What goes round, comes around.
The first book out was 3 days ago. My short holiday is now drawing to an undesired end as I revel in my last hours before booking in back into that depressive island. I haven't spent the last few days fruitfully. I haven't written anymore essays for either universities or PSC, neither have I done anything to enrich my mind. I have, thankfully, picked up my guitar again and attempted to replay those sweet melodies that are now only part of a distant memory.
I guess I'll get used to this soon. The dreadful feeling of going back into camp. Meanwhile, I shall have to conjure up something for my long overdue psc essay. Perhaps I just can't and won't do it. I mean, Public Service is working for the government and I don't exactly adore this administration. Not with the distress they are putting me through. I guess we are better off compared to the South Koreans and Taiwanese. But any guess why the Yanks and the Brits are always hoarding the Nobel prizes? It's because they do not have conscription as part of their national defence policy. It's very simple. Their talents get to develop, flourish and blossom into beautiful nobel laureates.
Here, the flowers are nipped in the bud, apical dominance removed and the plants are shaped like bonsai, slowly but surely into cogs that fit into the system. It's all the about the system. That reminds me of a socialist society where individualism is discouraged. I wonder if I can regain my former level of mental acuity when I ORD. It's going to be rather tough, since the mental attrition rate is rather significant now in the early stages of NS.
What do I want to do with my life?
Why am I singaporean?
Why can't I be British or American.
Bah.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
First Book-out
Finally, I have been released from Singapore's very own Alcatraz. To put it simply, it's impossible to escape or go AWOL from Tekong. Anyhow, the 2 weeks there felt like eternity, especially the last 5 days to bookout, time seemed to drag on and on ad infinitum.
Everyday is a routine. 5BX, breakfast, PT, lunch, PT, dinner, OT-OT (Own Time - Own Target i.e. self-imposed training) then lights out. A bore really. I attempted to consume Richard Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker while in camp, but was sorely disappointed by the amount of rubbish he managed to purvey.
I can slowly feel my intellectual capacities decline as I am subjected to routine and regimentation in Tentera Singapura. Not that I like to serve. In fact, I am now seriously contemplating Medicine (MBBS NUS) to escape this uncalled for conscription. Why am I born Singaporean? To forsake my academic pursuits for this mindless activity.
And to think I was so bent on OCS before enlistment. OCS seems like a dream unattainable for me, now. I am weak. I can't do 15 pullups. I can't run 2.4km under 9 flat. I don't want to be a soldier. To say the least, this is a diktat. I have no moral obligations to comply with it. As I have heard from my friends, training is poised to get tougher. Actually, it's not the physical stress that I am not comfortable but the mental anguish I am going through. This is a period where intellectual activity is at its lowest. I desire to give my mind a workout that befits the training that my body is undergoing.
Very soon, many of my classmates will join me on Tekong, the god-forsaken island in the Eastern part of Singapore. I can only describe Friday's home-coming as a sort of a vacation. It felt really like I was going overseas on holiday. I packed my bag happily and marched to the jetty, to be met by the penguin, a wreck of a ferry, but a luxury for Tekong. I almost wanted to kiss the Singaporean mainland.
Anyhow, best wishes for everyone awaiting their results for foreign schools. I am keenly awaiting a favourable reply from Pembroke. Hopefully Mrs Stobbs understands how much I want the place and my committment to Biology. I do hope to see an offer from MIT but that's asking for the moon.
Finally, I have been released from Singapore's very own Alcatraz. To put it simply, it's impossible to escape or go AWOL from Tekong. Anyhow, the 2 weeks there felt like eternity, especially the last 5 days to bookout, time seemed to drag on and on ad infinitum.
Everyday is a routine. 5BX, breakfast, PT, lunch, PT, dinner, OT-OT (Own Time - Own Target i.e. self-imposed training) then lights out. A bore really. I attempted to consume Richard Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker while in camp, but was sorely disappointed by the amount of rubbish he managed to purvey.
I can slowly feel my intellectual capacities decline as I am subjected to routine and regimentation in Tentera Singapura. Not that I like to serve. In fact, I am now seriously contemplating Medicine (MBBS NUS) to escape this uncalled for conscription. Why am I born Singaporean? To forsake my academic pursuits for this mindless activity.
And to think I was so bent on OCS before enlistment. OCS seems like a dream unattainable for me, now. I am weak. I can't do 15 pullups. I can't run 2.4km under 9 flat. I don't want to be a soldier. To say the least, this is a diktat. I have no moral obligations to comply with it. As I have heard from my friends, training is poised to get tougher. Actually, it's not the physical stress that I am not comfortable but the mental anguish I am going through. This is a period where intellectual activity is at its lowest. I desire to give my mind a workout that befits the training that my body is undergoing.
