Today we will talk about Elnura Sharshenova, who was born in the village of Chon-Daly in the Issyk-Ata district of Chui region.
Elnura has been living in Alanya for 7 years, where she met her significant other.
She was born in 1991.
“I graduated from the Kubanychbek Malikov Secondary School. I am the middle child of four: I have an older sister, an older brother, and a younger sister. My parents live in our village, while I have settled in Turkey with my family. My husband and I have one child,” she shares.
“My first trip abroad took place in 2015, after I finished my studies at the university. Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming an English language translator, as those who study languages usually love to travel. In 2014, I graduated, and in 2015 I went to Turkey to see the world and gain professional experience. Turkey, as a tourist country, allowed me to visit cities like Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya, Marmaris, and many others. In 2016, I flew to Bahrain under a two-year contract, working there until December 2018,” she shares.
Now Elnura lives with her family in Alanya.
“I have settled here for 7 years. I have my own housing and a job. My child is 4 years old, attends kindergarten, and speaks Turkish, Russian, and Kyrgyz. My husband is an agronomist, he works with greenhouses, and I work at the hotel reception during the summer and also serve as an online SMM specialist. My parents visit me every year in winter,” she adds.
“Alanya is a city with hot summers and mild winters. There is almost no snow here, and the weather is always sunny. The people in this city are very friendly and open, and the local population is simple. The level of government policy and economy is high. Law violations are rare, and there is practically no corruption expressed in the form of bribes,” notes Elnura.
“Half of the population places great importance on religion, while the other half is not interested in it. In tourist areas, there are many people who speak foreign languages, but Turkish remains the main one. Overall, Alanya is a calm city with hospitable residents. No one encroaches on others' property, and belongings left on the street are not touched. Medicine is developed, but it is sometimes surprising how much attention is given to smoking,” she says.
Elnura also shared her future plans and nostalgia for her homeland.
“I dream of creating an organization for Kyrgyz girls in Turkey, where online training can be provided, assistance with employment can be offered, and support for women on maternity leave can be given. There is a great lack of communication in the Kyrgyz language and exchange of opinions here,” she shares.
“I have many hobbies; I love learning new things. In my free time, I do eyelash extensions, manicure, and make flowers out of paper. I often travel to Kyrgyzstan; I miss home very much,” Elnura shares.
She also talked about how she met her husband and why her sisters-in-law call her “Jackie Chan's daughter.”
“We met in 2015 when I was working in the sales department at a shopping center. He was a friend of my colleague, and we met through him. We communicated for about four years before getting married. I liked that he is kind, bright, and versatile, and he waited for me for four years. He is very hospitable,” she recalls.
“When I first came to the village as a young bride, the local girls joked: ‘Our bride is like she’s from Jackie Chan’s village.’ Since then, that’s what they call me, perhaps because of my resemblance to Chinese people,” Elnura shares.
