The first week of camp has been physically and mentally exhaustive. Rushing up and down staircases, changing quickly into different sets of clothes, and even early morning exercises has totally changed my perspective of army life.

The first week alone has changed my entire outlook on life itself, and inspired me to really treasure what I have in Singapore. Whatever I used to enjoy, I have lost. Despite it being a momentarily loss, I must say that it still strikes me deep within the wellsprings of my heart. However, I aspire to look forward instead of behind.

As I enter the second week of Tekong life, I know things are going to get tougher. It was anyway, my fault for not taking advice from my peers about passing my NAPFA before enlistment. Being in the PTP batch, I know we will be pushed to breakthrough our physical limits. In the process, our mental limits will also be stretched. Getting used to lights out, and time limits to every single thing I do places a tremendous amount of pressure on me, and I really hope to get accustomed to it soon.

I have always believed in correcting in love and not fear, but in the army, things are evidently different for now. I still believe in doing my best to not just stay out of trouble, but also make myself a better person. The first week of camp has been an eye-opener, a sneak preview to the much bigger iceberg that lies ahead.

It was the evening of a cold, grey, Monday. The white tiles in the small cubicle-like room glistened with fresh water vapour; the colourful sparkling toothbrushes sat neatly in a row by the sink. The wind howled dismally, whipping up little whirling columns of water that rose and fell at every stale gust that came from above. Armageddon was due.

The dull, murky sky stretched out upon the sanitized clay, a vast infinity of greyness. A string of mucus-coated waste fell into the tranquil waters, sending out ripples of confusion across the lake. Water splashed along the edges of the lake, shining like molten silver contaminated with bits of brown additions. An adventure was about to begin.

Reuben got off his toilet bowl and moved swiftly towards the door. It was time to meet Vanessa and Kai Wen at church. It has been a long day at work for Him, watching the dentist dig meticulously and somehow, mercilessly into dozens of plague-infested mouths. It was time for some sweet, mouth-watering dessert.

Kai Wen was late. It was no surprise for the couple as they made their way to the bubbletea shop. The aunty was there, as usual, dressed in her crumpled red tee and simple shorts. She started off a cacophony of noises as she prepared the drinks. The noise from the blender, coupled with the ice generator’s massive power system, added on to her typical chatter.

“I make my aloe vera myself everyday one you know. It is not easy one okay! Other shop give you the canned one. I have to cook my own and its not easy. Still got people say my aloe vera expensive. You see!”

“Reuben Tan! You won’t want to feel the wrath of my heel ever again right,” Vanessa perked up, matter-of-factly. She had just stepped on his tender feet with her new cruel heels.

“Awww that was painful lar!” He replied curtly and patted her back kindly.

The trio headed off to Madonnas, a fast-food chain which served good french fries. Wait a minute. It’s Macdonalds. They realised that Madonna was located overseas and did not feel like taking the subway there. As such, they walked over to Macdonalds.

After eating oily, fattening, french fries, (That were by the way full of cholesterol, fatty acids and glycerol chains.) Vanessa headed back home on a cab. Reuben and Kai Wen were then left behind.

It was time for more dessert, they decided.

After more sweet nothings and glucose, they had a massive sugar rush, and headed to the skate park. The night was young and the new moon was rising. The wind shook the trees and ripped through leaves and bushes. It was the epitome of the continuation of an adventure, the quintessence of it all.

After slacking around at some random playground with rusty machines meant for the elderly, Kai Wen said,”You know I recently read about perseverance in Love.”

The phone rang. A long pause ensued as Reuben listened intently.

When the call ended, the two of them ran towards the main road in search for…

Oh I think I want to escape the PTP stage of NS. Time to retake my NAPFA. Can’t believe my breathing problems will get in the way of my GOLD standard. And yes, its 2 days to my birthday!

Destiny

No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.
Agnes de Mille (1909 – 1993)

With the advent of National Service catching up with me, I’m simply enjoying life’s simplest pleasures these days. Exercise is not really a chore, unless you’re talking about running. I prefer to hit the gym.

I miss school and the many assignments that I had to manage all at one shot. Lazing around makes me feel useless and bored, not to forget being stereotyped as a person who does not need to suffer the pains of studying. The good old days of managing 11 projects at a go, all with different objectives and of different subjects, truly is a reminiscence.

Should I actually just stop here and not further my education, I’m pretty sure I am going to decay and rot away. It is really time to sit down and observe the world for what it is, and decide which path I will take next.

If I do not strike now when the iron is hot, I’m pretty sure that after NS my mind would be quite attuned to some form of barbaric nature. (Though I do look forward to looking much fitter when I come out.)
I feel accomplished having retrieved a diploma that can allow me to start work immediately after National Service. I have avoided the pains of the A Levels, but suffered the epitome of multi-tasking in my Year Two. Thank God its over.

And now. While waiting.

LOL.

The date of enlistment approaches.

Don’t mess with the graduate!

And yes, its over. I’m school-less now.

Perhaps I should blog about my day today.

I went back to school today to return my gown. Not before shooting myself in it of course. It was fun taking photos of myself in my home studio. Definitely.

And I went for left4dead after that.

That’s about it.

Yellow Worker

As I look back in time, I realise graduation is in a few days.

It’s been awhile since I suffered the stress of school. Its been awhile since I had the joy of receiving a piece of work marked with an A+ on it. Time really flies.

I will be going back to Ngee Ann possibly today to collect my graduation gown. Hope to be able to take some shots of myself in it and post them up. It’s yellow and dark blue I presume.

What will I do without you guys?

Sitting alone on a grassy patch of field can be a fun thing to do okay!

How many of us actually take time off to spend alone at a nice place?

Not many!

Infinity

For after all what is man in nature? A nothing in relation to infinity, all in relation to nothing, a central point between nothing and all and infinitely far from understanding either. The ends of things and their beginnings are impregnably concealed from him in an impenetrable secret. He is equally incapable of seeing the nothingness out of which he was drawn and the infinite in which he is engulfed.
Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662)

Things have been stagnant, much less exciting. The date of enlistment lays far ahead of time at September 11. I have been merely freelancing here and there once in a while for companies and schools, killing time and saving up, possibly for this:

It costs approximately 2.8K, more than my D300. Then again, it looks pretty amazing.

Life after graduation seems very different. I get to wake up at 11 and not even rush out for anything.

Got new equipment such as a softbox and new brollies, and I’ve been having fun with them everywhere. Madness? Nah.

I look forward to the future.