it's a culture shock to be tossed right back to my chiong sua days. last week, i was clearing the odds and ends of my teaching responsibilities and voila! i am in lim chu kang a garang soldier, (not-quite) ready to charge ahead whenever necessary.
actually, chiong sua-ing can be quite fun. it would have been more fun if i were younger. i now feel aches in parts of my body i never knew existed. and after wednesday, i really thought my bones would shatter and dissolve into the face of this earth. seriously.
hmm, army personnel can be darned atas. this warrant officer exclaimed, "wah, corporal sia" when he was taking attendance and another warrant officer readily assumed that i was the acting section commander, to which i eagerly pointed at my hokkien beng I/C and declared that he was the person in charge. haha.
i am only one of 3 corporals in my platoon (the other two corporals were also top-up-strength personnel, like me). while i recognised that i would never blend in seamlessly with the platoon, i felt confident that i won't feel like a misfit and be able to hold conversations with them. this ICT has given me a clear idea as to why i like to mix around with hokkien bengs. because they speak candidly whatever's on their minds and trust that their buddies won't take offence. because they mean no harm with their sarcasm. because they are freaking hilarious when they are sarcastic. just like watashi! it's reassuring that i don't have to couch my words carefully in front of them.
it's quite interesting to watch the platoon perform suggestive bedroom acts. Dare would never take on the same meaning for me again.
i am glad that i like my section and platoon mates. jiewen is an unflappable character who won't kan cheong while he gets things done. i like his relaxed attitude! i am inclined to entrust my life in his hands if Singapore really goes to war, which is saying a lot for a guy whom i have only known for 5 days. alex, daniel, yong wen and lewis work well together. kai wei reminds me of kelvin looi, my own acting section commander because he too possesses the gift of the gab. it's very shiok chatting with him. and he served as a barometer of my emotional state. lao shi, ni hen kai xin hor. lao shi, why u look so sianz. haha. cute!
i would never admit this in the past but in actual fact, NS has taught me quite a number of things: Lead by example. Don't Assume, ensure. Care for soldiers. Live with crap. And these are the principles that i try to live up to in my classroom. which kinda affirms that i really need to get out of teaching because the stark similarities between teaching and NS are stunning. I need to embrace new experiences, new perspectives in another field of work
9 more ICTs to go!
actually, chiong sua-ing can be quite fun. it would have been more fun if i were younger. i now feel aches in parts of my body i never knew existed. and after wednesday, i really thought my bones would shatter and dissolve into the face of this earth. seriously.
hmm, army personnel can be darned atas. this warrant officer exclaimed, "wah, corporal sia" when he was taking attendance and another warrant officer readily assumed that i was the acting section commander, to which i eagerly pointed at my hokkien beng I/C and declared that he was the person in charge. haha.
i am only one of 3 corporals in my platoon (the other two corporals were also top-up-strength personnel, like me). while i recognised that i would never blend in seamlessly with the platoon, i felt confident that i won't feel like a misfit and be able to hold conversations with them. this ICT has given me a clear idea as to why i like to mix around with hokkien bengs. because they speak candidly whatever's on their minds and trust that their buddies won't take offence. because they mean no harm with their sarcasm. because they are freaking hilarious when they are sarcastic. just like watashi! it's reassuring that i don't have to couch my words carefully in front of them.
it's quite interesting to watch the platoon perform suggestive bedroom acts. Dare would never take on the same meaning for me again.
i am glad that i like my section and platoon mates. jiewen is an unflappable character who won't kan cheong while he gets things done. i like his relaxed attitude! i am inclined to entrust my life in his hands if Singapore really goes to war, which is saying a lot for a guy whom i have only known for 5 days. alex, daniel, yong wen and lewis work well together. kai wei reminds me of kelvin looi, my own acting section commander because he too possesses the gift of the gab. it's very shiok chatting with him. and he served as a barometer of my emotional state. lao shi, ni hen kai xin hor. lao shi, why u look so sianz. haha. cute!
i would never admit this in the past but in actual fact, NS has taught me quite a number of things: Lead by example. Don't Assume, ensure. Care for soldiers. Live with crap. And these are the principles that i try to live up to in my classroom. which kinda affirms that i really need to get out of teaching because the stark similarities between teaching and NS are stunning. I need to embrace new experiences, new perspectives in another field of work
9 more ICTs to go!
posted by heng at 8:15 AM
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