I think a lot of people in Western Europe are surprised (despite the clue in the name) when they learn that Romanian is a Romance language in its own little enclave amid the Slavic tongues, and with neighbouring Hungary also a misfit, but from a completely different family.

One reason why Italy and Spain are such popular points of migration for Romanians is that the language is so easy for them to pick up, which speeds up their socioeconomic integration.