Xx Later, Friend! xXAlright. So some of you have been asking about my enlistment date. It's the 12th of September 2008 alright? It's not something I'm really excited about, so I'd just let it lie, if you will.
Had a lunch treat from a colleague/friend as a form of "farewell" today. He joined Sulzer maybe a week or 2 after I did (when I was an intern). He keeps saying I'm his Senior. Haha. I'm not lo, Gerald. Frankly, I'm just a quotation machine over there. I just help handle inquiries when the other engineers don't have the capacity to. I don't have to specialize in any applications (except Air Separation); don't have to meet with the customer directly; don't have to fly over to other countries (though I half-hope I can); can almost take leave whenever I want to (at my own expense). I do have to say I will need to take quite a few leaves the next week.
Anyway, to be straight forward, I don't think I'm enjoying this job as much as I used to (despite the rather satiating
pay raise). I don't know if it's just this period of time, or the major sales organizational overhaul that's going on. Chemicals Group 1 (the group I work in) is extremely understaffed, to the extent of handing me the Air Separation application (during this "transition" period). New staff are coming in the first week of June, but new staff takes time to train. CG1 is in a big mess right now. Boss doesn't really care about past projects from CG1 (except a few), and isn't really ready (seems to me) to handle his new Biofuels team. It's understandable if he doesn't give a hoot about new CG1 projects, but sometimes it kind of makes my blood boil when he ignores projects he had been handling prior to the "cultural revolution".
Though we are friends on a personal level (I think. Stress the word THINK. There are some things that make me doubt this friendship, but it's not all that important.), I'm in no position to comment on his method of handling things. So I shall keep quiet and just let things go with the flow. I am concerned about his current health situation though. Hey, if any of my friends were sick, I'd be terribly concerned too. I'm not that apathetic or "emotionless". Right Pika? Lol. You didn't tell me you were sick lo! And then say I heartless. Boohoo.
Talked about my plans for the future today, briefly. I really think I am still very much the "engineer", though accountancy may probably line my pockets fuller. I'll try hauling my ass over to Australia someday. Jiaping told me to get a scholarship to Australia first before letting my parents know. The thing is, I may very well not return to Singapore if I do find myself living well there. That's the thing that has been denying the "stamp of approval" from my parents. My folks are conservative people. They don't like the "western" way of living. And I don't know why, they have predetermined me to "take care of them when they're old". Not trying to push responsibility around here, but shouldn't that be the eldest son's job? Take care of my elderly parents? Fine by me. But if I have to exchange what I think will make me happy for that, I'm sorry but I've got to be a little selfish here.
If the solution is to ask them to move over with me, you can forget it 'coz it's not gonna happen (for the reason stated above). It's been bugging me for some time now and I've been pushing it aside hoping it'd all go away. I need to change my approach. I have been doing it the Leo/Dragon/pseudo-Taurus way. I need to change to a soft, persuasive approach to make this happen. Damn. Tactics, I need tactics! Shall start off by applying at the seminar next weekend.
Anyway, that's about all I guess. Next update will probably be a 3 year overview of my life at NP, with "Graduation" as the concluding event. Till next time, Auf wiedersehen!
// Citizen Erased @ 9:57 PM
Xx University Acceptance? + NS is bullshit xXPika said I haven't updated in quite a while. Guess I just didn't feel like it, or was too occupied with Assassin's Creed. I love that game and it's ideas about religion. No wonder it was intially banned in Singapore. MDA probably thought it will turn us all into heretics. Hahaha!
Anyway, I have been offered the courses as pictured below. I really haven't got a slightest idea on which to accept. Should I step out of my comfort zone and begin a career in a totally different course? Or should I end up somewhere in between Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering? Don't get me wrong, environmental engineering still very much belongs to the respected discipline of engineering.
Anyway, I still have some time before I make my decision. Let's KIV instead (though I believe I will just end up making a last minute decision).
Received my NS enlistment notice a couple of weeks ago. Some are overjoyed, while others are "Oh fuck this shit." I definately belong to the latter.
As most of the people who know me, I'm a firm believer of the total removal of National Service (Servitude, in my eyes). Yes, let's face it. Who isn't "afraid" of being drafted into the military?
Besides, teenagers like us are hardly military material. We have spent too much time "indulging in the excessess of civil society". Do you really think we could last that long till our "dearest allies" come to our rescue?
The threat today isn't another country invading us! The hype is with terrorism, and probably us offending our neighbour, who might just conveniently turn off the tap and send us to our very dry graves.
Surely NS "teaches important lessons in life"? Look, how does military skill and knowledge help in this civil world? How to flank your business clients and stab him in his back (literally)? What's the point of wasting 2 years when it could be put to better use (i.e. further studies)? Remember. NS isn't a bond of 2 years. It's a 20 year term, where you will be called back for reservist every now and then until you're 40.
For you overzealous fruitcakes who "think that to serve his country is an honour and a duty, an act of patriotism, an opportunity to prove their love for their nation." Please wake up your bloody idea and see what you're getting yourself into. Read the links provided, unless you fear that it will change your love for "our nation".
In any case, I refer you to further reading in the links below. Link 4 is particularly interesting.
Link 1Link 2Link 3Link 4Link 5Link 6
// Citizen Erased @ 11:00 PM
