Fulfilled the American dream in Belarus: why did the pensioner move from New York to Grodno

A retiree from the United States, who moved to Grodno (Belarus) in 2017, has already started a family and is considering building an American-style house near the regional center. Ilker Kokahan with his wife Marina met with reporters and told how they found each other, how their life changed after marriage, and also about the structure of their life and leisure. Writes about it Grodno 24.

Фото: Depositphotos

Women wrote to Ilker

After retiring, Ilker decided to move to Grodno. The man, a former architect, did not hide that living in Belarus would be easier for him: the size of the pension would not save. In addition, in the regional center there is no New York bustle. Grodno architecture is not inferior to the development of Canadian Montreal, and women are so beautiful that they will not have to walk for long in bachelors.

“In an interview, I honestly admitted that I want to find a life partner. After the publication, I received a large number of messages from women who were not opposed to communicate with me for a serious relationship. Even the son of one of them, who lives in the Grodno region, wrote. The guy said that his mother fell in love with me after reading an interview. They invited me to visit. But as soon as Marina, my future wife, agreed to meet with me, I stopped searching and correspondence with the other young ladies, ”recalls 64-year-old Ilker.

Common interests

The fragile blonde from Grodno became his chosen one. She works in a medical center. By education - a nurse and biologist.

“When Ilker wrote me a message on the social network Facebook, I thought for a long time about whether it is worth meeting. I never thought about relationships with men from other countries. But still I decided, and already from the first date we had mutual sympathy, ”Marina explains.

Grodnenka says that she and her husband have a lot in common: she has two adult daughters, like Ilker. She loves an active lifestyle and travel.

“Ilker is easy to climb. He may wake up on Saturday morning and offer to go to my eldest daughter, who lives with her son-in-law near Minsk. They are both doctors. We often visit them and grandchildren, ”says Marina.

The couple has a lot of talk and worries related to children. But they do not forget about their own lives.

“We travel a lot. This year were in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia. And in the summer we had a rest in Turkey, lived with my eldest daughter, ”Ilker says.

Kokahan is an American citizen with Turkish roots. According to him, he always strove for freedom of self-realization and art without taboos. For this reason, in 2000 he moved to the United States, although he worked in Istanbul as an architect. In the United States, he worked on the exteriors of sleeping neighborhoods and office buildings, painted watercolors, which brought additional income.

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Realizing the plight of women in Turkey, he brought his daughters to the States. True, the eldest, having received the profession of designer, wished to return to her homeland, having married a compatriot. The youngest daughter is a teacher at an American school and has been dating a Belarusian guy for many years.

Took responsibility

Ilker's daughter met her stepmother in Istanbul kindly, because she herself pushed her father to marry Marina.

“My daughter found out that I have a bride in Belarus when I came to Turkey to renew my Belarusian visa. She heard me talking to Marina on Skype. He explained the situation: I fell in love with a beautiful Grodno, I miss. She said: “Marry!” - Ilker recalls.

According to Marina, she and Ilker now live in her two-room apartment. With them is her youngest daughter, a university student. Ilker took all the costs of his life.

“I try to take care of Marina and her daughter,” he confirms. “After all, I am a man; it is my responsibility.”

Ilker does not want to stay in his wife’s house. In his plans - the construction of small housing near the regional center. He has already sketched drawings for the future family nest. The cottage will be one-story, the living room will be connected to the kitchen.

“The first purchase was a car. One of the few inconveniences that I encounter in Belarus is people's lack of knowledge of the English language. It is difficult to travel by bus and minibus, no one at the bus stop can explain the route of transport to me. Before, I often took the wrong minibus and ended up in an unfamiliar area of ​​the city, but I recognized Grodno well, ”laughs Ilker.

Фото: Depositphotos

Not inferior to Marilyn Monroe

Marina says that looking for positive even in unpleasant events is a distinguishing feature of her husband.

“I’m comfortable next to Ilker,” she remarks. - He is an understanding person and a good psychologist. He will never put a woman in an uncomfortable position, always keeps herself as a gentleman. Does not refuse my requests. The husband is well acquainted with everyday life, we do all the homework together. He does not need to explain what to buy in the store. He knows this better than me. And by the way, he cooks very well. ”

True, there is a small barrier in their family life - language. Marina was always interested in English, went to courses, but she began to use it every day only now.

Ilker, giving a characterization to his gentle, affectionate and intelligent wife, suddenly pauses, looks thoughtfully into the distance and gives out:

“I have never been so happy. I am very glad that I can see my beautiful wife every day, and enjoy it. Believe me, she is not inferior to Marilyn Monroe for me. With a spectacular appearance, Marina is also smart. Of course, it’s luck to find such a woman, ”Ilker says.

Grodno in watercolor

Every morning, Ilker takes his wife to work. He himself constantly draws sketches or draws pictures. To do this, rents a place in the library.

“Ilker can even wake up at night and sketch. And when we visited Trakai, the husband quickly made sketches of the princely palace and sold it to tourists. They earned about 200 euros in a couple of hours, ”Marina admires her husband.

“I did not abandon the idea of ​​opening my own business in Grodno,” Ilker shares his plans. - It will be a design bureau specializing in interiors. Perhaps there will be a studio with classes for design students. Maybe we’ll leave to Turkey for a year so that I earn money abroad. ”

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Wife - Cheerleader

Speaking about professional prospects, Ilker emphasizes that a career should not become an obstacle to enjoying life.

“We constantly go to concerts, in cafes, take a walk. Before, I did not lead such an active life, although I really wanted to, ”Marina admits. - On Mondays, Ilker plays basketball in an amateur team, because he used to play this sport professionally and even was a coach. I go to his competitions and demonstrations. For the weekend we go with friends to relax in the farmstead. ”

These people seem to have achieved what they wanted. Their story proves that there are no borders for love, and the American dream can be realized in Grodno.

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