Episode Transcript
Hello, my name is Aziz and I'm the son of a divorced mother.
She's really my superhero.
That's why it's important for me to support women, to share their uniqueness, their personalities,
perspectives, and emotions about this world.
In these difficult times in human history, we need to bring the people of the world together.
And when we hear the voices of women, when we listen to real lives of women from other countries,
we connect our cultures without differences or stereotypes, and we get inspired by their stories
to live a better life. That's what this podcast is all about.
My guest today is Alten Hója Dórde Eva. Alten is the very first girl from Turkmenistan
in this project, so this is a very special episode. Originally from Ashhabat, Alten has been living
in Dubai since 2016, where she started her business, working hard as a female entrepreneur,
Alten opened a beauty salon with her best friend. In addition to managing their salon,
Alten actively works as a certified makeup artist and a hair stylist. Alten graduated with
a bachelor's degree in business commerce in India, became certified in makeup and studied hair
styling in Dubai, and she did volunteer for fashion shows and worked as a freelance makeup artist
for advertising companies. However, the pandemic caused her to lose a lot of her contacts,
but she still works hard to grow her business. Alten used to love being in the gym,
but needed to stop for a year when she loves to travel. She has been to Bali, Turkey, Thailand,
Maldives, Georgia, Mozambique, India, and plans to visit Europe whenever possible.
She has the courage to travel solo with she did twice. Alten loves adventures and trying new things,
so she has done activities such as horse riding, roller skating, snorkeling,
and she loves just skiing. Alten is soon to be a mom, which is a wonderful life-changing
experience. Alten, how are you today? Hi Aziz, thank you so much for presenting me.
I'm honored. I'm lucky and very curious to know more about you as a person, so I'll begin with this.
If you're best friend, the one who you have your salon with, could describe you or
be your personality, what would she say about you? My best friend should describe about me,
she would say like, I'm a real person and I'm a very generous person. I always like to help
to people no matter who they are. I never discriminate people, so whatever I can help,
I always love to help. I always give in person. Even my staff, they always like me the way
they solve me, how I'm giving person, they always even pray for me. And I always try to
encourage my 12 most people, my friends, especially my best friends, to make them more happy or
let's say I'll try to praise them and have more confidence in them. Yeah, that's all they
would like, but they will also describe me as a drama queen, because of course I'm areas in
areas most of the time, they're a short-tempered person, but behind that I have very kind
hard and everybody who's surrounded by me, they've all me. So I guess like that, yeah.
Thank you. And I really have so many questions, I'm thinking at least of three, but I'll begin
with this one, you spoke about areas. Well, are you a girl who loves to go into Tarot and horoscope,
but know about the future and you have like all this kind of manifestation and metaphysical beliefs?
What's your perspective on reality? Are you someone who is more believing that reality is not just
the physical things we see, but there are forces outside and bigger than that, or it's just a fun
thing you're like to say, or how does it work? This is a very good question. To be honest,
I don't believe in science. I just read about only areas, like because I wanted to know about the
character, about the areas characters. So like, and I was comparing with my character with the
how would what they wrote about it. So it just matched together. But then like, I tried to believe
to manifest a lot of things, but at the same time, my does it really work? Or if I'm trying to
meditate, like I cannot focus, like I kind of, let's say 50-50, I don't believe fully. I believe like,
of course, the universe also will help as long if you will move yourself. You have to also like
go towards your goal. If you will just sit at home and manifest how it's going to work. So it depends
on you as well. Again, I'm so curious about you. I have so many questions and you spoke about
how you have to go towards your goals and your introduction. You have traveled solo. A lot of women
may be because of the pandemic or because of any reason society, whatever it is, they feel too scared,
too much anxiety when they have to do things that risk losing something or traveling alone or
whatever it is. So what about you gives you this courage or what way do you think about the world
that pushes you forward to be ambitious, motivated, and to go after your goals? That may be
other women can learn from so that they will be proactive in this life rather than staying
more in their comfort zone because they're afraid of the dangers possibly outside, but also
all the treasures and the good things are outside the comfort zone, too. I believe, of course,
I also have been in my comfort zone sometimes, like especially in the pandemic when a lot of things
close it down, when the crisis came to the world, but then the more you, I believe, like the more
when you're in comfort zone, the more you will get into the depression. So the only, I just
traveled only for two countries because it's like safe, of course, you cannot travel to all the
countries alone as well. So the first one was Maldives. I went alone until now, nobody believed
that I went alone because Maldives is a romantic couple destinations, right? But I went there
after opening my salon, I think, after first year because I started to work with the women.
And to be honest, in the past, there's a lot of nationalities and all the nationalities has
different character, different mentality. So in the beginning, it was super hard for me to get used
to it. I was really getting frustrated. Sometimes I would even cry after work. So I just said,
I need to be alone and relax my mind. And I flew for three nights and it was more than enough.
