Her journey to Turkey began 12 years ago when she arrived to work as a caregiver for the elderly. Today, Gülzat is the owner of a beauty salon in this resort city and plans to open additional gynecology and dentistry branches to assist women facing difficulties in accessing medical services.
Gülzat is married to a Turkish citizen, with whom she has built a strong family and actively participates in the Kyrgyz community.
She was born on September 6, 1986, in the village of Kara-Suu in the At-Bashinsky district of the Naryn region, and graduated from high school in 2004 in Kara-Kungoi. Later, she studied at a medical college in Tokmok and worked at a local hospital. As a result of her marriage to her first husband, Gülzat had two sons — the elder is now 18 years old, and the younger is 11. Unfortunately, her first husband passed away, and like many others, Gülzat moved to Turkey in search of a better life.
In May 2012, she went to Turkey and faced many difficulties, including a language barrier. "When I arrived, I didn't know the language, and it made finding a job very difficult. Most often, I was offered to care for children or the elderly. I started by taking care of a woman with cancer," she recounts.
Gülzat shares amusing moments related to language misunderstandings. For example, once when her charge said that something had fallen "under the koltuk" (sofa), she thought it referred to the armpit and was confused about what could be there. Only later, realizing that it meant the space under the sofa, they both laughed.
After her charge went to the hospital, Gülzat found a new job caring for an elderly couple from a wealthy family. She recalls how once she bought the wrong milk, which clearly showed her how difficult it can be to communicate without knowing the language.
Gülzat met her current husband online. "He lived in Antalya, and I was working in Istanbul. For a year, he wrote to me, but I didn't pay attention. At some point, I started responding, and after 15 days, he proposed to me. We quickly found common ground and got married," she shares.
Now, Gülzat manages her beauty salon, which opened 8 months ago. "It wasn't easy. Starting a business in Turkey requires a lot of effort, and I am grateful to my husband for his support. I previously worked in a salon in Istanbul, where I served famous people. I received my beauty education in Turkey and deepened it in Bishkek," she explains.
Additionally, Gülzat actively helps her fellow countrywomen facing medical issues. "Many of them cannot get help due to a lack of visas or high prices. This month, an experienced gynecologist will come to us to assist those in need," she adds.
In her free time, the Kyrgyz woman enjoys reading, self-development, and traveling.
