Nurbakyt was born on August 2, 2001, in Astana, Kazakhstan, where he also spent the first years of his life and attended elementary school. His parents are from Kyrgyzstan: his father is from the village of Moldo-Asan in the Talas region, and his mother is from the city of Kainy in the Chuy region.
“My father moved to Astana with my mother in the late 1990s in search of work, where they met. They decided to stay and bought a house in the Saryarka district. However, after 15 years, my father realized it would be better for him to return to his homeland, and we moved to Kyrgyzstan,” Nurbakyt shared.
After finishing the 6th grade, the family moved to Kainy to be closer to his mother's relatives.
Today, Nurbakyt has settled in the Polish town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, located an hour's drive from Warsaw, and works as a laborer in an auto parts warehouse.
He graduated from Gymnasium No. 2 in Kainy and then enrolled in budget education at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University in the Faculty of Humanities, specializing in historical cultural studies. “Unfortunately, I did not complete my studies, deciding to leave the university due to the quarantine of 2020 and personal circumstances,” he noted.
“Since childhood, I have been drawn to exploring the world and adventures. I grew up watching the shows 'Eagle and Tails', 'The World Upside Down', and pirate movies. My mother gave me a book about the history of pirates, and since then I became interested in general history. This inspired my desire to travel. After I left the university and faced financial difficulties at home, I went to Moscow to earn money, and upon returning to Bishkek, I met a friend who told me about job opportunities in Europe, particularly in Poland, without knowing the language. I submitted my documents in 2024 and waited for an invitation from an employer for a whole year, and on November 5, 2025, I arrived in Warsaw,” he added.
Nurbakyt notes that Poles are friendly. “The first country I visited outside the CIS was Turkey — with its sun, sea, and beaches. Poland will be my launchpad for traveling around Europe. Although it is cold and cloudy here, people always smile. Warsaw reminds me of a mix of old St. Petersburg and Moscow, and the transport runs on schedule. The pace of life here is different: in Bishkek, you could take your time getting to work, but here everything is strictly on time,” he says. He also added that this is his first experience working in a different field, as he previously only worked in the food service industry.
According to him, locals are understanding. “Since Polish and Russian belong to the Slavic group, Poles often understand us when we ask for directions. However, it is easier to communicate in English. My advice to the youth: learn languages,” he emphasized.
The difference in everyday life, mentality, and pace of life between Poland and Kyrgyzstan is noticeable. “Here, I am not afraid to walk around the city; I won’t be stopped for document checks,” Nurbakyt added.
He was impressed that Poles know about Kyrgyzstan due to the history of the USSR, Bivol, and Shevchenko. “Sometimes I feel proud of our country when discussing it with Poles. I was surprised that there are very few nightclubs and establishments open until morning in Warsaw. The architecture here combines Gothic elements and 20th-century style, and the influence of communism is evident in the construction,” he noted.
“At first, it was easy for me since my childhood friend Nurlan, who has been living here for almost a year, supports me. We have known each other since childhood because our families are friends. He and his friends are from different regions, and we often gather together. Recently, we celebrated the New Year with a feast and fireworks,” Nurbakyt shared.
Although there are not as many Kyrgyz in Poland as in Russia, they communicate and keep in touch. “I live in a hostel with guys from Kochkor and Tokmok,” he added.
In his free time, Nurbakyt works part-time as a bartender (knowledge of English is sufficient), and if there is no work, he enjoys reading and watching cult films. He also visits museums in Warsaw and communicates with relatives from Kyrgyzstan. “My plans include traveling to Schengen countries — Paris, Madeira, Amsterdam, and Rome. I dream of saving up for a startup and finding my niche in Bishkek. I don’t want to remain a labor migrant in old age; I would rather develop my homeland,” he concluded.
Gallery: Orozbaev Nurbakyt.
