Trading Durian for Fish and Chips: My Journey from Indonesia to the UK

It was a radiant day in September 2015. I can't recall the exact date, but it was a day I had been gearing up for, for quite some time. I, a British national but Indonesian by heart, decided to embark on the bigest adventure I had yet been on.

With my worldly possessions stowed away in two suitcases and my passport in hand, I bade goodbye to my snug one-bedroom sanctuary in Indonesia and embarked on a journey towards my ancestral homeland, Britain.

A sense of anticipation filled the air as I made my way to Soekarno Hatta's Terminal 2. The prospect of no longer needing to renew my visa every few months was exhilarating, and I was eager to experience life in the country where I truly belonged.

My destination was Manchester, a gateway to the quaint town of Egremont in Whitehaven, Cumbria. The reality, however, was far from the idyllic Lake District views one might envision. The weather was far from welcoming and the chilly winds were a stark contrast to my tropical origins.

As the days transformed into weeks, I began exploring my surroundings, stumbling upon the charming village of St. Bees, the starting point of the iconic Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk. This coastal haven became my sanctuary, a place to contemplate my next steps in this new land.

The transition was not without its challenges. Questions about employment, pensions, and healthcare swirled in my mind, alongside nuances of British norms that seemed alien to me. The lack of friendly smiles and the rowdiness of the locals were startling. This was not the tea-sipping, hobbit-adventuring Britain I had imagined.

Navigating the labyrinth of British bureaucracy was daunting too. The concept of an NI number was new, and adjusting to the country's well-defined rules and signposting was a far cry from my laid-back Indonesian lifestyle.

Despite the challenges, I was determined to make Britain my home, drawing strength from the same resolute spirit that had brought me halfway across the world. I was ready to turn the page and embrace whatever adventures lay ahead, armed with the wisdom that home isn't merely a place, but a feeling that we create.