When you are a doctor with education, experience, and a calling, but you move to another country — everything starts from a blank slate. That’s how it was for me. I am Yelizaveta Nikitina, an infectious disease doctor. Several years ago, I found myself in Slovakia. Without understanding whether we would stay here for long. Without confidence in myself. And most importantly, without the language.
The first steps are the scariest
I am a person who finds it hard to step out of the comfort zone. It was scary to submit the documents. Scary to start preparing. Scary to go to the exam.
But I decided to try. With small steps. Without waiting for the “perfect moment.”
But I decided to try. With small steps. Without waiting for the “perfect moment.”
- I started learning Slovak and quite quickly reached level B2,
- I realized that I didn’t know a single medical term — I enrolled in medical Slovak courses + preparation for the supplementary exam at Med-Integro,
- I submitted documents for the exam — no one refused,
- I prepared 3–4 hours a day.
Preparation for the exam — honestly and truly
I didn’t even know what organs are called in Slovak. Medical terms — zero.
In the course with the teacher, I couldn’t just “sit there.” I was made to speak, to articulate, to overcome barriers.
I wrote schemes, took tests, watched lectures. I bought textbooks on therapy and pediatrics in Slovak. I worked every day.
In the course with the teacher, I couldn’t just “sit there.” I was made to speak, to articulate, to overcome barriers.
I wrote schemes, took tests, watched lectures. I bought textbooks on therapy and pediatrics in Slovak. I worked every day.
What helped me go through this path
- Medical Slovak course from Med-Integro
- Lectures and tests on the platform
- The method of 15-minute study blocks
- Support and personal discipline
I passed the exam on the first try. It was a shock. But a pleasant one.
What I feel now
I am a full-fledged doctor in Slovakia. Only specialization remains.
But most importantly — I feel confidence. Confidence that I won’t be lost. That I can develop, earn, be part of this system.
But most importantly — I feel confidence. Confidence that I won’t be lost. That I can develop, earn, be part of this system.
Advice for those who are just thinking of starting
Don’t be afraid. Don’t wait until “everything is perfect.” Learn the language. Don’t postpone.
Every day of delay is a missed opportunity.
If you are a doctor and want to go through the path of adaptation — contact Med-Integro. They know how to help.
Every day of delay is a missed opportunity.
If you are a doctor and want to go through the path of adaptation — contact Med-Integro. They know how to help.
Full interview
Today our guest is Yelyzaveta Nikitina, an infectious disease doctor who, one could say, has almost completed the path of adaptation in Slovakia, having just successfully passed the qualification exam, the "doplňujúca skúška." We will find out where this path began, what was the most difficult, talk about the exam, and most importantly, find out how she feels now.
This honest, lively conversation — I hope it will inspire you, because these are not theoreticians, but people who succeeded.
Good afternoon, Yelyzaveta.
Good afternoon.
Let’s start with the first question.
What was the decisive moment when you realized that you wanted to work as a doctor specifically in Slovakia?
First of all, this understanding came when I decided that I would stay here, that I was not here temporarily. And the second moment was when I saw how many colleagues were already successfully working here, that there was nothing difficult about it, nothing impossible. That’s how the understanding came.
Surely there was fear somewhere, in something, about something. Were there any doubts? Can you tell us — were there, were there not? How scary was it? And most importantly, how did you overcome it?
Well, of course, it was scary, it was unclear.
I am, in general, a person who does not really like to leave the comfort zone. That’s why it was scary, it was scary that it wouldn’t work out. Maybe it wasn’t worth starting, maybe it was better to do something simpler.
I decided for myself to move forward with small steps, little by little. I would submit the document — nothing terrible would happen. If they refuse, they refuse, nothing terrible.
They didn’t refuse — good, what’s the next step?
The next step is to start preparing for the exam. Well, I will prepare, I will recall some old knowledge. Nothing terrible.
