Mario Heller/Panos Pictures

Alexander (20) in a long distance train.

'People here say it is important to have a warm heart and still keep a cool head. These words have often come to my mind since I started my training as a fire fighter. At first my parents were worried that I was risking my life every day, but when they realised how hard I was training for it and how much I believed in this path, they realised the importance of this profession. However, even an experienced and qualified fire fighter may not be able to cope with a situation mentally. My biggest concern is not being able to save someone in need - fortunately, this has never happened yet.

I'm going to my parents, who live four hours away from Nur-Sultan. I enjoy the train rides, because you can always meet new people and think about your life.'