other resulting to mutual respect and of course friendship.
But, of course social integration does not only mean receiving recognition, it also means sharing interests. For example Germans value their gardens, spending a decent amount of their time gardening and making their front and back gardens esthetic. Of course they also love their home, their cars, their sports and to travel,†added Gabriel.
“The home environment is another plus. I enjoy getting to live in a two story house with a beautiful front and back garden in a nice and peaceful neighborhood. I don’t live by myself in the whole house, I have upstairs neighbors but its ok we don’t bother one another, the house has different entrances so we don’t have to bump into one another unless we want toâ€, stated Gabriel.
A common misconception is created when it comes to thinking about smaller cities. People think that smaller cities bring no opportunities for leisure and entertainment, schools and employment for the rest of the family.
“I can honestly say that in a radius of 20km you can find everything! Pharmacies, schools, kindergartens, cinemas, theaters, malls, stores like H&M or Zara, restaurants ranging from Chinese, Italian and Turkish to restaurants with traditional German food, and of course McDonalds and Burger King.
Sports and other outdoors leisure activities are also easily accessible. Tennis courts, football fields, swimming-pools and indoor swimming pools are close by. Spas and Gyms are easily accessible. Besides all the above, Nordic walks, hiking and biking are sought after activities here in Germanyâ€, stated Gabriel.
Getting from A to B
“One of the most important things about Germany is its infrastructure. Airports, highways, freeways, bike lanes, public transport… they all seem to eat up the distance between different cities, counties and even different countries. No wonder the Germans love to travel!†stated Gabriel.
“I can honestly say I’m proud to make part of the community in the city I live and work inâ€, Gabriel B.
