Welcome back to the Indian Expat life series! I’m reaching out to Indian expats with families from across the world, to understand how they are leading their lives, in different countries. This week we are getting to know more about what living in Washington USA is like!
Today we are discussing the State of Washington in the United States of America which was named after the first president of USA- George Washington.
Known for being the nation’s leading producer of apples, hops, pears, blueberries, spearmint oil and sweet cherries, this is also the place where Mount St Helens once erupted in 1980 causing one of the most deadliest and economically destructive volcanic event in U.S history. (Source- History.com)
What else? It is home to one of the most loved coffee chains in the world- Starbucks!!
And today Vineetha Parammel a computer professional and instagram blogger (@vineethap) from Sammamish is helping us understand what living in Washington USA is like.
But before we begin here’s a small context to this beautiful state of Washington-
- Capital- Olympia
- Population- 7,705,281
- Largest city- Seattle
- Nickname- The Evergreen State
- Resident billionaires include- Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Microsoft’s Bill Gates
(Source- Wikipedia)
Tell us a little about your background.
Hi, I am Vineetha currently living in Sammamish, Washington USA. Born and brought up in Kerala, I moved to the USA after my marriage. I am a techie by profession and currently on a break from my career. I live with my husband Aneesh and my 3.5 year old daughter Nivi. Aneesh also works in the tech industry.
Why did you move to USA?
I came to USA in May 2005. I moved here after my marriage.
According to you, what should anyone know before moving to USA?
Most important thing to be careful about is the visa, especially the dependent visa.
Most of the dependent visas have restrictions on working in the USA. Research on the city you are moving to. Depending on the stage of your life, your expectations and experiences are different.
If you are moving here as a parent, the challenges are different versus if you are moving as newly married or single or as a student.
Domestic help culture is very minimal here. You will be doing all the household work by yourself.
Checkout the local fb groups to learn about the place. Connect with Indian groups to help you settle in better.
Where do you live in the USA? Describe the place.
We live in a town called Sammamish in Washington state, USA. We are in the US Pacific Northwest. Our state is known as ‘the evergreen state’ for its abundance of evergreen forests.
It’s famous for its coffee culture. Starbucks was founded here in our state. It’s also known for its tech industry. Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing were founded here.
According to you: how much does one need to live comfortably in USA?
It depends on which state you are living in. For Washington (WA) 80,000$ per year will give you comfortable living. The minimum wage in Washington as of now is $13.69, the second highest in the nation.
Cost of living in Washington USA
- Accommodation– 2 bedroom apartment rent will be around 2500-2700$ per month
- Transport– $100-$150 per month
- Groceries– $250-$350 per month
- Childcare– Public Schooling is free but daycare and preschool is expensive.
- Internet – $100 per month.
- Eating out/ Entertainment – $200 per month
- Healthcare/ Insurance– $200 per month (it really depends on your company’s health care coverage options)
- Other costs– travel expenses (India travel tickets can be expensive), vacation expenses, saving for kids college. Public schools are free here but college education is very expensive.
What challenges have you faced living in the USA? And how are you overcoming them?
According to me the main challenge is visa. Most of the dependent visas can’t work in the USA. And this is something not many are aware of. If you are a career person, do check on what visa you will be coming to the USA. The green card for Indians takes years. Be prepared to be stuck in a status limbo for years.
Lack of easy transportation was tough to adjust. I missed autos and bus services when I moved to USA in 2005. It’s a very car-dependent lifestyle here. Now with Uber and Lyft the situation is much better. Again, it depends on which state you live in. In big cities you have metro options but most of the USA highly rely on cars.
Cold winter was hard to adjust initially. It took a few winters to get used to bundling up!
I personally didn’t face any discrimination here. I always lived in cities amidst the Indian population. And the locals I have met are very welcome, eager to know our culture and respectful.
Living alone and with no help is hard to adjust to. You miss your family a lot. But on the plus side you get to take all the decisions independently and without any interference from your relatives or well wishers.
Another tough part is that our next generation or kids lose out on a lot of family and cultural events that we grew up with. Even though we try to celebrate all our festivals, the immersive experience we had in our childhood, is lost for our kids.
How did you find work in the USA? How different is the work culture from India?
Currently I am a stay at home mom. I quit my job one month before my daughter was born.
I found my first job in the USA in 2006 via a job site. Once I got my work visa, I applied for job openings through various job sites available at that time. Once you build enough experience in your area you will find your next job easily.
Regarding differences in work culture, the biggest one is work-life balance. Here people value your time and are more accommodating to your family needs. They give importance to family life and most people follow an 8-5 work structure.
How has it been living in Washington USA during Covid?
Like everyone else, lockdown was tough for us. It was hard to be stuck at home unable to meet our friends and family. Staying away from our parents and not being able to travel was the hardest.
But for the first time in our adult life we felt the privilege of living in a first world country. We got our vaccines pretty fast and without any hassles. The people in our city follow the covid protocol strictly so we feel safe. We are definitely living in a bubble. People take mask mandates very seriously in our area. 90% of adults in our are fully vaccinated.
What do you like most about your place?
Nature. We live in a beautiful suburb surrounded by lakes, trees and mountains. Good schools, kid-friendly neighborhoods, free libraries, multiple parks etc are some of the other perks we enjoy in Sammamish, Washington.
Is there anything that you don’t like?
Lots of new construction is taking place and older trees are getting replaced with new homes.
How’s the healthcare system there?
Healthcare is expensive here. We get our medical insurance via our jobs.
How’s American food? Which dishes have you tried? Do you miss Indian food? How available is Indian food in your location?
We love American food like steak, burgers, pizzas, chowder etc.. I do miss good Indian street food. We have a few Indian restaurants nearby but not a huge food scene compared to many other cities in the USA.
What are your favourite things to do in Washington USA?
Road trips, visiting parks and enjoying nature nearby.
Which places in the USA (or inWashington) do you recommend visiting?
If I have to recommend my vote is for New York & Niagara Falls. They are a must see if you come to the USA. For my state, Seattle, Mt Rainier and Olympic National park are must-see destinations.
What do you mostly do on the weekends? Where do you hang out the most?
Weekends we mainly spend with our friends. Or we will be busy taking care of our house work. Summer time we try to visit parks and lakes nearby.
Do you have any interesting experiences in the USA that you can recall?
For my first job I had to move to a new city. Setting up everything on my own, finding accommodation, making new friends, travel etc was an amazing learning experience.
What do you miss the most about India?
I miss my family the most. The distance is too far and I am constantly worried if I will be able to reach them when they need me. I also miss family functions, weddings, temple visits, visiting relatives etc
Which Indian communities are you part of over here? Is it easy to find friends here?
I am a part of the Kerala Association of Washington. We are a big malayali community. Yes, it’s easy to find friends here. Connections within the community are easily made.
What lessons have you learned from your expat life in the USA?
I have realized I love Independent living and that I can handle any situation on my own. Staying away from family made me realize how strong and capable I am. My dependency on family has reduced significantly. I consider this as the biggest plus point of expat living – being self reliant!
Hope you enjoyed reading Vineetha’s experience on living in Washington, USA as an Indian expat. Stay connected for the next country in our series, in the coming month.
If you’re interested in being interviewed for this series, or want to request a certain place featured email me at rubitah@beingrubitah.com
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Hi! My name is Rubitah. I’m a Content Writer certified Life Coach, Counselor, Social Work professional and the Founder of Being Rubitah. Over the years through my professional and personal life, I have realized that prayers and love can do wonders to family life once you come to terms with yourself and surrender to God. Do you relate to me? Then you may like what I post here! Read more about me
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