In April 2018, VironIT developer Chiara Sammarco got the opportunity to work in Belarus without a visa. She was the first to enter the country "at the request of the HTP."
Journalists met with Chiara and found out why she came here to learn Russian and stayed to work after two years of study, what she thinks about Belarusian developers, and what she thinks “real Belarus”is.
"I did not understand Russian, I did not understand the street signs."
I have always wanted to learn other cultures, languages. It happened that even in my homeland I met with children from Belarus at an international school - they told about their country, about the fact that you can learn Russian here. I googled: language courses at MGLU cost less than in Moscow universities. In February 2016, I paid 10 months of study in Minsk. Then I took another course - for the same period. At first, friends helped: I did not understand Russian at all. I did not understand the signs and inscriptions on the streets.
I remember what struck me in Minsk - how cold it is here! I was born and raised in the south of Italy in the town of Reggio Calabria: in winter we have an average of +10 degrees - I was not ready for the Belarusian frosts. At first, I was cold all the time, dressed like cabbage. And now everything is fine: I am not afraid of the cold, and I go out into the street in the same down jacket. But to which I was never able to get used to the fact that it is always dark in Minsk: I leave the house, I come back - twilight.
“At first, I did everything wrong: I updated my LinkedIn profile, sent out a resume”
I did not plan to stay in Belarus after graduation. But somehow I thought why not - by that time I already knew that there are a lot of IT companies here. I am a telecommunications engineer by education: within the framework of the university program, we studied programming - PHP, Java, C ++, and other languages. I worked as a PHP developer: first in Florence and in Rome, and then in Switzerland.
How did you look for work here?
It seems to me that at first I did everything wrong: I updated my LinkedIn profile, sent out a resume - and nothing. And then I posted a resume on dev.by and jobs.tut.by, and the proposals from the companies fell down.
How many interviews did you have?
Not so many. At first, I didn’t know yet which language to indicate, as the main one - I decided to try Java. I went to two interviews. What conclusions I made on them: your developer should know everything. My level of knowledge was not enough Java (after all, I am a telecommunications engineer, not a pure programmer). And I decided to look for projects on PHP, because I already had considerable experience with this language.
At the interviews somehow concerned the fact that you are Italian?
All interviews began with this: “Why do you want to work here?” I answered: “I want to learn from you!” I really learned a lot from my colleagues, watched how they were fighting for the quality of the code, how they solved the problems. In Belarus, very cool programmers, meticulous in a good way. Thanks to them, I seriously grew as a profesional. I pestered colleagues with questions, asked to criticize my work.
How did you make a choice in favor of the company in which you work?
I did not send a resume to VironIT. They themselves came to me. It was already the fourth place where I came for an interview. The interview was very long, but I liked it. You know how it happens: you come somewhere, and you realize that this is yours.
Can you still explain what was decisive?
I liked the people. I realized that here they treat their employees with great respect - this is important for me: this is the base on which everything else is built.
Did the interview take place in English or in Russian?
Mostly in English - it's easier for me. Although several times I switched to Russian.
“Italian border guards called to Minsk to make sure that my name is on a special list”
What bureaucratic procedures needed to go through to become part of a new team?
I was lucky: everything could be much more complicated, but on March 28 of last year the Decree on the HTP 2.0 just came into force. And on the 27th, we met with a future employer.
We discussed everything, and I was told that it might be possible to solve everything here, in Minsk. And I don’t even have to leave the country. Nevertheless, I returned to Italy for a couple of weeks, since on the 28th my visa ended.
It was new, not only for me - for everyone. Imagine, in Italy they did not want to let me out of the country, because I did not have a visa. At my request, the border guards called to Minsk - to the airport, because I said that my name is on a special list. "They will confirm to you that I do not need a visa."
But in Minsk there were no problems. After a couple of days, we went with the VironIT HR guy to the Citizenship and Migration Department to register me - and there they already know me well.
What does "know" mean?
All the two years that I lived here while studying at the Minsk State Linguistic University, I constantly went there.
What for?
Well, of course, to be registred so I went there. Sometimes I went there to ask - is it not enough, if you are not sure about something, it is better to make sure. But since I was registered last April, I no longer need to go there.