In the process of preparation, I decided that I would still go and try the exam. Well, I’ll try, maybe it won’t work out the first time, nothing terrible. I had a break while I was on maternity leave.
In this way, with small steps, I made decisions. That is, not globally, not about some big things, but little by little, with small steps. That’s how fear is overcome — personally for me.
So, right away in my head came the book The Art of Small Steps. You took this elephant, this big exam, this whole adaptation of a doctor here, and just cut it into pieces. In this way, you removed the importance from each small step. And in this way...
Devaluation of the goal.
That’s right, devaluation of the goal. Dividing it, breaking it down and devaluing it.
That’s already psychology.
By the way, that’s how I took my German exam.
I also took my German exam that way.
Okay, then about the exam. Tell us then — it’s clear, you prepared with small steps. How exactly did you prepare for the exam? What was a priority? What was the most difficult?
I understood that in order to go to the exam, I had to have basic language skills. Before that, being in Slovakia, I studied not medical Slovak, but regular Slovak for everyday life. I completed level B2 and realized that further it had to be a specialized course. I realized that I needed help with this because I didn’t know any medical terms necessary for a doctor at all.
I didn’t know at all the names of organs in Slovak. I understood that I needed materials for this, I needed help. I turned to Med-Integro, took a two-month course with a teacher specifically in medical Slovak.
I am very grateful to the teacher. She made me use these terms, made me speak, overcome this language barrier.
Who did you study with?
With Dana.
Dana Dubovská? We can send regards.
Yes. Thanks. Regards.
I completed this two-month course.
A large number of materials, tests, presentations. I gained a lot from there, both medical information and, of course, slovná zásoba (vocabulary). Besides this, how else did I prepare? I took tests on your platform.
The tests also help not just to memorize the answer, the correct one there A, B, C. But also to dive into the material additionally from some other side. Then what?
Then I bought textbooks on pediatrics and on therapy. I understood that later they would be useful in my work. That is, for me as a practicing doctor, it’s never a problem to turn to some academic literature. Therefore, I calmly bought textbooks precisely in Slovak.
I tried to avoid studying in my native language in order to immerse myself more in the language.
On the questions that are published by ZSU, I wrote short notes. In some rather difficult topics for me, which had already been forgotten from the university program, I immersed myself more, read some articles.
Personally, drawing diagrams helped me. Visually somehow to memorize gradually, little by little, just in parallel with the course. I also prepared for the oral part. How much time did it take me over two months? About 3-4 hours a day.
This time, on which attempt did you manage to pass?
On the first attempt.
Unbelievable!
So you finished learning Slovak — not medical — up to B2. Then medical Slovak — two months of intensive preparation, 3-4 hours a day.
You passed on the first attempt. Magnificent!
What was the hardest thing during those two months?
The problems, the challenges can be divided into two main groups.
These are, of course, household matters, which delay and distract from the learning process. That’s probably true for everyone. There’s a good method to avoid procrastination — 15-minute blocks. That is, you actively study for 15 minutes, learn something. 15-minute break. You set an alarm every 15 minutes — according to some psychological studies I read, this significantly increases the KPI of learning, with short breaks and short learning phases. It helps to avoid procrastination.
The second group of challenges is on the medical topic.
I finished medical university more than 10 years ago. The whole university program — especially if you don’t use some areas in your work — it’s impossible to remember everything. There were, of course, areas that were hard to recall.
For example, I didn’t work with obstetrics. I didn’t come close at all to this topic in my work practice. Therefore, to recall all of that, to recall even anatomy, the first year of university — that was, of course, difficult, but everything comes back.
As for anatomy, now on the internet there are many platforms where you can see visualizations, where you can look at something in 3D, remember it. The help is quite substantial in this regard. I tried to pay more attention — if I saw a gap in some area, I tried to return to it, to review it. Maybe to approach it from another angle. If some classification was complicated — to draw it out.
So you tried to work through everything, all questions, as thoroughly as possible, 100%?
