--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like many immigrants, I had always kept…" description: "\"“Like many immigrants, I had always kept my Eastern and Western lives compartmentalized.”\" — Padma Lakshmi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/padma-lakshmi-5094_immigrants_like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-m_520272.png" --- # Like many immigrants, I had always kept my Eastern and… ![“Like many immigrants, I had always kept my Eastern and Western lives compartmentalized.” quote by Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/padma-lakshmi-5094_immigrants_like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-m_520272.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/padma-lakshmi-5094_immigrants_like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-m_520272.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/padma-lakshmi-5094_immigrants_like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-m_520272.png) > ““Like many immigrants, I had always kept my Eastern and Western lives compartmentalized.”” [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immigrants often separate cultural identities, creating internal conflict. **In simple terms:** Immigrants split cultures, causing tension. Key Takeaway Integrate cultures for a cohesive self. Themes culture immigration identity Mood reflective hopeful Type personal cultural When to use this quote - family life - career adaptation - social interactions Key Concepts biculturalism psychological integration Questions to Reflect On - How do you blend your cultural sides? - What benefits arise from integration? A Different Perspective Fear of loss may keep compartments separate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) ## Related quotes > [In the fall of 1978, I left the religious, conservative, biracial, slow-paced culture of South Carolina for the secular, liberal, multi-ethnic, intense culture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/in-the-fall-of-1978-i-left-the-religious-conservative-biracial-slow/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Parents feel like immigrants in the country of the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/parents-feel-like-immigrants-in-the-country-of-the-young/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Look, when I came to this country, my parents, like many immigrants, are looking for a better life. And in their minds for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/look-when-i-came-to-this-country-my-parents-like-many-immigrants-are/) [Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/) > [I don't know what it's like in the U.S. but immigrants in the U.K. do the jobs the citizens won't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-in-the-u-s-but-immigrants-in-the-u-k-do/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and currently serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yet I still experience people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/i-served-on-active-duty-in-the-u-s-air-force-and-currently-serve-in/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Karaoke was my family's happy secret. 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I always say Trojan… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/most-incredibly-because-to-me-this-is-unbelievable-we-have-no-idea/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Ed Koch once said that New York City is where immigrants come to audition for America. 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It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) ## More by Padma Lakshmi > [“I once asked her if she was happy. “That depends on what I am able to get done today,” she said, laughing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-once-asked-her-if-she-was-happy-that-depends-on-what-i-am-able-to/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [In a way that somebody else converts to Judaism or becomes a Hare Krishna, I belong to the church of fried chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/in-a-way-that-somebody-else-converts-to-judaism-or-becomes-a-hare/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [Beauty is no accomplishment on its own. It's what you do with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/beauty-is-no-accomplishment-on-its-own-it-s-what-you-do-with-it/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I'm the kind of girl who thinks about what she's gonna cook for dinner when she's finishing her lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-m-the-kind-of-girl-who-thinks-about-what-she-s-gonna-cook-for/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I am as omnivorous as it's possible to be. I always say there's nothing I won't eat and nothing I won't wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-am-as-omnivorous-as-it-s-possible-to-be-i-always-say-there-s/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [“He was everything I wasn’t. He was a lot of what I wanted to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/he-was-everything-i-wasn-t-he-was-a-lot-of-what-i-wanted-to-be/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I am a sufferer of endometriosis. I didn't want any young women to go through what I went through. I thought that people should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-am-a-sufferer-of-endometriosis-i-didn-t-want-any-young-women-to-go/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [Wine, like food, is so emotional. If you think about it, so much of the courting ritual is surrounded by wine and food. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/wine-like-food-is-so-emotional-if-you-think-about-it-so-much-of-the/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [An oil massage, a hot bath, a good night's sleep, soft smells and music and clothes with soft textures denote sensuality to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/an-oil-massage-a-hot-bath-a-good-night-s-sleep-soft-smells-and-music/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I have a great career, and I have my daughter. Sio what I don't have is not as important to as what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-have-a-great-career-and-i-have-my-daughter-sio-what-i-don-t-have-is/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [My mom was scared of the old Times Square so I was never allowed to go. Now I'm scared of the new Times Square,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/my-mom-was-scared-of-the-old-times-square-so-i-was-never-allowed-to/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I love to use a lot of spices when I cook, so we actually cast a real peppercorn in gold and then just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-love-to-use-a-lot-of-spices-when-i-cook-so-we-actually-cast-a-real/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [“I cannot remember what we talked about except that we never stopped talking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-cannot-remember-what-we-talked-about-except-that-we-never-stopped/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I'm not attached to things at all. I'm very lucky to have quite a few beautiful things, but if I look back at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-m-not-attached-to-things-at-all-i-m-very-lucky-to-have-quite-a-few/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [Jewelry should not upstage you. I pick one hot point on my body that I'm going to highlight. Let one area do the singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/jewelry-should-not-upstage-you-i-pick-one-hot-point-on-my-body-that-i/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) [Explore all 103 Padma Lakshmi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) ## More Immigrants quotes > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with the government religion of whatever region you were in. That's never been true in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-were-siding-with-the/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Ed Koch once said that New York City is where immigrants come to audition for America. That's what happened to my parents; that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/ed-koch-once-said-that-new-york-city-is-where-immigrants-come-to/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I don't like it when I see a racist comedian go up and say, 'What are we gonna do about all these immigrants?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-like-it-when-i-see-a-racist-comedian-go-up-and-say-what-are/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Royalty has always been an unconscious but all-consuming goal of the European immigrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/royalty-has-always-been-an-unconscious-but-all-consuming-goal-of-the/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [ Most incredibly, because to me this is unbelievable, we have no idea who these \[immigrants\] are, where they come from. I always say Trojan… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/most-incredibly-because-to-me-this-is-unbelievable-we-have-no-idea/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I remember my own life as a small boy, son of Jewish immigrants, in a janitor's flat on Orchard and Stanton streets on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-k-javits/i-remember-my-own-life-as-a-small-boy-son-of-jewish-immigrants-in-a/) [Jacob K. Javits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-k-javits/) > [There are a number of much less expensive alternatives to detaining immigrants than locking them up somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/there-are-a-number-of-much-less-expensive-alternatives-to-detaining/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [ \[We need to \] select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in U.S. society and their ability to be financially self- sufficient. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-to-select-immigrants-based-on-their-likelihood-of-success-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-was-a-very-sickly-child-my-parents-were-immigrants-they-were-not/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) [Browse all 1,321 Immigrants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Like many immigrants, I had always kept my Eastern and Western lives compartmentalized.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Padma Lakshmi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-my-eastern-and-western-lives/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Immigrants" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-my-eastern-and-western-lives/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/padma-lakshmi-5094_immigrants_like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-m_520272.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/padma-lakshmi-5094_immigrants_like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-m_520272.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/padma-lakshmi-5094_immigrants_like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-m_520272.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like many immigrants, I had always kept my Eastern and Western lives compartmentalized.” — Padma Lakshmi", "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": "Padma Lakshmi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Like many immigrants, I had always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-my-eastern-and-western-lives/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/like-many-immigrants-i-had-always-kept-my-eastern-and-western-lives/#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 } } ] } ```