Very soon, many of my classmates will join me on Tekong, the god-forsaken island in the Eastern part of Singapore. I can only describe Friday's home-coming as a sort of a vacation. It felt really like I was going overseas on holiday. I packed my bag happily and marched to the jetty, to be met by the penguin, a wreck of a ferry, but a luxury for Tekong. I almost wanted to kiss the Singaporean mainland.
Anyhow, best wishes for everyone awaiting their results for foreign schools. I am keenly awaiting a favourable reply from Pembroke. Hopefully Mrs Stobbs understands how much I want the place and my committment to Biology. I do hope to see an offer from MIT but that's asking for the moon.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Tekong-Bound
In just a few more minutes, i'll be going towards pasir ris, towards tekong. It's rather foreboding, this new experience and uncomfortable lifestyle. No more creature comforts. Nothing.
Just blogging my last words to bid farewell to my classmates and friends. To my male classmates, may we meet in Tekong.
Well, all the best to everyone from 04S73. I'll miss all of you.
In just a few more minutes, i'll be going towards pasir ris, towards tekong. It's rather foreboding, this new experience and uncomfortable lifestyle. No more creature comforts. Nothing.
Just blogging my last words to bid farewell to my classmates and friends. To my male classmates, may we meet in Tekong.
Well, all the best to everyone from 04S73. I'll miss all of you.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Adieu
This is probably going to be the last time I am going to blog for a long time. Immediately after the night of hedonistic abandon (but knowing hwachong students it's not much.) I will officially be conscripted in the army.
I am probably the first in 73 to start on their new phase of life. Army life is going to be very different from what we are used to. It's probably going to be quite tough, considering my poor physical conditions. I cannot even run 2k without feeling like a dead man. Though I do forsee in the near future that I will (hopefully) lose some weight, and hair. In turn, drop my 2.4 timings as well as increase in mass of skeletal muscles (though not long bones, am past that.)
Lot's of things I want to do but can't be done as of yet. I might have to wait until after my army stint. Here's a list:
1. Learn driving
2. Learn french
3. Learn in-depth biodiversity
4. Learn mathematics behind schrodinger's wave equation (Hamiltonian operator etc)
5. Travel - May have a window period after BMT before vocation. Anyone?
After watching American Pie, I have found many similarities in the themes involved yet stark differences between the American and Singaporean culture. Firstly, contrite as it may seem, we are a very conservative society where sex is taboo whereas in the United States, it is generally allowed and encouraged. Apart from that, the troubles that we are facing now are no different from what their high school seniors are facing.
In American Pie 2, the seniors are faced with the realisation that times have changed and things are no longer the same. As much as they want to continue living their high school lives, with their high schools friends and party in the same way, circumstances have changed. They are now in college and are meeting new people. I guess for us, it's pretty much the same. We're going to see less and less of each other. Soon, we'll started a new circle of friends and 73 would be relegated to what is known as cherished history.
The future is indeed an exciting one, full of challenges and surprises. I guess, we'll just watch, things are going to change dramatically in a few months time. Till then.
This is probably going to be the last time I am going to blog for a long time. Immediately after the night of hedonistic abandon (but knowing hwachong students it's not much.) I will officially be conscripted in the army.
I am probably the first in 73 to start on their new phase of life. Army life is going to be very different from what we are used to. It's probably going to be quite tough, considering my poor physical conditions. I cannot even run 2k without feeling like a dead man. Though I do forsee in the near future that I will (hopefully) lose some weight, and hair. In turn, drop my 2.4 timings as well as increase in mass of skeletal muscles (though not long bones, am past that.)
Lot's of things I want to do but can't be done as of yet. I might have to wait until after my army stint. Here's a list:
1. Learn driving
2. Learn french
3. Learn in-depth biodiversity
4. Learn mathematics behind schrodinger's wave equation (Hamiltonian operator etc)
5. Travel - May have a window period after BMT before vocation. Anyone?
After watching American Pie, I have found many similarities in the themes involved yet stark differences between the American and Singaporean culture. Firstly, contrite as it may seem, we are a very conservative society where sex is taboo whereas in the United States, it is generally allowed and encouraged. Apart from that, the troubles that we are facing now are no different from what their high school seniors are facing.
In American Pie 2, the seniors are faced with the realisation that times have changed and things are no longer the same. As much as they want to continue living their high school lives, with their high schools friends and party in the same way, circumstances have changed. They are now in college and are meeting new people. I guess for us, it's pretty much the same. We're going to see less and less of each other. Soon, we'll started a new circle of friends and 73 would be relegated to what is known as cherished history.
