Now that he's on his way back to China (to teach English again but this time in Shenzhen bordering Hong Kong), I'm left with the impression of how much he made of his three week visit in the UK. He caught up with old school and uni friends in different parts of the country, was keen to see grandparents as well as other family members and he also took himself off to a gig in Birmingham. Sam took it all in his stride and seemed to be equally happy with simple pleasures such as relaxing at home or going food shopping to find ingredients for a (very spicy) Chinese dish which he cooked for us. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that he was focused on the moment and was open to making the most of each day, whether that was a day at home or an opportunity to visit London to see a friend and do some exploring. Enjoying the present moment and seizing new opportunities is a great attitude to have if you're 22 or even 51! Thanks for the tip, Sam!
Can I just say thank you to everyone who's left me a comment – it's lovely to hear from you too!