Well, at least I set myself the goal that for each question I would at least say a couple of sentences, so as not to be silent, not to answer “I don’t know.” I think for any examiner, the phrase “I don’t know” already puts a cross on the person. So I tried at least to say something.
Yes, of course, every question.
Of course, there were questions that directly related to my previous work experience.
And there I could talk at length and in detail.
But, by the way, examiners, when they hear that the person understands the question, is explaining a lot, in detail — they stop them quite quickly. So that idea that I know this question, and I’ll get through the whole exam thanks to it — that’s not the case.
Each question gives 25%. That is, if one question is unanswered — 75% remains, which means the person passed. But that one question covers all the others — that doesn’t happen. That means for every question you have to answer at least something.
Okay, and then about the exam itself. Was there anything that surprised you in the exam? Something unexpected that you weren’t ready for?
Well, in principle, I can’t say that I wasn’t ready for something, and something surprised me and didn’t let me answer calmly — I wouldn’t say that. I had talked in advance with colleagues who had already been there, who knew. So I had heard about some moments that could happen.
Therefore, to say that something could really interfere — nothing so remarkable. Well, some small differences.
For example, exams at my medical university — here neither students nor professors wear white coats. That’s unusual because at our medical institute everyone wore white coats. Students, teachers — like a uniform. Here, there’s no such thing. It doesn’t bother me at all.
Okay, so from that point of view, there wasn’t anything you would have wanted to know in advance but didn’t encounter there. And now, when you’ve already gone through this path — maybe there’s some point that would be good for others who are just going or planning to take the exam to know and take into account? Is there something? Can you?
I can. This is my personal subjective opinion. It concerns the language of communication. That is, examiners pay attention to the language. That is, you shouldn’t count on saying something in Russian — they’ll understand me anyway. Or in Ukrainian — doesn’t matter. They don’t react very well to that.
They can turn a blind eye. But if there’s a problem with the language, then there can be problems with the exam as a whole. What to take into account — if you can’t memorize some term in Slovak. They themselves — the teachers, the examiners — suggest: say it in Latin. Here a lot is used in Latin even in regular practice among doctors. Therefore, if it’s easier for someone — memorize it not in Slovak, memorize it in Latin.
That is much better than if you speak in Russian or Ukrainian. Or, as a last resort, you can say it in English. Especially if it concerns some international classifications — that’s okay too. Here English is also used quite often in the literature. Especially when it comes to some large classifications — English is used freely.
It’s worth avoiding, of course, the use of Russian or Ukrainian. That is — the language is really the foundation.
It’s better to say “in vino veritas, in aqua sanitas” than something in Russian.
We touched a bit on resources. Maybe we’ll repeat and expand a bit on the resources that helped you the most in preparation. Clearly, the first step — an excellent step — B2.
On our platform, there are tests — excellent. You bought two books — super. Is there anything else that you can recommend?
I can recommend — on your platform there were lectures. That is, for example, I didn’t buy literature on obstetrics, on surgery. Therefore, I took materials on these disciplines from the lectures.
Those topics that I was missing, I found quite a lot of lectures freely available on the internet, written specifically in Slovak for students of Slovak medical universities: the Košice university, the university in Bratislava. There are some questions.
It’s clear that you can’t download a textbook in PDF format, but there are a lot of lectures on specific questions.
I just go on Google in Slovak, write some topic and look. Some questions that I couldn’t find — that was the exception — but for myself I took from some textbooks that I still had from university in Russian. But with the understanding that I would need to translate it.
Now you’ve passed this exam, so you are practically a doctor without specialization, almost at the finish line — only specialization remains, right? Are there any points, personal feelings — how do you feel now? How has your life and your sense of yourself here in Slovakia changed? Is there something?
It has changed. I feel more confident that, at least, I won’t be lost here. That I can go to work, earn, develop, continue learning, improve in the profession. It gave me the feeling that I am already standing firmly here.
