Who We Are
We are Nika and Idris, along with our two children. I, Nika, have Belgian and Swiss roots. My early childhood was spent abroad on the Caribbean island of Dominica, followed by a brief time in Belgium, before settling in a small village in Switzerland. Idris on the other hand, grew up in the former Soviet Union, in the North Caucasus region. These very different worlds have come together in our family, creating a unique blend of cultures and experiences.
After several assignments with various NGOs, primarily in African countries but also in the Middle East, we finally met each other in the small country of Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, during a field mission with an international NGO. With a shared sense of adventure in our hearts, we decided to continue our journey together after the Djibouti mission. This led to more exciting adventures in Chad, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we eventually started our family.
After settling down in Switzerland for a few years, the wanderlust called us back abroad. And then in 2016, with two children in tow, we ventured out once more. We spent a wonderful year in Athens, nearly three years in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and then 1.5 years in Kyiv, Ukraine, before returning to Switzerland once again. Each chapter of our journey has added depth and richness to our family’s story, shaped by the diverse cultures and experiences we’ve gathered along the way.
I still remember the morning of February 24, 2022, very clearly. My mobile phone woke me up early, and I thought nothing of it. I had been visiting my parents in Switzerland with my children for a week, and we would be flying back soon. But my world stood still when I heard my husband on the phone, telling me that Kyiv had been attacked with bombs since early morning. I thought it was a bad dream and didn’t want to believe the unimaginable. Although the situation had been tense in the weeks leading up to it, everyday life in Kyiv hadn’t felt any different. Now, I felt paralyzed, and the fear for my husband made me shudder. Everything that had seemed so certain suddenly shattered, and I was left standing there, helpless and in a state of shock.
We had to wait several weeks before my husband could leave the country, and those weeks were the hardest we had ever experienced. Once he was finally safe, we had to organize our life here. There was no time to waste; we had to simply function. One of our top priorities was ensuring that the children were integrated into the local school system as quickly as possible. At the same time, we faced the challenge of finding a place to live, which was extremely difficult without a job contract in Switzerland. We also had to find new jobs, as my husband had lost his job due to the outbreak of the war. It was a challenging time, filled with uncertainty and constant pressure.
Now, almost three years back in Switzerland, we finally feel like we’ve truly arrived. Returning home is a process that takes time and shouldn’t be underestimated – especially in a situation like ours.
Our Journey, Our Story
We decided to start a family blog with the idea that everyone in our family can be involved and have their voice heard. We have so many different interests and have experienced so much that we’d love to share with you. Alongside our love for travel, countries, and cultures, we also have a passion for all things handmade—whether it’s sewing, creating, crafting, knitting, designing, or DIY projects, and much more. Our blog will also reflect our interests in freedom, adventure, minimalism, expat life, languages, fairy tales, and so much more. There’s room for all of it here, as we share our diverse passions and experiences with you!
We look forward to your visit and your message!
Your Beyond Borders Family (BBFamily)