ORD day!!!

ORD day!!!

ORD... This is the date that i believe all Nsf guys look forward to the first day they are enlisted in army. Hey, applies all the same to me too....

Mark this day.. 29th sept 2006.. ORD!!! Yeah!!!

Well, on the other hand, i guess ORD is probably just another day, another point of my life. After this, more life experiences are to be uncovered.

Today, went to camp to collect my IC. Back in camp, it looks like life around there remains unchanged. I managed to see some of my camp mates, superiors. This is like a cycle all round. One batch come, one batch go... To the regulars, they must have seen many who have continued with their lives in the outside world after serving their term. The collection was pretty smooth, no majors hiccups. In the end, i got a parting souvenior from the unit, kinda sweet for a rememberance of the unit.

A day at NUS

A day at NUS

I got a call from Brighton to help her out in an event held out at NUS. I had to reach the multi-purpose hall. With the aid of tengfu's direction, i managed to reach the place without much difficulty.

The event today was that there was a Actice Day for the professors and staff of NUS. It was to promote healthy lifestyle.
The initial work was to put up balloons to decor the area. Brighton's job scope was to handle the sound system, stage, and a game booth. As the time drew near, the crowd increase by the number. I went on to help at the registration counter to give out tshirts for the events.

Then there was the starting ceremony. And a blip occurred. There was supposed to have a confetti blast right after the speech. But somehow the machine kena stuck or spoilt. Nothing came out. Now, that caused some embarrasment there... and Sam demand a report from Brighton about the matter.

As the event kick off, the queue at the gaming booth was very crowded. I stationed there for a while before i was reassigned to the food booth to give out snacks and drinks. Of course, again, once the crowd was in, it was busy, busy, busy for that couple of minutes. The whole event ended by 5pm and we started to pack out the things by 530pm to end our day.

One thing that tickles is right at the end, when there were extra food and drinks. Once the annoucement was made, there is a scene of professors.. male and females.... snatching around the boxes of food available left on the table. Some even came around the booth from behind in order to get a box or two. I felt quite sorry for those who actually queued properly but ended nothing while some managed to snatch as much as 4 boxes.... Quite an amazing scene act by professors u would say... Im wondering how would other professors would do from the other universities if this happen similarly.... keke...

After that, i contacted Tengfu to meet up and head home together. Along the way, he managed to persaude me to continue on to tampines. So i gave in, and we went to search a while for JJ's present. We managed to spot one bag which seems very suitable, but didnt get it straight. I wanted to confirm the measurements first to make sure that a laptop can fit it in, so i chose to KIV.

Back at home, Aaron called me. First, we discussed about the bag for JJ. After which, he seek some advice from me regarding his school stuff, about something that has been bothering for quite some time. Well, hope my words have given him some headway in his decision. Im also glad that he approached me as one of the people to ask for guidance. Guess, im always a good person to talk to, or someone to seek an opinion from....

Another call was unexpected from my uncle, when he wanted a favour from me. He found out that i was trying to sell some of my stuff online. He had a few toys that was kept aside and he wanted to let it off for some price too. Now, i will have to wait for the pictures from him before i can help him place it online....

Ting Ma Ma De Hua

Ting Ma Ma De Hua

"Ting Ma Ma De Hua"... This is the title of one of Jay Chou's new song. In English... Listen to Mum's Words... Amazing song again from the singer... He always able to come out songs that can touch the hearts of many... From Pa,Wo Hui Lai le to Wai Po to this new song, he has reveal true life examples on how we should treat our closed ones.

The lyics of the song is fantastic, stating what our mum usually wants to do, the advice that she will give and the continual support for us.

I have heard over the radio where Jay was being interviewed, he said that the song had already made some of his fellow colleagues drop a tear of two. Even i was touched by the song after hearing it. Listen to the words carefully and feel it, definitely one will want to tear immediately...

Driving tour for a day...

Driving tour for a day...

Time was near from ORD, and soon i have to bring all my army stuff back home. And that can be a great headache with the distance from Sengkang to Lim Chu Kang. So I had a few options to choose from... In the end, i decided to rent a one-day car. I managed to find a guy that offers a reasonable rate and the pickup place is near my area.

