Scary to hear that one of my friend wakes up 4.30am every morning to get to camp, while I am still soundly asleep in bed, waking up in 1 and a half hours later. Reaches home at almost 8 and sleeps at 10. Not even a SAF minimum of 7 hours of sleep. Fortunately he is planning to stay in starting from next week, along with some other 'Sengkang Warriors'. Travelling to and fro the camp is indeed a torture for NEL-ies, esp for staying-out personnel.
Can't imagine myself being posted to eastern camps, like Seletar. Luckily most camps are situated at the west, hehe.
Regarding my job, it feels like the amount of work I've done for the past 2 days is equivalent to 2 weeks of work in OETI, haha. Shows how slack I am last time. Being in a unit, can't afford to slack at all, there is always enough work for everyone. And I feel dirtier now, cos the facilities and conditions in the workshop is not as good, but I do feel a sense of achievement after completing a task. =)
Somehow I seem to be promoted slightly as I have ka-gia (literally 'leg-ppl' which means subordinates) now. Can command them to help me do physical work and saikangs like cleaning the vehicles, haha. So shiok! Of course I wun be the one to give orders directly, someone else will do it for me... Someone even asked me for persmission to go toilet lol. First time in the army! Maybe those combatants see technicians as 'bigger' ppl?
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
To Another Phase
Time seems to pass really fast, still remember the first day reporting to Ayer Rajah camp: It was raining heavily and most new privates were drenched in search for the correct entrance (amongst STK's and other camps') along Portsdown Rd. My first impression of the camp was, it's so poorly sheltered. (compared to BMTC) I guess most camps are like that anyway.
Can't forget the shock when I saw the huge workshop filled with all kinds of heavy vehicles, ranging from tonners to tractors to tanks/armoured veh (which took up majority of the space). There were gigantic recovery vehicles too, which seemed rather overwhelming to me at that time.
Passed out last week after 3 months of basic technician course, which I thought I could never survive till the end. It wasn't that difficult after all, just abt getting used to it over time. How I miss my instructors (esp our dear cool ah gong) and coursemates (ah-tan, ah-chua and the kay-siao, etc)... Really hope to continue staying in OETI, and sleeping in the locker room! Haha.
Posted to Sungei Gedong camp for my OJE (On-Job Experience) for the next 2 months. Famous for the most ulu camp in Singapore. Even the bus journey from the nearest mrt takes abt half an hour. Quite lucky that the only bus to the camp terminates near my place, able to reach home much earlier than the others. Can't imagine how those who live in the east or central spend almost 4 hours everyday travelling to and fro. Might as well stay in lol. Heard so much grievances abt the camp, but din expect myself to go there eventually.
When we arrived to the company line, it seemed like we had crossed the borders and entered the Malaysia slums. The noisy environment made us feel like being in a construction site and we are bangla workers. >_>
Can't forget the shock when I saw the huge workshop filled with all kinds of heavy vehicles, ranging from tonners to tractors to tanks/armoured veh (which took up majority of the space). There were gigantic recovery vehicles too, which seemed rather overwhelming to me at that time.
Passed out last week after 3 months of basic technician course, which I thought I could never survive till the end. It wasn't that difficult after all, just abt getting used to it over time. How I miss my instructors (esp our dear cool ah gong) and coursemates (ah-tan, ah-chua and the kay-siao, etc)... Really hope to continue staying in OETI, and sleeping in the locker room! Haha.
Posted to Sungei Gedong camp for my OJE (On-Job Experience) for the next 2 months. Famous for the most ulu camp in Singapore. Even the bus journey from the nearest mrt takes abt half an hour. Quite lucky that the only bus to the camp terminates near my place, able to reach home much earlier than the others. Can't imagine how those who live in the east or central spend almost 4 hours everyday travelling to and fro. Might as well stay in lol. Heard so much grievances abt the camp, but din expect myself to go there eventually.
When we arrived to the company line, it seemed like we had crossed the borders and entered the Malaysia slums. The noisy environment made us feel like being in a construction site and we are bangla workers. >_>
Monday, September 11, 2006
Technology Idiot (2)
So disappointed with my test performance today, even though it was a short and simple one which does not require much thinking. It could be completed within minutes but I took almost an hour for the task, just becos of my inflexibility. Sometimes I can only see what is ahead of me and presume that's the only way things can be done, instead of thinking out of box and attempting alternative methods to approach the tasks. Really need to build up on my problem-solving skills. Took unnecessary time and dripped unnecessary sweat, giving others false impression that the task was physically demanding. >_>
Passing out from my technician course this thursday but I still feel that I have not acquired enough skills to work on my own. It's like tackling A lvls when I barely pass my O lvls. Can foresee lots of scoldings and reprimandings from the instructors in my new unit. Now I understand why ppl usually complain that OJE is much tougher, though more independence and flexibility are permitted.
