It [being an immigrant] gave me a huge advantage. Being an immigrant is the best of both worlds. You’re programmed two different ways. You’re bringing the best from your culture—and Hispanic culture has so many great things—and mixing it with the greatest country in the world. That gives us an advantage in comparison to somebody who was born in the U.S., went to school here, and the U.S. is all they’ve seen. We’ve seen the other side.
He himself was an immigrant from Bolivia.
Growing up in Virginia, I was surrounded by two different cultures.
I had the French culture at school and I love this culture but I also had another culture at home - that of Senegal. I think this way of growing up has made me the person I am today - because I had the two cultures.
A bicultural upbringing is a rich but imperfect thing
My success is that I have these two great cultures behind me. One is Italian. I've continued to nurture that. But I also feel very American.
I am very, very proud I am also Turkish and both of my parents are from Turkey. I was born in Germany and grew up there. By playing football, I learned my different cultures, and that is an advantage if you grow up as a person. You get a different view on certain things. I am very, very thankful I was able to pick the best from many cultures.
I grew up in the States, but I go back to Brazil quite often, and a big part of me is very Brazilian, so there's a constant struggle between the two cultures within me. They're very different approaches to life.
Bilingualism lets you have your cake and eat it. The new language opens the doors to the best jobs in society; the old language allows you to keep your sense of 'who you are.' It preserves your identity. With two languages, you have the best of both worlds.
I'm like half Brazilian and half American now.
I was born in England - though both of my parents are American - and there's something about the 'Muppets' where they have this combination of English and American humor.
Being from the Middle East paired with my upbringing in the United States had pretty polarising effects on the way I perceive beauty.