On the 27th anniversary of the declaration of Moldova’s Independence, IPN News Agency set the goal of presenting the thoughts of those who chose to leave the country temporarily or for good in search for a better future.
Victor Vrabie, 25, left for France six years ago. He obtained a master’s degree in econometrics from the Toulouse School of Economics and now works as a consultant engineer in statistics and informatics with residence in Paris. He said his leaving wasn’t a choice, but rather the natural continuation of his studies and this path had been instilled into him since the primary school. The parents chose the Francophone Lyceum “M. Eminescu”, where the children study French for 5-6 hours a week.
“As I said, it wasn’t a choice. I never compared or chose the place where I would feel better. No. It was more an act of rebellion and curiosity, a wish of an 18-year-old man to go to a new place and see how things go there. I didn’t leave for France to look “for a better future” or to obtain “high-quality studies”. Every time I hear someone saying this, I feel like laughing. France, Europe, the U.S. do not offer a better future. They offer a chance. It is up to everyone to take this chance and build a future,” stated Victor Vrabie.
According to him, the Moldovan people have what to learn from the French one. “I will give only one example that shows very well what things can be changed – “the art of fine living” (French: savoir vivre)… The idea is to make an art of your way of life and to profit from every moment of life, to know to appreciate simple things, such as food, leisure time, family and health so that each moment brings pleasure to you,” stated the young man. “Not to eat for the sake of eating, but to spend time with the family, friends, colleagues while eating so as to transform a simple meal into a real event. With sadness and pity, I realize that the examples borrowed from the Moldovans are limited, even inexistent. I’m probably wrong and I would like to find out what the persons from the West could learn from Moldovans, but I cannot find something that could be remarked,” he stated.
Asked how the Republic of Moldova is seen from outside, the young man said it is not effectively seen. “Forgive my brutality, but the Republic of Moldova is not effectively seen outside. European society is not interested in the situation in Moldova because this is not at all interesting. The Republic of Moldova is seen from outside only by the Moldovan citizens who went abroad and most of the times not with very good eyes. Sincerely speaking, the situation in our country looks more like theater of the absurd and this makes me every time say that I will no longer read news about Moldova,” said Victor Vrabie.
In general, he does not like speaking about Moldova without being asked, but the cases when he is asked about the Republic of Moldova are limited. In general, the questions are about his experience in Moldova and how he got to France. “I usually answer by providing exact socioeconomic data and try to refrain from own opinions as they most of the times will not present Moldova in a positive light. There are few things about the Republic of Moldova of which I can be proud in France,” he noted.
Victor Vrabie is proud of the wine making traditions, but these are insignificant compared with the similar French traditions. He is proud of some of the culinary traditions, but these again cannot be compared with the French ones. “I avoid speaking about contemporary Moldova. I’m proud, but I try not to display this as the things of which I’m proud and that look exceptional to me are actually normal things in Western societies.”
Asked what can make him return home, the young man answered “nothing”, saying this is not an ode to the French state, but more the ascertaining of the reality and the differences between the two societies. The Republic of Moldova is a young state that was seriously struck by fate during its existence. When it became free, it had to start to build a bright future , but this stone of the past still pulls it down.
According to Victor Vrabie, the change should come from society as society is responsible for what is going on in the country. “When I say society, I mean each citizen. This thing should not be shifted onto collective conscience as we do not have this as a nation. We consider someone is obliged to do something for us (reminiscences of the Soviet epoch) and refuse to change each of us separately, blaming society. Someone could reproach me for doing the same, for blaming society and for not taking part in its transformation, for deciding to “flee” the harsh Moldovan reality and join a well formed society. But the reality is different. I decided to leave before I had the age and power to change something. I’m the result of the activity of this society, but I never took part in building this.”
Despite his respect for the country where he grew up, he misses nothing in Moldova. “My longing is not related to the geographical, social or administrative dimensions of the Republic of Moldova. It is related to parents, friends or moments of life that are not directly connected with the geographical dimension. I miss my mother when I’m not in the Republic of Moldova, but this longing disappears when my mother comes to vacation in France or when we meet elsewhere. It’s hard for me to find a specific longing related to the Republic of Moldova. I do not miss the forests or fields. I do not miss my grandmother’s orchard. I do not miss the hot bread taken out of the oven. I do not miss Chisinau City, my school. I do not have the classical longings of a Moldovan,” stated the young man.
He misses a Moldovan wedding, the holidays of Christmas and Easter, but these can be celebrated outside the Republic of Moldova too. There are “exportable products” and the distance does not prevent him from making stuffed cabbage rolls or traditional pies. “These are the things of which I’m proud as they come from the Republic of Moldova, but these are not closely tied to it. I identify myself with these things because I also come from the Republic of Moldova, but I’m not closely tied to these,” noted Victor Vrabie.
Elena Nistor, IPN
Repeat of August 22
