--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I came to Australia in 1987 as an…" description: "\"When I came to Australia in 1987 as an adoptee from India, I could not have had any idea where my life journey would take me.\" — Saroo Brierley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/saroo-brierley-13154_australia_when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-a_1455418.jpg" --- # When I came to Australia in 1987 as an adoptee from India… ![“When I came to Australia in 1987 as an adoptee from India, I could not have had any idea where my life journey would take me.” quote by Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/saroo-brierley-13154_australia_when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-a_1455418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/saroo-brierley-13154_australia_when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-a_1455418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/saroo-brierley-13154_australia_when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-a_1455418.jpg) > “When I came to Australia in 1987 as an adoptee from India, I could not have had any idea where my life journey would take me.” [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on unexpected life paths after moving to Australia as an Indian adoptee. **In simple terms:** Unexpected life journey after adoption. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and growth. Themes identity migration adoption Mood inspirational thoughtful Type narrative reflective When to use this quote - storytelling - public speaking - mentorship Key Concepts cultural adaptation personal destiny life trajectories Questions to Reflect On - How did adoption shape your identity? - What lessons can others draw from unexpected journeys? A Different Perspective May simplify complex immigrant experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1987 Adoptee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1987-adoptee-5244593/) [Adoptee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoptee/) [Adoptee India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoptee-india-5244594/) [Australia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/) [Australia 1987](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia-1987-1700265/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-journey/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [I remember Simon O'Donnell being struck with cancer during Australia's 1987 World Cup campaign. I know very well what it is like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-moody/i-remember-simon-o-donnell-being-struck-with-cancer-during-australia/) [Tom Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-moody/) > [“Adoption is a lifelong journey. It means different things to me at different times. Sometimes it is just a part of who I am.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-dibenedetto/adoption-is-a-lifelong-journey-it-means-different-things-to-me-at/) [Kelly DiBenedetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-dibenedetto/) > [The odds against an adoptee ending up as the child of the President of the United States are staggering. But then, so are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reagan/the-odds-against-an-adoptee-ending-up-as-the-child-of-the-president/) [Michael Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reagan/) > [“Being denied their original birth certificates isn't just a problem for adoptees. It's a social problem, requiring social change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/being-denied-their-original-birth-certificates-isn-t-just-a-problem/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“I must acknowledge that though his adoption embodies graciousness, it is also a reminder this world is not as it should be. Brokenness permeates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-brenner/i-must-acknowledge-that-though-his-adoption-embodies-graciousness-it/) [Natalie Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-brenner/) > [“Adoptees deserve open records because deception and partial truths do not set us free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoptees-deserve-open-records-because-deception-and-partial-truths-do/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [Not only I am an adoptee, but I also want to prove to everyone that being legally blind with a rare eye disease called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/not-only-i-am-an-adoptee-but-i-also-want-to-prove-to-everyone-that/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [“Discovering that I was adopted redefined my entire world, but it taught me that who you are doesn't change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/discovering-that-i-was-adopted-redefined-my-entire-world-but-it/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“The adoptee benefits because his collective parents are permitted to grow secure in their particular roles in his life. His adoptive parents are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-silber/the-adoptee-benefits-because-his-collective-parents-are-permitted-to/) [Kathleen Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-silber/) > [“It's illegal to deny people their records due to race or gender. Adoptees deserve the same rights and protections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/it-s-illegal-to-deny-people-their-records-due-to-race-or-gender/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Adoptee rights are everyone's rights, and they deserve to be protected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoptee-rights-are-everyone-s-rights-and-they-deserve-to-be-protected/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“To any adopted person searching for help and support, I saw this: find people who really know and understand the adoption experience and stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-phillips/to-any-adopted-person-searching-for-help-and-support-i-saw-this-find/) [Zara Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-phillips/) > [“Adoption isn't just a childhood experience, it's a life-long experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoption-isn-t-just-a-childhood-experience-it-s-a-life-long-experience/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“If the system were designed to protect adoptees, why do so many have to fight for their rights?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/if-the-system-were-designed-to-protect-adoptees-why-do-so-many-have/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Saroo Brierley > [Being involved in sports and having a very sport orientated family just helped the transition extremely well. I guess, in a way, your school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/being-involved-in-sports-and-having-a-very-sport-orientated-family/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [Just as my search for my mother had in some ways shaped my life, her faith that I was alive had shaped hers. