My first response was 'no way'. It was too good to be true. Being paid for having fun in Australia! I didn't believe it and thought it was not a real job offer, just kind of a PR promotion. And by coincidence, the job website crashed after two days because it was overcrowded with people trying to sign in. I couldn't log on to the website, so I thought the job offer was made up. But even if it was not real, I still wanted to give it a try.

So I logged on to another website, of the Australian tourism bureau, and found a telephone number for its Shanghai office. I called and a man answered. I asked him: 'Do you know if there is a job offer on the Great Barrier Reef?' He said: 'Of course, everyone knows that.' At that moment, I started to realise it was the best thing that ever dropped into my life. Then I began to make my application video.

There were some typical Chinese elements in your video. Why did you do that?

I am very satisfied with my video. Typical Chinese! The place I shot it was Beihai, because it's a symbolic place in Beijing - old houses, small stone bridges and hutong. Do you notice the red 'Tang suit' I wore in my video? It was my wedding dress! It was the second time I put it on, after my wedding day last year.

I also borrowed a drum-shaped rattle and a small red lantern as my props from a shop that was selling some special items for the Lunar New Year. I designed the opening of my video. I walked out of an old hutong, shaking the drum-shaped rattle, to introduce myself. Even though that day was bloody cold, I still felt good. I thought I was fabulous, just like a star!

From the 50 short-listed candidates, the first 11 in an internet poll will go to Australia for an interview. Have you considered how to start a campaign for voting on the internet?

Many of my friends promised to do it for me. I googled myself yesterday, and found lots of media coverage about me. There was a post at Mop.com. A netizen asked in his post whether anyone knew how to vote for me on the internet. I appreciated it. However, I would not do it intentionally, although everyone knows China has the most netizens in the world, and that maybe I can take advantage of that. I watched some of the videos on YouTube. They were really boring.

Which elements of the job attracted you the most?

First is the money! Six months, A$150,000 equals almost 700,000 yuan! It is a huge amount of money. Every one is looking for a job in the financial crisis. This kind of pay can be earned only by some senior managers in big international firms. Secondly, beautiful sunshine and the beach in Australia. I love the sea and enjoy travelling ... exploring the unknown outside world, and every time I choose where to start my journey, I go only to places near the sea.

What result do you expect?

I dare not dream of winning, but if I am one of the 11 who go to Queensland for an interview, I will be satisfied. Then I will tell everybody I know that I am going to Australia. If I am on the shortlist of 11, I will do more to exercise and build my body, practise my English and buy a new camera.

It would be the most fun thing since I stepped into the world. I will also persuade my husband to go with me. You know, I didn't have a honeymoon because my husband was too busy. I will persuade him to go with me. Because sometimes it doesn't matter what you do, but with whom.

Wang Yan talked to Yu Aitong