Nuriza Salimjanova, a native of Batken, was born in 1995. She currently lives with her husband and two daughters in Sweden. Nuriza shared her journey from Kyrgyzstan to this northern country, as well as cultural differences, challenges, and successes, with a Turmush correspondent.
Nuriza's family includes her mother, older sister, and younger brother. Her mother holds the badge of "Excellence in Financial and Economic Work" and continues to work in finance. Her sister is already married.
Nuriza spent her childhood and school years in Batken. She attended a gymnasium until the ninth grade, then enrolled in a college in Bishkek and eventually graduated from the Faculty of Linguistics at the International University of Kyrgyzstan.
The move to Sweden took place in the fall of 2017. After finishing her studies, Nuriza dreamed not only of working abroad but also of traveling. A relative living in Sweden helped her leave for Europe by assisting with the visa process. The initial adaptation was challenging, and homesickness was palpable, but soon life settled down.
In Sweden, Nuriza met her future husband. They got married in this country, and celebrated their wedding according to Kyrgyz traditions back home. The couple currently has two daughters and happily lives in one of the suburbs of Stockholm.
Nuriza notes that working abroad helped her understand that the most important values are time, health, and loved ones. Together with her husband, they have visited Paris and Barcelona, and recently the whole family went on a cruise in Finland.
Currently, Nuriza works in a hotel doing cleaning, and in her free time, she bakes cakes to order. At first, she made sweets for her family, but her desserts were so well-received by acquaintances that she soon became known as "Nuriza, who bakes cakes."
At the beginning of 2025, the family moved into their own house, which was purchased on credit. Nuriza says that the first five years in a new country are always the hardest, but now life has become more stable, although they plan to return to Kyrgyzstan in the future.
According to Nuriza, the main difference lies in the lifestyle. In Sweden, minimalism prevails—there are fewer extravagant events, and people live more modestly and separately. "In Sweden, there are almost no large weddings and celebrations; if such events do happen, they are only in a narrow circle. Locals strive not to complicate their lives and primarily live for themselves, without interfering in others' affairs. Swedes are characterized by kindness and politeness—they always smile and greet each other even on the street. When I first arrived, it seemed unusual. Swedes lead a healthy lifestyle—they wake up early, engage in sports, eat healthily, and take care of their health. Interestingly, in their daily lives, they follow many rules similar to Muslim ones, even though most of them are not religious," she shared.
Swedes are always polite and often smile. "Here, all professions are respected—directors and ordinary workers are treated equally. The culture of reading is very developed—libraries and bookstores are everywhere, and you can see people with books in public places. Sweden is an international country that provides conditions for everyone, but most locals do not consider themselves religious," Nuriza added.
At first, Nuriza faced difficulties with the public transport system, sometimes arriving late to work or coming too early to avoid missing her stop. "There are many types of public transport, which added to the problems. On my way to work, I constantly checked the map to avoid missing my stop. The distances between stops here are quite large, and at first, I often got confused, especially when using Google Maps. Of course, if you enter an address, the app provides a convenient route, but while I was getting used to this system, I often got lost and was late. Sometimes, fearing I would be late, I arrived too early," she recounted.
Nuriza considers her achievements not only in material results but also in personal growth. She believes that life abroad shapes a person, strengthens patriotism, and changes one's worldview. Upon returning to Kyrgyzstan, Nuriza wants to live more wisely, dedicating more time to her family.
In the future, she plans to study the Swedish language at a professional level, obtain additional education, and, upon returning to her homeland, apply her knowledge for the benefit of the country.
