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Moldovians Visit Johnston Community College

August 5, 2002

Johnston Community College recently served as the American Hosting Organization for a group of ten from Moldova, which is one of the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS). The Moldovan visitors participated in Community Connections, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, which offers home stay-based five-week practical training opportunities in the United States for business professionals.

While in Johnston County, Moldovans Emil Gutu and Ivan Garabajiu, spoke at the weekly 7:00 am Smithfield-Selma Rotary Meeting on June 19. Mr. Gutu spoke of the history of Moldova and explained how as a small child his family had to baptize him in secrecy due to the restrictions on religion in what was then the Soviet Union. Mr. Garabajiu spoke of how the Community Connections program was making a difference in Moldova by providing training in the American free enterprise system. The inspirational speeches by these two young men helped the Rotarians have a greater appreciation for being an American and a desire to provide an opportunity for other foreigners to have a similar experience in Johnston County.

Emil Gutu, Regional Manager of Rural Development, was placed in the Johnston County Cooperative Extension Office, USDA Farm Service Agency, and East Carolina Farm Credit. Ivan Garabajiu, Director of Car Sales, was placed with Classic Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, Go Toyota, and Wheels and Deals of Smithfield.

Pictured below are the Moldovians who participated in the Community Connections program this year.