ANDREW ZACCHEUS

Story

My reason for living my homeland was because I met my wife-to-be, Karen Pearce, in Singapore – we met whe she was there on holidays. I was working with Jetset Tours in Singapore as a tour cordinator. Karen was a tourist passing through Singapore.

It was love at first sight if there was one – I was smitten by her as soon as I saw her. At this stage I was a shy 20 yr old. We dated a few times before she had to leave and we promised each other that we would keep in touch. As time went on we wrote letters and called each other up to see how we are coping without one another. When she came back in 1981, I decided to pop the question. I thought this pretty blonde Aussie lady would laugh at me but she did not in fact she was delighted and we got married in Singapore on the 24th of July 1982. It was a Fantastic day. I can still remember my happiness and her walking down the aisle of our local Church. That is still the happiest day of my life apart from the birth of my two lovely children. And now we are still together still in love still in awe of her.

I was very excited about the journey to Australia the sunburnt country. As this was the first time leaving my family in Singapore it was very emotional for me. I t was a long Journey of about 8 hrs flight time. Leaving my family in Singapore was very gut-wrenching and I was sad and happy at the same time, as I was starting my new life with my new bride in a country that had a great reputation for the sun surf and drinking beer. Of course my family was at the Airport with everybody being there Father, Mother Aunties Brothers Sisters Friends – seems to me like all of Singapore was there to see us off in our new life in Australia. It was a great send-off for me. My mother even packed some food for us. Had to tell her that Qantas does feed us on the way to Australia.

My first impressions of Australia were when we landed. This Aussie bloke came in and started to spray the cabin with some disfenctant or something like that. I could not stop laughing – it was comical for me. We arrived in Brisbane in early August and boy was it freezing cold although at that time I said a few choice words. But I was immediately impressed by the sheer space of this magnificent country.

We went for a drive to the Gold Coast to drop my brother-in-law at his place of residence and the drive was so long from Brisbane that my bum hurt. In Singapore if it takes more than 1/2 hr it’s a long drive. This took close to a hour. The people I have met on my journey are fantastic – always helpful and very kind to me. Until today this is the best country in the world and we are the luckiest to be Australians.S o much so that my wife says I think and talk like a Aussie it’s her highest compliment to me. So thank you Australia for everything.

[Impressions on Arrival]

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