Zen and the art of being an expat

Patience and tolerance are not my best character strengths, so I have to thank my Chinese friends for helping me get a better handle on these very worthy virtues.

On a recent bus ride, I was sitting next to a young fellow who felt the need to play his favorite mando pop tunes at full blast.

It was only a one-hour bus journey to the Great Wall, but after he pumped up the volume of his mobile phone music player, this ride was going to last an eternity.