The hardest part in working on my own is to troubleshoot and solve problems in the vehicles, esp when we are often not told what to repair or rectify instead just given the faults itself. Same goes for my com. Now that my bro is living in the campus and is only at home on the weekends, I can't wait for him to come home and fix my pc everytime there is a problem. Can't rely on my bro forever as a 'home technician', like one now. Want to learn technical basics abt the com, but dunno where to start from, haha. Maybe till an actual problem arises, hehe.
Where to get reliable computer parts and what kind or brand to get. That's another major consideration...hmmm.
Passing out from my technician course this thursday but I still feel that I have not acquired enough skills to work on my own. It's like tackling A lvls when I barely pass my O lvls. Can foresee lots of scoldings and reprimandings from the instructors in my new unit. Now I understand why ppl usually complain that OJE is much tougher, though more independence and flexibility are permitted.
The hardest part in working on my own is to troubleshoot and solve problems in the vehicles, esp when we are often not told what to repair or rectify instead just given the faults itself. Same goes for my com. Now that my bro is living in the campus and is only at home on the weekends, I can't wait for him to come home and fix my pc everytime there is a problem. Can't rely on my bro forever as a 'home technician', like one now. Want to learn technical basics abt the com, but dunno where to start from, haha. Maybe till an actual problem arises, hehe.
Where to get reliable computer parts and what kind or brand to get. That's another major consideration...hmmm.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Politics
A political war is evident between the 2 classes in my wing (platoon), which has been going on for months. Quite depressing that it has built up to such a state where ppl start complaining abt one class being dismissed earlier than the other. Being sandwiched between the 2 classes is not fun, haiz... I foresee this friday's wing cohesion to be more like a segregation instead.
Less than 2 weeks before I pass out. Hopefully the feuds will come to a close.
Less than 2 weeks before I pass out. Hopefully the feuds will come to a close.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Technology Idiot (1)
I feel like a technology idiot. Whenever I listen to conversations involving the latest technology, such as in handphones, mp3 players, computers, cameras, I would become very lost and had to assume that I knew what was discussed. Too embarrassed to admit that I was unaware of such technology.
With the latest hype abt Comex, much discussion abt IT spurred among my friends, which made me realise how ignorant, ill-informed and backward I am. Ppl were sharing abt what they had planned to buy in the fair, boasting certain products, leaving me bewildered as of what specs are considered good, and what corresponding prices are considered reasonable. Seriously, I dun even know how much a typical harddrive costs, nor how many megapixels a good afforable camera should have.
As for handphones, forget it. Some ppl know various phone models and the features on the tips of their fingers, while I can't even remember the model of my current hp lol. (my parents gave it to me) All I know is it can make calls and send smses. Personally I dun crave for technology in hps, like camera/video functions, mp3 storage, fm tuner, etc; all these are optional for me, cos I dun use them so often to appreciate their existence.
MP3 player...though I listen to music often, surprisingly I dun have the desire to own it at all. Probably lazy to find mp3, or find it a hassle to bring it around with me (and worry abt it being stolen/misplaced).
I've lost the interest to take photos anymore. Guys dun seem to have the enthusiasm to take photos as compared to girls. Lazy to upload pictures too. My ancient cpu casing still has USB ports at the back, which is so inaccessible. My camera should be lying somewhere in my home gathering dust, and how megapixels was it huh?
In such times I really have to start learning how to appreciate technology, otherwise I would be no different from my parents. >_<
With the latest hype abt Comex, much discussion abt IT spurred among my friends, which made me realise how ignorant, ill-informed and backward I am. Ppl were sharing abt what they had planned to buy in the fair, boasting certain products, leaving me bewildered as of what specs are considered good, and what corresponding prices are considered reasonable. Seriously, I dun even know how much a typical harddrive costs, nor how many megapixels a good afforable camera should have.
As for handphones, forget it. Some ppl know various phone models and the features on the tips of their fingers, while I can't even remember the model of my current hp lol. (my parents gave it to me) All I know is it can make calls and send smses. Personally I dun crave for technology in hps, like camera/video functions, mp3 storage, fm tuner, etc; all these are optional for me, cos I dun use them so often to appreciate their existence.
MP3 player...though I listen to music often, surprisingly I dun have the desire to own it at all. Probably lazy to find mp3, or find it a hassle to bring it around with me (and worry abt it being stolen/misplaced).
I've lost the interest to take photos anymore. Guys dun seem to have the enthusiasm to take photos as compared to girls. Lazy to upload pictures too. My ancient cpu casing still has USB ports at the back, which is so inaccessible. My camera should be lying somewhere in my home gathering dust, and how megapixels was it huh?
In such times I really have to start learning how to appreciate technology, otherwise I would be no different from my parents. >_<
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)