For my 250th entry, I wanna look back to posts of the past. One in particular detailed my first few days at Pulau Tekong - my first few days in national service. This entry was made on 20th January 2005. I was NINETEEN. 19. Sembilan-belas. Fresh out of junior college, but with a life that was in shambles and disarray. Of course, my arrogance then would not allow me to see it that way. Little did I know that the next 2 years would mellow me down tremendously.
Ladies and gentlemen, Diary Of An NSMan, written by me on the 20th January, 2005.
8th January 2005: Leaving On A Jetplane
If there's anything I have to say about Pulau Tekong, it is far. Pulau Tekong is so far, you can't even access it by public transport. Trans-Island my balls.
They put me into Scorpion company - silent and swift. At least, that's what we're described as. Swift? Maybe. Silent? No.
10th January 2005: Wifey
I finally got my rifle. The regulars here call it their 'wife'.
Why? Because if we lose our rifles, we'll get screwed. I'm talking about 7 years in detention barracks screwed. So we have to take it everywhere we go, even to the toilet. I wouldn't take a piss with my wife next to me, but that's army logic for you.
We have to oil the damn thing everyday. We have to know it inside out... every nook, every cranny. We have to know how to dismantle it, and how to piece it back together. Not to mention it's very, very heavy.
Hell, I didn't get a wife. I got myself a husband.
12th January 2005: Misquotes
In the words of a certain highly-ranked personnel in my company:
During a talk about troop morale: "There have been many cases of seaside in the past. You know what is seaside or not? That one ah, is when you kill yourself."
In encouraging a more active involvement and PARTICIPATION from the nw recruits: "For this exercise I want your hundred percent pass, patient"
Nothing much to say about: "In school you set rules... So do here."
He has good intentions, that man. He wants us to excel as economists: "We will train you hard. Both fiscal (!!!) and mental."
He prepares us for the future, like for the passing-out parade, where he advises us to eat fruits: "At the parade you will all get your berry." (beret)
13th January 2005: The Mating Process
Lecture On Loading And Unloading Of M16 Rifle
I'm writing this so as not to fall asleep. I'm writing this so as not to fall asleep. If I fall asleep, platoon sergeant's gonna make me fodder for his malay-accented hokkien expletives.
WHOA! The standards to pass my rifle loading test includes loading 30 rounds into a magazine in 50 seconds. 30 ROUNDS IN 50 SECONDS? The hell do they think this is, female orgasms?
Anyways, I realised that shooting rifles is like another activity all Singaporean males undertake. If the rifle shoots, there's always a magazine nearby.
14th January 2005: AquaPropaganda
Last evening, I saw the sun set over a peaceful, prosperous beautiful Singapore - the land whose freedom I am fighting for - and I thought,
"Hell, this army propaganda is working."
To drink water, we have to do it in a parade. Our sergeant would go, 'Bottles up', and we'd echo after him. Then, 'Caps off', and we'd echo again before removing our water bottle caps. Finally, our sergant would command 'Drink up'. Then before we echo, we'll have to recite the SAF 7 Core Values:
Loyalty to country (Yeah sure, the country's that making us drink newater)
Leadership (You call giving us Speaker's Corner leadership?)
Discipline (Not during Book-Out Day)
Professionalism (Bah no denying that)
Fighting Spirit (You've got to have a lot of that eating the food they serve you here)
Ethics (No man, please. Eating that kinda food is just immoral)
Care For Soldiers (Hahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahhaha)
Then, we drink the water.
15th January 2005: I'm Missing You
Nothing beats the view I got two evenings ago of the sun setting over Eastern Singapore. But that's a rare sight - of golden honey sunrays bathing the Control Tower of Changi Airport in the glory of a dying day.
A nice view I get to see on a more regular basis are aeroplanes taking off from nearby Changi Airport. It's a symbol the civilian life I've known for 18 years of my life. A civilian life...
Of waking up at times that would not steal one's sanity.
Of going out on afternoons to play glorious soccer.
Of bumming around at Orchard Road.
Of not having to bathe in open cubicles with other naked guys.
Of going out with my SJI Mats.
Of Blogging.
Of Chatting.
Of Partying.
But I sacrifice my previous way of life so those I love can keep theirs.
See how bored I am in NS?
16th January 2005: Ooh! Aah!
I just discovered my favourite marching song:
I'm a steamroller baby, just rolling down the line (X2)
So you better get out of my way now before I roll on over you (X2)
Give a little (Ooh!)
Little (Aah!)
Little Rock N' Roll
Just A Kinda (Ooh!)
Kinda (Aah!)
Some kinda super soul
20th January 2005: Outro
Man I haven't updated my journal for sometime. I will next time I book back in. In a few hours, I leave for home. I am so happy. It's like I'm on drugs.
HDB flats, here I come.
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