--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I enjoyed being in California for a…" description: "\"I enjoyed being in California for a while. But that's the thing about London: you can't really shake it. I've always had the impression when I was in L..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_about_i-enjoyed-being-in-california-for-a-whil_2444602.jpg" --- # I enjoyed being in California for a while. But that's the… ![“I enjoyed being in California for a while. But that's the thing about London: you can't really shake it. I've always had the impression when I was in L.A. for long periods of time that simultaneously my life was happening somewhere else, and I'm missing it.” quote by Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_about_i-enjoyed-being-in-california-for-a-whil_2444602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_about_i-enjoyed-being-in-california-for-a-whil_2444602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_about_i-enjoyed-being-in-california-for-a-whil_2444602.jpg) > “I enjoyed being in California for a while. But that's the thing about London: you can't really shake it. I've always had the impression when I was in L.A. for long periods of time that simultaneously my life was happening somewhere else, and I'm missing it.” [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts the lingering feeling of missing a place after time abroad, highlighting how some cities leave a lasting emotional imprint. **In simple terms:** Living elsewhere can make you miss the original home. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the pull of familiar places. Themes home nostalgia city identity Mood melancholic thoughtful Type reflective personal When to use this quote - returning home - long‑term travel - expat life - city comparisons Key Concepts psychology of place attachment cultural displacement Questions to Reflect On - What does “it” represent for you? - How do you balance longing with new experiences? A Different Perspective May romanticize the past, ignoring present realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Long periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-periods/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Although I have lived in London, I have never really considered London my home because it was always going to be a stopping-off point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/although-i-have-lived-in-london-i-have-never-really-considered-london/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [My last Olympics, I had a girlfriend — big mistake. Now I’m single, so London should be really good. I’m excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/my-last-olympics-i-had-a-girlfriend-big-mistake-now-i-m-single-so/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [I don't leave London, really, and I don't do theatre, because I want to put the kids to bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-don-t-leave-london-really-and-i-don-t-do-theatre-because-i-want-to/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I think the whole, like, cultural diversity and the arty side of London is really, really great. And how it's so historic as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/i-think-the-whole-like-cultural-diversity-and-the-arty-side-of-london/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [Being in London has really taught me how important history is. Just having information of the past. 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They can even do my feet without tickling me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-stone/in-london-i-really-like-going-to-the-mandarin-oriental-they-can-even/) [Lara Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-stone/) > [Never was there a dingier, uglier, less picturesque city than London ... it is really wonderful that so much brick and stone, for centuries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/never-was-there-a-dingier-uglier-less-picturesque-city-than-london-it/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [I find London really exciting but there's a lot of vicious success here. Like New York, there's a lot of incredibly successful people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-find-london-really-exciting-but-there-s-a-lot-of-vicious-success/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I got to see my mom do 'Long Day's Journey' in London, which was really beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-perry/i-got-to-see-my-mom-do-long-day-s-journey-in-london-which-was-really/) [Zoe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-perry/) > [I literally can't get anywhere now without the map on my phone. 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There's some really great work being produced outside of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/all-too-often-when-people-think-about-art-in-the-u-k-they-think/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [London's been really good to me - England as a whole - but the Scots and the Irish especially are very appreciative because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/london-s-been-really-good-to-me-england-as-a-whole-but-the-scots-and/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I moved to London with this really warped sense of expectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/i-moved-to-london-with-this-really-warped-sense-of-expectation/) [James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/) ## More by Chiwetel Ejiofor > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [There are many different ways the public can respond to actors - they can see you on TV and feel they know you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/there-are-many-different-ways-the-public-can-respond-to-actors-they/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I wouldnt be the same actor if I couldnt do theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-wouldnt-be-the-same-actor-if-i-couldnt-do-theater/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [It's a strange thing, but you get this click in your brain; the wonderful feeling that the entirety of a character is suddenly available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/it-s-a-strange-thing-but-you-get-this-click-in-your-brain-the/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [We always want to live in an environment where there's no artificial block to good work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/we-always-want-to-live-in-an-environment-where-there-s-no-artificial/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I do like sci-fi. When I was a kid, I was always sort of locked into sci-fi stories. So, sci-fi has always had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-do-like-sci-fi-when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-always-sort-of-locked-into/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Ive always liked the idea of being a father. And Ive always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/ive-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-a-father-and-ive-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I've always liked the idea of being a father. And I've always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-a-father-and-i-ve-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [My favorite thing to cook is anything that comes out okay. I'm very fond of certain pastas and sauces that I can just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/my-favorite-thing-to-cook-is-anything-that-comes-out-okay-i-m-very/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [It's hard to maintain a life when you do a play. You feel you have to pretend to go through a normal day, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/it-s-hard-to-maintain-a-life-when-you-do-a-play-you-feel-you-have-to/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Reporters tend to launch on what seems to be the clearest, most stark aspects of someone's life in terms of an interview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/reporters-tend-to-launch-on-what-seems-to-be-the-clearest-most-stark/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Working in this industry, I do feel that science and creativity turned out to be a very useful combination for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/working-in-this-industry-i-do-feel-that-science-and-creativity-turned/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [The history of slavery and the complication of slavery is that it is an international concept. 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It's the worst shame in the world that people go hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/that-global-poverty-would-end-that-people-would-be-able-to-eat-it-s/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) [Explore all 111 Chiwetel Ejiofor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I enjoyed being in California for a while. But that's the thing about London: you can't really shake it. 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