I may not be among the first rank of travel bores, but over the last few years I've enjoyed my fair share of sweaty exploits in far off lands. I've hitched, trekked and white-water rafted my way across a respectable proportion of the globe, purchased numerous items of strikingly similar ethnic clothing and snacked on many an improbable local delicacy.

I've accumulated some tall tales and even the odd tropical disease. But, let's face it; travelling is no longer a badge of hippyish non-conformism. It now hovers somewhere between a compulsory part of the national curriculum and a fully fledged religion. And, somewhere in that process, "going traveling" became a little less surprising and adventurous. I, for one, have started to feel that perhaps my life isn't going to be changed all that much by my next nice long holiday, and that my tales are becoming just a tad predictable.

So, maybe it's time for something a bit different. Time to get to know my destinations a little better. My next mission has to involve living somewhere far flung, not just passing through. To be frank, I'll gladly sacrifice the interminable bus rides accompanied by an entire village's chicken population. But, don't worry, I won't just be installing myself in the bar of the Bangkok Hilton with £2,500 of the Guardian's money.

Here's my idea. Four months, four booming world cities, and a different task in each. Places where there are sure to be opportunities for an enterprising Netjetter, and ones I've never visited before.

First off, a month in Warsaw; new EU member and Baltic Tiger in the making. My task: to get work as an English teacher. Plenty of vodka and herring should keep the November cold at bay.

Next stop, Beirut. A Phoenix city, reverberating again to the sound of dance music and revving Ferraris. My task: learning some Arabic, sampling the nightlife (and keeping out of trouble). Apparently the Bekaa Valley offers surprisingly good skiing, too.

After that, a month in Mumbai. The contrast between rich and poor is the stereotype of India's brashest city. I aim to see both sides by volunteering for a charity and brushing up my student acting skills to be an extra in a Bollywood movie. And I promise not to write any articles about street corner shaves or people sitting on the roofs of trains.

Last of all, Shanghai. Gateway to a transforming China. Home to rampant commercialism, where respectable business jockeys with all kinds of fakery. Fortunes are there to be made, and I'm going to do my best to muscle in on the action and do some business. Who knows, maybe I'll be selling tea to China before the month is out.

So this winter, I'll be your embedded reporter on the frontline of a rapidly changing world. So settle into your favourite armchair, pour yourself a tumbler-full of single malt and enjoy the chaos that is sure to ensue.