--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every immigrant family, it seems, has…" description: "\"Every immigrant family, it seems, has someone who does not belong in the new country they have come to. It feels like permanent exile to that one broth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/michael-ondaatje-940_boston_every-immigrant-family-it-seems-has-some_928509.png" --- # Every immigrant family, it seems, has someone who does not… ![“Every immigrant family, it seems, has someone who does not belong in the new country they have come to. It feels like permanent exile to that one brother or wife who cannot stand a silent fate in Boston or London or Melbourne. I’ve met many who remain haunted by the persistent ghost of an earlier…” quote by Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/michael-ondaatje-940_boston_every-immigrant-family-it-seems-has-some_928509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/michael-ondaatje-940_boston_every-immigrant-family-it-seems-has-some_928509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/michael-ondaatje-940_boston_every-immigrant-family-it-seems-has-some_928509.png) > “Every immigrant family, it seems, has someone who does not belong in the new country they have come to. It feels like permanent exile to that one brother or wife who cannot stand a silent fate in Boston or London or Melbourne. I’ve met many who remain haunted by the persistent ghost of an earlier place.” [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immigrant families often have a member who feels perpetually displaced, haunted by memories of their homeland. **In simple terms:** A family member feels forever out of place and haunted by their past. Key Takeaway Recognize and support those feeling displaced. Themes identity displacement family migration belonging Mood melancholic empathetic Type reflective narrative When to use this quote - family gatherings - counseling sessions - community events - immigration support groups Key Concepts diaspora psychological trauma cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - How can families create inclusive spaces for the displaced member? - What rituals help integrate past and present identities? A Different Perspective The feeling of exile can be compounded by societal pressure to assimilate quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boston/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile/) [Exile Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile-brother-1493885/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghost/) [Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant/) [Immigrant Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant-family-1193810/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Melbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melbourne/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Permanent Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent-exile-1493884/) [Persistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistent/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [When you're an immigrant family, the upbringing, the mentality and the opportunities are all different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-gastelum/when-you-re-an-immigrant-family-the-upbringing-the-mentality-and-the/) [Kelvin Gastelum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-gastelum/) > [I can't speak for everybody, and I don't want to say it for an entire culture, but for me, coming from an immigrant family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lulu-wang/i-can-t-speak-for-everybody-and-i-don-t-want-to-say-it-for-an-entire/) [Lulu Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lulu-wang/) > [Part of the reason why my folks - why any immigrant family - wants their kids to go into law or medicine is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/part-of-the-reason-why-my-folks-why-any-immigrant-family-wants-their/) [Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/) > [One of the hard things coming from an immigrant family - or any family that doesn't believe in the arts - is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/one-of-the-hard-things-coming-from-an-immigrant-family-or-any-family/) [Jimmy O. 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