Our People Abroad: How Migrants Live and Work Overseas: The Personal Story of Zhyldyzai Moldalieva from Five Countries

Владислав Вислоцкий • 05.01.2026, 12:43 • Society

Turmush continues to tell the stories of Kyrgyzstani people who live, work, and study abroad. 26-year-old Zhyldyzai Moldalieva left for abroad exactly 7 years ago and since then has managed to work in various cities in Russia, the UAE, Greece, and Turkey.

She was born in 1999 in the city of Naryn.

In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, she shared that despite being born in Naryn, she grew up and was raised in the city of Balykchy in the Issyk-Kul region from early childhood. There are three people in her family: her mother, her brother, and herself. Her mother works as a hairdresser in Kyrgyzstan, while her brother works as a cook in Europe.

“My journey abroad began after I finished my studies — in March 2018. At that time, I went to Moscow and worked as a cashier and in warehouses for about a year. Of course, most migrants leave for abroad with the aim of improving their living conditions, saving money, building a house, buying a car, or starting a business back home. Many leave due to life's difficulties. I also went through many tough moments: tears, grievances, homesickness, disappointments. But we didn’t break — we gathered ourselves, grew stronger, and continued to move forward, working hard. Thus, my migrant life, which began in Moscow, opened the door to trips and work in five countries.

In particular, I worked in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Greece (Rhodes, Samos, Kos, Leros, Cyprus), Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya), and also in Kazakhstan (Almaty),” she said.

The heroine tried her hand in various fields and even worked as a waitress on cruise ships.

“In Dubai, I worked as a manicure master in a salon. In Greece, I was a waitress on a cruise ship. In Turkey, I worked as a nanny, a cashier in a store, a waitress in restaurants, and in other places. In some countries, I encountered things that were unusual for us. For example, I was surprised when a father-in-law, mother-in-law, and daughter-in-law smoked together. In Turkey, there are cases where men aggressively approach girls. Also, they do not widely celebrate New Year, International Women’s Day, and Nowruz. However, they celebrate Kurban Ait, Orozo Ait, and the national holiday on October 29 extensively.

In Greece, I worked on a large ship that visited four islands. There, I saw how locals converted their ordinary homes into tourist accommodations. On the streets, no one bothers you, watches you, or tries to steal something — everyone is busy with their own business. The salary was good.

In Dubai, while working in the manicure field, I noticed a clear division of people by class. The first class is locals, meaning native residents. The second is Europeans, and the third is Slavs. They hold good positions and receive high salaries. Representatives of the lower class — immigrants from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, African countries, and Indonesia — work in car washes, street cleaning, and house cleaning for low pay,” she shared.

Currently, our compatriot works as a sales assistant in a clothing store in the city of Antalya (Turkey).

“I have really gotten used to Antalya. The summer here is long and hot. The locals are hospitable and closely interact with animals — there are many people with dogs and cats on the streets. I set a goal to buy housing in 2026. Overall, my main dream is to find a good life partner. In the future, we plan to open a small business. My hobbies are photography and videography, cooking delicious dishes, and recently I have become interested in playing golf,” Zhyldyzai shared.

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