Page 15 - Keralite Magazine _new 1 copy

]ns¶ Ft¸mÄ t]mIm³ ]äp-sa¶v ]d-bm³ ]än-Ã.
A§ns\ Hcp]mSv- kvt\-l-apÅ \Ã Iptd friends
Imen-t^mÀWn-b-bn h¶n-d§n _ÀKÀ InwKnÂ
s\ In«n. Family ASp¯p h¶p. hoSmbn.
\n¶pw BZys¯ _ÀKÀ hm§n I-gn-¡p-t¼mÄ
A§n-s\-sbms¡ Bb-t¸mÄ Cu Øe-t¯mfw \Ã
a\-Ên {io\n-hm-ksâ Ub-temKv BWv HmÀ½
Hcp Øew temI¯p thsd D−m-hptam F¶v
h¶-Xv. hb-Êp-Im-e¯p Nmcp-I-tk-c-bn InS¶p
tXm¶n. \½psS AÑ\pw A½bpw IqsS IqsS D−
Ab-hn-d-¡m³ Ipsd a[pckvac-W-IÄ D−m¡n Øew
m-bn-cp-s¶-¦n FÃmw perfect Bb Hcp feeling!!
hnSp-I. A{X- Xs¶. AXm-bXp In«nb Ahk-c-w
Now this is our home and the people around us are
If-bmsX kpJn-¡p-I. Ah-k-c-§-fpsS \m«nÂ
our family. CXmWv F\nbv¡v Ata-cn-¡-sb-¸än
amIvknaw Hcp- hÀjw.
]d-bm-\p-ÅXv.
Bini Panicker
c−p ]Xn-äm−-p-IÄ¡n-¸pdw Cu \m«n Xs¶ FÃm
sFiz-cy-§Ä¡pw \Sp-hn Ccp¶p U¦n³ tUmW-«nÂ
* * * * *
\n¶pw Hcp tUmW«pw Im¸nbpw Ign-¨p-sIm-−n
-cn-¡p-t¼mÄ a\-Ên Fhn-sStbm Hcp s\m¼cw
Hcp \gvknwKv tPmen In«n-bn-«mWv Ata-cn-¡-bnÂ
\m«nse I«³ Nmbbpw hSbpw t]mcm-bn-cpt¶m
h¶Xv. aWn-¡q-dn\p In«p¶ tUmf-dnsâ IW¡p
F¶v.
tI«-t¸mÄ `b-¦c kt´mjw Bbn-cp-¶p. ]s£
Sujith Menon
BZys¯ i¼fw In«n-b-t¸mÄ Hcp sR«p sR«n.
400-þ500 tUmfÀ AXn ImWp-¶n-Ã. B SmIvkv, Cu
* * * * *
SmIvkv Fs¶ms¡ ]dªp I«v sNbvXn-cn-¡p-¶p!!
I am Indian and I come from a land of over a billion
background or previous wealth or social status.
Every immigrant’s mentality is always to work hard,
people. Everyone there yearns to achieve success
kz]v\-§-fpsS
Hcp
\mSmWv
F¶
]ns¶
Ata-cn-¡-bn-te-bv¡pÅ bm{X-bv¡n-S-bnepw AXn\p
and be unique. And that’s what brings us to this
make a good living and never give up in the pursuit
{]Xo-£-bn-emWv Ata-cn-¡-bn h¶-Xv.
ap³]pw I−n-«pÅ Ata-cn-¡³ Nn{X-§-fn colorful
of living the American dream.
land of opportunities. It has been almost 16 years
Bb lights Hs¡-bpÅ Las Vegas, Manhattan
BZys¯ Iptd Znh-k-§-fn Ccp¶v Snhn ImWÂ
Hs¡-bm-bn-cp-¶p.
now. Despite the many benefits which I cherished
am{X-am-bXp sIm−v I®S hbvt¡−n h¶p. A{Xbv¡p
A friend of mine recently asked me if living the
staying here, the one thing, which sometimes is so
1998þ Unt{Sm-bn-än h¶n-d-§n.
boring Bbn-cp¶p.