So, excellent. Good. Then on this firmness — another question about difficulties before this. What difficulties were the most memorable or the most painful that you encountered here, in this new country for you? And how did you cope with them?
I’ve been here quite a long time already, more than three years in Slovakia. In the beginning, in the first year, of course I had difficulties with the language, because in the first year I didn’t study the language at all. I understood that it was really a difficulty — not knowing the language in the country where you live.
You didn’t study the language in the first year. Was that a conscious decision?
Well, how to say a conscious decision? In the first year, I think everyone had that uncertainty — maybe soon we’ll go back home and we won’t need it anymore. At some point, my husband and I even considered moving to another country. It was more from some indecisiveness, uncertainty.
Then, when we already got our residence permit here, we realized — that’s it, we’re going to stay here. And then the first thing I decided — I’m going to learn the language, because without the language in a foreign country — no matter how much it seems to someone that the language is similar — yes, it is similar, but nonetheless. Nonetheless, they are two different languages, if we’re talking about Russian and Slovak. That’s an interesting point.
Right now you’re repeating almost exactly what I heard from another person I interviewed about this — but there we were talking only about entrepreneurs. That is, they also have this turning point, when they decide that they’re staying here. Only then do they start learning the language and somehow begin to put down roots.
Until that moment, until that decision — maybe we’ll still go back somewhere, maybe we’ll move somewhere — nothing happens. And for some, this period drags on for a decade.
My husband is an entrepreneur. And also, as I said, we had a moment of uncertainty — when an entrepreneur pays taxes for the first time, he already understands — I’m not leaving here.
Okay, one more question then — now about what you especially like.
Let’s say, in the Slovak healthcare system, in colleagues — maybe you’ve already communicated, interacted, worked together. What can you especially note as good? In the system itself, in colleagues?
Well, I haven’t worked in the healthcare system here yet. I can say, well, only from the patient side, or relay the experience of colleagues. But from the side — what catches the eye — it’s the computerization of every doctor, so to speak. That is, electronic prescriptions, electronic medical records.
That’s something that speaks positively about the system. Something that, probably, we were lacking. In Ukraine, that existed in some local, maybe private, medical clinics. If we’re talking about the state sector — those paper medical histories, prescriptions on bits of paper. That’s it.
As for local colleagues — they are very calm. That is, they are relaxed. There isn’t that tension like we have. I studied, I worked with the thought that the doctor is always wrong. That is, enormous pressure. Here, it seems to me — from the outside, I can’t say for sure — but it seems to me from the outside,
that the doctor is more protected by law in some matters.
That is definitely a plus. That’s why colleagues are so calm, relaxed, they work with pleasure.
Already closer to the conclusion, perhaps — is there something that from here you would want to say to yourself at the very beginning of the integration path in Slovakia? One or two sentences that would have helped you then.
Definitely to learn the language earlier. Earlier, as for the exam — I thought about that step for quite a long time. A person not very confident in themselves — oh, what if it doesn’t work out. I should have started that process earlier. And everything would have worked out anyway. It could have been less delayed.
The sooner it doesn’t work out, the sooner it will work out?
Every day, every month, more and more competitors basically come here. I mean already about work, for example. More and more competitors. At the start, there were simply fewer of them.
To start earlier — that’s the advice to myself at the beginning. If we talk about those medics who have just arrived or are still thinking about moving — are there any recommendations for them?
The recommendation is first of all to focus on learning the language. Don’t think that the language is almost like ours and you can leave it somewhere aside. No.
You need to focus on the language. And then adaptation will be easier. And with getting a job, with going through all the procedures and nostrification — it will also be easier.
The whole system here is much simpler than in neighboring EU countries. As far as I’ve heard from colleagues in the Czech Republic. In Slovakia this path is easier and simpler. Not to mention Germany. Therefore, that is a big plus. Let’s say, that’s a significant reason to choose Slovakia.
