The ongoing discussion topic #FirstDayinAustralia has attracted hundreds of commentaries and over 687k views on the Chinese language social media platform Weibo, with many students and new migrants from China recalling their first day experience and the complex emotions they felt - mixed mixed by joy, frustration, excitement and uncertainty.
First impression of Australia: "So clean"
"When I arrived in Brisbane airport, it was winter in China with heavy smog," user @cler-1024 posted.
"But here the sky was so blue and the air was so fresh. To prove the air was really clear, I even went to check the car tyres, which were so clean.
"I had no fear on my first day in Australia, but full of excitement and curiosity." 
Another user, @kakahan was also impressed by Australia's blue sky, trees and flowers, and fresh air with no smog.
Source: WEIBO
Source: weibo
Unfortunate in a lucky country
"Can you believe that I got chicken pox upon my arrival!" wrote @daidai noodle.
"I had to stay indoors for a whole week and was too scared to tell my parents in China. It left two scars on my face. But my homestay family back then took a great care of me."
Another user @COrange_max said "I forgot my bag at customs after arrival and only realized after I got home."
"I was overwhelmingly stunned as my visa and everything valuable were in that bag.
"I went back to the airport around 1am and seeing my bag was right on their table, I was so surprised that it was not lost, not even being touched.
"From that moment, I felt it was an amazing city, except I am still not used to the food."
Upon arrival: lost but hopeful
"I arrived in late Feb in 1992," @YaohanXu from Perth posted. "My fellow college friend picked me up from the airport and turned his couch into my temporary bed."
"Strolling to the Swan River bank in the twilight, I felt the future was unknown, with only 200 dollars left in my pocket after paying tuition fees.
"Sitting on the river bank, I took a deep breath and the air was so fresh. Looking at the blue sky above, my heart was filled with hope."
"I arrived after 10pm with weeping red eyes," user @ItsYiyi posted. "An Asian guy who saw me at the airport tried to chat me up on the way to my homestay, asking me where I came from and what the temperature was in Beijing."
"A total strange city to me back then, yet I am so familiar with it now. I was 19 years old."
"After crying all the way, I arrived in Brisbane in that October, with many other new students who all seemed at a loss," user @eva1614 posted. "I texted my parents about my arrival, and was frustrated with the two packs of beef jerky seized by the custom."
"Since then, I experienced sleepless nights on essays, lonely journey at the bus stop, a love as short as Jacaranda blossom.
"Now it's time to graduate as my eyes are getting wet again." 
Source: weibo
Bitter and sweet beginning of Australian life
Weibo user @someone_unlike_you said "Arrived in the morning and got stuck in the traffic from Sydney airport to Burwood for two hours."
"I couldn't find the address with a map on my hand and couldn't call through the only number I had.
"I carried two luggage and cried on the road side, until being embraced by a college friend, who now is my husband."
"To realise a promise with my girlfriend in a long-distance relationship of four years, I came to join her with a sense of mission and excitement, instead of worries and anxiety," a user named @commentator of kangaroo kingdom posted.
"I wanted to surprise her, so I sort of arrived and accomplished my journey mysteriously."
"The day I arrived in Brisbane in 2004 was humid and hot. But all the anxiety disappeared instantly as soon as I saw my then-boyfriend now husband. "
Foodies' first day memories
"I had my first meal in Australia at a Coffee Club in a shopping centre," said @VanessaWei from Brisbane. "Back then I couldn't even drink cappuccino because of my intoxication over caffeine."
"And two years on, now I only drink black coffee.
"I was 47kilos upon my arrival, and now I don't even want to tell you my weight."
"29th September 2011...We had Maccas for a casual lunch, which tasted almost the same as in China, except the potato here tasted much better," user @Hero_INSEARCH posted. "For dinner, I had Australian beef steak and ribs for the first time.
"I couldn't help to stop burping after dinner!"
"I remembered my first meal was at a Subway nearby," said user @Roger Lamb. "Then I went shopping with new flatmates on that late shopping night."
"An ordinary and normal first day, but I was full of energy and aspirations for the future, like turning a new page of life that everything was so hopeful."
"My first stop after being picked up by family friends was Sydney Chinatown," said user @I want to fly. "The Shanghai cuisine here tastes more authentic and is better value its price than I had in my city!"
"Australian cherries, beef, salmon and fresh milk in the supermarket caught my eyes and they were much cheaper than China."