The future is indeed an exciting one, full of challenges and surprises. I guess, we'll just watch, things are going to change dramatically in a few months time. Till then.
Friday, December 02, 2005
天下无不散之宴席
JC life has since come to a closure. The grand finale is still the Senior Promenade. But I guess the class chalet this time really sums up this chapter of our life. It's time to move on to the next stage. For many of the guys, it's serving in the military and for the girls, part-time work followed by higher education.
I am really glad that our class turned out this way. We were fragmented to begin with from day 1 simply because we had different subject combinations. But these chasms were soon bridged. Definitely along the way, many of us had differences and responded to those with hostility. Somehow, all these ill-feelings just went away and divides were bridged. JC is definitely the most intense, most memorable part of my school life in Singapore. I do expect many of us to go overseas for higher education. We all have high aspirations and this is where we shall diverge.
To think that in the first 3 months, I wanted to switch classes and even thought of going to RJC. But the thought of having to start afresh and the consequent academic suicide stopped me from doing so. Surely many others thought the same way. I wonder how long we could hold out with the JC workload and CCA load. I guess I would call it quits after 2 years. Very hectic with hardly time for anything else. Still, the class managed several memorable class events (kudos to erene and wk).
I must say that HC has provided me with ample opportunities. I had only myself to blame for not making use of all of them. I gave up some willingly, some unwillingly. How would everything turn out if we were allowed to live our JC lives again? Would I still place so much emphasis on scoring As for the Hwach tests which will be of no consequence ever in the future? Or would I have continued with more extra-curriculars, if only to enchance my CV? I guess, we'll never know.
But most importantly, we wouldn't want to be in another class if we were given the choice again.
The path aheads seems rather treacherous and I'll be the first to embark on it. I'll be starting my military service next friday, after Prom. Too bad I can't stay for the last (probably) night of fun and laughter with 73. I really do hope there's some Xmas event (*hint*) that I can look forward to and to tide me over the 2 weeks in Tekong. It'll be a while before my hair will grow back again.
Looking into the future, I am hoping we will be able to have many many many more class gatherings, and hopefully, chalets as well. Perhaps it'll hard as we would be all over the world either studying or working. Perhaps we can all congregate on the datuk's grand palace up north.
The future beckons.
JC life has since come to a closure. The grand finale is still the Senior Promenade. But I guess the class chalet this time really sums up this chapter of our life. It's time to move on to the next stage. For many of the guys, it's serving in the military and for the girls, part-time work followed by higher education.
I am really glad that our class turned out this way. We were fragmented to begin with from day 1 simply because we had different subject combinations. But these chasms were soon bridged. Definitely along the way, many of us had differences and responded to those with hostility. Somehow, all these ill-feelings just went away and divides were bridged. JC is definitely the most intense, most memorable part of my school life in Singapore. I do expect many of us to go overseas for higher education. We all have high aspirations and this is where we shall diverge.
To think that in the first 3 months, I wanted to switch classes and even thought of going to RJC. But the thought of having to start afresh and the consequent academic suicide stopped me from doing so. Surely many others thought the same way. I wonder how long we could hold out with the JC workload and CCA load. I guess I would call it quits after 2 years. Very hectic with hardly time for anything else. Still, the class managed several memorable class events (kudos to erene and wk).
I must say that HC has provided me with ample opportunities. I had only myself to blame for not making use of all of them. I gave up some willingly, some unwillingly. How would everything turn out if we were allowed to live our JC lives again? Would I still place so much emphasis on scoring As for the Hwach tests which will be of no consequence ever in the future? Or would I have continued with more extra-curriculars, if only to enchance my CV? I guess, we'll never know.
But most importantly, we wouldn't want to be in another class if we were given the choice again.
The path aheads seems rather treacherous and I'll be the first to embark on it. I'll be starting my military service next friday, after Prom. Too bad I can't stay for the last (probably) night of fun and laughter with 73. I really do hope there's some Xmas event (*hint*) that I can look forward to and to tide me over the 2 weeks in Tekong. It'll be a while before my hair will grow back again.
Looking into the future, I am hoping we will be able to have many many many more class gatherings, and hopefully, chalets as well. Perhaps it'll hard as we would be all over the world either studying or working. Perhaps we can all congregate on the datuk's grand palace up north.
The future beckons.
Sightings
The MRT can be said to be a microcosm of Singapore. You see all sorts of people ranging from well-heeled executives with business suits and leather shoes to the nondescript housewife who carries her groceries together with her kids.
While I was on my ultra-long (to me) trip from Pasir Ris to Bouna Vista, I saw a spectrum of behavior, ranging for strange to disgusting.
