I was born in New Zealand. I started teaching over 20 years ago, but the career always feels a little unfamiliar because society is always changing, and each new generation is always a little different from the last. Most of my career has been spent in China, and most of that has been in Wuhan.

I met my wife in Wuhan, but she is from the USA. Our baby was born in Wuhan, so she is our 小碗热干面. I hope that her personality will not be too spicy. Now she is too sweet.

Wuhan is a strange city for me to choose, because I don't like spicy food and I don't like hot weather. I love cold weather, so for at least a few months a year I am comfortable.

In my career I have taught all ages, from three year olds to retired people. I have taught business people, doctors, orphans, students from kindergarten to PhD level, and at one point I taught English to a diplomat. It has been fun, and I have learned a lot.

The best thing about teaching university students is that they are in the earliest stage of adulthood. Students are discovering the world, and in the process of discovering it, they are changing it.

My best professional moments are when I get the opportunity to use my experience to guide a student in a situation that other adults around them may not be familiar with. Guidance has its limitations though; the world that is emerging is not one that I have inhabited. The privilege of being at a university is that you get to see the future unfolding. That's a pretty good position to be in.