American dream is worth it with all the stress that
powerful, that it seems to eat me up is lack of a
comes with it. I replied to her with a quote I read
XWp¯ Imäv, Hcp ]¨-bne t]mepw ImWm-\n-Ã.
]ns¶ AXn-\p-tijw Chn-Ss¯ ae-bmfnIsf-sbms¡
support system. I sure have made a lot of friends
somewhere recently - “The road to success is not
]cn-N-b-s¸«v friends Bb-t¸mÄ
CXmtWm Rm³ Nn{X-§-fn I− Ata-cn¡?
since I first landed here, have grown careerwise, got
easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and
now there’s no place like home!!
educational accomplishments, have a beautiful
BZys¯ A©v hÀj-§Ä Xncn-¨p-t]m-Im³ F¶pw
passion, it’s possible to achieve the American
B{K-ln-¨p. FÃm Znh-khpw Ccp¶p Ic-ªp.
family and have become a US citizen; but I still miss
dream.”
India. Though I have some great friends to help me
B A©p-hÀj-§Ä¡nS-bnÂ, aäp-Å-h-sc-Ãm-hcpw
There sure is some stress living as an immigrant but
I− Ata-cn¡ ]Xps¡ ImWm³ XpS-§n.
whenever I need them, I miss having my protective
* * * * *
then what’s life without the bitter sweet
parents around me to save me from any problems.
Cs¸m henb Ipg-¸-an-Ã, Hcp hn[w settled.
I Came to America in 2002 excited to begin a new
experiences.
I am much di erent from what I was like when I first
F¶mepw \mSv F¶pw lrZ-b-t¯mSv Gähpw ASp¯p
phase of career at chicago,not much knowing
Sreeja Sreekumar
Xs¶ Ccn-bv¡p-¶p.
came here. I have matured as a person. I have learnt
about the cultural variation other than via books
to not let failure disappoint me. All of this was
and tv episodes. Confidence was gained gradually
Jolly Daniel
* * * * *
as I was single and had stepped out from what I was
because of having to face di cult times; being
familiar with, into the unknown.
emotionally away from family, shacking my
* * * * *
sNdp-¸-¡m-e¯v {]hmkw F¶m KÄ^v cmPy-§Ä
perspectives on life itself and realigning it. Had I
am{Xw Bbn-cp¶p a\-ÊnÂ. B kz]v\-hp-ambn Ccn-¡p-
I was willing to take on challenges ,adapt to the new
A§ns\ {]tXy-In¨v Hcp]mSv- Im-cy-§Ä H¶pw
stayed in India, I am pretty sure that I would have
t¼m-gmWv
Ata-cn-¡³
tPmen
kw_-Ô-ambn
place ,was always amazed and confused by the
kz]v\w I−n-«Ã Rm³ Ata-cn-¡-bn h¶Xv þ
run home to my family whenever I was faced with
sFIy-\m-SpIfn-te¡p t]mIm³ HmÀ¡m-¸p-d-s¯mcp
multitude choices of every commodity at the store.I
Imc-Ww, AXn-\pÅ kabw In«n-bn-«nÃ. hfsc
di culties. Being here has made me stronger. I can
Ah-kcw h¶p tNÀ¶-Xv.
admired the Respect for all jobs and freedom and
A{]-Xo-£n-X-ambn IeymWw Ignªp DS³ Hcp
say that I have become Americanized to a great
liberation that women have here.
sIm¨n-bn A¯m-ghpw Ign-ªn-cn-¡p-t¼mÄ BWv
amk-¯n-\p-Ån Ata-cn¡bn F¯p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p.
extent or rather Americanization manifests itself
a{Zm-knse Hm^o-kn \n¶pw Hcp t^m¬ ImÄ.
