I'm pretty sure we were the only people in my city who had American friends. This was 1993ish if my memory doesn't play tricks. Only 4 or so years after the Revolution, so imagine people's disbelief when my parents would tell them about THE Americans! It was like befriending demigods pretty much. I'm not exaggerating! The Romanian people hoped the Americans would come save them from communism for a long time (not that it's America's job to save everyone from everything. Take it as a compliment). Don't be surprised if, as an American, you are greeted by a Romanian stranger with: "We've been waiting for you!" Now you know what they mean. ;-) And they mean well by it.