--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: IN my early days there were stories about…" description: "\"“IN my early days there were stories about funny refugees murdering the English language. A refugee woman goes to the greengrocer to buy red oranges (I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/george-mikes-4493_english-language_in-my-early-days-there-were-stories-abou_2124296.jpg" --- # IN my early days there were stories about funny refugees… ![“IN my early days there were stories about funny refugees murdering the English language. A refugee woman goes to the greengrocer to buy red oranges (I mean red inside), very popular on the Continent and called blood oranges. ‘I want two pounds of bloody oranges.’ ‘What sort of oranges, dear?’…” quote by George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/george-mikes-4493_english-language_in-my-early-days-there-were-stories-abou_2124296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/george-mikes-4493_english-language_in-my-early-days-there-were-stories-abou_2124296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/george-mikes-4493_english-language_in-my-early-days-there-were-stories-abou_2124296.jpg) > ““IN my early days there were stories about funny refugees murdering the English language. A refugee woman goes to the greengrocer to buy red oranges (I mean red inside), very popular on the Continent and called blood oranges. ‘I want two pounds of bloody oranges.’ ‘What sort of oranges, dear?’ asked the greengrocer, a little puzzled. ‘Bloody oranges.’ ‘Hm...’ He thinks. ‘I see. For juice?’ ‘Yes, we are.’ Another story dates from two years later. By that time the paterfamilias — the orange-buying lady’s husband — has become terribly, terribly English. He meets an old friend in Regents Park, and instead of talking to him in good German, softly, he greets him in English, loudly. ‘Hallo, Weinstock… Lovely day, isn’t it? Spring in the air.’ ‘Why should I?”” [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The anecdotes illustrate how immigrants adapt linguistically, often mixing languages humorously, and how assimilation can erode original cultural identity. **In simple terms:** Immigrants blend languages, then later adopt the host language fully. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect linguistic diversity. Themes cultural assimilation language humor identity integration Mood reflective wry thoughtful Type anecdotal observational cultural commentary When to use this quote - immigrant communities - language learning - social integration - multicultural workplaces - family dynamics Key Concepts code‑switching cultural identity linguistic adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape personal identity? - When does assimilation become cultural erasure? A Different Perspective Humor can mask deeper loss of cultural heritage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blood Oranges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-oranges-4348881/) [Bloody Oranges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bloody-oranges-4348878/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Lovely day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovely-day/) [Old friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-friend/) [Oranges Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oranges-dear-4348882/) [Oranges Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oranges-mean-4348880/) [Oranges Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oranges-want-4348879/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) ## Related quotes > [On the Continent there is one topic which should be avoided-the weather; in England, if you do not repeat the phrase "Lovely day, isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/on-the-continent-there-is-one-topic-which-should-be-avoided-the/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [In the 1960s, you could eat anything you wanted, and of course, people were smoking cigarettes and all kinds of things, and there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/in-the-1960s-you-could-eat-anything-you-wanted-and-of-course-people/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [I wanted to lie hour after hour on a couch, pouring out the dark, secret places of my heart--do this feeling that over my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-exley/i-wanted-to-lie-hour-after-hour-on-a-couch-pouring-out-the-dark/) [Frederick Exley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-exley/) > [“It is a lovely day, isn’t it?” she said, because she couldn’t think of anything else to say to his daunting shoulder. “Yes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-joseph/it-is-a-lovely-day-isn-t-it-she-said-because-she-couldn-t-think-of/) [Annabel Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-joseph/) > [Some people are like clouds. 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He meets an old friend in Regents Park, and instead of talking to him in good German, softly, he greets him in English, loudly. ‘Hallo, Weinstock… Lovely day, isn’t it? 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