ORD

ORD-ing is an inexplicable feeling. Imagine yourself wasting 2 years of your life doing something you never wanted to do, and when it all ends, YES! It feels like there's this giant oppressive object has finally been lifted off your chest. Akin to leaving prison. Yea. It's that orgasmic.

I'm very lucky, to be the first person from the 87 JC batch to ORD. The elusive pink IC will finally return to my side this coming Friday. I don't even remember how I look like on it anymore. These 2 years, has really been long. I used to complain about NS day and night, but it isn't so bad after all.

I learnt and experienced a truckload of things, stuff that most people will never be able to go through. Sleeping in a basha tent hugging a rifle in a thunderstorm, getting up at 1am to dig water trenches, experiencing the rudest wake up morning call at 5am by a thunderflash. Not only the combat side of things though, unit life was probably the coolest thing I've ever been through. Trying to survive amongst ITE, secondary school dropouts, high profile gangsters without looking out of place as an smart alec from JC. The unit I was probably the worst anyone could land themselves into. Here's the breakdown :

Race
Malays 60%
Chinese 20%
Indians 10%
Expats 10%

Highest Qualifications
JC 5%
Poly 5%
ITE 40%
Sec. Skool 35%
PSLE 15%

No I'm not trying to be funny or be an elitist here. But this is so unlike the usual "goody-two-shoes" unit that most JCers land themselves in - be it Signal or Armour. I must be damn unlucky to have landed myself in a unit renowned as a dumping ground. I remember the first day I stepped in, people were giving me strange looks and scary smiles. I could hear their thoughts, " What is this white-ass chinese guy doing here? We're so gonna rape him. " I was really really upset the first week there. Even the chinese dudes around look like they were plucked from some taiwan movie. They had more tattoos than I had fingers. The regular sergeants had tattoos as well. And one of them chased me around the camp with an fire extinguisher and an axe (A TWO HANDED BIG ONE) for 30 mins. I made friends with gangsters, and now at least I know which boss owns which area. And I feel slightly safer since I know some big shots. Damn but one of them owes me money. =( Ok. That shall be protection money for the next 50 years.

I hanged out with the group of expats most of the time, more so than the chinese group of people. They were mainly from India, Indonesia, Taiwan, the US.. and they were from really rich families. A few of them had family chauffeurs driving them around - whether it be to camp or to town. Glad to know them, although I have to say a few of them are pretty much spoilt children. One of my friend said that he EXPECTS a car from his parents for his 20th birthday, and now he drives his own BMW around. People do really lead different lives. They have also taught me how to look at life in a very different way. Just a few days ago, another friend said that NS also changed him a lot. Before NS, his life in Singapore revolved around 3 places, Clarke Quay, Orchard and Holland Village. He rarely came to Jurong. (where our camp is at). Oh and the Taiwan guy who used to own a helicopter!

Some of them have already left NS ahead of me, but I still do keep in touch with them. Although not as much as I would like to, because as much as NS is able to generate camaraderie in us, there's still the divide between the rich and the poor. But they will remain as very valuable friends.

I've definitely learnt a lot from working in this environment - and I dont regret a moment of it at all. Sure, I may just be a lowly clerk, but it sure has taught me a lot!

Well on to other things. It has already been more than a year since I joined Meetup. It has certainly been quite an interesting journey, what with all the funny and weird people popping out everywhere. It's one of the few things I glad I got myself into. The members I first met in my first meetup have since more or less disappeared into oblivion. But people come and go, so I shan't make a big fuss out of it. About JLPT, don't bother asking. It's not such a big deal anyway, the test is far simpler that most people make of it. People fail because they're unprepared. It's not about the amount of books you buy from Kinokuniya, or the number of dictionaries you buy. It's really about how effectively you study. Same goes for school tests. Damn. I just wished I was a bit more passionate with school subjects back in secondary school and JC. Then I'll get a scholarship and not bother about setting aside 40k for my university education.

On to talking university, seems that I'll be matriculating next month. Why the rush? Because my friends are doing it at some SMU NSMen Jamboree 2 weeks later. Its some SMU event meant for NS dudes like us to be eased back into civilian life. I'll probably just appear for matriculation and leave since I have something else to do. Gee. I can't wait to start school. I really don't want to sit at home everyday playing computer games and watching movies.

Most of my investing buddies are performing far better than me this year, with fantastic returns in their portfolio. I still haven't forgiven myself for that massive 5-digit loss back in August, and I haven't gone near the market since then. My dad's cool with it, but its not a small sum, and I feel damn stupid for falling prey to emotions. But my secret fund has grown in excesses of 40% this year, so I'm nearly breaking even. By the end of this year, I'll be back into the market though, its no fun earning a fixed small salary from a stable job. And I really want my first million by 28.

Looks like i'll be going to Japan with my JC buddies sometime in April next year, as an ORD trip. Its gonna be a long trip, and I'm forbidden to touch any secret money so I have to work like mad to top up my POSB bank account with only a few hundred left. The pathetic remains of a Corporal's allowance last month. I found a few pretty neat jobs, but I'll most probably relief teach at a primary school if I'm given the opportunity to work for 3 months at a stretch. Problem is its the school holidays now, so I might just give tuition for the time being.

I'm getting this nostalgic feeling right now. Listening to old songs I burned on CDs back when I was in secondary school. YES. I'M THAT OLD. Damn. Time passes pretty fast if you ask me. I still remember school life. I don't want to grow up really. I always want to be the one that everyone calls me kid. And never ever turn 20.

I'll turn 20 on the 1st of December if you're wondering. I need a new wallet. Real Bad.