7

I was 7 when I saw the Romanian revolution on TV; all the dead, mothers and children, graphic
depictions for publicity purposes. The old man who ran Romania chocked and died. My parents never
stopped the TV. Our food, electricity, media poverty was nothing in comparison to that for me, but to
them it was retribution.

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The period after was worst, as Romania underwent massive changes. I had nightmares for years, grew
into a withdrawn artistic type. Couldnt relate to people and didnt trust my own family. I had
dependency issues, so I loved the first woman in my life for 10 years. Never told her. When she left to
university in another town, I left the country the first time. I was on a government scholarship at the
best university in our region by that time, studying PR. I was also dirt poor so it made sense to look for
work.

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Went as an illegal migrant to Almeria, Spain, in 2003, before Romanians were allowed to work in the EU.
After three days on a coach across Europe, with infants screaming, I went for a piss at 3 AM. The
Romanian coach left and when they found out after a couple of hours didnt bother to come back.
I waited at the curve in a remote gas stop as the Spanish police drew circles around me until the
morning. Didnt know the language, but had about 20 Euro my parents could spare so I called my cousin
at 9AM. He had gone to pick me up from the coach station and wasnt happy about my disappearance,
but nevertheless jump in his car and came after me.
I ended up working at his construction company, with a bunch of guys who all seemed to have been in
prison (higher education they called it). His other cousin told me I was soft and that they wouldnt
have had to put up with me if not for my cousin owning the company. He also eventually throw me on
the ground and kicked me in the head with a toe steel booth. Left a mark.
Worked 7 out of 7 days, 10-14 hours. For the first month only had about 10 pounds for food. I ate a lot
of pasta with cheese given to me as a gift. My cousin laughed his ass off when he found out at pay time.
Never thought to complain to him. He also ducked my pay for the coach.
I was mixing cement and pushing wheel barrows of material for 3-4 guys at a time, so I was always
covered in dust, thick dried cement. It was the first time anyone threw me out of a restaurant, where I
entered to ask for directions. Lost 10 kg in three months, but after all my bones solidified and I drew a
tan, I was a man. Worst time I had was working at a ruined cortijo, in the middle of the Andaluzia
national wildlife park. 40 degrees African weather and red soil. When my cousin took us there, we found
three guys without money. They had last eaten two days ago, whilst working masonry. They were joking
about eating the dog, Chorizo. I hope they did.
They told me to put white stuff on the stones. I did and the Spanish business owner came by and called
me a conio for putting the stuff at the back of the house too. Found a root in the rocks and when I
pulled it out turned out to be a scorpion, which I was holding from the tail. Drank water from the only
well there, which was supplying the olive trees. Tasted like gas and after my cousin washed his Audi A6
with it, the car looked oily too. It wasnt all bad thou. Some people were nice, the scenery was
spectacular, even from the shoddy scaffolding. Or maybe because of it.
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Finished my third year of university, lost my scholarship because of poor grades and went to the United
States with money borrowed from my cousin. Didnt hate the guy, just his compromises. He died that
first summer on a bike crash. I didnt feel anything, just wasnt surprised. Left behind a mountain of
debt, unpaid workers, my niece and her mother, who he had married the year before. I was there for
him.
But the States were fantastic. Went there with 200 USD in my pocket and by the time I argued with my
first employer in the first few days (he had overbooked staff and offered only 20 hours a week, which I
couldnt afford) and he kicked me out, I was left with about a 100. So I jumped a coach and wanted to go
to Boston, and start from the street. My cousin had been homeless for about three months, so I thought
I could do it. Luckily on my way there the sponsor company called me and sent me to a 6 Flags fun park,
in Springfield, Massachusetts. They offered accommodation which you could pay from your paycheck,
which was good as I was out of cash.
Ended working 17 hours a day at the bumper cars. Listened to a lot of country music and took car belts
from around peoples necks. Got fired after three weeks for parking the cars from driving not pushing, as
I was wasting electricity. Called friends and ended up with three choices where to move to Virginia,
Chicago and LA. Looked at my money and I realized I could only afford to cross half the US, so I went to
Chicago. Best choice I made in my life.
Upon arrival there, again broke, I made my way to the contacts place. He was a friend of a friend. To my
surprise the house had five guys from my city, Bistrita. One of them had been an old secondary school
colleague. Small world. He hated my guts, but honor bound to help (theres a code of pass it forward).
A short call determined that I had a job starting the next day. They were eager to see me off their
couch, which only happened after a month. Lovely guys thou.
Peter, the guy who picked me up was a Baptist businessman of fierce reputation. People called him a
snake behind his back. Worked for him for a while doing labor jobs in hardwood flooring, then he passed
me to his church as an assistant. Once again I was too soft, so a janitorial position was better for a dovey
eyed guy like me. I loved the guy so perhaps thats why he said to the church I was his nephew. Still tried
to shaft me on the money.
The Baptist Romanian Community of Chicago was building its own church and first Romanian language
school in the United States. I was the king of that place. An old fox taught me how to do stuff most
humans wouldnt believe possible. Like move a one ton beam with a pipe. Assembled the school piece
by piece. It was my first lesson in the power of community. I took to them and they to me. They also
wanted to marry me within the church, but I was getting a taste at life by then. So after learning proper
carpentry, I decided I didnt want to be a white van business owner the rest of my life so I left the US,
where I had stayed illegally nearly two years, but with work papers in the friendliest migrant city on
Earth and went to finish university.
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The school had expelled me so I had to reenlist and pay for the last year. Graduating with honors I faced
the prospect of unemployment within Romania once again. So I decided to leave. Where should I go?
Well, the only place farther than the US which I was attracted to was Japan. But Japan was far, far away
and expensive as hell and I had managed to waste all my money in the year I was back in Romania.
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So in wanting to go to Japan, I decided to come to the UK (Leeds) and study an MSc in Japanese
Business, before trying to find a job there. However the 2008 recession hit and I ended being stuck in a
waiter position in the UK, as a Masters graduate. For a few years I took to Jiu Jitsu, becoming a coach. I
was very angry and martial arts provided a boost of confidence in addition to an outlet. It also provided
for a sense of community and belonging.
However, after four years I tore my ACL in a training session and realized that the bonds of camaraderie
we were supposed to share werent all that real. People didnt come to visit. Everybody was too busy
living their lives. I realized I had to move on with mine. Also personal relationship wise, I was still
damaged, but I continued to try and set my expectations high. Fell in love again and again.
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I went on to do a second Masters in Finance and Accounting (also paid from my low waged work), wrote
a book on participative policy creation while recuperating from surgery (bless the NHS) and did a few
marathons and ultras as benefits the thirty years of age crisis. Even worked as Santa Claus
Eventually, I ended up working for Lloyds Bank, as a PPI case handler. The job was hard, poorly paid and
gave sense to the expression corporate drone, but I had a blast. I loved the people I worked with and
they liked me. My only issue is that the banking system has not reformed and I was shown plenty of
evidence of policy manipulation that deprived the customer of his rights, to know that is the case. I
challenged my managers on that and they kindly pointed at the door scruples cost money.
I decided to move to London and try my chances at working in the City. Unfortunately, a week after my
arrival, the government stopped financing for Romanian and Bulgarian students. As I was already
burning, I took charge of the campaign to challenge that decision and started organizing the resistance.
Three weeks after arriving in London I was in the newspapers, five weeks after I was on national
television and media.
I was able to start a project of supporting the local London Romanian community in developing a
professional framework of expression and self-awareness, by drawing from such resources as the
human capital provided by the community and academic and governmental resources, working with
NGOs such as myRomania (part of Citizens UK), Migrant Voice, JCWI, Migrant Rights Network and
initiating dialogues with the press and groups such as British Influence, NUS, Government
representatives, such as the APPG on Migration and even addressing UKIP and Mr. Farage directly. This
is who I am today and I love it.
Antidiscrimination PR Campaign Strategist and Spokesperson (December 2013 present)
Romanian and Bulgarian Communities, London

