It was hard to believe that the dark cloud that was my exam results last year would have any silver lining. And yet here I am, 16 days away from boarding a plane from Newcastle - London - Hong Kong - Bejing, a trip which I wouldn't even have considered had my results been any different. The plan that me and my referee made this time last year (although it seems like eons ago) is that I would apply for university on deferred entry, allowing me time to improve my g...

Several people have asked me whether it has sunk in that I'm leaving for China in 3 weeks, I think it finally has. It wasn't being selected for China that did it, or finally raising all the money I needed to go. Even getting a cocktail of injections, meeting my partner, and finding out flight details didn't make me fully comprehend what I have got myself in for. Yet the other day, in a small back street in Newcastle, it finally hit me. As I bought a backpack I re...