I arrived in Sydney on the 31st July. It was bitter cold and miserable with mercury barely hitting 16 degrees. I landed in Kingsford Smith Airport at early hour of morning, just after the sunrise. Even before walking along the airbridge, i can easily feel the sense of unease and discomfort. It was more than just the weather. I think it was the difficulty in comprehending the challenges before me such as university, re-integration to Australian culture and stacks of activities that must be organised.

It was 30 degrees in Amsterdam on that day. No doubt i would have preferred to be in Amsterdam for at least another 6 months to ride off the cold weather.

The sense of nostalgia was intense. Almost having withdrawal problems as reality has sunk in that i have just left Europe.

Thirty minutes after arrival, i paced to the baggage collection mall. It was very slow arrive… Then the quarentine inspection. The whole airport felt like it hasn’t had a renovation since the 80s…the era in which i was born. After going through the gate and into the public mall, the weather reallty did start to bite. Bitter cold wind just rushing through the concourse.

Hard to prepare for this weather when Singapore was 33 degrees and high humidity.