Hi everyone! I have not abandoned this place, it's just that everytime I've decided to write something here, I always have something else better to do. So oh well... haha

Being posted to nee soon camp as a combat medic has been alright thus far. I guess it suits me the best because a barrage of biology knowledge is being tested upon and it gives me a golden opportunity to exercise abit of my brain, which is otherwise so impossible in other vocations.

And slowly but surely, I'm overcoming the initial fear of having to poke needles into each other's arm for the intravenous fusion drip which is really a huge sigh of relief because there are people who wanna OOC because of it. So thank god for that! :)

I don't know what is it but I just have this feeling my life is turning into such a rigid routine. Every week i go through the same sequence, the same feelings and to a large extent, the same shit.

Hopefully things change for the better after I get my rank in december! Yeah! I can do it.

It's really hard to believe time really flies, it has been almost a year since we last took the A levels! Wow, I better cherish my youth and do some real meaningful stuff.

Alright, i'm feeling really lazy now, when I'm in the mood next time, I shall write a long and intuitive blog post. For now, BYE!

Watching the NDP for the first time ever as an NSF has finally put some sense into the whole extravagant event.

The spectacular showcase of the SAF's arsenal of the latest weaponries and technology and the less than impressive marching of the infantry soldiers has finally become something I can really relate to.

Despite the negativity which has been building up within me since the start of ns, I guess there is a need for someone to be there to defend our nation's independence and sovereignty, and it's probably time to accept the fact that I'm one of them.

Looking through the numerous facebook updates of how others are enjoying their uni orientation (what the hell is rag?!?) and meeting new people has really struck me hard.

I mean I could be out there doing the same thing too, why am I here doing these stuffs???

As friends depart with their next phase of lives, it is becoming ever more difficult to meet and catch up with one another. It is really saddening and it all just piles up and forms a downward spiral of negative vibes.

If only I can do something about this.

Hadn't been updating much for a very long time, even with the one week block leave after POP (woohoo!), I've been trying to make my time more productive that I've almost forgotten that I have somewhere to pen my thoughts right here.

Life has been great after POP. In fact, the last week in BMT was really bittersweet. Had status for 4 days but was rather relieved that I've managed to conquer the 24 km march without feeling really exhausted at the end. 

I was really glad that I've finally left the island as a private but yet, i'm leaving behind fond memories, both good and bad as well as some wonderful friends. But like so many times, life goes on.

Indeed, after one splendid week of break, it's time to start all over again. I am really feeling the monday blues nowwwwwww.

I'm glad I've managed to spend more time with my family and relatives and friends and be able to catch up with a lot of people who may be gone for long periods of time. I've even visited sentosa resorts world which was really fun and chilling.

But I do hope that I am able to spend more time with those I really care because I really appreciate the idea of kinship and friendship ever since army started. It is really these relationships which keep you going no matter what and give you something to fight for.

For those unaware, I've been posted to SCS at pasir laba camp. In terms of location, it is definitely much nearer and accessible than tekong, which saves quite a bit of time and at least the camp is on mainland, so I do not have to take a ferry to another island...

At this juncture though, a worrywart like me starts to have lots of well, worries.

I can recall 3 months back, before enlistment, I feared myself unabling to adapt to military life, that I may get a xiong coy, that I may not get along well with people. While some of these have occurred, I'm glad everything turned out well in the end.

I'm really glad that God was always there for me, to help relieve my fears and worries and allowing me to always try to adopt a optimistic outlook.

No doubt, the same fears surface again, the fear of a tough coy, the fears of unabling to cope etc etc, I'm sure at some points in time, obstacles will definitely arise, but now I'm more confident that 3 months back because of encouragements from friends and family as well as the blessings from someone far greater above.

It is hard to put it down to words, you really have to feel it to believe, and the feeling is truly amazing at times.

So no matter what, I will learn to cope with my worries.

And to all my peers going to OCS, i wish them all the best, the 9 months is for a far greater purpose, and I believe all of them have what it takes to persevere and come out as a great officer. Good luck!

Tomorrow, at 0800, a new chapter of my military life unfolds, and I do hope for the very best for everyone else.

Oh well, my 4 days of bookout have finally come to its end, well almost. My ferry will be at 1920, so I still have a few more hours.

Whatever happened to my 4 days man. It seemed to fly by so quickly!!!!

To be honest, i am absolutely not looking forward to booking in. I was once told that your first book in will suck the most, and I totally understand why now.

With the adjustment period, the commanders are perhaps more lenient towards our mistakes, but once we book in today, I believe hell will start to unleash and we will all start to get more shit from the commanders.

In addition, we will have our field camp on saturday, which I dread most because it is supposedly the toughest part of your BMT, not to mention that it is mentally and physically draining and we will all potentially be in a state of turmoil.

I am quite fearful now, and I really do hope that everything will be blessed and alright.