I only took the car last night around 8pm. That's when i head from Serangoon all the way to camp to get back my stuff. Upon, reaching company line, it brought some surprise to some people. Zhikai was the first to spot me back, followed by Peiching and Liang Ting. I didn't stay long. I got my stuff and straight away head out of camp. Next destination was back to the east to Bedok Reservoir. i managed to find a interested buyer through online to buy my mum's handbag. I was going to deal with the buyer. By the time, the transaction has gone through, it was already 10plus already. With nothing more in plan, i head home straight.

This morning, the iternary was already planned out. Today, will be a day with mum and bro. First stop was to a clinic at Lorong Ah Soo where my mum had to get some medicine. Next, was a long journey to the west to IMM. Without much diffiulty in my direction, i managed to reach as planned. We basically walked through Daiso and Giant. Mum took this chance to buy some heavy grocery, like detergent, rice, and etc.... By early afternoon, we headed to Ang Mo Kio. There, mum had a dental appointment. Luckily, it was fast. Within minutes, we were off again, this time to Plaza Singapura. There, I managed to get Jay Chou's CD. We also meet up with Dad for dinner before heading back home.

Of course, when we reached home, my day has not ended. I had to send the car back to Serangoon to return the car. At 8pm, i meet up the guy again. After his checks on the car, i got back my deposit and head straight home. So much so for a day of driving eh... ...

Community Walk at Macritchie Reservior

Community Walk at Macritchie Reservior

A month have passed by very fast. Since my first involvement in the Kent Ridge Park walk, weeks have already passed by. This time, it was held at Macritchie Reservior.

As planned, all of us had to reach by 7am. I managed to reached there pretty early. Briefing by Sam has just started when the first bus have already reached. Kenneth and I were assigned as the road marshaller again. So our work had to start immediately.

Just when i thought the guiding of traffic were to be much smoother, well, it was just not to be. Brighton had managed to book a whole car park for the morning for buses to enter. Initially, it was alright as traffic was manageable. But as more vehicles came in, more owners began to parked illegally around the area. At an area where there's a upslope towards the the exit, some cars started to park there. That's where the problems come in as buses had difficulty to manuvere passed the stationery vehicle. More problems also came from the public, drivers and people who wasn't pleased the the situation that they were in. All Kenneth and I had to do is to handle them to the best as we can. At the end, all was finished by 1030am.

Next location for the walk was to be held at West Coast Park. By then, i would have ORD. Whether i will be able to find a stable by then, i will have to see first. Sam had wished that Kenneth and I be able to continue to help. Whether i will continue, i will really have to see how my time schedule goes ba....

Rejected... Sad

Rejected... Sad

Haiz... got rejected yesterday... for a temp job that i tried to applied yesterday.

I just got back home when i happen to browse through the papers that there's a need for showroom promoters. I made the enquiry and the person wanted me to head down immediately to Orchard for the interview, so within minutes, i was out of home again.

Upon reaching the location, i initially thought i took down the wrong address. The location was a slimming centre. But after some verification, it was indeed the right place. I gone through the interview as normal. Told by the interviewer that he has this contract with his client that they need promoters at a showroom for properties. They were selling some new HDB flats. I was told to stay around the area as the client will be down later to interview us. So without much of a choice, i roamed around the Orchard road area for about 3hours.

Later in the afternoon for the 2nd interview, it was short and sweet. All the client asked was where we stayed and what dialect we have. I thought like "wow"... pretty smooth... that the few of us should be accepted. We were then told to leave first while they will contact us back whether we are shortlisted. I even exchanged number with one of the other interviewee so contact each other if we were accepted.

Who is to know that not long after when i was in the mrt, the call was made to me that i was rejected... I accept it in grace, just feeling strange why i was rejected. I could not think of a reason. So i contacted my new friend to say that i was rejected. The reply from her was that she was rejected too... Now, that really made me scratching my head. But in the end, we managed to agree that we are to intro to each other if there's any lobang.

Look at them study

Look at them study

Study in University these days is such hard work. Whether is it full time or part time, its so stressful now for all. Mostly, most will do part time and work at the same time, or do full time studies only. But whatever choice they make, its all the same.. the pressure and stress carrying the weight on you... Unbearable.. Torturing.. That's to many...

