In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, she shared her impressions of life in Korea and recalled several funny moments.
“I was born in 1992 in the village of Kara-Tash in the Nookat district of the Osh region. I received my education at the Osh State Pedagogical Institute in the Faculty of English Languages, where my interest in foreign languages and worldview emerged. But I believe that not only diplomas are important, but also life lessons. In recent years, I have been actively studying languages and reading books on history and analytics,” she said.
Zhipara arrived in Korea in 2022.
“My decision to move to Korea became a significant stage in my life. The new culture, environment, and pace of life became both a challenge and an opportunity for me to rediscover myself. I am sure that this choice was a conscious step towards personal development,” she emphasized.
Now the woman lives in Korea with her family; she has a son and a daughter.
Zhipara also shared her observations about raising children in Korea.
“My daughter is finishing the second grade, and my son is three years old. Seeing my children grow, learn, and expand their horizons is my main motivation and responsibility. Living abroad with my family has taught me to value upbringing, patience, and mutual assistance.
In Korea, children are taken very seriously. The educational system is strong, and competition is high. From an early age, children are instilled with discipline, hard work, and responsibility. Attention is also paid to the safety and psychological state of children. But such a system requires a lot of patience from parents,” she noted.
Zhipara also mentioned the similarities and differences between Kyrgyzstan and Korea.
“Family values and respect for elders are important in both cultures. However, in Korea, discipline and punctuality are at a high level. While in Kyrgyzstan, there is more of a sense of human warmth and freedom in communication,” she added.
She recalled several amusing incidents that happened to her after moving.
“When I first arrived in Korea, there were many funny moments. One of them still makes me smile: at the ‘oturushka’ (black cash register), I mixed up the amount and found myself in an awkward situation. In Korea, naming amounts of money is a bit difficult. At home, we are used to speaking in shorthand; for example, we call 10,000 won ‘10 som’. Once, without thinking, I handed over the money and said, ‘Here are 10 som.’ The woman didn’t understand, and I kept repeating the same thing,” she recounted.
“Another funny incident was when I was just starting to learn the Korean language. I went to the hospital and confidently said ‘kimchi,’ although I actually meant ‘cough’ — in Korean, it’s ‘gichim,’” Zhipara added.
Zhipara continues to develop and plans to implement useful projects in the future.
“I am engaged in self-development, creativity, and language learning. Creating content and sharing knowledge is not just a job for me, but a way of life.
I hope to implement projects that will have meaning and help both myself and those around me. For me, success is not in material goods, but in inner peace and what I will leave behind,” she concluded.
Gallery: Kyrgyzstani Zhipara Kamalidin kyzy in Korea confused ‘gichim’ with ‘kimchi’ and instead of 10,000 won, gave ‘10 som’.
