“Are the new Moldovans coming?” - an Info-Prim Neo interview with the siblings Cristina and Dumitru Podgurschi, from the cycle “19 Years of Independence”

[ - Several criteria place you in the same class of well-educated Moldovan youth, who are currently working or studying abroad. Did you leave Moldova with the intent to return someday, or no?] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] Your phrasing of this question expects or, rather, supposes an absolute answer. Nevertheless, the actual answer is much more complex: 6 years ago, when I left for France, I was sure that I will return home one day. In the years that were to follow I gained many contradictory feelings, some of which still persist: life in Europe is much more pleasant and peaceful, but it will never feel like home. Moldova is still my home, and I constantly miss my parents, my relatives and friends. In the same time, Moldova does not require my physical presence if I feel that I cannot contribute to its progress. As long as I know that I am capable of taking the fame of Moldova abroad, that there still are some foreigners who by getting to know me get to find out about the existence of a country called Moldova and are amazed at the intellectual baggage we can show, I would feel more useful from outside the borders of my country. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] When I left for university, I told my parents and friends that I will be coming back. Obviously, I still want to return home, the years I spend abroad being simply an investment in time. [ - What are the most striking components of your CV, for both you and your country? Do you accept this idea of “me and my country”?] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] Up to now I did not realize that all the crucial aspects of my CV, besides the job I have with a world-class investment bank, are related to my country: I speak 5 languages and I have participated at different national and international contests. All of them happened because in our country you can get good schooling if you want it. Therefore, I left for Europe with a high level of knowledge in exact sciences and foreign languages: to speak 5 languages is still a rarity for the French. Consequently, the idea of “me and my country” seems obvious. It was my home country where I have formed my educational and cultural basis. The homeland leaves and inerasable trace on every individual, a trace I am proud of in my case. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] Unlike Cristina, I did not manage to add so many successful lines to my CV. However, I view my extracurricular achievements as a crucial part of it. I did martial arts, played guitar and attended the debate club in my school years. All of them, with no exception, had a very important place in my application for university education. The idea of “me and my country” seems natural to me. We live in the era of globalization and we tend to lose our ethnic identity. Maybe some of the youth do not yet understand this idea, but thanks to this small country we are the way we are, and we do not have the right to neglect our origins. [ - How did you get there: Cristina working at a prestigious bank in Paris, and Dumitru studying at an American-type university? Is it possible for any Moldovan youth to get there as well?] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] Before getting the job with this bank, I had a half-year contract with them, but before that I interned at a competing bank. Alongside with the experience I had, and the fact that I spoke Russian to the Russians, English to the English, Italian to the Italian, I am sure they appreciated the tremendous efforts I put into my work. I did not forget, even for a second, that I am in their country: a French citizen has the right to employment with average professionalism, while we, who are not even part of the European Union, must be hyper-competent when aiming for the same position. It requires great power of will, perseverance and assiduity. Some youth, in Moldova, lack these traits, but this is certainly not an incurable disease. When motivated and supported, Moldovan youth can get anywhere, I am sure. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] I got to study at this college rather easily. I took some English-language tests and applied for a scholarship with American University in Bulgaria. Several months later I got the scholarship and, evidently, the enrolling to pre-graduate studies paperwork. If I think about it, anyone can get to where I am right now. Nevertheless, I see to issues that stop our teenagers from taking the steps I took. One of them is of financial nature and the second is the lack of information regarding our opportunities. [ - Evidently, you took some tests to reach your current positions. How many Moldovan teenagers, do you think, would be able to take them successfully?] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] I had to take a load of tests when applying for a job with the bank: psychological, IQ, technical and cumulative. The entire testing process took one whole day. I want, however, to point out a small detail: as opposed to one of my French colleagues I had to 3 additional tests interviewed by 3 different managers. You see, when hiring a non-EU citizen, the bank undertakes additional expenses, which are not pleasant for any boss. As you can see, it is tougher for us Moldovans than it is for the other internationals that reside in Paris. In this matter, our country disappoints a bit. However, I will repeat myself when saying that power of will, perseverance and assiduity do not pass unobserved. Europe knows how to treasure brilliant minds. Thus, any teenager that possesses these character traits can successfully take these tests. