Army: The Closure of Another Chapter

And thus, I end my life in the army, with really, really memorable times and experiences...
*tears*

So many things to say, so little space to write...
haha...

I dreamed of becoming an officer, of being respected and getting acknowledged for the effort I put in... but that never happened.
Instead, I was given the craziest, happiest, most stressful life ever...

Nothing, nothing I would ever trade for...

I was given a place to change, a place to call my own... Running CSTH was no mean feat, given the condition it was handed over... But bit by bit, every effort made the mark, and people's hearts changed...

I'm so, so going to miss the times I spent over there.. Even in the last few weeks, I could not bring myself to leave the office for my half-day leaves... (which I incidentally took so I could 1) use the gym, 2) finish the documents for my under study)

There will always be the people in my heart who will remain, the five generations of AVA:

1st Gen (The Legends)
- Ryan
- Suzuki
- Ben Lim
- Elden
- Yao Qing
- Hock Lai
- Andy Koh

2nd Gen
- Leighton
- Raymond
- Zhong Da
- Me!

3rd Gen
- Pritampal
- Andy Tan
- Javier (Exam IC)
- Eric (currently in EP)
- Bryner
- Kesavan

4th Gen
- Joshua
- Teck Sing
- Jia Tong
- Kavin
- Ben

5th Gen
- Peter
- Ian Russell
- Wan Tong

Haha... I doubt most of them would read my blog, but I still would like to thank each and everyone of them for giving me back my life in the army.

No. Unlike what most people who are released from the SAF think,
I do not think that I wasted my time in the army.

I made friends with the most craziest, unimaginably, boisterous, rowdy, street-smart, bunch of people ever.
They opened my eyes to what another side of life is like.

Friends?

Haha... I don't think so. They're pretty much almost like brudders to me already. =)



Finally, I shall summarize my entire army life into a complete time line:

15/09/07
Enlisted for BMT, Hawk Coy, Section 2, Platoon 4
Thank You!
- Eugene Chieng (My bed buddy)
- Ronald (Super funny and encouraging guy)
- Nicholas Lim (The optimist)
- Bernard (The hardworking giant)
- Kelvin (Sunshine boy!)
- Chris (Super talketive, little guy)

14/12/07
PoP-ed, Tekong Medical Centre created a huge uproar over my glycosuria. Was down pes-ed to pes D (temporary).
Command school was denied.

20/12/07
Was told to report at SAFAC training school. Didn't even know what was SAFAC. Little did I know, it was going to be one of the most eye-opening times of my life.

01/12/08
My life at SAFAC training school begins. Super memorable times, with much joy, laughter, teasing and friendship.
Thank You!
- Daryl Lee
- Daryl Yeo
- KC
- Wilfred
- Julian
- Xavier
- Favian

01/04/08

On job training at a highly classified base begins... My eyes are opened to really crazy stuff. It's really an unbelievable world out there. Met many people, some people who just didn't like me for who I was. Nonetheless, I did my best, learnt as much as I could.... for a short while.

28/04/08

MMI delivered a report saying that I was combat unfit. I couldn't believe my eyes when I was subsequently to be posted out to a signal unit. Everybody said Stagmont Camp = Slack-mont Camp. I couldn't imagine how much better life could be, being in a military institute.

01/05/08

I thought I died and went to heaven.

... haha.. seriously. Life was good enough to make me think that maybe there are some softer sides to the army after all.

I had independent will to chart, organize and manage my own rooms, my own computers, my own books. I truly put in my heart and soul to something I thought I could finally call my own achievement if I put in my best.

Stagmont camp was to hold some of the best memories of my army experience ever.

01/08/08

Reversal of roles. Suddenly, the old made way for the new, and more then three-quarters of my seniors ORDed. I was caught really unprepared. I had to take on the role of the IC for my institute as the first IC decided to give up his place for a smoother path.

Life became quite hellish for a few months.

But complain as I might, I never ever lost my gratitude to God for giving me such a great place to work in.

14/08/09

ORD.

I damm hell left a lot of precious memories behind in the Army. And no. I left army with a full experience that no where, work, study or play could ever give me.

The good times, where I could doze off in an air conditioned room, without the fear of work incomplete. Where I could laugh my balls off at the lame jokes that some dicks put on the army intranet...