Data gathering and analysis on mass media coverage of the issues
Generating solutions and a comprehensive strategy for the UK and EU campaigns
Gathering associates, coordinating their input, creating formal organizations
Influencing policy makers, by participating in debates and manning all the bases
Involvement in creating party agendas, NGO activity and output
From PR to fundraising to directly assisting the individuals affected as an example
Writing everything from campaign manifestos to articles published by academic media
Finding leads for placing the Romanian student/discrimination issues on the public agenda
Spokesperson for the Romanian community, in UK and International mainstream media
Exceptional networking at disposal, from UK and EU parliament, parties, community NGOs
Creating various test campaigns to identify the best ways of promoting and solving issues
Kick starting an intent crowd into an activist tradition here and in Romania
Member of the Green Party, with whom I collaborate at UK and EU level on the drawing of policy
concerning vulnerable groups, mostly from the Roma and Romanian communities
Created a 0 Resource activism philosophy based on knowledge as to tackle with very little
financial input extremely complex issues
Created the KAPPA entity for participative policy infrastructure promotion, to assist civil society
to resist political discourse, to empower vulnerable groups and assist with the defense and
creation of social capital, through the social contract and in particular human rights

Where do I see myself in the future? Participating in the change for the better of civil society in the UK
and eventually, with my skills solidified and a bit of reputation I would like to be able to participate in
the change of Romanian society, still very much affected by poverty and neglect. I hope to go to Brussels
and help dismantle a bit of bureaucratic apparatus there and generally make the notion of Europe more
accessible to individuals, by eliminating the political gatekeepers. I also hope to have a family and
children one day. Im not sure if all of this is possible, but a man can dream cant he? Based on my
previous life, I should say that it was this hope and trust that got me forward and wouldnt trade them
for all the riches in the world.

Paul Suciu