I relax it. It wasn't scary. I was staying in the resort where there was only couples.
Obviously, the couples, they would always stare at you like, what this girl doing alone.
And the second one was before I got pregnant. I went to Maldives. No, to Bali. I'm sorry.
I went to Bali for two weeks and I had amazing days there, like, for two weeks. I went for different
islands. I experienced a Bali culture. Luckily, Bali also is like, let's say it was safe for me because
I hired my own taxi driver by recommendation, of course. So like, whatever I would go,
the driver would wait for me till any time I want. And it wasn't like scared at all.
And the best thing is to travel alone is you don't wait for nobody. You go to the places
wherever you want to go. Because sometimes if you want to hike, maybe your partner will not
like to hike. Or if you want to try something dangerous, your partner will not like to try.
So you will end up not trying. So if you, if you are done to reach, I mean, adventurous,
you can definitely, you should go alone and you should not scare what people think about you.
Because like, people, to be honest, there's a lot of judgment on people in this world.
And if you will keep worrying about what people talk about you, what they will think about you,
you will never do what you really want to do in your life. So you should just follow your heart,
be yourself, be real, and go for it. I agree 100% then if you fear the judgment of judgmental
people where they're judgmental against themselves too. So even them, they're staying in
a limited life. And you spoke about how Dubai, there are nationalities from all countries and
each is different because of their attitude, etc. And in the beginning, you described your personality
as someone very helpful, very kind, you praise your friends, you're supportive. Is that really you?
Or is that the Turkmanistani culture that is programmed to you and reflected into you? Tell me
about this. Oh, I think, no, I disagree that I feel like I don't belong. My soul doesn't belong
to Turkmanistan. But still now, like the way I am, I'm way different, the way I think I'm different
than my people back home. Because like, our culture is more, was minded. And like, not everybody
can go and travel abroad. And like, they, they're not that open with other nationalities.
I don't want to say they directed everybody that races, but most of our their races. I can say
my family, they're really racist people. And yeah, I'm not the same. I can say I'm the
completely different. I don't know which nationalities I could be, but not definitely from
home. I agree. And I like that because I have always felt the same, not about the racism
or whatever, but that I didn't belong or wasn't similar to the people around me. And I want
your opinion on it. Because what I'm believing is that, you know, for diversity or like, you know,
about genetic evolution, there are some people who will be born different just to add a new
life into a close minded community. So to me, I believe some people are like, you and me
born this way. But in your perspective, where you since very little girl, you always thought,
I'm different people don't understand me. I don't know what's interesting to what they're talking
about. It's not really interesting. I'm more ambitious. There is bigger things in this world.
And all that or was there a part in your life, a phase, maybe you got your heart broken, maybe you saw
a lot of Instagram and it inspired you or whatever that changed you and made you this way.
Are you born this way or made yourself to be this way? I actually, like I can say, I
I've born this way. I really born this way. Like when I was small, I was always dreaming to go
abroad and and to see different cultures, to see the world. Even like since my kindergarten,
my teacher, she was always selling to my mom. Like, I don't know what's wrong with your daughter,
but she's always like, somewhat else, like dreaming about something. So I always been like that.
And once I graduated high school, I started, I was looking for like normal jobs, at least to save
some money because I'm not coming from which family. So I was finding a way to save some money
to go abroad and study. And the first thing was I wanted to learn is how to speak English,
because like I wasn't going to the English school when I was starting at high school. It was just
a normal and I wasn't that into it. But after graduating to school, I started to draw my first job
ever. And yeah, my salary I was paying for my course. And then the late I changed my job to the
better job. And my salary was, it was higher. And I was saving saving. And I flew to India.
Of course, my mom also should be her part. It's not only from my side. She also did her
part. She helped me with it. Yeah. I understand. And what this makes me think of is,
there are a lot of women who might be ambitious. They want to start their business somewhere,
maybe in Dubai. And they're curious. Of course, it will be hard. But what is the reality of you?
As a woman, starting her salon who is not from the UAE or anything in Dubai, how hard is it to get
clients? How hard was it to start? Did you need to hustle a lot? What difficulties did you face?
And tell me more, because I remember there was this Italian girl I interviewed who went to Dubai
to start her business as well. And she said, well, as a single woman from Europe in the UAE,
everybody thought I'm there to make easy money and that not respect me as a professional.
So I needed to dress like a professional and say, I have a husband and whatever it is, so that
people respect me more. Did you face such challenges or how was the reality for you as well as your
advice for women who want to start their business anywhere, including Dubai? To be honest,
like when I started, it was the open hours of month 2018. I think I was back then, how old
I was now in 2032. Like I was 26 or 27 years old. I was quite young, considered as a young,
but no, I didn't face any difficult to know, but it's like tried to take advantage or nobody was
that. For me, it didn't happen this way. And of course, like to open a business in Dubai without
sponsor, it's hard if you're not, if you're background, it's not rich, of course. And once you
have your sponsor, if you follow the rules, it's easy to open. So for me, I didn't struggle with this
to be honest. Thank you. And one of the things you said that caused you to take the break and
go to Maldives is getting adapted to all the different people in Dubai. What do you love about Dubai
now? Yes, because I to be honest, as I said, there is different nationality, different attitudes.
