Quotes About Belonging

I was never the mascot of the Georgia football team.

I am proud that generations of Jewish Americans have chosen to make this state their home; Georgia has been better for it.

I am almost German now.

I don't think I have enough German blood in me to get into the royal family.

I am happy to be a German. I'm proud, or I wouldn't be here in the team.

When I started in government, I said that children who come here should take German classes before they start regular classes so they can follow what the teachers say. I said it should be possible to be a believing Muslim and a proud Austrian at the same time.

My son Saif was born here, he may even one day play for Germany.

I was born in Germany, grew up in Germany, and when I was becoming a professional footballer, I felt like a German.

I had the luck with Germany. If they hadn't allowed us to come in I don't know where we would've gone or where we could go. I never ask about that. My mum said: 'Germany is our second home' and it's true. Germany gave us their open hands.

Living in Germany Africanised me.

I feel German, that's for sure. I grew up in Germany, I went to school in Germany and most of my friends are there. I play for Germany.

Germany is, of course, my country.

I made the decision to play for Germany because this country gave me something and helped me during my youth.

It really should not matter which colour of skin a person has. I know where my roots are, and I know that I've been born and raised in Germany. I see myself as a German, and I like to show that.

Of course, our roots are in Germany, it always will be the feeling of home.

As people get older, we all know, you get married and you have a child and that becomes your family, but when you're 16 years old, especially, your family is your friends.

Because I am away so much, I try to establish home in people, rather than places. For example, wherever I get together with my brother the place we're in becomes home.

I grew up in the U.K. and now reside in the United States, and my family is from Ghana.

I do feel my African side, but I've always wanted to play for Germany. Ghana did contact me, but I told them and my dad that I was sure I wanted to play for Germany.

You're either ghetto or you're not.

If I grew up, you know, in the ghetto, like, and I wasn't taught any other way to talk or a way to act or other food to eat or just like anything like that, like, when I'm I supposed to do? You know, like, is there a class I'm supposed to take to learn how to be white, you know?

It wasn't the ghetto here or anything like that. But it got rough. I'll put it this way. I always knew where I lived. I always knew I was in Seaside. That wasn't plush. I wasn't in Monterey. I wasn't in Carmel. I was in Seaside. I knew what that meant.

His claim to his home is deep, but there are too many ghosts. He must absorb without being absorbed.

When people come to my gigs, they feel accepted as they are and they feel part of this family.