--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old…" description: "\"We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But I'm still very, very close to my culture and - back home in Egypt.\" — Mena Massoud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/mena-massoud-9728_back_we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old_696147.jpg" --- # We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But… ![“We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But I'm still very, very close to my culture and - back home in Egypt.” quote by Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/mena-massoud-9728_back_we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old_696147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/mena-massoud-9728_back_we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old_696147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/mena-massoud-9728_back_we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old_696147.jpg) > “We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But I'm still very, very close to my culture and - back home in Egypt.” [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintaining cultural identity despite relocation and assimilation challenges. **In simple terms:** Staying close to roots while living abroad. Key Takeaway Embrace heritage, share culture. Themes identity migration heritage Mood reflective proud Type personal cultural When to use this quote - family gatherings - community events - teaching language - celebrating holidays Key Concepts cultural continuity diaspora acculturation Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep your culture alive daily? - What challenges arise when sharing heritage? A Different Perspective Balancing integration with preservation can be socially demanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Culture Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-home-4377552/) [Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egypt/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-egypt-5520565/) [Immigrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrated-407926/) [Immigrated Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrated-years-5520564/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Years Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-old/) ## Related quotes > [The culture of home cooking is so strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-yeh/the-culture-of-home-cooking-is-so-strong/) [Molly Yeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-yeh/) > [I had the French culture at school and I love this culture but I also had another culture at home - that of Senegal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalidou-koulibaly/i-had-the-french-culture-at-school-and-i-love-this-culture-but-i-also/) [Kalidou Koulibaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalidou-koulibaly/) > [My parents knew about the story of Aladdin far before the animation film. It's a folk tale that is very prevalent in Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/my-parents-knew-about-the-story-of-aladdin-far-before-the-animation/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [ We're different men \[with Donald Trump\], different life experiences. But I've always been struck by our common heritage. His grandfather immigrated to this country… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/we-re-different-men-with-donald-trump-different-life-experiences-but/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [“These SS men feared to return to their hometowns, yet felt safe in the DP camps where they easily obtained and lived with newly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-zelczer/these-ss-men-feared-to-return-to-their-hometowns-yet-felt-safe-in-the/) [Al Zelczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-zelczer/) > [My parents immigrated to California from Mexico in the 1960s in search of a better life. They arrived from different regions of Mexico with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/my-parents-immigrated-to-california-from-mexico-in-the-1960s-in/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [I immigrated when I was six so I had to learn English and I was always an outsider from a young age, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lulu-wang/i-immigrated-when-i-was-six-so-i-had-to-learn-english-and-i-was/) [Lulu Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lulu-wang/) > [My parents immigrated to the United States with $10 in their pocket and a belief that the America they had heard about really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-love/my-parents-immigrated-to-the-united-states-with-10-in-their-pocket/) [Mia Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-love/) > [I went to a predominantly African-American school. I didn't even understand our immigration system. I knew my parents immigrated here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-tlaib/i-went-to-a-predominantly-african-american-school-i-didn-t-even/) [Rashida Tlaib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-tlaib/) > [My mother was a proud and capable woman. She was among the first class of college graduates after China's Cultural Revolution, then immigrated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/my-mother-was-a-proud-and-capable-woman-she-was-among-the-first-class/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [My parents, Santos and Lupe Padilla, immigrated separately from Mexico and met in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. It was love at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/my-parents-santos-and-lupe-padilla-immigrated-separately-from-mexico/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [I was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the United States with my family when I was 4. I spent most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-shih/i-was-born-in-hong-kong-and-immigrated-to-the-united-states-with-my/) [Clara Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-shih/) > [When I first immigrated to the United States, there were not many jobs that stood out. So I worked at a gas station, cleaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/do-won-chang/when-i-first-immigrated-to-the-united-states-there-were-not-many-jobs/) [Do Won Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/do-won-chang/) > [My family immigrated when I was 3, and our predecessors inhabited the Korean Peninsula for as long as can be recalled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/my-family-immigrated-when-i-was-3-and-our-predecessors-inhabited-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [It's such an honor to just represent the U.S. in the country where my parents immigrated from, and just this whole process has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/it-s-such-an-honor-to-just-represent-the-u-s-in-the-country-where-my/) [Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/) ## More by Mena Massoud > [Art is very subjective and having to put numbers on it seems counterintuitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/art-is-very-subjective-and-having-to-put-numbers-on-it-seems/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I'm pretty good at going incognito.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-m-pretty-good-at-going-incognito/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I think Middle Eastern hair is very resilient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-think-middle-eastern-hair-is-very-resilient/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [There's always a wild card or two when you're casting. I'm usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/there-s-always-a-wild-card-or-two-when-you-re-casting-i-m-usually-the/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [When we uplift artists who reflect diverse perspectives their stories not only tell us how people view others, but how they view themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/when-we-uplift-artists-who-reflect-diverse-perspectives-their-stories/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I'm trying to be a voice for the North African Arab community. We've got to continue to fight for our place in the industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-m-trying-to-be-a-voice-for-the-north-african-arab-community-we-ve/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I put in my time, I worked hard and I followed my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-put-in-my-time-i-worked-hard-and-i-followed-my-dreams/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I went through it in high school. It's like, 'Who am I? Am I good enough? Is my background good enough? I know I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-went-through-it-in-high-school-it-s-like-who-am-i-am-i-good-enough/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [There is such a peace out in the middle of the desert. There's nothing like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/there-is-such-a-peace-out-in-the-middle-of-the-desert-there-s-nothing/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [My first professional gig was on a show called 'Nikita,' and I played Al Qaeda No. 2. At that time I had to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/my-first-professional-gig-was-on-a-show-called-nikita-and-i-played-al/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [My parents knew about the story of Aladdin far before the animation film. It's a folk tale that is very prevalent in Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/my-parents-knew-about-the-story-of-aladdin-far-before-the-animation/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [We don't tell Canadian stories enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/we-don-t-tell-canadian-stories-enough/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I grew up in Canada and I was 10 years old when 9/11 happened. And I think that really changed the landscape for Arabs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-grew-up-in-canada-and-i-was-10-years-old-when-9-11-happened-and-i/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I went to schools that had a significantly large Caucasian population and I feel very fortunate because I was able to compare that perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-went-to-schools-that-had-a-significantly-large-caucasian-population/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [Ryerson helped me because I was around acting all the time. It was pretty much all I thought about, even if I didn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/ryerson-helped-me-because-i-was-around-acting-all-the-time-it-was/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) [Explore all 70 Mena Massoud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) ## More Back quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) [Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But I'm still very, very close to my culture and - back home in Egypt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mena Massoud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old-to-toronto-but-i-m-still/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old-to-toronto-but-i-m-still/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/mena-massoud-9728_back_we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old_696147.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/mena-massoud-9728_back_we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old_696147.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/mena-massoud-9728_back_we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old_696147.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But I'm still very, very close to my culture and…” — Mena Massoud", "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": "Mena Massoud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We immigrated when I was 3...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old-to-toronto-but-i-m-still/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/we-immigrated-when-i-was-3-1-2-years-old-to-toronto-but-i-m-still/#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 } } ] } ```