Nurbakyt was born on August 2, 1998, in Kazakhstan, in the capital city of Astana. He spent his early years there, completing his primary education. His parents are originally from Kyrgyzstan: his father is from the village of Moldo-Asan in the Talas region, and his mother is from Kainy in the Chui region.
“My father is from Talas. In the late 90s, he and my mother moved to Astana in search of work, where they met and decided to stay and buy a house in the Saryarka district. However, after 15 years, my father realized that life in Kyrgyzstan was better, and we returned home,” Nurbakyt shared.
After finishing the 6th grade, the family moved to Kainy to be closer to his mother's relatives. Currently, Nurbakyt is in Poland, in a small town called Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, near Warsaw, where he works as a laborer in an auto parts warehouse.
He graduated from Gymnasium No. 2 in Kainy and enrolled in the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University in the humanities faculty, choosing to major in history and cultural studies. However, he had to interrupt his studies due to the quarantine in 2020 and a number of personal circumstances. “Since childhood, I have always been interested in adventures and travel. I grew up watching shows like ‘Eagle and Tails,’ ‘The World Upside Down’ with Komarov, and movies like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ My mother gave me a book about the history of pirates, which inspired me to study history,” he shared.
After dropping out of university and facing financial difficulties, his family decided to work in Moscow. Later, upon returning to Bishkek, he met a friend who had traveled around Europe and told him about opportunities to work in Poland without knowing the language. In 2024, he submitted his documents and waited for an invitation from an employer, which he received in November 2025.
“People here are very friendly. The first country I visited outside the CIS was Turkey, with its sun, sea, and beaches. I see Poland as a launchpad for traveling around Europe. The climate here is cold and cloudy, but people greet you with smiles. Warsaw reminds me of a mix between old St. Petersburg and Moscow, and the transport runs on schedule. The pace of life here is faster than in Bishkek,” Nurbakyt noted.
He also mentioned that Poles understand Russian due to its Slavic roots, which makes communication easier. “I advise young people to learn languages,” he added.
Comparing Poland and Kyrgyzstan, Nurbakyt pointed out significant differences in everyday life, mentality, and pace of life. He feels free walking around the city without fearing checks from law enforcement.
“Poles know about our country because of the history of the USSR, Bivol, and Shevchenko, for which I respect them. I am proud of my country when I talk to Poles. I was surprised that there are few clubs and establishments open until morning in Warsaw, despite it being the capital,” he added.
The beginning of life in Poland was not difficult for Nurbakyt, thanks to his childhood friend Nurlan, who has been living here for almost a year. “We have been friends since childhood because our parents communicated. I am lucky that he is here. We celebrated New Year together, had gatherings, and set off fireworks,” he said.
Although there are not as many Kyrgyz in Poland as in Russia, Nurbakyt keeps in touch with his compatriots and lives in a hostel with guys from Kochkor and Tokmok. In his free time, he works as a bartender and enjoys reading books and watching classic films. He also visits museums in Warsaw and communicates with relatives from Kyrgyzstan.
In the future, Nurbakyt plans to visit all the countries in the Schengen zone and dreams of Paris, Madeira, Amsterdam, and Rome. However, his main goal is to return to Bishkek, create a startup, and contribute to the development of his country. “I realized that I do not want to remain a labor migrant; I would rather develop my homeland,” he concluded.
