Marcelo Ziegler from Argentina teaches Kyrgyzstanis to lead healthy lifestyle

An Argentinian Marcelo Ziegler arrived in Kyrgyzstan six years ago with his wife Cecilia Nanni. They left everything they had in their home country: comfortable living conditions, good job, relatives and friends.

— I was the director of a media center, taught at the university, my wife worked as a psychologist. But we understood that life is not only about work and making money. We have to do good deeds, help people," Marcelo Ziegler told.

— We decided to become volunteers and received an invitation from fellow Argentines, who were already working in Kyrgyzstan at that time. Then I did not know anything about this country and asked: «Is this Afghanistan?» he said with a smile.

Marcelo Ziegler told 24.kg news agency what he has been doing in Kyrgyzstan and how Bishkek has changed in recent years.

— The first invitation we received was for a year, but the plans suddenly changed and we were offered to stay here for five years. It was not easy to come to a decision, but we did not regret it. We arrived in Bishkek in May 2015, speaking neither Russian nor English, only Spanish.

I started working as a member of a creative team Salamat.club, who make media content in the field of public health. Before the political events in October 2020, we actively worked with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, prepared podcasts, filmed videos, traveled to regions, told about healthy lifestyles, and helped with informing about the coronavirus. I write scripts, shoot, edit, in general I do everything that I can.

— How quickly did you adapt without language?

— It was very difficult. But more than 70 percent of the team at Salamat.club spoke English. My wife and I first started speaking English, and then began to learn Russian. We learned it with a teacher for two years, but we could not speak. Then one colleague just stopped talking to us in English, so there was some progress little by little. Later, my wife opened a talking club in Spanish and English. Many of our students have improved their knowledge and got good jobs. This is another small useful thing that we were able to do.

— Please tell about your work at Salamat.club. Why is the health topic so close to you?

— When we arrived in Kyrgyzstan, we knew that life expectancy here is low. People smoke a lot, eat a lot of red meat. Many of them wait until they have serious health problems, and only then seek medical help and buy medicines. But you can preserve your health, if you eat healthy, work out, keep proper hours.

Therefore, we wanted to convey the importance of disease prevention, decided to prepare video materials, invite specialists and conduct trainings at the local level. This is a project that does not bring profit, there are many volunteers in our team.

Dentists, for example, told children about dental health, explained how to brush the teeth properly, and presented them with toothbrushes. Adults were informed about the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19.

— Share your advice how to stay healthy.

— There are several serious problems in Kyrgyzstan — cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, smoking. Therefore, you need to eat a healthy diet, be physically active and quit smoking.

— Is it difficult to follow a healthy lifestyle in Kyrgyzstan?

— I think no. There are plenty of opportunities for physical activity: mountains, stadiums or just at home. Where there is a will there is a way.

It is a little difficult to find good fruits and vegetables, especially in winter. But this is also possible. High price is not always the reason. Sometimes people do not know what they can found in stores, and eat rice, flour every day. By the way, fruits and vegetables are tastier here than in some countries. I have been to many countries and have never eaten such delicious watermelons anywhere. Tomatoes, melons, carrots — everything is delicious!

— Do you like our national cuisine?

— I like plov, samsa and other national dishes. Although, sometimes, they are not good for your health — too much vegetable oil is used. I also don’t like kurut and shoro. My wife does not eat sugar, flour or milk, and it is difficult to find gluten-free food products in Kyrgyzstan. We drank one type of tea every day in Argentina, which is not sold here, therefore, when we visit our homeland, we bring it from there.

— What else do you miss in Kyrgyzstan?

— Maybe it is the medical system. Once we wanted to buy medicines that we needed, but we did not find them in Bishkek. I had to look for them in Spain or the USA.

When we arrived, there were practically no fast food outlets, but they are at every turn now. It is unhealthy.

In general, there are all conditions for comfortable life. Six or seven years ago it was worse than it is now. There were few flights at the airport, there was only one expensive store near our apartment in Bishkek HPP area and we had to go to a supermarket in another district. They are all over the city now. Roads are being repaired, new buses have appeared. There were only minibuses and old trolleybuses before. I also remember old parks with overgrown lawns. They are neatly mowed now, flowers are growing everywhere, it is beautiful, you can go for a walk. A lot of things have changed.

When I saw the police before, my heart began beating faster. They definitely stopped me, asked who I am, from what country, asked to show passport. It does not happen now. When I was driving, they stopped me and always wanted money. There are video surveillance cameras now. If you really broke the rules, then pay a fine. Formerly I didn’t even know whether they just wanted money from me or I broke something.

— What regions have you visited during this time?

— I have visited almost all regions, except for Batken and Talas. I have been to Dzheti-Oguz many times. This is one of the best places for me in Kyrgyzstan. I especially like Karakol, Issyk-Kul, Erkindik Boulevard in Bishkek.

When traveling, garbage catches your eye everywhere. We always picked up it first. But I’m tired of doing it. I do not know how many times we went to the flagpole and picked up trash there, but the situation repeated a week after the cleanup. Many people say that these are the foreigners who litter, although this is not so.

— What else, in your opinion, needs to be changed?

— The traffic jams situation. Many people simply do not understand that they need to keep distance. After all, it can be dangerous. Cars stand in four rows on three lanes. Thanks to the cameras, the situation on the roads has become a little better. But they are not everywhere. People also stand very close to each other in supermarkets.

The issue of corruption is also topical. This problem exists all over the world. I understand that Kyrgyzstan is a young country, it is only 30 years old. There are smart, educated people. Many young people speak three or four languages ​​(Kyrgyz, Russian, English, Chinese or others). I believe that if they come to rule the country, then life here will be better than it is now. Don’t leave your country! Kyrgyzstan needs its people, nice and honest people who want to change the world for the better.

— What are your plans for the future?

— When our five-year project ended and we had to change the country, the COVID-19 pandemic began. We were told to wait a bit. We have been waiting for the second year. But we are happy here. We love Kyrgyzstan, we have friends, we like what we do. When you selfishly live for yourself, you are not happy. We feel that we are needed here and are able to help those in need. We can also help others in Argentina, but this help is more needed here.

After arriving in Kyrgyzstan, our life was divided into ‘before’ and ‘after’. When you decide to devote your life to helping other people, you benefit first and foremost. We all need to be kinder towards each other.