Life in tekong is rather standard, you wake up and sleep at the same time each day and you just keep perspiring in the hours between.

It really allows me to appreciate the comforts of home and now that I'm home, I really do not wish to return, especially with the impending field camp.

It is also quite unnerving because we do not have the weekend to rest prior to field camp, so perhaps our fatigue levels will be very high.

Haiz, but there's nothing much I can do about it, but to embrace the situation and take it with a positive and optimistic attitude. i believe that will make my experience so much better and brighter.

I know I will miss everyone back here, especially my loved ones and friends, but there's always something one has to accomplish as his duty, and therefore, I hope I am able to achieve that confidently.

Thank god for a nice and efficient section and platoon, it really helped made my stay become so much better.

Oh well, I guess everything will turn out fine at the end of the day, I just gotta keep walking.

Bless me God! :)
 

Still reeling from the fact that man utd have lost to chelsea at home. It should've been a draw, the linesman so damn dead.

Anyways, I cannot believe that my enlistment date is due to arrive in 3 weeks. Whatever happened to the 5 months break I had since post As?

Life has been quite a bit of a drag, with pretty much nothing to do each day if you do not have work and that army is fast approaching. It makes things worse when you hear of stories how people suffer or faint in camp due to the torturous road marches they have to endure or the mediocre food they have to force it down their throats.

But I'm hoping that this experience will turn out fine and safe for me and I will come back out alive and stronger. I don't want to sound like some vain wimp, but I will miss the priveleges of growing hair.

Uni apps is quite done for me at least, not much to do also since I'm applying for local unis only and the constant reassurance that I have '2 long years' to apply.

But its damn troublesome, because despite sending my documents quite long ago, NUS sent me an email on 1st April telling me they still hadn't received payment, which is supposedly a cheque in my envelope I posted to them by mail.

What the hell man, I am going to call NUS tomorrow to clarify things, I do not want to waste my efforts sending a proper application only to be turned down by some minor technical glitch or some possible lagging by Singapore Post.

I am also still waiting for SMU to call me for my interview!!!! Hurry up please, I do not want to wait in so much worries, please call me soon, preferably before I enlist.

Anyways, I've tried to sign up for SAT in May, but I realised I was 2 days off the dateline, which just totally pissed me off because I analysed that May would be the best time for me to take the test before army screws me up entirely. Too bad, at least after BMT, I may have the time to register for the test, but whether I will have the mental intellect as before, its an entirely different story. FML.

As you can see, this whole post is an update of my trouble-filled life prior to army. Which is not a good sign of things to come. 

I can't believe yaohui and I just suddenly decided to stop by for a short service at a random church near SMU in the night to seek solace and protection from God. It was really random.

But I guess deep down inside, we all of our insecurities in which we can only face it with the guidance and enlightenment of someone of far greater power and strength than all of us.

So dear God, please let everything go by smoothly, as we vulnerable people place our faith onto your hands.

Amen.

These days, I've learnt the importance of looking forward and abstaining myself from looking back at the past.

It's time to make the most out of what we have and what we don't and to take everything which comes in our way in our stride. We cannot rest on our laurels, neither should we mope about our defeats. Life goes on, and so do we.

I shall take this as an official closure to another tumultuous episode of my life, and continue fighting hard for what life has to offer.

I am glad I've learnt to be really positive about life and strive to make life even more wonderful and great.

Does anyone have any volunteer opportunities to recommend me?

Her name is Janet Hsieh.

 

"She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in humanities and biology, speaks 5 languages (English, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Spanish and French), has a black belt in taekwondo, is a model, is a professional musician (she has played the violin at the White House for the president when she was 10), trained as a sushi chef, had a 6-month stint as a circus clown in Argentina, involves in triathlon and is now the Discovery Travel and Living host for Fun Asia."

Yesterday's time was well spent with some of the best people I have met for the past 2 years.

It really has come to this point in our lives where everyone starts going on their separate ways, pursuing their own interests and leading their own lives. It feels so surreal and untrue, yada yada yada...

Anyways, it was refreshing touring around the city as curious locals. Checking out new places to dine alfresco style, places to have a nice drink and watch epl matches, places to seek bouts of adrenaline rushes or places to decay your lives such as Haji Lane.

But more importantly, it was the time spent with friends who matter which really made my day so much. 

While presumably pretentious, it's really important for one to choose their closest friends wisely. But I'm really glad I didn't exactly have to choose mine, it was perhaps just a gift from God, friendship.

As Terence Tan heads into army tomorrow, I hope his highly witty and intellectually-academical verbal slants do not go against him with others who might not be able to understand what he says or where he is coming from.

All the best my friend, I'm sure you will survive and adapt to army life without an aircon classroom and Caucasian officers and hope to see you brimming with confidence in two weeks time.

Ok, I'm starting work soon, something useful at last!