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] As I mentioned earlier, with the necessary information and preparation, these test are simple. In other words, anyone could pass them. [ - How much of your CV do you attribute as your own contribution? How much to attribute to your parents, and ultimately your country? Does the country have any?] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] It is very difficult for me to dissociate the contribution of my country from my parents’. By country I understand history, ancestors, tradition, and culture. But all of these elements where passed on to me by my parents or at the school that also my parents had chosen. Consequently, I attribute the greatest contribution to my parents. The man, however, is an egoist being, and I do not make an exception: I know I have personal merits regarding my CV. I developed ambition and perseverance by myself. I like to reach my goals; hence I am not afraid of the efforts I have to make on my way to success. For example, I truly wanted to be the best in my Masters Degree class; I achieved it. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] I could only attribute the merits of an executor for myself. My parents were the ones to support me both morally and financially, and the desire to study abroad I inherited from Cristina. Only when I left for college, I realized what the contribution of my country was. If I had been born in another country, and had not spent my childhood in the Republic of Moldova, I would have, probably, been more ignorant. I believe that many would agree with me on us, the youth, as the inheritors of the predecessors’ desire of progress and change towards the better. [ - As a rule, this type of CVs makes up the new elite of a country. Do you believe there are enough of you to change the flow of our country to a course beneficial for every citizen?] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] I know many young brilliant minds, especially from my generation, who would be able to remodel our country by European standards. However, most of them reside abroad. I think if 2-3 individuals would return home, other will come to follow the example. It is a matter of mimicry, just as in finance. You asked me if there are enough youths – I am firmly certain of it. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] We do believe, for believing comes first. I am not personally acquainted to the new elite of our country, but I keep faith in them; this way I motivate myself to work harder, so that one day I can come back and share my experience with those at home. [ - Please continue the sentence: “At my … years I am …”] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] At my 24 years I am on the way towards myself, with a timely stop in Paris. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] At my 20 years I am finally ready to go to kindergarten. I like to daydream, I have too much energy and I hate midday naps. Maybe, when I am 30, I will be ready for school. [ - Please continue the sentence: “At 19 years of independence, the Republic of Moldova is for me…”] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] At 19 years of independence, the Republic of Moldova is for me a (re)construction site, searching for skilled crafters to make itself famous and respected by the whole world. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] …as the empty canvas is to the painter. Our tiny country is still young and full of opportunities. We are lucky we don’t have to edit someone’s painting; we get to paint from zero. [ - These questions were addressed to you by a person who you, at your age, might consider “somewhat older” if not very old. How did the questions seem to you: natural, naïve, unpleasant, useful, any other characteristic? What opinion do you have on the generation that asks the Moldovan youth such questions?] [ - Cristina Podgurschi:] The questions seemed, to me, natural, even opportune, if related to our country’s current political context. A new era advances towards the Republic of Moldova, and I believe that the alarm should ring precisely for the younger generations, for us. I respectfully bow in front of the generation you say asks the Moldovan youth such questions. Through you we can hear the wisdom of the precedent decades. Us youth, sometimes overly-stubborn, do not like criticism, nor do we like advice; however, your advices are often like medications: we take them because we know it will make us feel better, not because we like taking pills. All we have to do is trust their benefits. [- Dumitru Podgurschi:] The questions were absolutely natural. I do not have a preset idea on the generation that asks us such questions. I suppose this is their way of driving us into productive thinking and action. We should take the questions seriously; after all we finally get the change to sit at the grown-ups’ table. [Valeriu Vasilică, Info-Prim Neo] [{CV excerpts: Cristina Podgurschi:] - “Mircea Eliade” Lyceum, Chișinău; - “Sophia Antipolis” University, graduated with honors in Economics - “Sophia Antipolis” University, masters degree with honors in Economics - Societe Generale, financial corporation, Paris, 6 month internship - Societe Generale, financial corporation, Paris, inter-bank relations specialist, 3 months - Currently Non-financial auditor with Credit Agricole Investment Corporate Bank [Dumitru Podgurschi:] - “Mircea Eliade” Lyceum, Chișinău; - American University in Bulgaria, Junior(3rd) year, Economics}