How long did it take to prepare all the documents for employment?
Two weeks.
"I also like how fast you build"
I earn now less than in Italy or Switzerland. But for Belarus, this is a fairly high salary, especially compared to the income of people outside IT.
In Europe, I could travel. Now it is an expensive pleasure. But I wanted to live in Belarus, learn from your developers - I see it as an investment in my cultivation.
How often do you travel to Italy and other European countries?
For 10 months I left Belarus 4 times.
How do your relatives feel that you live and work in this country?
Well, they accepted it. They do not expect me to live with them: 6 years ago I told my parents: “Bye, bye!” - and moved.
Have any of them been visiting you here?
Yes, one of my sisters came to Minsk in May. We walked along Nemiha, the sun was shining, and she said: “Oh, it's almost summer here!” Two days later it got colder, the weather became as it is in Italy in late autumn, and on the last day it began to snow, and then I think I understood what I meant when I talked about Belarus. But she saw so many things that she liked the country too. By the way, my second sister will come to me soon.
Italians have at least two things to be proud of - food and fashion .
Oh, Belarusians are also watching fashion. It can be seen: they do care how they look. Among my Italian friends are many of those who love to express themselves through clothing. And in general, we take this seriously: “beautiful clothes are like a letter of recommendation”. But if in Italy the ratio of those who follow the fashion and are free from its dictates is fifty-fifti, here, 9 out of 10 follow the fashion.
There is a difference between what Belarusians seemed to you on arrival in the country and now?
At the very beginning you are a bit closed. Now I have many friends in Minsk, and I cannot say that you are all the same. Among my friends there are funny guys with whom you can laugh the whole evening. In the subway, it happens, you see gloomy faces. But I know that these are kind, peace-loving people: they are simply tired, thinking, sad.
How do you like the city?
It is very nice, I like to walk the streets of the city. Somehow I happened to be at the Malinovka metro station - and my attention was attracted by a building in the shape of a ship. It was so unusual. I also like how fast you build. I go to the temple in New Borovaya and pay attention to how quickly the new district is growing. And these houses are very beautiful! For me, all this is surprising, because in my country it is not so: in Italy - especially in the south - we have been waiting for years for the building to grow. If something starts, no one knows when the construction will be completed.
Where do you live in Minsk?
In Uruchye, four minutes walk from the subway.
Have you ever been to Serebryanka, Chizhovka, Shabany or in the Stone Hill?
In the Stone Hill - yes. In general, I do not remember the names of areas. When I first came to Minsk, I lived almost in the center - not far from the Belarus Cinema. It was an old house built in Soviet times. When I entered the staircase, I even asked: “Isn't that a mistake?”
Did you get into the "grandmother's apartment"?
No, but the apartment was very, very old and very small. In general, everything was different from what I was used to. Then I settled it. I really like my current apartment.
“Provincial towns are the real Belarus. There I found your roots. ”
Do not miss here for Italian cuisine?
I cook well - at any moment I can cook something for myself.
Mostly dishes from Italian cuisine?
Basically, yes. Although pasta, for example, do not cook every day. I learned to fry pancakes and cook in "grandmother's way." I started cooking soups: in our country they are a wonder - perhaps it’s too hot for us. I like borsch and kholodnik. And what is the name of the first dish with cabbage? Shchi? I cook them from everything that I have in the fridge.
Where in Minsk is the best pizza?
Good question! Sometimes my friends and I go out for dinner in the evening to Terra Pizza or Dominos. And on Fridays in VironIT they often arrange a holiday on the occasion of someone's birthday - and then we order pizza to the office.
What products do you lack here?
Cheese: what is sold as ricotta, even Italian, is not ricotta at all. In Italy, I buy homemade cheese from farmers, as well as on the market: pecorino, ricotta, mozzarella. Olive oil is also better than something that is sold in stores: it even has a different taste.
In my house, the cult of food is the main theme of our family gatherings. By inviting friends to the house, we begin to prepare for their arrival in a few days. Everyone in my family is a great cook: my uncle is a chef at a restaurant, one of my brothers worked pizza maker at a pizzeria, he cooks very well - not just pizza, but everything.
