After finishing 11 grades at her hometown school, Elnura enrolled in the International University of Kyrgyzstan, choosing the major "Finance and Credit." She is currently in the process of validating her diploma.
She first came to Germany through the “Au-pair” program, and later, after participating in a social program, became a student in the nursing faculty, which she successfully completed last year. Today, Elnura balances work and studies in two fields—medicine and economics. “There are many opportunities in Germany if you put in the effort. The economic system here is strong, but taxes are quite high—about 40-45% of income goes to taxes,” she notes.
Upon arriving in Germany, Elnura found people to be cold and reserved, but over time she realized that this reflects cultural characteristics. Here, communication with strangers, including greetings and smiles, is considered a sign of good manners.
In Kyrgyzstan, the social circle is always wide—relatives, neighbors, friends. Traditional holidays and weddings often take place, and visits do not require prior invitations. In contrast, in Germany, everything is meticulously planned, and weddings usually have a limited number of guests—40-50 people. When inviting guests, hosts often offer only coffee or tea, and important events are scheduled a year in advance.
Elnura shares that adapting to a new country was not easy: the language barrier, new culture, and traditions created difficulties. “Cultural shock is a normal phenomenon for newcomers. Many face problems due to language barriers and lack of communication,” she says.
According to Elnura, the family she worked with through the program was not the most fortunate, which made communication with the children challenging. “Later, I started working as a nursing assistant through a social program. The salary was small, but during this period, I learned a lot, saw various life situations, and made acquaintances with different people. The nursing profession requires great responsibility: caring for patients, monitoring their condition, and administering medications—all of this falls under the duties of a nurse, who is in high demand here,” she explains.
During nursing training, practical experiences are provided in various departments: psychiatry, geriatrics, pediatric units, and others. Students even learn details like the correct technique for washing a patient—where to start and how to care for them properly,” she adds.
Many Kyrgyzstani people live in Germany. “There are families who have moved here, as well as those who have started families here. Everyone maintains connections with each other, celebrates holidays, and observes traditions,” Elnura says.
In the future, Elnura plans to deepen her knowledge in economics and medicine in Germany, as well as study the economic system of Kyrgyzstan. “I want to adopt the systems that improve people's lives in Germany and implement them in Kyrgyzstan. I am not married, but I have plans for the future,” she concluded.
