“Such is the nature of an expatriate life. Stripped of romance, perhaps that's what being an expat is all about: a sense of not wholly belonging. [...] The insider-outsider dichotomy gives life a degree of tension. Not of a needling, negative variety but rather a keep-on-your-toes sort of tension that can plunge or peak with sudden rushes of love or anger. Learning to recognise and interpret cultural behaviour is a vital step forward for expats anywhere, but it doesn't mean that you grow to appreciate all the differences.”

“Whether it's anger, panic, doubt, tension, nervousness or pressure…you can't let your emotions throw you!That's the thing you've really gotta learn…to look only at the stones. You can do this through selfobservation and training.It doesn't matter what your general nature is like, you can acquire the skill to overcome distraction.”

“It's the pointless things that give your life meaning. Friendship, compassion, art, love. All of them pointless. But they're what keeps life from being meaningless.”

“Expats of any country are quick to lose their sense of humour, beaten down by a lifetime of defending the land they no longer live in.”

“No beauty product is going to give you ensurety about charm on your face. Its natural so natural ways can only help. Less tension , more laugh, more water.”

“Many find in sex and economics the meaning of life and the reason of it all. The consequence of this is that the goal of life for many has become a relief of tension.”