1. There was a PRC school girl, from an unidentifiable school (her nationality was determined due to accent), who was seated and talking to her friends (same nationality) who were standing. Intentionally or not, there was an old woman, frail and weak, who stood right next to the PRC girl. The old woman looked upon the seat earnestly, secretly hoping that she would offer her seat to the poor old woman. Nevertheless, the PRC girl continued her incessant, and inevitably irritating, chatter with her compatriots. At a point in time, she even pretended to be asleep, only to shoot up wide awake when the chatter with her little friends resumed. The classic case of bad manners.
2. A few malay (coincidentally, this has NOTHING to do with their race)boys sat beside me and started their jubilant conversation, switching regularly between Malay and English. They were talking about this girl called Lisa. The contents of their conversational were rather incomprehensible due to my inability to converse in Malay. Nevertheless, based on the English bits, I can make out that they were talking about their coital prowess. Utterly digusted with young people like that these days, throwing caution to the wind. To top it off, they were talking about it in public.
3. A boy of circa age 15, suspected to have trisomy 21, was jumping about and shouting in the cabin. He was listening to music and singing along as though he was Elvis. The caveat being that none of his notes were in tune and most importantly, all poorly enuciated. It was quite a torture having the depraved child wreck aural havoc on the passengers. He was singing about love and strangely, said "I love you" to the train door and the floor. He, too, carried a towel reminiscent of the barbers of the old age and flung the sweat saturated cloth all around. Thank goodness he did not hit anyone. It was irresponsible for his guardian to have let him out on the loose.
The MRT can be said to be a microcosm of Singapore. You see all sorts of people ranging from well-heeled executives with business suits and leather shoes to the nondescript housewife who carries her groceries together with her kids.
While I was on my ultra-long (to me) trip from Pasir Ris to Bouna Vista, I saw a spectrum of behavior, ranging for strange to disgusting.
1. There was a PRC school girl, from an unidentifiable school (her nationality was determined due to accent), who was seated and talking to her friends (same nationality) who were standing. Intentionally or not, there was an old woman, frail and weak, who stood right next to the PRC girl. The old woman looked upon the seat earnestly, secretly hoping that she would offer her seat to the poor old woman. Nevertheless, the PRC girl continued her incessant, and inevitably irritating, chatter with her compatriots. At a point in time, she even pretended to be asleep, only to shoot up wide awake when the chatter with her little friends resumed. The classic case of bad manners.
2. A few malay (coincidentally, this has NOTHING to do with their race)boys sat beside me and started their jubilant conversation, switching regularly between Malay and English. They were talking about this girl called Lisa. The contents of their conversational were rather incomprehensible due to my inability to converse in Malay. Nevertheless, based on the English bits, I can make out that they were talking about their coital prowess. Utterly digusted with young people like that these days, throwing caution to the wind. To top it off, they were talking about it in public.
3. A boy of circa age 15, suspected to have trisomy 21, was jumping about and shouting in the cabin. He was listening to music and singing along as though he was Elvis. The caveat being that none of his notes were in tune and most importantly, all poorly enuciated. It was quite a torture having the depraved child wreck aural havoc on the passengers. He was singing about love and strangely, said "I love you" to the train door and the floor. He, too, carried a towel reminiscent of the barbers of the old age and flung the sweat saturated cloth all around. Thank goodness he did not hit anyone. It was irresponsible for his guardian to have let him out on the loose.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Genesis
This is my first post after a long hiatus for A levels and the furore over politically incorrect blogs. As such, this is a fresh start for me at a new turning point in my life . That from JC to army which is going to be very tough indeed. Blind compliance for 2 entire years. I wonder how I am going to take that. Anyhow, I am just pretty glad that A levels are over now and I can finally take a short break. The class is going to partake in a decadent chalet in a few days time and I am going to tekong on the 9th, right after the last night as a Hwachongian. I believe that I have to get started again on my university apps (MIT) for time is short and I have to clear everything up before army. Up till now, I can say that i am rather satisfied with my A levels and hope that results day won't disappoint me. Till next time.
This is my first post after a long hiatus for A levels and the furore over politically incorrect blogs. As such, this is a fresh start for me at a new turning point in my life . That from JC to army which is going to be very tough indeed. Blind compliance for 2 entire years. I wonder how I am going to take that. Anyhow, I am just pretty glad that A levels are over now and I can finally take a short break. The class is going to partake in a decadent chalet in a few days time and I am going to tekong on the 9th, right after the last night as a Hwachongian. I believe that I have to get started again on my university apps (MIT) for time is short and I have to clear everything up before army. Up till now, I can say that i am rather satisfied with my A levels and hope that results day won't disappoint me. Till next time.
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