O for ORD
After 2 years and 4 months - ORD loh!
Actually to tell the truth, I'm not as happy as how an ORD personnel should be. I dunno why - really. Not that I'll miss the SAF la. (Over my dead body.) Will I miss the people there? I dunno. I'll definitely miss some but not (alot) others.
Anyway, I typed my farewell note today (like will liddat. Kaoz.) to office people. Actually I didn't really have much time to type, so I was not really satisfied with it, but it'll do. I have actually planned wat to type since the start of this year, but decided its too lengthy. So go straight to the point. As I approached ORD, I began to reflect more and more on my 2 years. I feel that, a good proper reflection of what you have done and become over the 2 years will show how much you have grown since.
I concluded I have not grown. (Well, i'm still 171cm. Lol. See???) Ok, seriously, I have not changed much, except becoming crappier and more detactched. Detatched? Si mi sai eh? I think I think a little more differently compared to 2 years ago. On hindsight, I feel I was quite naive. Now I tend to look at things differently. Hard to explain, but now I think I can let go of things more easily. Previously was like, you try hard, you can do anything. Now is like, wat is important is trying your best. If u win, u win. U lose, accept it. There are those who do nothing but win everything. Then there are those who give everything but gets nothing in return. Not Fair? Nothing is fair in this world. This sounds a little sad and pessimistic la, but oh well...
On a lighter note, ORD-day today was smooth. Kaoz, specially buy one big bag of chocolate and cookies yesterday to distribute today. So heavy. Went for breakfast with the other NSFs for the FIRST time in my whole NSF life. Then later typed my farewell note. Then ordered in Canadian Pizza and KFC for lunch for office people. Basket, never expect so many officers to join in the 'fun'. In the end I pay but I ate only 1 slice of pizza. Kaoz.
Then afternoon went up to MINDEF to say my goodbyes to the people up there and to distribute my gifts. Came back, snapped some photos with the office people, collect IC, distribute remaining gifts then zhao liao.
Wish to comment on the gifts here. I bought 'additional' gifts for Mdm Janis, Mdm Chris, Mdm Jessie, Ms Lum, Jasmine and Mak. Cos they are the people I work directly with, and for Mak, I owe him lots. Actually I had planned (long ago. Shows how much I thought for this ORD and how much I pined for it.) to give different people different things one. Each gift will be a reflection of what I feel will be the most meaningful and of what I remembered of that person. In the end I only got Mdm Chris & Mak what I had planned to give them all along. But will do la. I got all the Mdms chocolates. I had thought about it. On each of their gifts, I wrote what I think was most appropriate. (which I will not say here) But I hope that what I wrote will show how much each means to me and shows how much I remember the things you said.
Don't wish this post to be too sentimental. But I'm a sentimental person. So...
Just a parting shot: The most invaluable lessonI learnt in my whole 2 yrs 4 mths in SAF is Not to Impose Your Ideals and Beliefs onto Others. Cos Others may Think Differently and You have No Right to Judge if They are Right or Wrong.
Thank You Mak.
Actually to tell the truth, I'm not as happy as how an ORD personnel should be. I dunno why - really. Not that I'll miss the SAF la. (Over my dead body.) Will I miss the people there? I dunno. I'll definitely miss some but not (alot) others.
Anyway, I typed my farewell note today (like will liddat. Kaoz.) to office people. Actually I didn't really have much time to type, so I was not really satisfied with it, but it'll do. I have actually planned wat to type since the start of this year, but decided its too lengthy. So go straight to the point. As I approached ORD, I began to reflect more and more on my 2 years. I feel that, a good proper reflection of what you have done and become over the 2 years will show how much you have grown since.
I concluded I have not grown. (Well, i'm still 171cm. Lol. See???) Ok, seriously, I have not changed much, except becoming crappier and more detactched. Detatched? Si mi sai eh? I think I think a little more differently compared to 2 years ago. On hindsight, I feel I was quite naive. Now I tend to look at things differently. Hard to explain, but now I think I can let go of things more easily. Previously was like, you try hard, you can do anything. Now is like, wat is important is trying your best. If u win, u win. U lose, accept it. There are those who do nothing but win everything. Then there are those who give everything but gets nothing in return. Not Fair? Nothing is fair in this world. This sounds a little sad and pessimistic la, but oh well...
