‘If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in great ways.’
‘We sometimes feel that what we do is just a drop in the ocean. However, the ocean will be less because of that missing drop.’
These are just some of the quotes that I’ve been seeing around the past few days. Not that I’ve been studious and reading up quotes, but just that I couldn’t have missed them even if I want to. How could I, when they are all plastered all over the toilet walls like it’s the best wallpaper around in the market. Step up to any urinal, and I see one screaming in my face. Sit on the toilet bowl, and there will be another on the back of the door and one more behind my head.
Yes, there is no other place aside from army camps where even when you are taking care of ‘great and small things’ do you feel the warmth of encouragement. Speaking of warmth, there is even incomprehensible ones like,
‘Worry is like peeing on yourself. Everyone sees it, but only you will feel its warmth.’
Hmm… Don’t think I’m going to spend any brain cells trying to understand this one.
Well, it’s only when I’m back for in-camp training (ICT) do I see these. I can’t say this is part of reliving my active times simply because when I was an active NS man back in the good ol’ Seletar camp, we had none of these ‘words of encouragement’ in the toilets. Or anywhere else for that matter. Instead, we were taught to rely on self encouragement.
I guess in this new camp with multi-storey blocks, things have changed. Of course, national service is now 2 years compared to our 2,5 years then. They got better pay, better hours, less guard duties and heck, even more promotion prospect (basically it’s only because they split the corporal rank into two classes).
This ICT is only my second since finishing my national service. The first one was a breeze as the outfield exercise got cancelled so it wasn’t that tough. This time, I had no such luck as it has been confirmed that my NS platoon will be going on a 3 days 2 nights ‘excursion’ to Tuas come Monday.
Disappointing as it may be, I have been counting my lucky stars that I wasn’t called up to go for the live firing exercise in Woomera, Australia, as some of my ex-platoon mates have been. That’s going to be one long ICT compared to mine.
The thing with NS platoons is that it will always be a mix and match bunch from different batches. This time I got lucky to be mixed with quite a few who only passed out last year. This means I can leave all the brain work to them as it will still be fresh in their minds. On the flip side, that will also mean I’ll be doing more of the coolie work.
Top on the list of topics chatted among the entire platoon are reminiscence of past experiences (想当年…) during each of our batches. Following a close second is investment. Never a day past without one of my platoon mates (from one batch senior) didn’t talk about stocks and shares. In fact, every time he opens his mouth, it’s either to eat or to talk stocks and shares. Every time we avoid his sight, he will look for new victims to share his self reported genius insight into the investment market. Even the regular officers are cornered and not spared.
So far, I’ve escape his clutches but there are still five more days to go. It’s going to be tougher task than the exercise, but I believe my hearing and sight can drop in their abilities at the right times.
Sharing current and past job experiences is also one of our favourite pastimes. It’s like a mini job fair, except there’s no recruiting involved and everyone is utterly honest about the worst aspects of their jobs.
Thankfully, no one asked me too much details about my job (shows how much people are interested in hospitality sector). Once the word ‘hotel’ was mentioned, they thought I’m destined for big bucks with the IRs coming up (a misconception).
‘Wah, big money coming your way leh! Don’t forget to throw some chips my way if I visit the casino ah!’
Sure, potatoes or chocolate chips. I’m now reaching a crossroad and undecided, who’s to say I’ll stay in the line and go work at IRs. Thankfully, none of them asked which department I’m working in. If they know I’m in housekeeping…
‘Housekeeping? Well done! I guess you’re the expert around here. We’ll leave the cleaning of the bunk to you. Hotel standards right?’
‘Hey, take your time buddy. We’ll be over at the mess for our canteen break. Join us once you’re done, ya? Cheerios!’
If I say the housekeeping of our bunks during active NS time was bad, all I can say is that I won’t be joining my platoon mates for any canteen breaks if I’m to clean up the bunk now.
