It was so great that I could leave my work and not have to even think about it during this holiday time. Moreover I very successfully switched my mood from my work mode to holiday mood.
Heyley went back to China one week before me, and I must say this made me a little envious as I took her to the airport. How I wish that I could have gone with her, but I couldn't get my holiday time approved.
That week when Heyley was in China, I was in Sydney alone. Even though I needed to cook for myself, I really didn't feel lonely; I read my Bible and its stories and felt that God was with me. I missed Heyley so much.
Every morning I got up early so that I could enjoy the fresh air and feel God before I needed to get into that fast-paced working environment mould. Then each night, I would sleep having read selected Bible readings. My life in Sydney in that week proved to be quiet and peaceful.
To the Airport
My departure from Sydney for China was on the Friday after work, with a 8:45pm departure time. I still finished work at 4:00 pm that day, as Sydney traffic during rush hour on a Friday is horrible.
I decided not to leave it too late for the airport and the last thing I needed was to miss my flight. It had been two years since I'd been back to China. I told my work mates that I was excited about going back home for a holiday, and I just couldn't wait to head for the airport.
But nothing went as planned, after arriving home from work and finishing packing at the last minute I was ready to leave for the airport, and it was 5:15pm. I parked my car in Rockdale and one of my friends took me to airport.
When I reached Sydney Airport, it was nearly 7 o'clock. The traffic was horrific because it was raining but at least I was at the airport and my flight was due to depart in less than two hours.
It was not so hard to imagine how excited I was, I didn't even care about the bad weather or horrible traffic on the road. I was on my way to be with Heyley and home to China.
The experience
When I checked in at the counter, the airline staff told me that I was the last passenger for this flight. After I had finished checking-in, the staff started to close the counter, and I thought how lucky I was.
The flight departed on time, and after 11 hours travel I was back safely to Chongqing. Heyley collected me at the airport and headed for her parents' place. It was almost 6:00am the next day.
The food on the flight wasn't to my palate so I was getting pretty hungry and a little exhausted by the time I arrived.
In China however the service industry is getting much better than it was before. Some restaurants started serving breakfast early; and it was just 6:00am at this restaurant that I ordered my favourite noodles.
They were good! I was very satisfied that my taste buds rejoiced being back home. I'd been thinking about that taste for two years, and I finally was able to sit down and 'enjoy'!
My holiday had just started. Over these next few months in my articles I want to share about what I experienced during this time in China. I was so grateful that God had given me a safe trip back to China.
That made me feel very sad for those passengers on MH370 (my previous article), as that flight is still missing. Until we know what happened I have been praying.
Heartbreak
Many do not realise why the Chinese families who have lost their loved ones have been so distraught. This current generation of young people are the product of the one child per family law in China and by losing your only child you have lost everything – the degree, the good job, the marriage, the grand children, the future ….
My prayer is for these parents who may find what is irrecoverable in a different place, my prayer is that the Spirit of Christ become their solace.
Oscar Duan is from China, he has an accountancy degree from University of Hertfordshire (UH) International campus in Malaysia, and has undertaken further accountancy studies in Australia for accreditation here. He is married to Heyley.
Oscar Duan's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/oscar-duan.html