It felt like school has already started ....

It almost felt like school has started looking at my last week's calendar,

22 Jul - Library Orientation
24 Jul - Meeting with group members from faculty camp at Shokudo Japanese Food Bazaar
25 Jul - Career Services Orientation
26 Jul - SMU Challenge Briefing for sub-committee members

I appreciate the efforts undertook by my faculty camp facilitators to arrange for a gathering prior to the camp itself. Thus, I did not give it a miss in spite the fact that it was also my Air Force coursemates' ORD gathering at Downtown East. Just a little disappointed that I had to leave half-way through the gathering.

The seniors shared with us their experiences in school and also some essential information. Some bits and pieces,

- Where to get hot shower in school (Sleepovers in school are normal for SIS students)
- Get a locker (To keep your toiletries)
- 'Compulsory' double majors for SIS students (You won't want to be interviewed by the Dean)

I didn't really find the the Career Services Orientation helpful. We were introduced to our counsellors and the Dean of Students, history of SMU and some personality profiling technique. All these can be done online but because we are 'different' so we did a physical briefing for that.

Mentioned in my earlier post, students are required to fulfill 80 hours of community involvement. I signed myself up for SMU Challenge and attended a briefing last Saturday. A little more about SMU Challenge,

SMU Challenge: Cyclethon 2008 will be a charity event organized by the Singapore Management University Student Association Council (SMU-SAC). The concept of the event is to have participants cycling on 120 spinner bikes simultaneously in an attempt to clock as much distance as possible for 30 hours consecutively. This is because for every kilometer cycle, we will raise a dollar for charity. This amount will be pledged and donated by our donors.

In conjunction, we intend to emphasise and promote the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle amongst SMU students and the public by the means of static cycling. Cycling is a sport of relatively low intensity, and at the same time it exercises the largest muscles in the body. Similarly, static spinning is an unmatched way to make fitness goals a reality. With no complicated moves to learn, top-notch instructors and music that motivates you to pedal, exercising can never been more fun and enticing for all.

Do visit http://www.smuchallenge.org to know more about the event.

After the briefing, I took the opportunity to explore the campus. The gym is fabulous! Reminds me of California Gym (even though I have never to one). There's a pub or sort at the basement, Subway, Watsons, NTUC clinic, OCBC and UOB branches and a short distance walk from my school, there's Cathay.

For the next 3 days (Mon - Wed), I will be away for Freshmen Teambuilding (FTB) camp. I am not really looking forward to it but I do hope that at the end of the camp my impression will change for the better.

Farewell Dinner (22 Jul 08)

My office had a farewell dinner for the outgoing personnel, my fellow senior ops specialist, my buddy and myself, a few days back. In attendance were my Officers (MAJ Ang, CPT Lau, 2LT Wan) and fellow Specialists (MSG Lee, 1SG Lee, 3SG Tan and my 2 understudies).

Dinner was at an open-air restaurant located at a quiet residential area of Yishun, a stone's throw away from my camp.

Over food, we discussed on career prospects after national service and the usual military talks.

At the end of the dinner, we will made to give a farewell speech. I didn't really say much except to wish them luck during their tour of duty in the unit. No pun intended, really. The dinner was concluded with a few words of appreciation by my Operations Officer.

As much as I yearn for civilian life, a part of me still can't let go what I am doing now.

32 work days more to the end of my military life.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction Part 2 and Random Rants

Thanks to my wisdom teeth extraction, I spent my week at home, though it was rather unproductive. I don't think I did much except for catching up on my tv series.

I was told this time round the extraction will be harder to execute due to the position of the lower molar. But I thought otherwise. This dentist was more dedicated than the previous one. I realize for the operation, the pain isn't so much from the actual procedure but from the anesthesia injection. It was a strange and painful sensation having the needle piercing deeply through my oral cavity then the needle moving about within the cavity. Then, the traumatizing part of the drill bit drilling through the tooth which I shall not elaborate any further.

Post-procedure, I was only on painkiller for the day itself and back to solid food the next day. It's either the dentist is good or I'm numbed to the pain.

A month back, I was given a fine for not displaying a parking coupon. It was a honest mistake on my part and I was granted waiver for the fine. As a law abiding citizen, I paid the fine upfront while waiting for a response from the Housing and Development Board.

Until yesterday, I have yet to be reimbursed for the upfront payment even after sending a reminder email. In my line of work, I learnt that if thing doesn't go your way, always move up the chain of command. Thus,

From: Me
To: *Censored*
Cc: *Censored*
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: *Censored*


Dear *Censored*,

It has been 10 days since my last email (ref. appended email below) and I have yet to receive a reply from you.

I had made payment for the parking offence prior to the waiver granted by your office. As such, I believe there is an outstanding arrears of SGD30 in my favour.

I would appreciate your prompt action concerning this.

Thank you.


Yours sincerely,
*Censored*

The email was carbon copy sent to the Quality Service Manager and the general enquiry email of the branch. I received an apologetic call from them later. I guess it works somehow.

Recently, I received an email from my school students' group promoting the upcoming school camp for freshmen. Frankly speaking, I have never fancy school camps. To me, it's just a masquerade where everyone engages in silly ice-breaking games and pretends to have fun. To make it worse, my school is the only school that made the camp compulsory. Quoting from the email,

Please be reminded that attendance to *censored* is compulsory and individuals who fail to turn up without a valid reason will be imposed an extra 80 CIP hours.

In my university, it is a requirement to fulfill 80 hours of community service. I have no qualm with that since I enjoy volunteering.

But imposing an additional 80 hours (on top of the original 80 hours) to coerce attendance for the camp? That a despicable act.

Anyway, I received complimentary tickets for tomorrow's NDP Preview from my unit's HQ. Also, I was informed some time this year they might arranging a CH-47 Chinook joyride for us even though I am just a nominee for best airman. A happy closure to my numbered days in the Air Force as a NSF. :)

TB030 Around-the-Island Car Tour (20-21 Jun 08)

Sorry for the late post, I know you guys are so gonna kill me. :)

Past few days have been hectic, rushing from school to camp on Monday, combat shoot on Wednesday, duty on Thursday and on a fine Saturday like this, I'm on duty again.

Digressing not any further, TB030 had a gathering last month and it was unlike the usual, we had a 'car tour' around the island this time!

Dinner was supposedly at La Viva Spanish Bar. Slow service and less-than-satisfying food made us decided to head to Clark Quay instead.


James, Yi Quan and Sharon



Ripped off - This miniature bowl of potato costs $12.


The gang was in full attendance when we met at The Coffee Connoisseur, Clark Quay. My chicken and mushroom sandwich was so much better than earlier meal at La Viva Spanish Bar.







From left to right - Alan, Michell, James, Sharon, Peter, Boss, Myself, Yi Quan


After Clark Quay, the real car tour begun. We ended up at Jalan Kayu in the morning eventually.


Pit stop



Jalan Kayu @ 4.00am

Final Combat Shoot

The day before, I went for my final combat shoot with a detail formed from my unit. It was planned so that my buddy and I will be participating together with our coursemates from other unit though we won't be in the same detail.

At the range, I reminisced the days we trained together. We suffered as trainees but we did have fun and that's what kept us going. However, things started going downhill when we were posted to our units. People let their emotions get the better of them, not seeing eye to eye at work and so much more.

But yesterday was the day when people let whatever conflicts they have off their minds and bond together. The mood was light and laughter aplenty.

At the end of our final combat shoot, I can't help but feel emotional about our inevitible parting. I will miss the slacking moments in Specialists' Mess, the time we had steamboat in bunk and the jokes we shared.

Me and my pre-army days blues.