‘We sometimes feel that what we do is just a drop in the ocean. However, the ocean will be less because of that missing drop.’
These are just some of the quotes that I’ve been seeing around the past few days. Not that I’ve been studious and reading up quotes, but just that I couldn’t have missed them even if I want to. How could I, when they are all plastered all over the toilet walls like it’s the best wallpaper around in the market. Step up to any urinal, and I see one screaming in my face. Sit on the toilet bowl, and there will be another on the back of the door and one more behind my head.
Yes, there is no other place aside from army camps where even when you are taking care of ‘great and small things’ do you feel the warmth of encouragement. Speaking of warmth, there is even incomprehensible ones like,
‘Worry is like peeing on yourself. Everyone sees it, but only you will feel its warmth.’
Hmm… Don’t think I’m going to spend any brain cells trying to understand this one.
Well, it’s only when I’m back for in-camp training (ICT) do I see these. I can’t say this is part of reliving my active times simply because when I was an active NS man back in the good ol’ Seletar camp, we had none of these ‘words of encouragement’ in the toilets. Or anywhere else for that matter. Instead, we were taught to rely on self encouragement.
I guess in this new camp with multi-storey blocks, things have changed. Of course, national service is now 2 years compared to our 2,5 years then. They got better pay, better hours, less guard duties and heck, even more promotion prospect (basically it’s only because they split the corporal rank into two classes).
This ICT is only my second since finishing my national service. The first one was a breeze as the outfield exercise got cancelled so it wasn’t that tough. This time, I had no such luck as it has been confirmed that my NS platoon will be going on a 3 days 2 nights ‘excursion’ to Tuas come Monday.
Disappointing as it may be, I have been counting my lucky stars that I wasn’t called up to go for the live firing exercise in Woomera, Australia, as some of my ex-platoon mates have been. That’s going to be one long ICT compared to mine.
The thing with NS platoons is that it will always be a mix and match bunch from different batches. This time I got lucky to be mixed with quite a few who only passed out last year. This means I can leave all the brain work to them as it will still be fresh in their minds. On the flip side, that will also mean I’ll be doing more of the coolie work.
Top on the list of topics chatted among the entire platoon are reminiscence of past experiences (想当年…) during each of our batches. Following a close second is investment. Never a day past without one of my platoon mates (from one batch senior) didn’t talk about stocks and shares. In fact, every time he opens his mouth, it’s either to eat or to talk stocks and shares. Every time we avoid his sight, he will look for new victims to share his self reported genius insight into the investment market. Even the regular officers are cornered and not spared.
So far, I’ve escape his clutches but there are still five more days to go. It’s going to be tougher task than the exercise, but I believe my hearing and sight can drop in their abilities at the right times.
Sharing current and past job experiences is also one of our favourite pastimes. It’s like a mini job fair, except there’s no recruiting involved and everyone is utterly honest about the worst aspects of their jobs.
Thankfully, no one asked me too much details about my job (shows how much people are interested in hospitality sector). Once the word ‘hotel’ was mentioned, they thought I’m destined for big bucks with the IRs coming up (a misconception).
‘Wah, big money coming your way leh! Don’t forget to throw some chips my way if I visit the casino ah!’
Sure, potatoes or chocolate chips. I’m now reaching a crossroad and undecided, who’s to say I’ll stay in the line and go work at IRs. Thankfully, none of them asked which department I’m working in. If they know I’m in housekeeping…
‘Housekeeping? Well done! I guess you’re the expert around here. We’ll leave the cleaning of the bunk to you. Hotel standards right?’
‘Hey, take your time buddy. We’ll be over at the mess for our canteen break. Join us once you’re done, ya? Cheerios!’
If I say the housekeeping of our bunks during active NS time was bad, all I can say is that I won’t be joining my platoon mates for any canteen breaks if I’m to clean up the bunk now.
posted by Cylee at
1:17 pm I
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