"Hello, nice to meet you" Social Survival Guide.

People to Meet
Foreign visitors consider Romanians among the friendliest and most hospitable people on earth. Romanians are by nature fun loving, warm, hospitable, playful, with an innate sense of humor. Foreigners are usually made very welcome. Chatting with visitors is very common for Romanians and they will find a way to communicate with you even if they do not speak your language.

Here are some features of the way Romanians behave on social occasions:

- Older people particularly appreciate old-fashioned politeness. It is respectful to use Mrs. or Mr. when using the name of a person that you have just met.
- Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. When a Romanian man is introduced to a woman, he will probably kiss her hand.
- Female friends usually kiss each other twice, on both cheeks, every time they meet.
- A man accompanied by a woman should never enter a room before her; as a sign of respect, you should always let her enter first by keeping the door open, be it the door of a cab, bus, restaurant, house, etc.; into a restaurant, help her take off her coat, hold her chair, and never sit before she does.
- Romanians like to invite friends to their homes; they will most probably cook fine dishes on these occasions. They love to talk about their achievements, to sing and dance.
- If one refuses what a host offers to eat or drink, this will often be taken as a mere politesse, which calls for more insistance. If you want to refuse an offer of food find a polite excuse and say it firmly or ask for a replacement.
- It is common to linger once the meal (lunch or dinner) is over.
- When visiting someone at home bring a small gift. Most common gifts include flowers or chocolate (for women only), a bottle of wine or liquor. The number of flowers that one offers must always be odd.
- All gifts should be wrapped, but many Romanians might not unwrap their gifts in your presence.
- In Romania as in many Latin countries life is lived at a more relaxed pace. Normal European courtesies should be followed on social occasions. Although casual dress is fine in most occasions, wearing a suit and tie, or the women's equivalent, is important at business meetings. Appointments are necessary and punctuality is expected.
- It is not considered impolite to ask a person's age, politics, income or religion, so don't take such questions amiss.

source:http://www.unibuc.ro/uploads_en/images/71/ERASMUS2.pdf