  | 
| ACROPOLIS FROM ABOVE | 
Living  in Greece, I noticed that Greeks are very impatient about things  I  considered not worth getting upset about, and extremely patient about   things I thought were worthy of impatience (like being on time,   government services, garbage disposal, riots). 
I am, by nature, an impatient person.  Anyone who really knows me, knows this! ;0)
  | 
| FIGHTING BACK--AT LAST! | 
One  of the greatest challenges to my impatience was living abroad.   Everything seems so different.  If you don't adapt, remain or become  flexible, cool down, and change perspectives, your impatience can ruin  wonderful experiences, create more stress, and can even be dangerous.
After "banging my head against the wall" many times, I slowly began to let  go.  I let go of trying to control situations and others.  I stopped  judging so much.  I actually became (in comparison to before, at least!)  LAID BACK.  Yes, it IS possible to change!

Do I still lose patience from time to time--yyyyeeessss!  But I've learned to be 
patient with myself for not being perfect  and get over it faster.  (If you aren't an overachieving,  perfectionist, type "A" personality...impatience is probably not an  issue for you.  You may need to learn to be less patient!  ;0)
I'm  very grateful for my experiences living in other environments and  cultures.  Learning more patience was just one reward of challenging  myself to change and grow in my travels and living as an expat.