ORD LO! - and the journey to get here

Adapted from my Facebook post:

Everyone seems to write an ORD entry to mark their journey through that institution called NS... I'. The memory is still crystal clear. 28 April 2010. The day my 1 year and 10 month journey through that rite called NS. It was with much anxiety and trepidation that I boarded the ferry to that island known as Pulau Tekong, where I would spend the first 9 weeks of NS in something called BMT.

Somehow it wasn't that bad with the big W for whiskey (and welfare) helping and before I knew it 9 weeks had passed without me even knowing who everyone was in my platoon. My sect comd was nice (I still rmb you! B S Tan), even though he and I hardly talked lol. And my PS was much nicer than any subsequent PS I have had :P POP felt like the top of the world, but little did I suspect that it was just the beginning of much sai kang. Getting my posting was probably the worst thing of 2010. I had little inkling wad RFN(T) meant, but I knew at least, that 1 SIR was an infantry battalion. And who makes up the bulk of infantry? Thats right!!! RIFLEMAN FTW /facepalm

First day at Mandai Hill Camp. Waking up at 6am to catch the taxi....Can anywhere be more ulu?! Served by only one bus, and made famous by Dave Teo, this was where I was going to spend the remainder of my NS life. Dragging my duffel bag into the MPH, I was placed in 'Alpha company'. Somehow the only consolation was that Song Yu from my sec sch days was in the same battalion, but different coy. The CO and OC appeared to be oddballs, totally at odds with my BMT experience. I have never met an OC who likes to go 可以吗？as his catchphrase and was so damn uh weird -.-  Advanced infantry training seriously sucked. It was like BMT all over again with some new tricks such as matador and river crossing... etc

I remember crying much for the first few months at Mandie Hell. I really thought unit life would be slacker. But anyway, when life gives u lemons, you make life take the lemons back! Long story short, I started my quest to downpes, but they all failed miserably. Then somehow a stroke of another's misfortune helped me to downpes and so started my vocation as a clerk/storeman. Still, I went through half a year of AIT, YOG, Brunei, Ex Maju Bersama. The second year seemed to be getting easier. Then tragedy struck my family. Anyway, I managed to somehow get over it and pulled through the remainder towards ORD.

Now  that the journey is over, I wonder what lies in store now. NS was predictable and regimental. The sudden freedom is quite new and interesting. Uni - here I come!

It's been a year into 2012 and while I think the world will not end this year, mine nearly did. Well it's a long story what happened, but more on that later. I would have liked to believe that generally, I am someone who means what I say and say what I mean. Even if sometimes it may be hard to do so. The keyword however, is 'generally'.

2011 has been a mixed year. It gave me pain, sorrow, depression but also fun, excitement, joy. It gave me new memories, experiences and friends. Especially close ones. Well, the incident in question was a result of mixed expectations, poor judgment and bad communication that had painful consequences. While I'm glad its over, I have learnt alot about trust, honesty and truthfulness.

Looking ahead, I don't care what others say about 2012 being a doomsday year. Life has just started again for me and I intend to make the best out of my uni years and pursue my interests. Carpe diem!!

It seems that every new year I feel compelled to write a New Year's entry, to reflect on the past year and to set the tone for year ahead. Last year was a really trying period for me and my family. I'm sure I don't have to go into the painful details. But it was also a time that I grew and learnt from all the lessons that life was trying to teach. It wasnt all that bad either. I was involved in NDP 2011, gt revocated and managed to gain a very good friend.

Its hard to believe that so much can happen in 365 days and that it really seems like yesterday that I was dreading going to brunei for ex lancer. Already its 2012, with 56 days left to ORD and uni life starting in 8 months time. And somehow my unit thinks its a good idea to send me for storeman course. Not that I'm complaining about the course itself, but I dun really see the point when there's so little time left lol. Its quite fun to learn new stuff abt logistics and stores and the course conductor is really nice haha. But Sembawang camp is just a little inacessible (but better then mandai) and its quite a welcome change from the stupid sai kang and chionging that is 1 SIR.

Haiz i have to finish up on my NUS scholarship essay soon....... this year is going to be quite a strain on my finances ugh. And with the stupid economy in doldrums I doubt I will be getting any money from the government lol.