It's day two. I woke up this morning with a sense of trepidation. We had a long journey ahead of us, with lots of live streaming, TV shows and – most of all – travelling. 

But as the day wore on, I began to learn the importance of teamwork. And this is such a great team. When one person was tired, another would lift their spirits. When one person needed advice, the others would rally round. Television is all about teamwork, and that’s the most important of all en route. 

As we did each live broadcast, from the plains of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, I began to feel more and more at ease in my new role – co-hosting with one of our best anchors Jeff Moody. We ate roast lamb, enjoyed some of the most tranquil settings, and above all – learned more about part of the north in China. 

A herdsman's wife we met told us she now owns an apartment in town. Her daughter is studying in a high school in Canada and she drives a Mercedes – things that people like me, who take pride in growing up in a city and being educated abroad, have yet to accomplish. 

That tells you about the profound change the country has undergone: Things are just happening so fast that sometimes it makes people forget it is a nation with 5,000 years of history and civilization – a neat balance between its glorious past and catching-up modernity. The wheel should always be moving forward. 

The pace of work on these tours is frenzied, as we prepare for so many shows. But there’s always time to learn, as Jeff and I traverse from place to place – cities, villages, towns, grasslands, ice rinks, and auto factories, you name it. 

An invaluable learning experience about my own country, it's one that I will never forget for the rest of my life and career.