And sometimes the your clients, they will not respect you and your stuff. Like some people, it's sad
to say, but some women till now, they will treat nail technician, let's say, or hairdresser,
as they slave. They don't know how to talk, they will be rude, or they, if something will go wrong.
Of course, everything is not going to be perfect. And if something will go wrong, they will threaten
you like they will give you a badge of view, or they will tell to each other that your best
alone and stuff. So this kind of things, it was always frustrating me. I was like,
but we are also human beings. Yeah, so they will threaten you to write about you bad. I'm trying
to explain to some of them, we are also human beings. We have rice to make mistake. And I hope
one day, the woman, all women would understand with this. But at the same time, I understand
women, it's naturally dramatic creature. So at the same time, I'm like, okay, let's just,
let's just, let's be. I'm getting used to it. But at the same time also, it hurts me so much
how other women treat other women so bad. I wish that would change, could be changed in this world.
I agree 100% and women should support each other because they understand the struggles,
or at least should know the experience. And now that you're pregnant and in the seventh month
of pregnancy, I'm curious, because you mentioned how your parents did their best to raise you,
but they raise you in a traditional older way of thinking, how do you plan to raise your baby? Are
you thinking about new ways or some different beliefs or some things that you want to make sure to
follow when raising your new child, some new ideas or that you want to make sure they understand.
So they're open-minded or advice to other women who are thinking about parenting. Maybe you have
thought about this. To be honest, it's all in my mouth knows the part. And that's the other reason
I don't post on my social media about my pregnancy. Because as I said, I'm coming from the culture
where it closed-minded. And as I said, I'm completely different person. I believe I'm not young
anymore. I'm in my 30s, early 30s. And I achieve a couple of things which I wanted in my life.
And I pay my own bills. If I have some problems, I will solve myself. So I said, it happened.
I'm not single. I have somebody who loves me and I love him. So I'm like, let me go for it.
And I'm ready for it. And I will try to raise my child open-minded, not the way I am. I was raised.
I was raised to be honest. It's just like I needed to want to school, come back home. And after
certain age, I will have to get married. And I never wanted that. So that's why I just left my country
to achieve my goals in my life. Thank you. I like that very, very much. And what are some things you
said you were 27 or something when you opened your salon. And now you have more experience and
more wisdom. What things did you realize about life or understanding that now you're thinking about
or you noticed changed in your personality or made you more mature or more wise, that you can share
with others maybe when they listen. It can inspire other women can learn from them, etc.
So when I moved to Dubai, it was 2016. I was actually super naive and super sweet and kind
of shy person. Dubai, to be honest, made me kind of strong woman. So now whatever I will think,
I will just tell to directly to someone's face. I don't like anything about them. Even to my clients,
if I don't like the way they speak to me or to my staff, I will always tell to them. So it's
up to them if they want to come back or no. So I advise just be yourself, support each other,
because like there's a lot of small businesses as well as coming up. And a lot of girls,
especially they expect from their friends to support. But unfortunately in reality as well,
your friends will never support you. It's always as strangers will support you. And you should
never feel bad about it. Just accept what comes to your way and learn from your mistakes.
And be brave here. That's what I'm going to say. And be real. Don't be fake.
Because a lot of people nowadays, they are so perfect. And I personally, I face it a lot of fake
people in my life. Tell me more about that. Because how do you know if someone is fake? What does it
mean to you? Does it mean when they speak to you, you trust them or they speak to you? But you
know they're lying or they tell you something and you believe it. But they go behind your back,
say something else or fake that is they pretend to be successful. But therefore,
or what does it mean to be like a fake person? A lot of people say they are acting like they
are successful. But behind nothing is happening. And instead they will try to teach you, you should
do this. You should do that. Other thing, I didn't hear if someone was talking behind my back,
to be honest. I just watch their moves. I know like I can see the person how today she is with me.
And after sometimes if she will disappear, how she will act from her social media,
I can already analyze a person's character. If it's that person is fake or no. I don't know,
maybe like I've been with a lot of, I saw a lot of girls and guys till now. So for me,
it's easy to analyze. And the more I'm growing, the more my circle is getting smaller.
Thank you. It reminds me of a drese song where he says my circle is so small. It's a period.
So it's one thing only himself. Thank you so much Al team. It was my privilege and my honor
to have you on this podcast to share your voice, your experience. It was really enriching.
Thank you so much Aziz. Also to choose me as a participant to this podcast.
Well, I hope it inspires you and it encouraged you to go after all your dream.