I found the people to be very welcoming and
on all immigrants.
BZyw
F¯n-b-t¸mÄ,
FÃm-hÀ¡pw
ChnsS
adp-X-e-bv¡Â \n¶pw taep-tZym-K-س ]d-ªXv
country to be land of oppurtunities.
tXm¶p-¶-Xp-t]mse Hcp t_md³ Øew Bbn-«mWv
What I like about being here is that there is a
HmÀ¡p-¶p.
C¶se
aä-¶mÄ
F¶-Xp-t]mse
tXm¶n-b-Xv. Bfp-Ifpw Pohn-Xhpw Hs¡ hfsc
freedom to dream big dreams; the freedom to
After a Year, I got married and moved to california
sshIo«v BWv ss^vfäv. \nÈ-_vZ-\mbnt¸mb Fs¶
bm{´n-Iw. sasà sasà Iptd BfpIsf ]cn-N-b-s¸-«p.
and started a new phase of life.
achieve based purely on merit rather than family
AbmÄ HmÀ½n-¸n-¨p. Cu Ah-kcw If-ªmÂ
KERALITE Zinus
2018
Our trips , first car ,house everything brought a America is no longer the "welcoming" country, When I came to America, I was a student on F1 visa. 25 June 2003 was the date I flew out to America
sense of achievement in us but we always felt we Statue of Liberty has lost its sheen and is no longer It was the peak of recession in 2008 at Wayne State with my newlywed husband. As all, I too was super
still belonged to india and dreamt of returning back the beacon for immigrants. University, where people were losing jobs every excited to join him on this trip, so I packed up and
one day. hour. I also heard that the immigration authorities was on the go. Little did I think what I was leaving
Words such as “race,” “foreigner,” “go back,” “wall” were deporting people on work visas due to them
16 years have passed by. We are blessed with three are getting more and more relevant in the american having no jobs. I had no idea what would happen to behind, till I boarded the plane Suddenly I felt this
kids , have landed in more stable jobs, connected society. These are troubled times but I am still me when I completed my studies. Then came the deep urge to touch, feel and hug my mom and dad,
very much with indian community and attempting optimistic about the future and believe this cloud OPT, and OPT extension. It’s trees over trees that and felt so very insecure to leave the land, all of
to integrate cultural values in kids and living the will pass and the glow in the torch of Statue of which has always been a part of me, which we
american dream. Liberty will return with full glory. are cut on paperwork, and my feeling is strong hardly realize till we have to move away. My
about unnecessarily complicating a simple process
Over a period of time, our Visions have changed Shibu Devapalan to make it di cult for the deserving while the newlywed husband tried his best to convince me,
saying I don’t have to worry as he was there for me.
from short term goals to long term ones like undeserved and under-qualified get to enjoy. But all that words meant little to me at that time. As
retirement,healthcare,education of kids etc.We * * * * * Immigration now is the worst nightmare for work there was no turning around, I flew on the plane
have cemented a belief that this will be our land visa holders, and I really know how it feels when with the guy who was promising a life to me. Today
now but I still miss the people, the bonding and It was many years ago that I first came to the United someone loses his or her job. It is all bureaucracy, that insecure woman who landed in Detroit crying,
chaos that only India can o er. States. At 24, Michigan to me represented a grand with people appointed to make decisions, where is a mom of two and a proud wife of a man who
adventure, another chapter in a relatively young life. they do not have any idea of what they are doing! kept his promise.
KarthyRavikanth With time, as motherhood took its seat in my life,
Michigan evolved into the ideal place to raise my Such is the fate, but still there is a light of hope in Today this is home and the most secure place in the
entire world.
* * * * * family. Now, as I juggle work, family, school, friends the land of opportunities. Swapna Gopalakrishnan
and community - Michigan is simply "home;" a
Coming to America was not in my plans as a place of belonging. Life, however, is a complex, GauthamThyagarajan
teenager or as a young adult. I always wanted to nostalgic curiosity, because right alongside my love * * * * *
stay close to my family. Krishna was employed in for Michigan grows a deep yearning for my other * * * * * We were the first from our family to immigrate!
