I guess it's because a lot of the shit that's happened is reasonably modern by other country's standards (at least in countries that have taken as many forward

I guess it's because a lot of the shit that's happened is reasonably modern by other country's standards (at least in countries that have taken as many forward leaps as Romania has). You have such change in 30 years, but also even more change held back by politics and still vast wage disparity. It's in an odd limbo where some elements are well in front of many countries (like connectivity, almost unparralled) whereas others, like poor infrastructure (like that stunt of the businessman building more highway the government) and a perception of the politics still being ruled by pandering to pensioners. Were it not for Brexit and my almost certain inability to get RO citizenship any time soon, we'd probably have moved out for a few years as things will still come on leaps and bounds.