--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a gift, and you realize as soon as…" description: "\"It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82, that you are in a sort of wonderland. Not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/john-gimlette-11101_architecture_it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as_697676.jpg" --- # It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the… ![“It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82, that you are in a sort of wonderland. Nothing is quite right: the buildings, they've got their own architecture, their own language; and everything is just a little bit off key.” quote by John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/john-gimlette-11101_architecture_it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as_697676.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/john-gimlette-11101_architecture_it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as_697676.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/john-gimlette-11101_architecture_it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as_697676.jpg) > “It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82, that you are in a sort of wonderland. Nothing is quite right: the buildings, they've got their own architecture, their own language; and everything is just a little bit off key.” [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Entering a new place can feel like stepping into a slightly off‑key wonderland, where familiar structures feel alien and enchanting. **In simple terms:** New environments feel strange yet captivating. Key Takeaway Embrace the unfamiliar and let curiosity guide you. Themes travel culture shock wonder disorientation Mood adventurous curious Type observation inspirational When to use this quote - first-time travel - urban exploration - language immersion Key Concepts place identity subjective perception novelty Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of a new place spark your curiosity? - How do you navigate feeling out of sync? A Different Perspective The novelty may fade, revealing deeper challenges of adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Paraguay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paraguay/) [Wonderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderland/) ## Related quotes > [Mexico has shelters, which care for children trying to cross the border, who have no company with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/mexico-has-shelters-which-care-for-children-trying-to-cross-the/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [To be off the grid is to be disconnected from most of America's infrastructure without having to cross any border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/to-be-off-the-grid-is-to-be-disconnected-from-most-of-america-s/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [There is an animal instinct force in humans that creates passion. When you love sometimes you cross a border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaspar-noe/there-is-an-animal-instinct-force-in-humans-that-creates-passion-when/) [Gaspar Noe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaspar-noe/) > [People who were not active in the intellectual life of the country could go on without feeling restricted, except they could not go where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-heym/people-who-were-not-active-in-the-intellectual-life-of-the-country/) [Stefan Heym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-heym/) > [The Cross Border Xpress and improvements to the San Ysidro Port of Entry are making the flow of goods and services faster, easier and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/the-cross-border-xpress-and-improvements-to-the-san-ysidro-port-of/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [It takes so little, so infinitely little, for a person to cross the border beyond which everything loses meaning: love, convictions, faith, history. Human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/it-takes-so-little-so-infinitely-little-for-a-person-to-cross-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I want people to laugh with me and Paraguay and Newfoundland, but I don't want to laugh at them. I hope in my books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-want-people-to-laugh-with-me-and-paraguay-and-newfoundland-but-i/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I was writing the Paraguay book, a Paragauyan told me that only five thousand people in Paraguay read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-writing-the-paraguay-book-a-paragauyan-told-me-that-only-five/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [There are no young people who know how to debate, who know how to vote, and who know how to persuade people to vote.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/there-are-no-young-people-who-know-how-to-debate-who-know-how-to-vote/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador for a while. He did the job well. He was there because he wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss-as-its-ambassador-for-a-while/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I'll always love Paraguay. It's this most exotic place configured out of the imagination, the whole country.Paraguay will always be a special place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-ll-always-love-paraguay-it-s-this-most-exotic-place-configured-out/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I slightly feel, having written Paraguay and Newfoundland - and both of them have developed eccentricities through isolation - I am quite relieved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-slightly-feel-having-written-paraguay-and-newfoundland-and-both-of/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ In both places \[Paraguay and Newfoundland\] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-both-places-paraguay-and-newfoundland-people-rise-despite/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Bitcoin is inherently international, and one of its great promises is it enables cross-border payments in a more efficient way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ehrsam/bitcoin-is-inherently-international-and-one-of-its-great-promises-is/) [Fred Ehrsam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ehrsam/) > [Britain outside the E.U. would be less able to respond with the speed and strength we need to tackle complex and growing cross-border threats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/britain-outside-the-e-u-would-be-less-able-to-respond-with-the-speed/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) ## More by John Gimlette > [I was talking to my publisher in Britain and was told here we are - we are sixty million people and we reckon only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-talking-to-my-publisher-in-britain-and-was-told-here-we-are-we/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ In both places \[Paraguay and Newfoundland\] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-both-places-paraguay-and-newfoundland-people-rise-despite/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Lawrence Millman is a favorite writer of mine. He did a travels on the trail of the Vikings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/lawrence-millman-is-a-favorite-writer-of-mine-he-did-a-travels-on-the/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [American travel writing is very healthy. I'm always flicking through the reviews and I see plenty of travel writing - and an impressive line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/american-travel-writing-is-very-healthy-i-m-always-flicking-through/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [What's fascinating is where they come from in the world. People in Bangladesh, a chap in a fire-base in Tikrit in Iraq. Chap in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/what-s-fascinating-is-where-they-come-from-in-the-world-people-in/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [The United Nations was the thing I wanted to work for. Like the United Nations Commission for Refugees is what I was interested in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/the-united-nations-was-the-thing-i-wanted-to-work-for-like-the-united/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [When McDonald's opened up in Moscow - I happened to be there when it opened and wandered in. And the Russians were queuing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/when-mcdonald-s-opened-up-in-moscow-i-happened-to-be-there-when-it/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [People my age and younger do think much more towards Europe. We have to fill the gap sometime - we can't think we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/people-my-age-and-younger-do-think-much-more-towards-europe-we-have/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I slightly feel, having written Paraguay and Newfoundland - and both of them have developed eccentricities through isolation - I am quite relieved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-slightly-feel-having-written-paraguay-and-newfoundland-and-both-of/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ Paraguayans have no Italian blood and are half Guarani \[Indian\] blood. And the Chileans call themselves "the English of South America," which actually couldn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguayans-have-no-italian-blood-and-are-half-guarani-indian-blood/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I am sure you have met diplomats; they probably travel far less than you do. Okay, they get to know a place very intensely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-am-sure-you-have-met-diplomats-they-probably-travel-far-less-than/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Originally I wanted to be a diplomat, and by attrition I started giving up that idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-diplomat-and-by-attrition-i-started/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ I wouldn't like to see Cuba change in other ways. And the trouble is when Fidel \[Castro\] does go - I am sure he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-wouldn-t-like-to-see-cuba-change-in-other-ways-and-the-trouble-is/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I don't therefore know how to write for the big papers. It must be kids - students - and retired people. And the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-don-t-therefore-know-how-to-write-for-the-big-papers-it-must-be/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [In Western Civilization - America and Britain - if you see people talking and it becomes an argument and voices are raised, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-western-civilization-america-and-britain-if-you-see-people-talking/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) [Explore all 61 John Gimlette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) ## More Architecture quotes > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [A man walks down the street. 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You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [When I am asked what I believe in, I say that I believe in architecture. Architecture is the mother of the arts. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meier/when-i-am-asked-what-i-believe-in-i-say-that-i-believe-in/) [Richard Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meier/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. 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