Friday, May 27, 2011

Appreciates what's given

Has a been enjoying my one month stay out course and finally it's time for me to go back to the stay in lifestyle again.

Definitely, no one will feel good when such reality hits but i guess, i should be happy of what i have.

During this one month, i've learnt to fully make use of the time i have to do minor things which doesn't seem as important at all in the past. Simple things such playing badminton with my friends, spending quality time with families and friends and of course spending time going out with my pretty girlfriend like how we use to do it in the past.

My greatest enemy now is time. It seems like time passed rather quickly and it's already about seven months i'm into service. Just another one year three months to go.

What's coming up next for me is something which i see it as a drag, doing guard duty especially i foresee weekends duty coming our way. Someone will have to do this no matter what. People always tell me to suck it up and perhaps i should really do it so as to make myself feel better.

More people around me will soon be joining me in what i'm doing now. Maybe by then, my life would be better already. Alan said, this year must pass for otherwise, this chapter of my life will never end. Sir said, time must pass for otherwise life will be boring. These make me push on.

Youlong and yiming had ord. Congrats on pulling through this two years. I must say, i'm somewhat affected by this fact not because i'm selfish, wanting them to continue serving but i'm envy about them being able to plan their time and do things which they enjoy doing. It's a matter of who gets to enjoy first, and this makes me understand the logic of bitterness before sweetness.

I'm kind of facing struggle bonding with my course mates for the fact that there's very little common interest which we all share. I'm doing my best to blend in and really hope things can get a little easier for me. It's so far so good till this point of time.

Army makes me realise who care for me and i really wanna say a very big thank you to a few people. My family, who always don't mind making the effort to send me to camp, travelling so far to have dinner with me during my nights out and always showing so much love, care and concern to me. My friends, who always motivates me when i'm down and let me enjoy my time outside so happily. My girlfriend, eileen, for being such lovely girl and trying her very best to make me happy and being my never dying source of support.

For those who have yet to join me in what i'm doing, a word of advise. Cherish what you have, time, people, freedom and many others. Maybe you will feel better in the future.

I pray to you, please bless my family and love ones wil good health and ever lasting happiness.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Golf COY = 2ND COY = Best COY

Congrats to all whom took part in the sports day which took place on last sat, 29 Jan 2011. We are the champion and it's kind of hard to believe because we only had 2 days to prepare ourselves unlike other COYs which started preparing 1 week before. This proves that it is not how long you train but how good we are!

For winning in the sports day, we get later book in timing! My feeling = YAYYYYYYY!!~~ ^^

The weather however, is not very on my side because it started raining on sat until now (Monday afternoon). Sat was spent well with a lot of good food, Yum Cha at Chinatown for lunch followed by steamboat dinner at Bottle Tree Park! Yum yum. There goes my IPPT monetary reward but it's definitely worth it when I see the happy faces from my loved ones. How i wish father was there. I realised that I'm heavier by 1kg. Damn this thing! Can't I just enjoy some good food without having to gain weight? HAHA!

One week of rest from CNY is very rewarding for me already though once this week is over, trainings will start and there goes the life again. I'm rather looking forward to the 9th of March because that will be the day I pass out from the foundation term and continue to move on to the next phrase of my NS life. To count down, I have 1 year 7 months more to go. Seriously, I guess not counting down will make me feel better.

Alan introduced me to this show (71 into the fire)which is a Korean war movie. It super long, 2 hours 50 minutes in total and I had only watched 50 minutes of the show. It kinds of make me understand better on what I am currently doing and of course, understand the importance of protecting my nation. Sounds politically right I know but why, you guys try watching it and maybe you will understand what I mean. Nonetheless, this movie seriously is not suitable for ladies. Watch it and you will know why.

I have another 23 hours or so before I book out to celebrate CNY. This year, I can't be at home helping my mother cleaning the house and also helping out my dad with work. I feel sad because when I returned home on Sat, I saw the tired look of my parents, I felt helpless and because they care about me so much, they did not wake me up early in the morning to help them with work. I'm really fortunate to have such caring and loving parents. I will see what I can do to help them in whatever way I can. The best thing that I can do is to stay fit and healthy so that they do not need to worry about me that much.

Sister is of course as caring. Researching online and providing me with invaluable advice on how to take care of my eyes really helped me greatly. Though my eyes are still are still slightly red but I do see improvement in the condition. That's all that matters. As long as by week 4 of foundation term my eyes get getter for camo on, I'm happy enough!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

The days which all men must go through

I had always wanted to blog since I enlist into BMT on the 8th of Nov 2010 but for those who had been though national service will know that we face the issue of not enough time. I spent my weekends with my family, friends and of course Eileen so that I can maintain a balance between personal and military life. This is really the toughest part during the 9 weeks in BMT. Nonetheless, I am glad that I had made it through.
The day when we marched into the Marina Floating Platform was really one of the most defining moment till date. Though on the platform, I was unable to locate my loved ones but what I saw was excited and proud faces of people who came to witness our graduation. In deed, the tiredness from the route march we gone through of really worth it.
The one week of break of enjoying civillian life gave me the feeling that I had ORDed. I get to enjoy my 'freedom', doing anything that I wanted and of course people always say this: "Good time doesn't last long". Soon enough, I find myself back to mission of protecting my nation.
To be frank, I am really happy to be where I am today though across the bridge is the place where many will label as 'having pride'. I bet to defer. The fact that there are different titles is because each one of us play different role and that we are really dependent of one another. We are equally important. I believe I will enjoy the challenge of managing people from both under and above me as this skill set is essential and critical in the working society out there now. For those whom have yet to enter the service, my advice to you is do not see this as a task, see it as a learning process which will benefit you even when the 2 years come to an end.
Chinese new year is around corner and the feeling of celebration can be seen everywhere. I love this feeling, not because of the red packets which I will receive but the opportunity to being myself again for not long but 5 days. It is enough because this 5 days of 'rest' will and must last me for 4 weeks of challenging trainings.
Spent some time talking to my friends whom had yet to join the service and I see myself in them. The emotions and imagination of the uncertain definitely creates fear and stress. Like what my best buddy, Alan, who had shared so much with me in order for me to last till now, I did the same to them, sharing with them as much as I can and assuring them that everything will be fine. That is the best I can do and I believe they will pass this positive attitude on to their peers who will also soon enter the service.
National service made me realise and appreciate many things which I took for granted for the past 21 years. They are my family, girlfriend, friends, time, food and many others. My sergeant told me that I should not regret but to now do what I can and cherish what I have. I find this rather meaningful to me and of course, I am trying my best to do so.
To sum it up, it is really not that bad to be in here. Positive mindset and the willingness to take on challenges will definitely bring one far. Quote for the day? "Tough time don't last, Tough men do!"