'Moldova - is that Africa?'
David Steffen
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
When junior Igor Stelea tells people he comes from the nation of Moldova, he doesn't expect them to know where his country is located.
"Surprisingly at Hillsdale, most people know what it is. Some people will ask, 'Is that in Africa?' And I'll say, 'No, it's in Northern Michigan,' " Stelea said, laughing. "You get surprised faces."
Moldova is a small country of 3.5 million people, landlocked between Ukraine and Romania. The culturally and ethnically Romanian state is a former Soviet satellite.
"I don't remember much from the Soviet era because I was really little," Stelea said.
He said Moldova's most famous exports are wine and the popular dance song "Numa-Numa."
Moldovans are honest and do not put up fronts, Stelea said. He also said his people are hospitable.
"Especially with a foreigner coming to Moldova, they're all going to invite you to their home to eat,"?he said.
He first visited the U.S. at age 15 before studying abroad for a year in Massachusetts. He first came as part of a non-government organization he started with his brother. It brought U.S. programs for at-risk, inner-city youth to Moldova. He said America was a change.
"It was my first taste of the U.S.," Stelea said. "In a way, people are nicer here, but everything is based on an honor system, whereas [in Moldova], everything is so corrupt, you can't really trust people."
Part of Stelea's Moldovan heritage is his bilingualism. He has a native command of both Romanian and Russian.
He said he speaks both with his parents. In his city, Russian is more common, however in the capital, Romanian is.
He said bilingualism helped him learn other languages more easily. He learned some English in Moldovan high school but supplemented it by reading English books and listening to BBC?Radio.
He said he is proud to be a Moldovan at Hillsdale.
"I know there are very few international students and we have to represent,"?he said. "A lot of people don't know about the country, so I?have to bring the message about Moldova."
"Surprisingly at Hillsdale, most people know what it is. Some people will ask, 'Is that in Africa?' And I'll say, 'No, it's in Northern Michigan,' " Stelea said, laughing. "You get surprised faces."
Moldova is a small country of 3.5 million people, landlocked between Ukraine and Romania. The culturally and ethnically Romanian state is a former Soviet satellite.
"I don't remember much from the Soviet era because I was really little," Stelea said.
He said Moldova's most famous exports are wine and the popular dance song "Numa-Numa."
Moldovans are honest and do not put up fronts, Stelea said. He also said his people are hospitable.
"Especially with a foreigner coming to Moldova, they're all going to invite you to their home to eat,"?he said.
He first visited the U.S. at age 15 before studying abroad for a year in Massachusetts. He first came as part of a non-government organization he started with his brother. It brought U.S. programs for at-risk, inner-city youth to Moldova. He said America was a change.
"It was my first taste of the U.S.," Stelea said. "In a way, people are nicer here, but everything is based on an honor system, whereas [in Moldova], everything is so corrupt, you can't really trust people."
Part of Stelea's Moldovan heritage is his bilingualism. He has a native command of both Romanian and Russian.
He said he speaks both with his parents. In his city, Russian is more common, however in the capital, Romanian is.
He said bilingualism helped him learn other languages more easily. He learned some English in Moldovan high school but supplemented it by reading English books and listening to BBC?Radio.
He said he is proud to be a Moldovan at Hillsdale.
"I know there are very few international students and we have to represent,"?he said. "A lot of people don't know about the country, so I?have to bring the message about Moldova."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Igor
posted 9/15/09 @ 3:22 AM EST
Actually, sorry to disappoint but this article does not truly reflect nor does it accurately quote what I said during the interview. Better luck next time!
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