For the first half of 1996, I had the opportunity to be attached to PCI UK Ltd in Scotland, under an exchange programme with the University of Strathclyde.  PCI is located in East Kilbride, just a little southeast of Glasgow and is involved in PCB assembly.

I arrived in Glasgow bang in the middle of the worst winter ever to hit Scotland in living memory.  It was minus 25degree Celsius in Glasgow during Christmas but when I arrived in early January, the temperature was about back to normal.  But a month later, on 7 February, Scotland experienced one of the worst snowstorms in the last 50 years.  Picture this: a train was stuck in ice, its passengers had to be evacuated by helicopter and the rest of the railway network was severely disrupted; 200 trucks were stuck on the M74, a further 1000 vehicles and 2000 people stranded on the A74 further north; schools were closed as was Glasgow Airport; the elderly were dropping dead (4 died on the 6th), power in some areas was disrupted and helicopters had to be used for medical evacuations because ambulances were stuck.  Despite this apparent disaster scene, it was work as usual at PCI and most other companies.

During the period of my attachment there I stayed in Glasgow, just a little east of the city centre, in an area called Dennistoun.  Every morning, I would struggle out of  my nice warm bed, dress and make my way to Central Station where I would take the 6.53 train to East Kilbride.

PCI is the kind of place where everybody knows everybody, probably because of its size of around 50 staff.  The people there seemed reserved initially but once I settled in, I had a great time with everyone.  My supervisor at PCI and even the big boss (the GM) were very friendly and helpful.  At this point I should also mention Dr Siew, my supervisor at Strathclyde University, who helped me in many ways again and again: helping me to settle down (like what to buy, where to get it), introducing us (there were 4 of us on the exchange programme) to the key people in the University, helping me in my project, and plans for weekend trips, and even getting phone numbers for me.  He’s also available if you’ve got nothing else better to do and just want somebody to talk to.

After work there were normally things to do like movies, concerts, performances, maybe a night out with colleagues - if I was not short of money - or sometimes going to my colleagues’ home for dinner.  Weekends were opportunities to see the rest of Scotland and I used them extensively for this purpose especially during winter, when prices are lower and the hordes of tourists have yet to arrive.  This is the time when one can experience the real essence of a place, untainted by tourism.  Also, as a lone and possibly the only traveller in town, most people, from the shopkeeper to the railway station master, didn’t seem to mind carrying on an hour-long conversation with me.  And since it’s winter, it’s always easy to start a conversation with just about anybody - just grumble about the bad weather and it will take off from there!

Throughout the half year I spent in Scotland, I had gradually grown attached to it.  True, the weather was a pain and money was always a problem but there were more than enough to compensate for these - the friendly newspaper vendor at Central Station who knew what I wanted before I even said anything and allowed me to pay some other time if I haven’t got small change, the views from the train on the way to work, the people at PCI, in fact the people in Scotland in general, nights out, weekend trips, white pristine snow covering everything, snowflakes and even the weather (which can be great sometimes).  It’s been half a year since I left Scotland and up to now, I haven’t gotten over my craving to return - not just for a holiday, but for good.

I have not written a detailed account of my time in Scotland because it will probably take ages and pages but instead I have recorded an account of my trip home which I hope you will find an interesting read.

(Editor: Aik Choon has written a detailed account of his trip home by train.  Interested readers can contact OPA for a copy.)