--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People don't know what it's like being…" description: "\"People don't know what it's like being the foreigner until they are one.\" — Amber Liu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/amber-liu-10811_being_people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-t_2892929.jpg" --- # People don't know what it's like being the foreigner until… ![“People don't know what it's like being the foreigner until they are one.” quote by Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/amber-liu-10811_being_people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-t_2892929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/amber-liu-10811_being_people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-t_2892929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/amber-liu-10811_being_people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-t_2892929.jpg) > “People don't know what it's like being the foreigner until they are one.” [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only those who experience being an outsider truly understand the challenges it brings. **In simple terms:** Being a foreigner is only understood after living it. Key Takeaway Empathize with newcomers. Themes identity empathy migration Mood empathetic reflective Type personal social When to use this quote - workplace integration - community support - language learning - housing - education Key Concepts cultural adaptation social inclusion Questions to Reflect On - How would you support a new immigrant? - What assumptions do you hold about foreignness? A Different Perspective Perspective may differ for those who never become foreigners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [My first band, we wanted to be like Foreigner and Journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bonham/my-first-band-we-wanted-to-be-like-foreigner-and-journey/) [Jason Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bonham/) > [I've always felt like a foreigner wherever I've lived. I don't feel much towards my Italian or Scottish roots, although I do cook the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-conti/i-ve-always-felt-like-a-foreigner-wherever-i-ve-lived-i-don-t-feel/) [Tom Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-conti/) > [I always feel like a foreigner in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-skarsgard/i-always-feel-like-a-foreigner-in-america/) [Bill Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-skarsgard/) > [I like being a foreigner. For me, to live in California is very pleasant - I'm more comfortable not feeling a part of everything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live-in-california-is-very/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [A person who speaks good English in New York sounds like a foreigner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-mason/a-person-who-speaks-good-english-in-new-york-sounds-like-a-foreigner/) [Jackie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-mason/) > [You think you're the foreigner here, and I'm the American, and I just look the other way while the President or somebody sends down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/you-think-you-re-the-foreigner-here-and-i-m-the-american-and-i-just/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I was going to be living there and I didn't want to sound like a foreigner all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mahoney/i-was-going-to-be-living-there-and-i-didn-t-want-to-sound-like-a/) [John Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mahoney/) > [I am an Indian. In fact, I feel like a foreigner when I go abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-gandhi/i-am-an-indian-in-fact-i-feel-like-a-foreigner-when-i-go-abroad/) [Sonia Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-gandhi/) > [I'm more interested in the diversity of people in New York. I like to be lost. I like to feel like a foreigner. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-huyghe/i-m-more-interested-in-the-diversity-of-people-in-new-york-i-like-to/) [Pierre Huyghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-huyghe/) > [A poor man is like a foreigner in his own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/a-poor-man-is-like-a-foreigner-in-his-own-country/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [“Traveling in other countries is especially fun because others often attribute your differences to the less-stigmatizing idea that you're like this only because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-john-carley/traveling-in-other-countries-is-especially-fun-because-others-often/) Michael John Carley > [“That is the great thing about being a foreigner—that you get to spend your life with a whole new set of cultural attachments in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/that-is-the-great-thing-about-being-a-foreigner-that-you-get-to-spend/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [When you're a foreigner, at the beginning you are far away from the culture. Then, little by little, you start to interact with people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-martinez/when-you-re-a-foreigner-at-the-beginning-you-are-far-away-from-the/) [Olivier Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-martinez/) > [People don't know what pain is until they suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/people-don-t-know-what-pain-is-until-they-suffer/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) > [A foreigner is an individual who is considered either comic or sinister. When the victim of a disaster - preferably natural but sometimes political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/a-foreigner-is-an-individual-who-is-considered-either-comic-or/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) ## More by Amber Liu > [I love songwriting, and rap is part of my songwriting, but I'm not a rapper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-love-songwriting-and-rap-is-part-of-my-songwriting-but-i-m-not-a/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [We're all fighting for the same thin,g and I hope that the fight for equality, the fight to help people get over their anxiety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/we-re-all-fighting-for-the-same-thin-g-and-i-hope-that-the-fight-for/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I'm comfortable with myself now, and I understand how goofy I am, how stupid I can be, how emotional I can be, or how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-m-comfortable-with-myself-now-and-i-understand-how-goofy-i-am-how/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I just love music. Every genre of music: country, rock. I originally first loved punk rock. Pop punk. I don't know, just rock in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-just-love-music-every-genre-of-music-country-rock-i-originally/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [My mom was a house mom when we were growing up, and that's all I knew about her. I had a really big disconnect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/my-mom-was-a-house-mom-when-we-were-growing-up-and-that-s-all-i-knew/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I always had good skin as a little kid, but when I turned 25, everything just went south.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-always-had-good-skin-as-a-little-kid-but-when-i-turned-25/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I'm all for equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-m-all-for-equality/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I think us humans are just so cruel to each other. We just want to keep judging each other on our looks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-think-us-humans-are-just-so-cruel-to-each-other-we-just-want-to/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I haven't said this yet, but my goal for this 'Beautiful' album is not to say, 'I'm beautiful,' or, 'OK, I'm so cool.' This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-haven-t-said-this-yet-but-my-goal-for-this-beautiful-album-is-not/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [My parents are really supportive of everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/my-parents-are-really-supportive-of-everything-i-do/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [Being on a K-pop label and agency, everything's taken care of for you. The music is set up for you. Your food, manager, practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/being-on-a-k-pop-label-and-agency-everything-s-taken-care-of-for-you/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [When you meet a lot of people and you date somebody, or you're just in a relationship with friends, lovers, business, or whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/when-you-meet-a-lot-of-people-and-you-date-somebody-or-you-re-just-in/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I don't think you really get to know a person until you talk to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-don-t-think-you-really-get-to-know-a-person-until-you-talk-to-them/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I think that, definitely, as I've gotten older, my perspective changes. My love of music has definitely not changed; my love of the arts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-think-that-definitely-as-i-ve-gotten-older-my-perspective-changes/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [I finally chopped off my ponytail at the end of middle school, and it was the best decision I made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-finally-chopped-off-my-ponytail-at-the-end-of-middle-school-and-it/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) [Explore all 63 Amber Liu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People don't know what it's like being the foreigner until they are one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amber Liu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-the-foreigner-until-they-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-the-foreigner-until-they-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/amber-liu-10811_being_people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-t_2892929.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/amber-liu-10811_being_people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-t_2892929.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/amber-liu-10811_being_people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-t_2892929.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People don't know what it's like being the foreigner until they are one.” — Amber Liu", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amber Liu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People don't know what it's like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-the-foreigner-until-they-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-the-foreigner-until-they-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```