So I think — focus on learning the language and go forward.
Quite briefly. Very sincere. Thank you for your answers. Thank you for your story. Not everyone agrees, not everyone gives permission to voice their story for others. At the moment this is your personal success.
But it’s also a signal for those who are hesitant. Many are working now not in their specialty, precisely out of fear. They work in a warehouse or just do cleaning.
Your story is a signal for them — that everything is possible, everything is real. Please, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.
Confidence must be backed by effort. Just coming to the exam and thinking maybe I’ll get lucky — most likely, that won’t happen.
You need to allocate time for preparation. A fairly large percentage of success depends on luck. You might get a very bad ticket and you won’t pass, even if you prepared for six months for the exam. The human factor won’t disappear either. The commission — they’re tired, they sit there all day. They have to listen to our Slovak with our accent mixed with Russian.
You also have to make allowance for the human factor.
But in the same way, you might get lucky. You might draw a good ticket, the commission might be favorable to you, they might like you — and everything will be fine.
So at the very least, it’s worth going, trying, seeing how it happens, where it happens. I understand that this is also a question of money for many, because one attempt costs 500 euros. That’s not a small amount, but still, even if it doesn’t work out the first time — you’ll already know how it happens, what you’re ready for, how to behave, how not to behave.
It’s experience. Even if it’s negative, it’s also experience.
This honest, lively conversation — I hope it will inspire you, because these are not theoreticians, but people who succeeded.
Good afternoon, Yelyzaveta.
Good afternoon.
Let’s start with the first question.
What was the decisive moment when you realized that you wanted to work as a doctor specifically in Slovakia?
First of all, this understanding came when I decided that I would stay here, that I was not here temporarily. And the second moment was when I saw how many colleagues were already successfully working here, that there was nothing difficult about it, nothing impossible. That’s how the understanding came.
Surely there was fear somewhere, in something, about something. Were there any doubts? Can you tell us — were there, were there not? How scary was it? And most importantly, how did you overcome it?
Well, of course, it was scary, it was unclear.
I am, in general, a person who does not really like to leave the comfort zone. That’s why it was scary, it was scary that it wouldn’t work out. Maybe it wasn’t worth starting, maybe it was better to do something simpler.
I decided for myself to move forward with small steps, little by little. I would submit the document — nothing terrible would happen. If they refuse, they refuse, nothing terrible.
They didn’t refuse — good, what’s the next step?
The next step is to start preparing for the exam. Well, I will prepare, I will recall some old knowledge. Nothing terrible.
In the process of preparation, I decided that I would still go and try the exam. Well, I’ll try, maybe it won’t work out the first time, nothing terrible. I had a break while I was on maternity leave.
In this way, with small steps, I made decisions. That is, not globally, not about some big things, but little by little, with small steps. That’s how fear is overcome — personally for me.
So, right away in my head came the book The Art of Small Steps. You took this elephant, this big exam, this whole adaptation of a doctor here, and just cut it into pieces. In this way, you removed the importance from each small step. And in this way...
Devaluation of the goal.
That’s right, devaluation of the goal. Dividing it, breaking it down and devaluing it.
That’s already psychology.
By the way, that’s how I took my German exam.
I also took my German exam that way.
Okay, then about the exam. Tell us then — it’s clear, you prepared with small steps. How exactly did you prepare for the exam? What was a priority? What was the most difficult?
I understood that in order to go to the exam, I had to have basic language skills. Before that, being in Slovakia, I studied not medical Slovak, but regular Slovak for everyday life. I completed level B2 and realized that further it had to be a specialized course. I realized that I needed help with this because I didn’t know any medical terms necessary for a doctor at all.
I didn’t know at all the names of organs in Slovak. I understood that I needed materials for this, I needed help. I turned to Med-Integro, took a two-month course with a teacher specifically in medical Slovak.
I am very grateful to the teacher. She made me use these terms, made me speak, overcome this language barrier.
