One year

How time flies. It has already been a year since the day i was enlisted. It is an old cliche actually, talking about ns, this and that. So, to recognise this special occasion(i like, can?) i have decided to include in my blog postings, excerpts from my diary which i wrote whilst i was in tekong. Yup, i started a diary(believe it)... So from now onwards, i will post excerpts or the whole entry for the days i spent in tekong everday(i'll try). I don't think anyone would actually write or even thought of writing a diary, especially in tekong. But i did. At that time i was like thinking to myself, this is a once in a lifetime experience. Perhaps i should keep a record of it. So i did just that.... Excerpts from Tekong diary ---- Aug 20th 2004 Friday Finally, the day has come. I actually thought that it would never happen. After my last semester exams, i felt lost. Everything had been 'happy-go-lucky' for me. Nothing is prepared for what i'm going to go through here. When we reached tekong, we were group into a seating area with the sargeants shouting at us for not tucking in. Reality sets in. Regimental life, here we go.... Soon after, i got a letter stating that i'm posted to Whiskey Coy. After spending some last time with mum and dad, they left and i was left alone with a group of guys, not knowing what is in store for all of us. Its not like i'm not used to being alone but this is different. Totally.... Collected this huge bag aka duffel bag and at the same time having a vague idea that the bag i thought i was suppose to collect was the old ali baba bag. So after doing all the necessary but minor stuffs, we had our haircuts. Felt like shit after that. I hated being botak. And i was told that i have to report to bunk 3, platoon 1, bed 4. Went into the bunk to find 3 other guys looking clueless, like myself. Who isn't when you're stranded on an island, not knowing what to do? One of them was Nigel. Just a few sentences and we clicked. The other two guys were Chun long and Yue how. Didn't talk much but then again, its only the first day. Suddenly, without absolutely no idea that i would meet someone i know from a long time ago, i was in for a surprise. My primary school mate, Fuad made his way into the bunk and the both of us looked at one another and was like, jaw hanging, didn't know whether to feel surprise or happy or what. We greeted each other like long lost brothers. Unbelievable.... In fact, i've met him in poly a few times before and back then, that was the first time i've seen in almost 9 years. And now, he is my bunkmate. Irony or fate? Fate of course. Or at least that's what i think it is. Things are going to be fine and recalling a scene from 'Army Daze' when Sheik Haikel character Johari said "Everything here is ok. If we all help each other along the way, lagi best. The training here is not so teruk, ya know!!" You never know...Gd night..