Begimai Sataeva builds career in The Hague and promotes Kyrgyz shyrdak

Begimai Sataeva is 27 years old. She moved to the Netherlands in 2016. The girl told in the interview with 24.kg news agency about the challenges of migration, her life away from the homeland and why moving abroad does not guarantee success.

— Begimai, how did you end up in the Netherlands?

— I received two scholarships under the Erasmus Mundus programme — gender studies and journalism, under which you can study at several different universities in Europe. I chose gender studies, applied for Italy, Spain and Hungary, the Student Admissions Committee sent me to Poland and the Netherlands. I have studied for a year in the city of Lodz in Poland, and in the second year I came to Utrecht, the Netherlands.

I tried to change places with my classmate and go to Spain, but I was refused. And not in vain! I sincerely think the Netherlands is the best country.

Begimai Sataeva

— What did you do in Kyrgyzstan?

— Before leaving for master’s programme, I studied at AUCA at the Department of Journalism. From the second year, I started my career in communications, wrote articles for local and foreign media, implemented public projects to improve Bishkek, volunteered at the university and international organizations. From the very beginning, the university creates an environment for career development and encourages further studies in the master’s degree programs.

In The Hague I continue my career in communications in an international organization. I have been looking for a job in my specialty for a long time; it was difficult at first without knowledge of the Dutch language and work experience in Europe, but slowly it began to work out.

— What challenges did you encounter abroad?

— There were a lot of them, at every step — starting with finding an apartment, studying at the university, looking for a job and making friends. At first, I did not understand how public transport works, how to open a bank account and register a SIM card.

Study at the Utrecht University was difficult. I didn’t always understand class discussions and literally lived in a library that closes at two in the morning.

It was difficult to look for a job, to manage documents, to set up home, to move, to organize delivery of furniture, to establish romantic and friendly relations. I was not prepared for the challenges of migration, I had no experience of independent living. I am very grateful to my family, friends, colleagues for their help and support.

— Do you have a language barrier? Do you have difficulty in learning Dutch?

—The majority speaks excellent English in the Netherlands. You can live quite comfortably without speaking Dutch. But knowledge of it gives huge benefits. I actively learn Dutch and plan to speak it fluently. Living in this beautiful country, I want to better understand the language and culture. When I try to practice the language in a shop or cafe, many people immediately switch to English, seeing that it’s hard for me.

— What do you admire about this country?

— Absolutely everything — kindness and care of people and the state, architecture, history, security, medicine, infrastructure. Most surprising is the professionalism, management and transparency of the state. The Water Resources Management Department, greenhouses, and the way how innovations and technologies are introduced are amazing.

— As far as I know, you are promoting the Kyrgyz shyrdak. How was the idea born? Is there a demand?

— For now, it’s just my hobby. I am a fan of the Kyrgyz shyrdak. This is an ideal eco-product that leaves no waste in production. The manufacturing technique, design, sacred meanings of ornaments, the history it tells about, the functionality make shyrdak truly unique.

I was looking for a shyrdak for my apartment and found a girl who made them in Vienna (Austria). She had a small business, but due to lack of time, she closed it. I ordered several shyrdaks from her and posted photos on social media. They were sold out immediately.

Later, I ordered another batch from Naryn, faced difficulties in logistics and design. There is demand, but like any business, it takes time and effort. I plan to continue promoting shyrdaks so that the craftswomen pass on the manufacturing technique, their knowledge and get decent wages.

— You wrote on Twitter recently that you have bought an apartment. How did you do it?

— There is no secret — I worked hard and saved up so that the bank would approve the purchase of housing.

During the six years of my life in the Netherlands, I changed about 10 rented apartments and rooms. In Kyrgyzstan, people tend to buy their own apartment or live with their parents. In the Netherlands, people rent housing for years or even their whole lives. There are strict laws that protect the rights of tenants. I myself won a case against the owner of the apartment, who rented it to me with mold.

I didn’t feel comfortable in rented accommodation, I knew that it wasn’t mine and I couldn’t settle down anywhere. High rents and house price increases by 10 −15 percent each year also played a role. Mortgage was the perfect option for me. I believe that it is especially important for girls to be as independent as possible and have several rainy-day funds — financial savings and housing. This is felt especially acutely abroad.

— You participated in local elections in The Hague in March. Does the process somehow differ from the elections in the Kyrgyz Republic?

— I participated in the elections in the municipality of The Hague. To do this, you do not need to have citizenship, everyone who has lived in the country for more than five years is invited to the elections. In fact, voting is often held on city issues and initiatives — decisions on sewerage, district improvement, construction projects and much more. It is mostly online. Elections to the municipality are organized as conveniently as possible for people, they go on for three days from 7 a.m. until late in the evening in many locations of the city.

I always participate in the elections in Kyrgyzstan. I go to Brussels (Belgium), to the Kyrgyz Embassy. It is a pity that there is often a low turnout of voters in the Kyrgyz Republic, there is no high interest and understanding of social, political activities and the value of elections. Democracy is a great privilege.

— What do you miss living far away from your homeland?

— Most of all, I miss the warmth of the family and the homeland itself. Sometimes I feel loneliness, especially during family holidays, I want to celebrate Nooruz with my family, drink bozo. And of course, our food, national drinks and the best Kyrgyz beauty masters.

There are not many Kyrgyz citizens in the Netherlands. I have friends and acquaintances with whom I communicate, meet and we support each other. As far as I know, there is no official diaspora here, but the citizens are generally friendly. For example, we raised funds to send to Kyrgyzstan during the pandemic. Sometimes the embassy organizes cultural evenings. I recommend our country to friends, acquaintances and colleagues, and they visit it with real pleasure and interest.

— Do you visit your homeland?

— I go to Kyrgyzstan every year. Issyk-Kul and our mountains are the best place for me to relax. I will probably split my time between the two countries, if possible, because the Netherlands is my home away from home. Right now I have no big plans, I’m learning the art of small steps. I hope to improve my Dutch to a fluent level, my priority now is a career.

— What advice would you give to those who are going to leave for Europe now?

— Eighty percent of success in any business is preparation. It is important to study all aspects of the move, most importantly — the legal side. Determine the goals and objectives of the relocation. It is important to prepare financially, psychologically and in everyday matters, calculate all the risks and have a clear plan.