Who did you study with?
With Dana.
Dana Dubovská? We can send regards.
Yes. Thanks. Regards.
I completed this two-month course.
A large number of materials, tests, presentations. I gained a lot from there, both medical information and, of course, slovná zásoba (vocabulary). Besides this, how else did I prepare? I took tests on your platform.
The tests also help not just to memorize the answer, the correct one there A, B, C. But also to dive into the material additionally from some other side. Then what?
Then I bought textbooks on pediatrics and on therapy. I understood that later they would be useful in my work. That is, for me as a practicing doctor, it’s never a problem to turn to some academic literature. Therefore, I calmly bought textbooks precisely in Slovak.
I tried to avoid studying in my native language in order to immerse myself more in the language.
On the questions that are published by ZSU, I wrote short notes. In some rather difficult topics for me, which had already been forgotten from the university program, I immersed myself more, read some articles.
Personally, drawing diagrams helped me. Visually somehow to memorize gradually, little by little, just in parallel with the course. I also prepared for the oral part. How much time did it take me over two months? About 3-4 hours a day.
This time, on which attempt did you manage to pass?
On the first attempt.
Unbelievable!
So you finished learning Slovak — not medical — up to B2. Then medical Slovak — two months of intensive preparation, 3-4 hours a day.
You passed on the first attempt. Magnificent!
What was the hardest thing during those two months?
The problems, the challenges can be divided into two main groups.
These are, of course, household matters, which delay and distract from the learning process. That’s probably true for everyone. There’s a good method to avoid procrastination — 15-minute blocks. That is, you actively study for 15 minutes, learn something. 15-minute break. You set an alarm every 15 minutes — according to some psychological studies I read, this significantly increases the KPI of learning, with short breaks and short learning phases. It helps to avoid procrastination.
The second group of challenges is on the medical topic.
I finished medical university more than 10 years ago. The whole university program — especially if you don’t use some areas in your work — it’s impossible to remember everything. There were, of course, areas that were hard to recall.
For example, I didn’t work with obstetrics. I didn’t come close at all to this topic in my work practice. Therefore, to recall all of that, to recall even anatomy, the first year of university — that was, of course, difficult, but everything comes back.
As for anatomy, now on the internet there are many platforms where you can see visualizations, where you can look at something in 3D, remember it. The help is quite substantial in this regard. I tried to pay more attention — if I saw a gap in some area, I tried to return to it, to review it. Maybe to approach it from another angle. If some classification was complicated — to draw it out.
So you tried to work through everything, all questions, as thoroughly as possible, 100%?
Well, at least I set myself the goal that for each question I would at least say a couple of sentences, so as not to be silent, not to answer “I don’t know.” I think for any examiner, the phrase “I don’t know” already puts a cross on the person. So I tried at least to say something.
Yes, of course, every question.
Of course, there were questions that directly related to my previous work experience.
And there I could talk at length and in detail.
But, by the way, examiners, when they hear that the person understands the question, is explaining a lot, in detail — they stop them quite quickly. So that idea that I know this question, and I’ll get through the whole exam thanks to it — that’s not the case.
Each question gives 25%. That is, if one question is unanswered — 75% remains, which means the person passed. But that one question covers all the others — that doesn’t happen. That means for every question you have to answer at least something.
Okay, and then about the exam itself. Was there anything that surprised you in the exam? Something unexpected that you weren’t ready for?
Well, in principle, I can’t say that I wasn’t ready for something, and something surprised me and didn’t let me answer calmly — I wouldn’t say that. I had talked in advance with colleagues who had already been there, who knew. So I had heard about some moments that could happen.
Therefore, to say that something could really interfere — nothing so remarkable. Well, some small differences.
For example, exams at my medical university — here neither students nor professors wear white coats. That’s unusual because at our medical institute everyone wore white coats. Students, teachers — like a uniform. Here, there’s no such thing. It doesn’t bother me at all.