On a lighter note, ORD-day today was smooth. Kaoz, specially buy one big bag of chocolate and cookies yesterday to distribute today. So heavy. Went for breakfast with the other NSFs for the FIRST time in my whole NSF life. Then later typed my farewell note. Then ordered in Canadian Pizza and KFC for lunch for office people. Basket, never expect so many officers to join in the 'fun'. In the end I pay but I ate only 1 slice of pizza. Kaoz.
Then afternoon went up to MINDEF to say my goodbyes to the people up there and to distribute my gifts. Came back, snapped some photos with the office people, collect IC, distribute remaining gifts then zhao liao.
Wish to comment on the gifts here. I bought 'additional' gifts for Mdm Janis, Mdm Chris, Mdm Jessie, Ms Lum, Jasmine and Mak. Cos they are the people I work directly with, and for Mak, I owe him lots. Actually I had planned (long ago. Shows how much I thought for this ORD and how much I pined for it.) to give different people different things one. Each gift will be a reflection of what I feel will be the most meaningful and of what I remembered of that person. In the end I only got Mdm Chris & Mak what I had planned to give them all along. But will do la. I got all the Mdms chocolates. I had thought about it. On each of their gifts, I wrote what I think was most appropriate. (which I will not say here) But I hope that what I wrote will show how much each means to me and shows how much I remember the things you said.
Don't wish this post to be too sentimental. But I'm a sentimental person. So...
Just a parting shot: The most invaluable lessonI learnt in my whole 2 yrs 4 mths in SAF is Not to Impose Your Ideals and Beliefs onto Others. Cos Others may Think Differently and You have No Right to Judge if They are Right or Wrong.
Thank You Mak.
posted by Cjj | 9:51 PM
1 Comments:
My National Service term was 2 years, 2 months and 2 days. (Friends of mine will know why 2 days)
Actually you have grown. Perhaps not physically, but 2 years plus is a lot of time. In this time we have grown ; I can swear by that. Friends become closer, and also, simply because different ideas emerged more significantly when we're not studying, we (and our 'friends') re-evaluate friends. That's a nicer way to put it. The truth is that some of them simply can't accept your ideas; friction becomes inevitable.
Bloggers are brave people; there are 2 ways friends reading it can be affected. One, is that they get to know you better, they realise that your principles co-incides with theirs. Another is that it leaves 'loopholes' for people to attack you.
I will never write a blog. (Not in the near future anyway). There are already people beginning to attack me. I can feel it, I can sense it. And I totally resent it.
To each his own; no one should judge.
You are entitled to your opinion, but no one can judge me except for myself.
Hey JJ, that parting shot is a good one. ;)
I didn't feel so powerful when I got my IC.. But.. as I was sitting in the fastcraft back to mainland for the last time, I just sat back, look around and think about my 1.5 years at Tekong Medical Centre... And I can tell you, I felt great. I accomplished what I wanted. There were the bad times that accompanied my path to freedom from the SAF.. but I knew what to endure and what not to.. I don't think I really complained much to my friends.. but even if I did for those brief moments, sometimes life was too unbearable for me.. No one knew what I REALLY went through.. I never told anyone the FULL story..
So for all those JERKS out there who complained and think I complained too much.. You can have your opinion.. But don't judge me..
Hey JJ, your post make me wanna add 1 more point to my very very long comment.
There is a person who really really helped me through my dark times in the medical centre.. Its Mr Tay, the radiographer there. Wonder whether Mak to you is like what Mr Tay is to me, but nevertheless, I always consider Mr Tay my mentor. Really enlightened me. Out of the so many people in the medical centre, I gave him and only him a present (with a short note, but my message to him should be ample)before I ORDed..
Usually people see only 1 side of me; I keep the other side to myself. (Guess that's part of a chess player's instinct. :P) But any JJ, don't lose that drive in you. Its what make you You.
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