Viji Raveendran Explores the Challenges Facing Those Who Settle in a New Country

When Viji Raveendran, an engineer at Qualcomm

, came to the United States from India she was part of the trend in her native country to pursue graduate degrees in the U.S. While it is more economical to pursue an undergraduate program in India, graduate work is more specialized and in-depth in the U.S.

A large number of these students decide to remain in the U.S. According to Viji Raveendran this is largely due to the fact that there are ample learning opportunities in a broad range of topics, access to the latest in research and technology, and it is easier to apply their skills and training in high-tech companies like Qualcomm. The standard of living is better, and engineers receive more recognition and higher compensation.

Viji Raveendran notes that those with higher degrees are also appreciated more in the communities in the U.S., whereas in India it is common for parents to push their children to get graduate degrees in either engineering or medicine.

Getting Used to the Legal System:

There are a number of challenges that confront anyone assimilating into a new society, and one of the most challenging aspects for those new to the U.S. is getting used to the legal system. Since the laws of the land are different in every country, it's important to understand your rights and the laws within the system. "The longer that you live in the U.S., the more you must familiarize yourself with tax laws, employment laws, traffic laws, property acquisition, and many other aspects of the legal system that operate differently in other countries," observes Qualcomm engineer Viji Raveendran.

She recommends that those who settle in the U.S. from overseas get a mentor or some other kind of legal representation when confronted with legal issues, especially when they don't understand all of the U.S. lawswhich can be quite confusing to Americans as well. There are many cultural differences between the U.S. and other countries with regard to people in authority, law enforcement, and the legal system in general. Viji Raveendran notes that in the U.S. the law is subject to interpretation by individuals, and this can make the legal system seem diverse, complex, and subjective to someone from another country. It can be relatively easy to be taken advantage of if you don't understand the interpretation of the law.

Finding Resources:

Qualcomm engineer Viji Raveendran notes that it can take time to understand the customs and culture of U.S. society. Since you don't understand the system, you don't know the processes for getting access to amenities and available programs such as scholarships, getting into graduate school, or even finding part-time work. Like any system, there are direct and indirect approaches to finding resources. The most effective indirect approaches are different in the U.S. than in other countries, which make it more difficult.

Viji Raveendran also observes that many things like scholarships for graduate schools are less available to students from overseas, so these students have to work several jobs to support themselves: everything from working at the library, tutoring other students, setting up Websites, babysitting, or working at a restaurant.

Viji Raveendran's hard work eventually paid off when she got her degree and was hired by Qualcomm as an engineer. Now she helps others new to this country learn how to succeed in the U.S.

Viji Raveendran Explores the Challenges Facing Those Who Settle in a New Country

By: chirswoodward

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