Brition Christopher Jones, 38, has always believed in the motto "experience is life, and life is experiencing," and acted on impulse coupled with rational thought, self-belief and drive.

Restless and feeling the need to seek out new places of interest makes it difficult for him to stay in one place for too long.

"When a tree grows roots, it will be harder for it to uproot and move on," said Jones. "I don't want to 'grow roots' at this stage of my life."

Jones enjoys traveling around, and the fundamental reason for his move to China was to pursue his dream of traveling around Asia.

He has been living in Shenzhen for nearly two years. At present, he is teaching business English to company employees and social English to hotel employees.

During his first year in Shenzhen, Jones taught samba, meringue, rumba dances at a club in Shekou.

"I don't believe anyone should follow any predetermined roads in life," Jones said. "In a nutshell I apply my positive attitude and follow my heart."

When he was 19 years old, Jones joined the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, working as a flight engineer for five years. During that time, he traveled to many different places in Africa, South America, the United States, Australia and Europe.

With a bachelor's degree in computer sciences and English studies, he used to work as an IT analyst in the City of London. During weekends and in the evenings, he taught salsa, samba and rumba for some years.

Jones has purchased an apartment in Shenzhen. With the help of his wife, a Shandong native, he became one of the few expats in Shenzhen to possess a Chinese driving license. He bought a red sports car soon after he got his license and has since driven to Hainan and Shandong provinces.

(Shenzhen Daily January 10, 2008)