Im sure as kids, we often ask this question, "Mummy! Why do we have to study? I don't like to study!!!" Of course, as parents, everyone have their own kind of explanation, ranging from ".. so that u will be able to earn lots of money in the future..." to "... if u don't study, u will be sweeping on the roads like that uncle over there..."

So at the end of it, why are we studying for??? Kinda open-ended question eh..

To put it simple, to me, study is simply learning. So we study because it is naturally in our nature to learn as we grow up. Starting from the day we are born, we have to learn how to call "daddy","mummy" etc....

One thing to note is in Singapore, there's a standard education that all children have to go through, which means whether or not the child likes it, he have to learn what other kids are learning too..ranging from maths, to science, to chinese.. I guess that what made our education so fantastic and yet borng and hateful for kids these days.

This education indeed have brought us far since the poor days. Our leaders have brought us far. But as generations goes by, people changes, environment changes. Kids are made to learn the standard topics for a couple of years before they have a choice to choose an area they want to go into.

Yes, it is in nature that we learn, but of course, we would rather want to learn things according to our liking and not something that has been preset by others. This is what i find that made many children not liking to study. Hey, i was once a student that don't like study too. But i still will work hard mainly i wanted to have nice result slips at the end of the day.

Worse is after so many years of standard topics and subjects that the kids have to study, when it has come to the time for them to make a choice, they are at their wits, not knowing what to further study.. either in poly or in university. My best friend gave me this insight. Because he is one typical example of such people. He told me once when he was bothering what to take in university. He said after years from primary to JC level, all have been set for him already until when its time for him to choose himself, he is in complete lost.

I guess the same can be told for those who are unable to enter to JC and end up have to go poly or ITE. Given a short time, many i guess have this problem too. Ending up in the "wrong" course, because they have not known what they actually want. Of course, nowadays, they are many who are like me who didn't enter JC even though they are qualified as they wanted to enter to the area of study immediately.

Now, i know why many kept saying what we study, we may not apply in our working world in our future....hehe...

Of course, time to time, the government have implement changes to the system to make it more flexible, such that we have more of a choice in the early stages of our education.

In this education system, it has to include the parents. They are a huge factor on their children's development. Other factors may include our geographical location, our govenment surviving strategies, and of course the ever-changing world...

Complains

Complains

This word must be one that we all face everyday, either by doing it yourself or hearing others doing it. Complain, complain, complain... this is what people will do in times of fustration, tiredness, hatred, or even boredom.

Definitely part of our human nature, the degree of complains each make differs from each other. What i notice is people who are narrow minded, impatience, selfish are ones who does it much more often than those who are patient, and thoughtful. Indeed, it is true that people do not see his own mistakes but others clearly. All complains heard are often about others on why they can't do this, why they didn't do that... but never on why didn't they themselves give a serious thought for others. Worse are people who are not willing to listen to criticism, and claim to be right in every situation they are in.

Of course, i am guilty myself in some areas. I am human afterall, not totally perfect. But at least i guess i make some effort to give this issue a thought and try to make changes to myself. Through these years, how much change do i have in me? Im actually not sure.. guess this will have to come from feedbacks from my peers and closed ones. Improvement is never ending. It is continuous throughout one person's life. That is why we need to keep on learning, learning new things even when we have come near to the end of our lives.

Can this be done? I don't know... Just have to keep trying i gues... Heez...

K-Box, Movie, Soccer

K-Box, Movie, Soccer

Had a whole today at town. It was pre-planned by Peiching to meet up together. Go Kbox and catch a movie. Funny, Peiching told to meet at 10am when K box started only at 11am. In the end, he was the only one to reach on time while the rest of us came late.

So our first activity started with singing at K Box. This is the first time i went for K Lunch. So a new experience to sing and have a "meal" at the same time. Something to note is the service of the staff there. Somehow or another, i do not feel any quality service served by any of the staff that we came contact to. There's just something lacking to feel satisfied after the session. Another thing that i regretted is i wore singlet there, without bringing any jacket along. Damn cold lor!!!! But lucky still can tahan.. hehez...

Next up was movie, after some consideration, we decided on The Little Man. Overall, pretty funny considering the main actor who was actually an adult and a criminal too, had to act like a baby mainly to steal back a loot and keep away from the cops.... All the audience had a great laugh throughout the show. The whole show didnt take long through, as we were out around 4 plus.