Okay, so from that point of view, there wasn’t anything you would have wanted to know in advance but didn’t encounter there. And now, when you’ve already gone through this path — maybe there’s some point that would be good for others who are just going or planning to take the exam to know and take into account? Is there something? Can you?
I can. This is my personal subjective opinion. It concerns the language of communication. That is, examiners pay attention to the language. That is, you shouldn’t count on saying something in Russian — they’ll understand me anyway. Or in Ukrainian — doesn’t matter. They don’t react very well to that.
They can turn a blind eye. But if there’s a problem with the language, then there can be problems with the exam as a whole. What to take into account — if you can’t memorize some term in Slovak. They themselves — the teachers, the examiners — suggest: say it in Latin. Here a lot is used in Latin even in regular practice among doctors. Therefore, if it’s easier for someone — memorize it not in Slovak, memorize it in Latin.
That is much better than if you speak in Russian or Ukrainian. Or, as a last resort, you can say it in English. Especially if it concerns some international classifications — that’s okay too. Here English is also used quite often in the literature. Especially when it comes to some large classifications — English is used freely.
It’s worth avoiding, of course, the use of Russian or Ukrainian. That is — the language is really the foundation.
It’s better to say “in vino veritas, in aqua sanitas” than something in Russian.
We touched a bit on resources. Maybe we’ll repeat and expand a bit on the resources that helped you the most in preparation. Clearly, the first step — an excellent step — B2.
On our platform, there are tests — excellent. You bought two books — super. Is there anything else that you can recommend?
I can recommend — on your platform there were lectures. That is, for example, I didn’t buy literature on obstetrics, on surgery. Therefore, I took materials on these disciplines from the lectures.
Those topics that I was missing, I found quite a lot of lectures freely available on the internet, written specifically in Slovak for students of Slovak medical universities: the Košice university, the university in Bratislava. There are some questions.
It’s clear that you can’t download a textbook in PDF format, but there are a lot of lectures on specific questions.
I just go on Google in Slovak, write some topic and look. Some questions that I couldn’t find — that was the exception — but for myself I took from some textbooks that I still had from university in Russian. But with the understanding that I would need to translate it.
Now you’ve passed this exam, so you are practically a doctor without specialization, almost at the finish line — only specialization remains, right? Are there any points, personal feelings — how do you feel now? How has your life and your sense of yourself here in Slovakia changed? Is there something?
It has changed. I feel more confident that, at least, I won’t be lost here. That I can go to work, earn, develop, continue learning, improve in the profession. It gave me the feeling that I am already standing firmly here.
So, excellent. Good. Then on this firmness — another question about difficulties before this. What difficulties were the most memorable or the most painful that you encountered here, in this new country for you? And how did you cope with them?
I’ve been here quite a long time already, more than three years in Slovakia. In the beginning, in the first year, of course I had difficulties with the language, because in the first year I didn’t study the language at all. I understood that it was really a difficulty — not knowing the language in the country where you live.
You didn’t study the language in the first year. Was that a conscious decision?
Well, how to say a conscious decision? In the first year, I think everyone had that uncertainty — maybe soon we’ll go back home and we won’t need it anymore. At some point, my husband and I even considered moving to another country. It was more from some indecisiveness, uncertainty.
Then, when we already got our residence permit here, we realized — that’s it, we’re going to stay here. And then the first thing I decided — I’m going to learn the language, because without the language in a foreign country — no matter how much it seems to someone that the language is similar — yes, it is similar, but nonetheless. Nonetheless, they are two different languages, if we’re talking about Russian and Slovak. That’s an interesting point.
Right now you’re repeating almost exactly what I heard from another person I interviewed about this — but there we were talking only about entrepreneurs. That is, they also have this turning point, when they decide that they’re staying here. Only then do they start learning the language and somehow begin to put down roots.
