I think most people would probably recognise a mid life crisis in someone else. When its you who is under the influence of the mid life crisis and noting that you (or me, in this case) are still only 25 and (hopefully) not in the middle of your life, then it’s a bit harder to notice. As bizarre as it may sound, I honestly think my very own, personal mid twenties crisis is what caused the re-think in my life.

There is an old saying –"Bored of London, bored of life". Whilst I personally think that is what a true cockney might call a load of ‘pony’, I can understand the basic implication. There I was, living in a nice enough house, in a nice enough area of London, with a nice enough job and having a nice enough time. Unfortunately I was also pretty damned bored. Grand thoughts of hitch hiking my way around the world, or setting up my own wounded zebra refuge on the Serengeti were entertained. Unfortunately they were only entertained by me - not my bank manager.

So there I was one sunny afternoon, minding my own business at work, when up popped an e-mail from an old friend and, at the time, current house mate letting me know about the British Councils ‘Teach in China’ scheme. "Well that sounds different and probably fun," thought I and returned the application without a second thought. And that was that. There was absolutely no way that anyone in their right mind would want me to be a teacher. I am quite proud of myself as a young whipper snapper being the bane of many a teachers life, so me being a teacher? Ha! It could never happen…but it did!