Oh ya... just moments while we were heading to the cinema, we had to walk up and pass by Pastamania. A girl came to my attention who was sitting with her friends. It look like one of net friend. I was too sure if it was here as i never met her face to face before. As we were late for the show, i didnt went forward to call her... This qn will leave it till i see her online again ba to ask her...

OK, back to after the movie... all decided to go on seperate ways. For me, i decided to stay around town so that i could catch soccer match later in the evening. It was Liverpool V Everton. So being a fan of Liverpool, i wanted to catch it. Since it starts at 7 plus, i thought i was able to catch it and still head home on time to rest for tomorrow morning program. Of course, i had a couple of hours to waste. So bought a newpaper and just walk around the area till time was up. I seen the match at Chijmes, just standing by the side catching the match. In the end, sad and disappointed. Liverpool lost by 3 goals. The team didnt managed to converted their upteen chances on goal, while moments of lapses in defense caused the 3 goals...haiz...

Anyway, i head straight home after that as tomorrow i had to head down to Macritchie Reservoir park for a site inspection briefing. I again promised to do the community work where workers had to accompanied groups of elderly people for a morning walk. It was a monthly thing and i just started last month. Not really sure if i will do it long term.. think i will see how my schedule works after I ORD before i made any decision.

Singapore V China

Singapore V China

I really caught the match that night. Could not find anyone to go with me, in the end went to see it myself.

What made me regretted that night was that i reached the stadium just about half hour before the match started. I went the wrong way, going to the west entrance. How was i to know that there was no ticket booths. i had to walk a semi-circle to the other end... When i reached the east entrance, i was shocked to know that there was a huge crowd that are still lining up to purchase their tickets in. So i had no choice but to join in. What happen next was people start to cut queue and soon all just squeezed together in hope to get the tickets faster. Of course, i was trapped in the shuffle too.

It took about me about 45 mins of wait before i got in. Of course, by that time, the match had started about 30 mins. I walked around the stadium near to the grand stands area to have my seat there.

The match overall was quite intense considering the fact that Singapore was back pedding most of the time. China was desperate for the full points too. At the end, with draw in place, it was a better result for singapore rather than china.

Certain interesting incidents happened there. First, was when i was still in queue, there was one china girl who tried cut queue and was apparently stopped by a guy. In the end, a quarrel occurred in front of so many people that police had to come in to settle the argument.

Next was during the match where i sat near a group of guys. One guy in the group was very rowdy for a young Singaporean. He kept shouting those ugly words throughout the 2nd half. Was pretty pissed off by his action. When the match ended, one clumsy china man had to rush down from the top down and knock onto one the guy in the group who was carrying some drink. Of course, that knock made the drink spilled. Any apology was not accepted and the guy drew the drink onto the china man. I being just behind gotten hit a little by the drink too... Im sure was "lucky" man... I just ignored it, and just walk away to the toilet. Out to the toilet, the 2 party continued to quarrel... all over a drink spill. shaking my head, i just went the other way out.

I took almost 2 long hours before reaching home. I took a long walk to a bus stop and took bus 12 to pasir ris first, before taking 88.

Study... Work... Is this Life???

Study... Work... Is this Life???

This came to my mind yesterday night when i was at Macdonalds having my supper... In front of me a few tables away was a guy and gal there at 10pm still mugging away... so poor thing...

That image reminds me of myself when i was in studies before army when i would be like them, chionging my notes and practices at home or at changi airport while listening to the radio.

Sometimes this comes to my thinking... i see young ones study study study, the older ones work work work.... this is a typical living schedule for a typical Singaporean. Of course, i am also part of the masses. Which comes to me, is this what's life really about???? When we are young, we have to study hard, learn all the skills and knowledge we must master to survive when we grow up in the future. Then when we have finally grown up, all we do is to work work work away to survive the cruelty of the society. Then when we get old, if we do not save enough for retirement, we still have to continue to work. Time's up for us when our body really cannot take it the toil. Then a life is over. So is this really what life's about??? Something to ponder eh...

Of course this is what i see in Singapore. What is life like overseas? hmm, something that i may chance to find out in the future... heez....

Can't Sleep

Can't Sleep

Its again one of those nights when i couldn't get to sleep. Im supposed to even get my early later at 5am to book in camp. It will be formerly my last book in other than my FFI and to collect my pink IC.