Until that moment, until that decision — maybe we’ll still go back somewhere, maybe we’ll move somewhere — nothing happens. And for some, this period drags on for a decade.
My husband is an entrepreneur. And also, as I said, we had a moment of uncertainty — when an entrepreneur pays taxes for the first time, he already understands — I’m not leaving here.
Okay, one more question then — now about what you especially like.
Let’s say, in the Slovak healthcare system, in colleagues — maybe you’ve already communicated, interacted, worked together. What can you especially note as good? In the system itself, in colleagues?
Well, I haven’t worked in the healthcare system here yet. I can say, well, only from the patient side, or relay the experience of colleagues. But from the side — what catches the eye — it’s the computerization of every doctor, so to speak. That is, electronic prescriptions, electronic medical records.
That’s something that speaks positively about the system. Something that, probably, we were lacking. In Ukraine, that existed in some local, maybe private, medical clinics. If we’re talking about the state sector — those paper medical histories, prescriptions on bits of paper. That’s it.
As for local colleagues — they are very calm. That is, they are relaxed. There isn’t that tension like we have. I studied, I worked with the thought that the doctor is always wrong. That is, enormous pressure. Here, it seems to me — from the outside, I can’t say for sure — but it seems to me from the outside,
that the doctor is more protected by law in some matters.
That is definitely a plus. That’s why colleagues are so calm, relaxed, they work with pleasure.
Already closer to the conclusion, perhaps — is there something that from here you would want to say to yourself at the very beginning of the integration path in Slovakia? One or two sentences that would have helped you then.
Definitely to learn the language earlier. Earlier, as for the exam — I thought about that step for quite a long time. A person not very confident in themselves — oh, what if it doesn’t work out. I should have started that process earlier. And everything would have worked out anyway. It could have been less delayed.
The sooner it doesn’t work out, the sooner it will work out?
Every day, every month, more and more competitors basically come here. I mean already about work, for example. More and more competitors. At the start, there were simply fewer of them.
To start earlier — that’s the advice to myself at the beginning. If we talk about those medics who have just arrived or are still thinking about moving — are there any recommendations for them?
The recommendation is first of all to focus on learning the language. Don’t think that the language is almost like ours and you can leave it somewhere aside. No.
You need to focus on the language. And then adaptation will be easier. And with getting a job, with going through all the procedures and nostrification — it will also be easier.
The whole system here is much simpler than in neighboring EU countries. As far as I’ve heard from colleagues in the Czech Republic. In Slovakia this path is easier and simpler. Not to mention Germany. Therefore, that is a big plus. Let’s say, that’s a significant reason to choose Slovakia.
So I think — focus on learning the language and go forward.
Quite briefly. Very sincere. Thank you for your answers. Thank you for your story. Not everyone agrees, not everyone gives permission to voice their story for others. At the moment this is your personal success.
But it’s also a signal for those who are hesitant. Many are working now not in their specialty, precisely out of fear. They work in a warehouse or just do cleaning.
Your story is a signal for them — that everything is possible, everything is real. Please, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.
Confidence must be backed by effort. Just coming to the exam and thinking maybe I’ll get lucky — most likely, that won’t happen.
You need to allocate time for preparation. A fairly large percentage of success depends on luck. You might get a very bad ticket and you won’t pass, even if you prepared for six months for the exam. The human factor won’t disappear either. The commission — they’re tired, they sit there all day. They have to listen to our Slovak with our accent mixed with Russian.
You also have to make allowance for the human factor.
But in the same way, you might get lucky. You might draw a good ticket, the commission might be favorable to you, they might like you — and everything will be fine.
So at the very least, it’s worth going, trying, seeing how it happens, where it happens. I understand that this is also a question of money for many, because one attempt costs 500 euros. That’s not a small amount, but still, even if it doesn’t work out the first time — you’ll already know how it happens, what you’re ready for, how to behave, how not to behave.
It’s experience. Even if it’s negative, it’s also experience.