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/just-as-my-search-for-my-mother-had-in-some-ways-shaped-my-life-her/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [The streets of India are not safe for children, and every year, thousands are forced to live on the streets, avoiding being kidnapped or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/the-streets-of-india-are-not-safe-for-children-and-every-year/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [I see Calcutta as a place where I have a lot of memories... a lot of fond memories of coming back here and helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/i-see-calcutta-as-a-place-where-i-have-a-lot-of-memories-a-lot-of/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [It's easy to blame technology for what we perceive to be a vast disconnect between people. We're so wrapped up in social media, texting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/it-s-easy-to-blame-technology-for-what-we-perceive-to-be-a-vast/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [I tell my friends that 'you don't know how lucky you are to be in Tasmania, because when you go away internationally, you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/i-tell-my-friends-that-you-don-t-know-how-lucky-you-are-to-be-in/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [I'm still so grounded and so regimented, too. I've developed myself for such a long time - my characteristics and who I am -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/i-m-still-so-grounded-and-so-regimented-too-i-ve-developed-myself-for/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [I'm fairly sort of a laid-back and optimistic guy full of effervescence and vitality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/i-m-fairly-sort-of-a-laid-back-and-optimistic-guy-full-of/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [“Hunger limits you because you are constantly thinking about getting food, keeping the food if you do get your hands on some, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/hunger-limits-you-because-you-are-constantly-thinking-about-getting/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [We were a sport-oriented family. Because I was athletic, I made friends easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/we-were-a-sport-oriented-family-because-i-was-athletic-i-made-friends/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [I almost drowned in the Hooghly river, which is something really crazy. If there is something about Calcutta that scares me, it's that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/i-almost-drowned-in-the-hooghly-river-which-is-something-really-crazy/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [“birdwatching or sailing. Dad often took me out on his small catamaran, which only increased my love of the water, and I finally learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/birdwatching-or-sailing-dad-often-took-me-out-on-his-small-catamaran/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [I don't really have a worldview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/i-don-t-really-have-a-worldview/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [“imagined what I’d do when I reached this stage. It now seems absurd, but I suppose I thought I’d find a town labelled ‘Ginestlay’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/imagined-what-i-d-do-when-i-reached-this-stage-it-now-seems-absurd/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) > [I've moved to Australia, to amazing parents who gave me unconditional love, to being educated and submerged in an amazing country and society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/i-ve-moved-to-australia-to-amazing-parents-who-gave-me-unconditional/) [Saroo Brierley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) [Explore all 49 Saroo Brierley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/) ## More Adoptee quotes > [“If the system were designed to protect adoptees, why do so many have to fight for their rights?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/if-the-system-were-designed-to-protect-adoptees-why-do-so-many-have/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Adoption isn't just a childhood experience, it's a life-long experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoption-isn-t-just-a-childhood-experience-it-s-a-life-long-experience/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“To any adopted person searching for help and support, I saw this: find people who really know and understand the adoption experience and stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-phillips/to-any-adopted-person-searching-for-help-and-support-i-saw-this-find/) [Zara Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-phillips/) > [“Adoptee rights are everyone's rights, and they deserve to be protected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoptee-rights-are-everyone-s-rights-and-they-deserve-to-be-protected/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“It's illegal to deny people their records due to race or gender. Adoptees deserve the same rights and protections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/it-s-illegal-to-deny-people-their-records-due-to-race-or-gender/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“The adoptee benefits because his collective parents are permitted to grow secure in their particular roles in his life. His adoptive parents are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-silber/the-adoptee-benefits-because-his-collective-parents-are-permitted-to/) [Kathleen Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-silber/) > [“Discovering that I was adopted redefined my entire world, but it taught me that who you are doesn't change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/discovering-that-i-was-adopted-redefined-my-entire-world-but-it/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [Not only I am an adoptee, but I also want to prove to everyone that being legally blind with a rare eye disease called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/not-only-i-am-an-adoptee-but-i-also-want-to-prove-to-everyone-that/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [“Adoptees deserve open records because deception and partial truths do not set us free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/adoptees-deserve-open-records-because-deception-and-partial-truths-do/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“I must acknowledge that though his adoption embodies graciousness, it is also a reminder this world is not as it should be. Brokenness permeates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-brenner/i-must-acknowledge-that-though-his-adoption-embodies-graciousness-it/) [Natalie Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-brenner/) > [“Being denied their original birth certificates isn't just a problem for adoptees. It's a social problem, requiring social change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/being-denied-their-original-birth-certificates-isn-t-just-a-problem/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [The odds against an adoptee ending up as the child of the President of the United States are staggering. But then, so are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reagan/the-odds-against-an-adoptee-ending-up-as-the-child-of-the-president/) [Michael Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reagan/) > [“Adoption is a lifelong journey. It means different things to me at different times. Sometimes it is just a part of who I am.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-dibenedetto/adoption-is-a-lifelong-journey-it-means-different-things-to-me-at/) [Kelly DiBenedetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-dibenedetto/) [Browse all 14 Adoptee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoptee/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I came to Australia in 1987 as an adoptee from India, I could not have had any idea where my life journey would take me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saroo Brierley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-adoptee-from-india-i-could-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adoptee" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-adoptee-from-india-i-could-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/saroo-brierley-13154_australia_when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-a_1455418.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/saroo-brierley-13154_australia_when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-a_1455418.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/saroo-brierley-13154_australia_when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-a_1455418.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I came to Australia in 1987 as an adoptee from India, I could not have had any idea where my life…” — Saroo Brierley", "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": "Saroo Brierley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saroo-brierley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I came to Australia in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-adoptee-from-india-i-could-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saroo-brierley/when-i-came-to-australia-in-1987-as-an-adoptee-from-india-i-could-not/#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 } } ] } ```