Native of India plants new roots in B-N as real estate agent: Coldwell Banker employee became U.S. citizen earlier this month

Sep 20, 2008 (The Pantagraph - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- DOWB | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Sep. 20--BLOOMINGTON -- One of Meenu Bhaskar's first experiences after arriving in America from India a decade ago was going through a fast food drive-through. "We went there straight from the airport," she said of the day her plane touched down in Detroit.

While she found that initiation into American culture fascinating, Bhaskar is now enjoying a variety of more significant experiences.

Living with her family in Bloomington, she has embarked on a career as a real estate agent and was recently sworn in as a U.S. citizen.

"It (the ceremony) was overwhelming for me. It (the U.S.) is a land where you can make your dreams come true," she said.

Bhaskar's dream of becoming a real estate agent began in April 2002 after she got her real estate license.

She said breaking into the business here wasn't easy.

"I'm not another Nancy. It's not easy to remember my name, but I was up for the challenge," she said. She said she's a good fit for the job because she's "a people person."

She did not work in real estate or any other job in India, instead spending time in law school and raising her family.

"This business is all about confidence. They must have confidence in you," she said.

Colleague Lisa Lockenvitz, who works with Bhaskar at Coldwell Banker Heart of America Realtors in Bloomington, said Bhaskar is "warm and full of life," and excited about helping others.

Besides her real estate duties, the 44-year-old Bhaskar keeps busy with her family. Her husband, Sunil Bhaskar, works at State Farm Insurance Cos. and they have two children.

The couple and their son were sworn in as U.S. citizens earlier this month in federal court in Peoria.

It was a day, like that first day in America, that Bhaskar will never forget.

She will never forget, as well, her family that remains in India, including her mother and a sister.

However, despite that family connection, when the opportunity arose to come to the U.S., Bhaskar said she and her family were ready for the challenge.

Although English was her second language after Hindi, there was still a learning curve after she arrived in the United States. Despite this, Bhaskar said she found Americans very patient.

"Bloomington is very much home," she said.

To see more of The Pantagraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pantagraph.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index