For citizens born in America, the term “multicultural” tends to sit on a spectrum of meanings, usually connotation something good.

For many, it means celebrating cultures into which they are not born. For others, it’s something to be merely tolerated. And, for a minority, “multicultural” means a threat to a traditional way of life, one that’s being lost to an influx of foreign or non-majority cultures.

“Thankfully, my experience in the United States has been by and large a welcoming one; however, as an actual immigrant, ‘multicultural’ arguably has more meaning,” says Simi K. Rao, who emigrated from India in her early 20s. She works as a physician and lives with her family in the states.

The U.S. immigrant population stood at more than 41.3 million, or 13 percent, of the total population of 316.1 million, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey.

“Immigration is, in part, what continues to make this a great country, and I think it’s helpful for more Americans to know what an immigrant’s experience is like,” says Rao, author of the new novel “The Accidental Wife” (http://simikrao.com/), which explores the benefits and drama that are often inherent to the immigrant and multicultural experience of many.

Rao lists some of those details.

•  The truly multicultural experience is enriching. Born right in the middle of the India, Rao was able to travel to both the north and south areas of the country. She took in the multicultural flavors of her country of birth and was able to appreciate India’s diversity, which often has ancient roots. Her time in America has enabled her to more deeply appreciate her original culture, “and, I can appreciate the U.S. when I’m away from it, too,” she says.

•  You can appreciate what you have in both countries. “In many ways, I am fortunate that I have the means to visit India,” she says, adding that having two globally significant countries to call home has its benefits. “Many immigrants to America throughout the centuries were too poor to ever visit their original homes.”

•  Fewer people understand that dual sense of home. While there is a sizeable community of Indian-Americans in the United States, not all immigrants know where to go or how to relate to each other during transition. Immigrants to America tend to have a clear goal in mind and, over time, the new country feels more and more like home. However, roots are still felt in one’s original country, which may have very different cultural norms.

•  There are pluses and minuses in each culture. America is a first-world, developed country that still has issues, such as advertisements for unhealthy products such as cigarettes and people who are less welcoming to people from other countries. And, unfortunately, racism continues to remain deeply entrenched in the society – a problem that immigrants have to often contend with.

India still has a long way to go with civil liberties, including an archaic and unfair caste system and discrimination and violence toward women that is far too common.

“And, these differences don’t add up to some kind of balance,” Rao says. “An immigrant has to acclimate to these differences and try to work around them and they often do.  Fortunately, this can enrich our minds and experience. I’d like to think that I have a better – more compassionate – take on humanity because of my multicultural background.”

If we had to describe Jaafar’s sound, we would say that it is the perfect marriage between middle eastern and western pop music.

Like most artists, Jaafar draws musical inspiration from his upbringing.

“I grew up listening to rock and roll and middle eastern music. I am also inspired by the Heartbreakers, Sting and The Beatles.

Jaafar captured our ears with his hit single Sixteen. Like most great songs, the single is an eye-opening narrative that captures the sentiments of people living in a war torn area and opens the eyes and ears of listeners who may not about such turmoil.

“Sixteen is a good indicator of the over all sound of my album. There is a middle eastern presence with a fusion of pop,” Jaafar said. “I love that video is like the song, simple and to the point.”

The latest lady of medicine to join the cast of Bravo’s Married to Medicine sat down and spoke with Worthy Magazine to discuss confidence and balance. Jill Connors who is married to John Connors is a force to be reckoned with. Jill is a double Ivy League (Dartmouth and Harvard) lawyer who helps her husband run their private practice.

This power couple has been taking the social scene in the south by storm becoming know for their philanthropic and highly-buzzed about soirees supporting causes like  Atlanta’s Victim’s Assistance, Children’s  Healthcare of Atlanta and being the founders of their non-profit organization Emergence Surgical Gifts Inc, to name a few.

5 Words to describe Jill?

“Energetic, ditzy blonde, highly-educated, creative and nurturing.”

Unknown facts about Jill?

“I met my husband on an airplane. We say it was fate. It was a small plane and no one sat next to each other. There was this woman walking down the isle. She looked at me and looked at him and she took another seat. I was in college and he was resident.

Birthday?

December 19th. I am a Sagittarius. I am obsessed with stars. I love to sit outside

and watch the shooting stars. I love nature. A lot of people don’t know that.

“I am worthy because ____”

“I am worthy because I am a highly educated woman with three kids and I am able to support my husband at work, at home as well as raise my three boys and keeplife fun.”

Balance?

“Men have to work at work. I have a job. I  manage the practice. I manage the house and maintain balance. I always have chaos in my life.  I think I thrive on that”