Nazik works as a nurse in the psychiatric department of a university clinic, specializing in the treatment of depression. She completed a three-year training program called Ausbildung to obtain this profession.
In Kyrgyzstan, she studied at Bishkek State University in the Faculty of "European Civilizations," where she learned German and Russian. Her move to Germany became possible thanks to the Au-pair program, which is designed for language learning, she notes.
According to Nazik, the residents of Heidelberg are characterized by punctuality and strict adherence to rules. She noticed that many Germans prefer not to start families and do not pay much attention to public opinion, which is surprising. "Migrants who move here can count on support if they learn the language, pay taxes, and strive for integration," she added.
Nazik also shared her experience of living in Germany: even with a small salary, for example, when she worked as a volunteer and earned 450 euros, she managed to travel and support herself. Tickets from Germany to Spain could be bought for just 30 euros. She noted that the education system in the country is free and not corrupt, and during her Ausbildung, she was paid between 1100 and 1300 euros a month, while the cost of living in a dormitory was only 200 euros.
The differences in salary levels between Kyrgyzstan and Germany are noticeable: doctors and teachers here earn high incomes, although taxes are quite high, and the insurance system is strict. In case of job loss, the government provides temporary financial support.
Although Nazik did not work in Kyrgyzstan, she is confident that the attitude towards medical personnel in Germany is significantly better than in the CIS. There is a mandatory insurance system in place, and patients with private insurance receive faster and higher-quality service.
Nazik shared that doctors and nurses in Germany work on equal terms, and there is no strict hierarchy between them, which gives the nursing profession respect. "Everyone addresses each other informally, and no one is dependent on others here," she explained.
One of the amusing stories Nazik shared was her first encounter with Italian cuisine. When she ordered carpaccio pizza, she expected to see a pizza with meat but was shocked when she was served raw beef. "Later, I learned that it is a delicacy eaten raw. The Germans laughed when they found out that I had fried it," she recalled.
There are many Kyrgyz people living in Heidelberg, and Nazik has the opportunity to stay connected with them through social networks. "I have three friends with whom we cook manti and lagman. We celebrate Nooruz and gather for picnics when singers come to the city," she said.
In the future, Nazik plans to open an agency that will help people relocate to Germany and also organize German language courses. Her parents, both doctors, are now retired. Nazik has an older sister and two younger brothers.
