Serge Ibaka Quotes

When I left the U.S. for the first time, I spent my first year abroad in Japan. That culture shock and abundance of new stimuli combined with a lack of guidance forced me to develop my own approaches to learning and juggling.

To live abroad you have to grow up quickly.

After college, I wanted to learned about myself as an American, so I left the United States and went to Japan.

As an immigrant, I learned by watching other people.

People have asked me about what it's like to work in Pakistan and abroad. It's such a healthy cultural exchange.

You never know for sure whether a player will adapt to a new country until he gets there.

One of my biggest sponsors is based in China, and I probably spend as much time there as I do in the U.K. Over the years, I have really grown to love it, but the first time I went was a different story.

When I moved from Canada to Korea, I experienced a massive culture shock. I wasn't familiar with Korean culture at all and was very surprised at the hierarchical elements of Korean culture. However, at the time I was determined to succeed so I became a sponge and just soaked in everything I could.

Everything has changed since I came to China.

Going to the U.A.E. for the first time was a real cultural shock. Everything was different. People didn't speak my language, it was all new, a huge change. But I loved it.

Those who visit foreign nations, but associate only with their own country-men, change their climate, but not their customs. They see new meridians, but the same men; and with heads as empty as their pockets, return home with traveled bodies, but untravelled minds.

My life changed incredibly when I moved from Holland to England.

Going to another country you're not in your house, you're with people you've never met before, and I think it's definitely a good growing experience.

Americans are people who prefer the Continent to their own country, but refuse to learn its languages.

I went to England for five months when I was in high school, by myself, so I did experience a bit of being the fish out of water.

It's always overwhelming when you come to another country and you're embraced in such a positive way.

We moved to Australia for two years though and that was a little bit tough trying to fit in.

I went to a foreign country as a Japanese actor, not a Hollywood actor. This takes courage.

I'm very comfortable in the U.S. and Europe, but I feel completely out of place in the rest of the world, mostly because I never spent time outside the U.S. and Europe until I was in my 30s.

It's hard when you are trying to ingratiate yourself in a completely foreign world. It takes a long time.

My first experience out of my country was Ecuador. That was a very good option for me. To know how you can develop your coaching style or your personality being away and being alone, that is not easy.

I never thought I'd play basketball in China.

It was a big step for me to take, going away from my family to go and play in a different culture, and I understand why people don't do it.

Moving out and living on my own was a big thing, but to be in a different country with different coaches and a different mentality changed me as a person, as a player, the way I think about things and the way I see people.

Whenever I'm around Spanish people, I'm kind of like a fly on the wall.