Gulzat in Maldives: "It's the paradise for people in love with the sea and the beach"

Why did you decide to move to Maldives?

I always dreamt about living on a sunny island full of tall coconut trees, surrounded by a turquoise lagoon, deep blue sea and a white sandy beach where you can enjoy a coconut cocktail lying on the beach, getting a sunbath. This dream image always followed me and that's why one of the main goals in my life was to experience life on a tropical island. I was always curious to meet people from the tropics, to gain friends among them. I was curious about the kind of life these people live, how big their daily life differentiates from mine, what kind of interests they have. I was curious to know their culture, history, language, traditions. When I saw the photos of Maldives I realized that this is the place where I want to experience and explore all those things. To visit this kind of island is different, I wanted to live there. And going to live abroad is always an opportunity for me to practice my English.

How was the moving process?

The moving process was very easy because my company arranged the visa and everything else that was required for me to come to Maldives. In total it took just 2 months from the moment I was hired by the resort to the moment when I arrived to Maldives. Though it could be less in my case it took a little bit longer because of the New Year holidays.

What were the formalities you had to go through in order to be able to live in Maldives?

The formalities I had to go through were: visa, medical checkup and getting a medical insurance. And as I mentioned before it was all arranged by my company.

How did you find a job in Maldives? Any advice to share with the other members?

I love the hospitality industry as it gives you a lot of opportunities for travelling, work experience and life abroad. I applied for work in Maldives while I was working in Doha, Qatar, where I had gone for the same reasons: to meet new culture, practice English, learn some Arabic, gain new friends. So there are a lot of websites for finding employment in hotels and resorts. This is the easiest and shortest way for travelling and experiencing living abroad. I created a profile on one of them and chose Maldives as a preference country. Shortly thereafter I got offers from several hotels. After much consideration I chose my present hotel offer. And I'm very happy. For the other members I can just advise to learn languages because it is very important nowadays. Maldives is a touristic country with tourists from around the world travelling to this small nation to have a holiday. And one of the advantages for me was speaking Russian language.

Did you face some difficulties to adapt to your host country (language, culture, do's and don'ts)?

The main difficulty was the food because it is very spicy and mostly it consists of sea food. Coming from a country where the major religion followed is Islam, I already had a notion of life in an Islamic country. The difference is in stricter rules such as dress code for women, the prohibition of alcohol use as well as import of any alcoholic substances. However these rules apply primarily in cities compared to the resorts which as an exception are allowed to consume alcohol and dictate dress code rules on the island itself. Transportation is also an issue. Maldives consists of over 1,200 islands which require a boat or a seaplane to move across. Even the main airport is a separate island 5 minutes away from the capital city Malé. Therefore it is important and sometimes challenging to plan ahead your schedule.

What surprised you the most in Maldives?

My main surprise was the difference between the quality of life between a resort and the capital city. Despite Maldives being a touristic destination, it was surprising to see that the capital city is not looked after. There is a lack of trash bins in the city for the litter for example.

Is it easy to meet new people in Maldives?

Most locals speak English which makes it easy to communicate. They are very open, energetic and always happy to meet new people, engage in conversations and help each other. And I always adore their readiness to help with a smile on their face. There are also many expats to communicate with. And even the small effort in gaining new friends will be awarded.

Could you please share with us something you like about Maldives and something you don't like?

Like :
1. Weather
2. Beach (there are a lot of activities except swimming as snorkelling, diving, exploring marine life which is incredible)
3. Friendly local residents and culture
4. Relaxing atmosphere

Dont like :
1. Food ( I don't eat most of the seafood products)
2. No easy transportation
3. Crowded capital city

A common belief about Maldives which wasn't right:

There is a belief that there is not much to do in Maldives. But it is wrong. There is a lot of activities you can find. And there is a lot of new things you can start doing. It is the paradise for people who are in love with the sea and the beach. Diving and snorkeling are amazing. But be sure while moving here that you will have the access to the beach, otherwise you are not going to be happy. Malé is small and crowded but there are nice places to go there: nice restaurants, coffee shops, cinema. And in my case my resort is located 15 minutes from the airport and Malé, therefore I am lucky to have the opportunity to catch a daily ferry to the capital if I would like to change my surroundings.

What do you miss the most from Kyrgyzstan, your home country?

Food and family.

What does your typical day as an expat in Maldives look like?

Wake up early morning, watch news, gym, work, beach after duty, during off duty I do a lot of recreational activities such as playing pool. Chatting with friends and family, going to the beach, watching movies with friends, going to capital city Malé for lunch or dinner.

What is your favorite Maldivian food?

Bajiya, pastry stuffed with fish, coconuts and onions, and Masroshi, fish with coconut, wrapped in bread and baked.

You also lived in Qatar before moving here: what did you learn from all these years abroad?

I improved my knowledge of English. I realized that the culture of each country is unique and beautiful. And I learned to communicate with people better which helps me now not only at work but in my daily life as well.

Which advice would you give to people wishing to live in Maldives?

Don't expect nightlife and alcohol here. You must be ready to live a passive life. Be prepared to share room with up to 8 people. Internet connection is slow. Very spicy food.