His economic research “Determinants of Retirement Status: Comparative Evidence from Old and New EU Member States” is on sale in international libraries as well as online stores such as Amazon, Morebooks, etc.

He is also socially active in Hungary; he was elected Board Member of Azerbaijani-Hungarian Youth Union which aims to improve Azerbaijani-Hungarian relations and integration on youth level.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in Budapest in August, 2009 to study Master of Arts in Economics at Central European University. I got scholarship from this university and decided to pursue my degree here. I graduated my Master’s degree in summer 2011 and later received job offer to work for IBM as credit analyst in Budapest office.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Previously, all my visits outside Azerbaijan were only short trips, therefore my expat life in Hungary is the first and last one as of now.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
I realized that Azerbaijan and Hungary have closer ties than I imagined before. The grammars of Azerbaijani and Hungarian languages have similar logics (sound harmony, change of endings in different tense forms, possessives, and similar words (alma, szappan, szakáll, árpa, etc.). The religion of Azerbaijanis and Hungarians were similar in ancient times – both of us followed Tengrism and it has traces even nowadays. There are also common or very similar names and surnames (Balázs, Attila, Adam, Turan, Áron, etc.).

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend what must they absolutely see and do?
I usually take my friends to Széchenyi fürdő, then to Hungarian restaurants for dinner and ruin bars for drink. I think these three things are almost impossible to find elsewhere outside of Hungary.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
My favourite one is bean goulash soup in loaf (babgulyás cipóban). I also like beef stew (marhapörkölt), chicken with paprika (paprikáscsirke), and stuffed cabbage (töltött káposzta) which is pretty similar to Azerbaijani dolma.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
I like eating food with meat, mainly lamb, beef and sometimes chicken. Therefore at least one of them is in my refrigerator. I also like keeping special local Hungarian hot sauce (erős pista), bio pomegranate juice from Azerbaijan, ajvar of Balkans, Turkish ayran, Caucasian kefir (Kaukázusi kefir) and sour cream (tejföl) as well.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
“Persze” (of course), because this word makes me feel comfortable.

8. What do you miss the most from home?
I usually miss my family and old friends from Azerbaijan who always smile, joke and support me, and add positive things to my life. Thanks to technology, it becomes easier to keep in touch through Gmail, Skype, Facebook, Whatsapp, Viber, etc. Regarding foods, I sometimes miss our local sweets such as shakarbura, pakhlava which are hard to obtain here. Thanks to “Marquis De Salade” restaurant which offers Azerbaijani food in the heart of Budapest, close to Opera House.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
It is hard to answer this question, because I planned career in finance or economics related position which I am doing now. I like jobs about making risky decisions, offering new solution ways, travelling, wider vision of the world, dynamic, changing over time and challenging in character. Creative engineering would me my other choice if I didn’t choose the current one.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
This is very hard question, because all jobs require special skills and professional approach regardless it is being CEO of big multinational company or cleaning others’ houses. But I would never want any monotonous job requiring very few skills.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
My last vacation was in Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic). I spent it with my brother in November, 2012. Nowadays I am also in vacation in my home city – Baku. It is very interesting to see how our capital changed over short period of time after my last visit in March, 2012. Although Baku is expensive city for leisure and tourism, I like it because of its dynamics, delicious food, tasty fruits & vegetables, and warm people.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
I don’t have exact plan, but I would like it to spend in Mediterranean climate either in Southern Europe or Northern Africa.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
My teen years were during the transition period of my country after collapse of Soviet Union, therefore western musics and films were extremely popular due to their different style for us. We used to listen Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, etc. Regarding film, “Titanic” is so far the most impressive movie for me, although I watched it long time ago and many interesting films have been produced since then. I have never had special hobby, but usually spent leisure time reading biographies of successful people in the world, historical and geographical articles, etc.

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Nothing, thanks to my will.

15. Red wine or white?
It depends on situation, food and my mood. But I generally drink red one more.

16. Book or movie?
If I want to feel, then movie is more visual and impressive. But if I want to go to details and understand deeply, then books are better option for me.

17. Morning person or night person?
Definitely, not morning person. I am more productive after lunch, therefore I prefer earlier lunches than others. Most of my creative ideas, successful projects were realized even after dinner or midnight.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
I appreciate equal access to any opportunity regardless of any background or social status (citizenship, race, age, etc.).

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Generally, I spent my life in Pest side – I live, work, hang out with friends there. But I like beauty, green environment, less transport of Buda side once per week or at least twice per month.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Success is only for people who work for it without hesitation.