The story of their international family, which moved from Europe to Central Asia, piques the interest of many. Valeria shares her impressions and future plans with a Turmush correspondent.
Meeting in the Heart of Europe
Nursultan, who turned 27 in March of this year, was born in Naryn. Valeria was born in 2001 in the Kirovohrad region of Ukraine. Their fateful meeting took place a significant distance from their current home: Valeria lived in Bratislava, while Nursultan resided in a small Slovak town, Senec.
Their story began at Valeria's workplace, where she was a barista. "He came in with a friend to have coffee, and there was an instant spark between us. When they were about to leave, I gathered my courage and asked for his social media account. In the evening, we started messaging, and that continued until our first meeting," Valeria shares.
After a week of online communication, Nursultan invited her on a date. Despite their mutual attraction, after their first walk, they returned to their respective cities. However, Valeria soon visited him. "When he was seeing me off to the train, Nursultan unexpectedly confessed his feelings for me, which surprised me—I only felt a slight attraction at that time," she adds.
Their relationship developed quickly: two months later, Nursultan moved to Bratislava, and the couple began living together. Valeria realized her love during their first joint New Year celebration.
Moving and Kyrgyz Hospitality
After two years of living together in Europe, the couple decided to change their surroundings and return to the husband’s homeland. On June 23, 2025, they landed in Kyrgyzstan. The meeting at the airport was filled with traditions: Nursultan's parents welcomed their daughter-in-law with national symbols—a scarf, "sary mai" (clarified butter), and a large family meal.
Initially, the young couple planned a simple registration at the civil registry office, but their relatives insisted on a full wedding. As a result, the celebration took place with all the traditions, symbolizing the union of two cultures. Valeria noted that the families showed incredible warmth. "My parents accepted Nursultan as a son, and his family treats me like a daughter. We really appreciate this and often gather as a family," she recounts.
Life in Bishkek
Valeria, who has a degree in hotel management, decided to change her career in Kyrgyzstan. She took SMM and mobile photography courses, actively developing her personal blog. One of her videos, in which she cares for her sick husband, went viral, bringing her about 2800 new followers in a short time.
Adapting to life in Central Asia was not without its challenges, but the nature of Kyrgyzstan captured her heart. A turning point was a trip to Issyk-Kul. "Seeing this wonderful nature and meeting kind people made me truly fall in love with Kyrgyzstan," Valeria says.
She was also impressed by local weddings: "I was amazed at how many people can gather and how sincerely even strangers rejoice in someone else's happiness."
Plans and Everyday Life
Currently, the Abdyvalievs live in Bishkek. In their free time, they lead an active lifestyle: they engage in sports, create content for their blog, cook together, play video games, and watch movies. "Our plans for the future are quite ambitious. We strive for professional success, wish to acquire our own home, and travel a lot. One of our main desires is to travel to China," Valeria shares.
Gallery: An International Family. Valeria Abdyvalieva.