I had a game of soccer just this afternoon. It was my first game in 2 months since i last sprain my ankle. Had a decent outing and gone the whole game uninjured... luckily... heez...But then my headache had come again. after all this years, i dont understand why i would usually get my headaches after my soccer games. My aunt did mention to me that maybe its due to the lack of liquid intake, but i have consume a lot today, so i guess this will be bothering me still in the future.

With me physically tired, again i still can't get to sleep. Turning here and there, i am still awake after 2 hours. Oh no!!! and its coming to 1am liao, leaving me with just about 4 hours to rest.

Anyway, I will be staying in camp for the next 3 days. After which i will continue to clear again. Just seen the papers just now that on wednesday, there will be a match between Singapore and China. thinking of catching it right after i book out that day. Hope i will have the time to catch it.

Now, off i go to try to get back to sleep lo....

Lost... ...

Lost... ...

I'm sure this word will come up or appear in each and every one person many times in their individual life. There will definitely be times where one will suddenly have a sense of lost direction in life. "Blur", "Bewildered" , "wondering", doubtful", this are some words to decribe the feeling.

I cant escape from this too. Indeed, this has probably applied to me a couple of times through my 2 years of army. Questions will pop me into my head. Things regarding family, friends, career, studies, even personal goals. Remembered once a few months ago, i was completely lost... that for the first time, i began to tell people about it... lucky had some friends to talk to in msn... Managed to get out of it... and seek a new direction in life i would say...

Life is indeed full of ups and downs.. as we go through the different stages of life. As young kids years ago, we worry simple stuffs like "when will holidays come soon", "will we pass our exams", or even "how i wish i could grow up sooner so that i can earn money".. these are some thinkings we had when we are young ... how simple, innocent, and naive...

But as we grow older, many much more things come to bother us. Things start to change when we are in our teenage years when we began to explore more, think more, know more and do more... Slowly, we exceed our past boundaries and try out new things, whether is it good or bad. Slowly but surely, as guys goes to army, girls go to work.. even more things worrys us.. relationship, family problems, money problems, work problems.. all this piled up together.. which is why u see everyone is so stressed up...sometimes i wander how kids from the next generation are going to survive.

ultimately, i guess whatever one goes through in any period of his/her life, it is something that is inevitable. For me, now just a 21 year guy, i believe there's more to come in many years to come. So like one's saying, "you dont avoid the problem, u faced it".. so be it, good or bad, tough or easy, i will try to take it on my stride and cope whatever pressure that comes to me... Yeah man... bring it on... and im staring to belive one thing.. that is when happiness cannot be found or searched.. it is started all from within.. that is if one try to be happy, stay happy, have a light and positive attitude towards everything.. i guess happiness will stick to the person.

So instead of "zhui qiu kuai le de ren shen" ... it should be
"kuai le de zhui qiu ren shen" I believe if one keep this way, any "lost" that happens onto him/her, it will be easily overcomed...

Lagging in time

Lagging in Time

Today, i had a mini gathering with some of my poly classmates. One of our old classmates, Sheri had came back to Singapore from Australia for a few weeks. So Suhua had made the trouble to organise this gathering to meet with her.

We met at Marina Square. We were supposed to eat pizza hut, but due to the crowd, we turned to Cafe Cartel instead. Shared platter and crispy combo among us.

As we chatted along, the usual asking on how everyone's was doing since the last time we met. The girls had already been working or studying for about 2 plus years, while us the guys who just finished or about to finish were basically lagging behind the girls in the social world. This always comes to my mind everytime I meet those girls of my age. I even come to know some primary schools friends who have already graduated their and started work.

This is how 2 years of army can do to the guys... no wonder i often see guys ended up together with girls younger than them. Guess the gap was build up once guys starts to serve the nation. Worse for me is that i chose to even delay my university studies for a year. Hope this is not a choice i would regret later... And everytime i come to think that i would graduated at 27, i will suddenly feel that i am getting old so fast.

Haiz.. no choice.. what to do...But of course i do admit that having serve 2 years of army do gave me something invaluable that i can bring out to the society. Only working harder can i play some catch up to the others... hehez.... If this is the road i have to go through, i will push on and find a definite path out... Look forward, not backwards....