Bahrain when we got married. Within a year, plans home. The one with swaying palms, monsoon Going through a myriad of process that we had to
changed; he got a job in the United States. showers, and air rich with the sounds of a million Having worked for about 5 years after my navigate!
Reluctantly, I set o for America. happenings. The perplexing dilemma of an Bachelor's, I wanted to take a break, and in the best Little did we know what to expect...
interest of my career, I thought doing a Master's
Soon I realized that no matter where you are, life is immigrant! would be an apt one. I considered it safe to choose But we always thought this country to be perfect...
what you make it. Not without challenges, life has
Preethy Premkumar USA since job opportunities are better and life is American Dream is what we wanted to chase
been good - abundance of good friends, easy with English compared to other European With support from friends, family and God's grace
opportunities, and God’s grace. Even though the * * * * * countries. My expectation was to learn something
current political climate is di erent, wishing and new while I'm here, since USA is a land of Dreams to come true
hoping that this country, built by immigrants, will American Dream! immigrants from diverse cultures. Three years now, As we continue to break thru
embrace the next generation with open arms as I feel happy to have attempted this transition, since
well. Ata-cn-¡... Ah-k-c-§-fpsS \mSv.... ]Xn-aq-¶-phÀjw I've been able to try new things that I had never Deepa and Prabs
ap³]v BZy-ambn Ata-cn-¡-bn Hcp {lkz-Ime
Usha Krishnakumar project hÀ¡n-\mbn hcp-t¼mÄ Fs¶ Gähpw tried in India, like mountain biking, baseball and * * * * *
BIÀjn-¨Xv Chn-Ss¯ amazing work culture kayaking (not that these were not available in India,
* * * * * Bbn-cp-¶p. AXp-sIm−p Xs¶ Rm³ just that I wasn't inspired to check these out). My The American Dream! Being in a millennial
impression so far about life in US is that, as long as
Ata-cn-¡-bn-te-bv¡v tNt¡-dm³ a\-Ên-ep-−m-bn-cp¶ generation sincerely chasing and living this dream,
America will be the most "welcoming" country in Hcp kz]v\w kwXp-en-X-amb Hcp work-life balance we have a decent job, we get access to a variety of it was but inevitable that I did the same. I came to
the world for immigrants. A country where you comforts in life to choose from. Yes, at times I do America to do my masters, and quickly learned that
actually have "rights," don’t have to fear the police Bbn-cp-¶p... CucmPyw Fs¶ \ncm-i-\m-¡n-bn-Ã... feel insecure knowing that gun culture is not self-reliance is a virtue and you work hard to pave
and expect to be treated with equality and respect ChnsS h¶v ]¯v hÀjw ]n¶n-Sp-t¼mgpw AXn\v uncommon here, but I believe I'm good as long as your way up! I still strongly believe that this is a land
Hcp- am-ähpw kw`-hn-¨n-«n-Ã... Pohn-X-¯n outside of
at work, play and leisure. I'm not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Subtle of opportunities and you reap what you sow. While
career Rm³ sN¿m³ B{K-ln¨ aäp -XmÂ]cy§Ä forms of racist reservations are apparent at a few I love and miss my homeland, I am always thankful
A country where everybody follows the law and AhnLv\w sN¿m³ IgnbpI... AsX I am living my places, but as long as we have a positive attitude to the people and communities here for the support
your unique heritage and culture is welcomed and American Dream... and a good sense of humor, we can strike it even. and contributions done for the betterment of the
appreciated. society. I wish my views never change and we
Subhash Ramachandran Rahul Vijayan welcome more people chasing the dream!
Boundless freedom and support to chase your
unique “American Dream.” * * * * * * * * * * Dhanya Menon
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