.. where when I almost fell down with my full field pack because I was so tired, if not for my buddy who pulled me up..

.. where my bunk mates all ran to carry my legs just to "cheat" that one more pull up so that I could win another platoon mate in the number of pull ups ..

.. where we sat and crapped and complained about the horrid sealed rations that we were provided, especially Chicken Dumplings and Ponteh Rice.

The bad times, where I was slammed with so much work I had to stay overnight 2 days in a row just to man and operate the system when everybody was on holiday. Where the office was silent and empty, everybody gone to do their orders.

... where I felt that I could not go on, and prayed till I cried in my bashar tent...

... where some of my colleagues found out my darkest secret and decided to announce it to the whole world...

... where I saw OCS fall just out of my grasp, when it was one of my biggest dreams.

haha... I can't believe I'm crying writing this.

The Army, as much as I would not like to say it, played a bigger role in changing me then many other places.

I love my army life.

And thus begins my life at Mediacorp. This time, it won't be just 2 years I reckon. The trials through fire in Army will seem like a breeze compared to this if rumors serve me well.

I may not be able to blog so much because of work anymore. But hopefully, the memory of this blog will keep me coming back to record my new phase...

With this, I close another chapter in my life.

Claire Kuo - 不藥而癒

I waited for you till the winter
Till the snow clouded my eyes
I tried to turn back, to look for our love
to look for how we first met

Instead, you put on your coat
While my heart froze further
If I gave up on this love first
Will my heartache ever heal?

Looking at the sadness that could never be healed
I believed in that your strength could take us through
I thought, we agreed it would be like a holiday
But why do I feel so lonely and cold inside?

Looking at the sadness heal so slowly
I am determined to comfort myself;
I would rather believe you changed your mind suddenly
And went to another beautiful town
Waiting for me to find you again

Did you remember I said my field camp was tough?
Haha. This is pure evidence.

Picture taken on the day after Hawk Coy, Sept-Dec 07' Field Camp

Fate decides who walks into your life;
Yet you are the one decide who stays,
who you allow to walk away and
who you refuse to let leave you.
- 3SG Wei Xing

After midnight, took two young men from East coast to Bt Merah. They had apparently just finished their late supper, as they carried a thick smell of food into the car. They both looked to be in their early twenties. One was slightly older than the other.

The older boy was playing a PSP using his both hands while talked absently with the younger one, mostly about his games. He seemed to know a great deal about electronic games and, while kept playing the gadget in his hands, went through what he liked and disliked among a variety of games. Game design, graphics, level of difficulty, all flowed out of him so effortlessly like a stream running down a hill. I couldn’t help being amazed at how much time some kids spend on these things nowadays.

The younger boy, on the other hand, appeared to be less tech-savvy. Most of the time, he just listened. When he did speak, he spoke softly and carefully. Somewhere between the monologues of the game boy, he asked, “how come you know so much about these things?”

“Because I am interested in them,” the game boy said, with eyes still glued to the bright-screened machine.

“Are you interested in me?” the younger boy asked, gingerly.

“No,” the other answered immediately. “I am not interested in you.”

After a short moment of quietness, the game boy resumed his natural rate of flow of words. “You should try this game. It is really good. It takes the graphics to a whole new level…..”

The other boy continued to be an attentive listener and occasionally asked short questions in his usual soft voice.

As if nothing had happened.

At the destination, they said goodnight to each other and parted company.

For a moment, I felt a hint of sadness for the younger boy. I couldn’t place a reason, though.

http://taxidiary.blogspot.com/

Even an outsider understands.

My Home

What makes me Singaporean:

1) I grew up in Singapore

2) I studied in a neighbourhood primary school and a neighbourhood secondary school

3) I have watched NDP in one way or another, every single year of my life

4) I get an electric thrill down my spine when I hear some national day songs

5) I have better grades in English then Chinese

6) I am a member of a Resident's Commitee

7) I speak English primarily, but listen to more Chinese songs

8) I loved to watch Holland Village (Channel 8 Drama Serial)

9) I served (almost finish!) in National Service to my best ability, albeit reluctantly.