“Food unites everyone,” we believe. We enjoy its taste, but we also get pleasure from communicating with each other, when we gather at a large table and talk heart to heart, we learn what happens in the life of each of us. It binds us even more.
In my family, it's customary to have lunch together. I, my brothers and sisters, flew out of the parental home, but if possible we gather on Saturday or Sunday at the same table.
Have you been anywhere else except Minsk?
Yes, I traveled a bit. I was in Postavy several times - my friends invited me, and also in Gantsevichi and Lyakhovichi. Once or twice went to Pinsk, was in Nesvizh and Mir. You know, Minsk is a beautiful city, you can immediately see - the capital. But still, with the pace of life, his character, he resembles other European capitals. And the provincial towns are completely different - this is the real Belarus, I think. There I found your roots.
In Lyakhovichi I first visited the country house - in other languages there is not even equivalent to this word, right? Cottages I call it. I remembered how I was a scout, went hiking - then I felt the same unity with nature.
I also made a pilgrimage to Budslav. For me, this was the first such experience: a group of guys and I traveled on bicycles - we drove for 3 days. I did not believe that I could cover the distance to Budslav, but the guys told me: “Do not worry! Everybody can: the children will go with us. ”And indeed there was a boy with us, he rode on a children's bicycle - and mastered the way along with everyone. We slept under the open sky. And there was another moment that touched my soul - when we arrived at the cathedral in Budslav, people knelt down and went to the temple on their knees. I have never seen such a thing! It made a strong impression on me. In Budslau for the first time I saw a goat closely. And they even allowed me to milk it, it’s fantastic.
And I also paid attention to the children playing on the street. Now in Italy, children mostly play with gadgets, and therefore do not know how to build relationships with their peers. I also saw a grandfather playing with his grandchildren — and he didn’t have a smartphone in his hands.
Tell us about your plans: will you stay in Minsk, will you develop as a developer?
No, I recently decided to take a time out - in April I will return to Italy for a while, to “recharge”: I want to see my family, enjoy the sun. Perhaps, I will continue to work in Italy, or in some English-speaking country.
How an HTP resident company to hire a foreigner: instruction from VironIT
Prior to the entry into force of Decree No. 8, the process of employing a foreigner in an HTP resident company could take several months and result in nothing. For comparison: from the moment of the offer until the start of work, Chiara, an Italian citizen, has passed 18 days.
Step 1. Visa
We are sending a letter to the HTP with a request to include the future employee in the list of persons whose movement across the state border of the Republic of Belarus is allowed without visa requirements. A copy of the passport is attached to the letter (in addition, the data will be sent in PDF format).
Within 10 working days, the HTP staff will notify the State Border Committee - and the issue with the visa is resolved. You will learn about this from a letter that will be sent to you from the HTP.
Step 2. Employment contract
We conclude a typical employment contract on the agreed terms. In advance it is worth making notarized translations of all necessary documents (passports, diplomas, etc.).
Step 3. Citizenship and Migration Division
Within three working days, it is necessary to notify the Department of Citizenship and Migration (at the place of residence of the employee) about the fact of entering into an employment contract. The letter must specify the duration of the contract.
Within 5 days from the moment of arrival in the country it is necessary to issue a registration. To do this, you must provide:
- application for registration of a foreign citizen (the form to fill out can be taken in OGiM). “The document is filled by the company-employer. The petition must be certified by the seal and the director of the company";
- a copy of the passport and a copy of its notarized translation;
- the original of the receipt for payment of the registration procedure (details for payment can also be taken at the Department of Geological and Anthropologic Medicine);
- a copy of the tenancy agreement;
- copy of company registration certificate in HTP.
Simultaneously with registration, you can submit documents for issuing a temporary residence permit. Currently, a temporary residence permit is issued for the maximum period of validity of the insurance. Required documents:
- an application for the issuance of a temporary residence permit (the form for filling can, again, be taken at the United State Geological and Technical Administration);
- original receipt of payment for the procedure for issuing a temporary residence permit;
- copy of the employment contract;
- insurance policy (at the moment, April 2018, it is possible to buy insurance for up to one year).
Within 10 working days the temporary residence permit is ready.
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