10) I absolutely love eating

a. Durians

b. Char Kway Teow

c. Mee Goreng

d. Roti Prata

e. Hainenese Chicken Rice

f. Bread Talk Chilli Floss Buns

g. Chilli Crab and Black Pepper Crab

11) I have a mum who can speak 11 different regional dialects fluently

12) I attend a Church situated next to an old streetside Chinese Temple

13) I've taken MRT or SBS/SMRT buses all my life

14) I go to Sentosa's Siloso beach as my routine beach-love affair

15) I get most of my groceries from NTUC

haha... okok.. I think I've got plenty I can imagine.

Let see...

What am I not Singaporean about?

... I am proud to be a Singaporean

Seriously, there are not many people I know who actually would reply with a postive yes if I ask them if they are proud to be a Singaporean.

I am really proud to be a Singaporean. This country gave me education, health, a stable home, without fear of war, terrorism, disease or natural disasters.

how many countries can claim that?

I love my country... =)

I love the stablity she provides, the promise of security, both economically, psychologically, military and even spirtually.

The gentle promise that if you work hard, you will get the chance to see your dreams.

Do you love Singapore?

I do.

Who says that the word "proud" cannot be used to describe affiliaty with country?

It is not true that we did not choose to be Singaporeans.

For all the things that you do, are you not one?

I am a Singaporean, and despite the flaws and cracks that my country has, I still love her.

That is another facet of my love.

Eviscerating Despondency

I decided to erase my previous entry...
haha... =)

I think it's not worth putting painful memories on my blog. Life should always be a happy experience. - Not always happy, per se; but rather, release the painful memories into an all encompassing ocean of self committed freedom.

Why be bounded by invisible chains that you create yourself?

*grins*

Poofy shit. My parents have been away since last friday, and are probably coming back tmr night. Darn. My last night being able to sleep on the uber large guest bed without them roaring me awake in the wee hours of the morning.

One of my ccolleagues ORD-ed today. His happiness was kinda infectious. =)
I couldn't even help but be happy even though so many frigging horrid things happen the day when I wasn't around.
Even the nasty DXO was laughing when he was reading about another of my colleague who just got sent to DB earlier that morning.
(author's bite: Not that he isn't nasty still. His smile, normally a terrible crocodile's leer was weirdly different)

Felt really light.

Like a super heavy burden was lifted off my back.
.. the wonders of a smile eh?

"Laugh, like you truly mean it. Let your eyes sparkle, your heart leap, your fingers dance, your feet spright and your mind let go... More then just being free, you dissolve gloominess around... everywhere."

Somebody commented that I had a great physique.
- Lol. Maybe that made my day.
I think I was grinning myself silly. It has taken me quite some time to get to where I am. And I don't even think I'm halfway there yet. - but.... almost, almost reaching the next rung.

Thanks!

I feel very light. Did I mention I feel very light?

The one month is up.
At least I say it is.

I BREAK THIS YEAR'S CURSE.

hahahahahaha.... xD
riddikulus! ~ RAWR!!

I've finished the TAG magazine, better then ever, faster then ever and the team is responding with insane efficiency!

I've been awarded a FOUR SEMESTER advanced standing in Queensland University of Technology, which means I only have to do one year of Bachelor Studies to get my Degree!

I'm almost finished with my Professional in HR Examination, despite it being so tough in the beginning!

I'm broke, but I've got a person who doesn't care if I don't take him to air cond places to eat! And likes my cooking!

I'm going to get one more new student to teach synthesizer to! Which means alot to me.

I'm handing over my entire work to my understudy!

I got a really neat watch from Xiao Wei mei mei which is far lighter then my previous watch! (incidentally, it is Timex'"Ironman" - *cough* which probably means I'm expected to live up to that watch's reputation... haha! I'll do it!)

I've got a new colleague whom I can talk to! - about EVERYTHING. =)


Lets see.... haha.. and this is just this month alone.



Well.. I'm leaving my past behind. And I will not return to it. - ever again.
But I'm going to create a blazing future.

One with nothing to regret.
One with nothing to look back, and wish it were different.

I'm there already.

I'm going to get there.





It's in the face of abject misery when one finds a flicker of light, a quest for hope that will never fail...
Goodbye, terrible, terrible year. =)