Thursday, October 1, 2009

National Service Final Roundoff (Part 2)

Hello there, it's been awhile since I last posted anything on my blog. There were several reasons for this, i've been very busy since i've last posted, homework, school hours and all other silly stuffs, and the other reason for plain being lazy. Anyway, this is part 2 of my National Service experience.
After being selected as vice-company leader, i've endured a lot of hardship, being tossed around by my trainers all the time, getting reprimanded, scolded, yelled at, punished, jeered by mates, and everything you can expect to happen to a leader. Throughout the two months time, I've suffered alot, living in fear constantly as fear of being overrun by the other trainees. Things didn't go very smoothly and there was no one who understood my pain, until something happened, probably the best that has happened to me, I've met some really nice friends, they shared my thoughts, listened to my every grumbling, they can understand me, and weirdest of all, they're girls. I know what you're thinking, but seriously it ain't what you think it is, but sometimes i doubted this stance as well.
During my time there, there were many fun activities, there was the creative sports and the one i liked most was "Tangki Bocor" which stands for Leaking Tank. The rules are simple, fill a small barrel with water and then transfer the water to another big barrel with dozens and dozens of tiny holes in it. We were competing with other companies. The only catch was, there will be "Aliens" obstructing you, constantly looking for opportunities to sabotage you. Our company, Charlie won both the men and women category of the game. I've also managed to see it with my own eyes, how vicious and violent girls can be when it comes to winning. I could Alpha and Bravo girls sabotaging each other while the rules clearly stated they're not allowed to sabotage one another, but it was a fun outing as in the end, everybody had fun.
In the camp, there were religious classes which we have to attend every Thursday and Friday night according to individual's religious views. I was a free thinker at first, but then i thought, i can't survive out here, without someone to guide me, and so i've decided to join the Christian fellowship and see out for myself. It turned out to be a very very wise decision, as while others whine when it's time for the classes, i've been waiting anxiously for the day to arrive, as after stressful hours during daytime, i could really need some time to enjoy myself. We played games, we sang songs worshiping God and get to eat snacks after the sessions. I've went to church every Sunday with the guys and have to say, has been the most wonderful time of my life, a lot of friendly faces instead of the stoic faces of our trainers.
Let me refresh my memories before i continue to part 3 okay?
Think that's all i can remember right now, so long for now.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

A final National Service roundoff....(part 1)

Applause, applause, it's me again...What do you mean you don't know who am I? No kidding, seriously, do you really have no single idea about me? Not a tiny microscopic piece of your jagged memory reminds you of me? That settles it, you're so dead...!!

Don't mind the goofy self-talks i had with myself, it really is something i'd like to start off my blog with. Anyways, I think i ought to do a proper round-off with my National Service experience, and ladies and gentlemen, may you brace yourself for the longest single post in Dawson's Journal.

To start off, i actually found out that i was selected for National Service last year, and the government had done a really good job in concealing my future destination or rather, which batch i was in. I was actually quite relieved that I'm in the second batch, that meant that i could spend the whole Chinese New Year with my family. Then again, i was actually cursing my luck, WHY ME, i asked God, why me of all people. And then there was this wretched message :" Tahniah, anda telah dipilih untuk menyertai PLKN Siri 6." My world turned upside down, it was torturous, I've heard enough negative feed backs on NS to detest it so much. But it's either the chicken or the egg, i had to make a tough choice, of course, it was not about choosing to bring a chicken or an egg to the camp, it was rather, go for it or spend 3 years in jail, your call. DUH, the option's obvious right??
And there i was on the 20th of May, making last minute checks on the brings and don't brings, i actually didnt even bring a cellphone to the camp for the first 2 weeks, but then upon seeing others texting and calling, i ought to ask my parents to bring it to me on the third week, it was dreadful. Anyway, i boarded an air-conditioned school bus (DUH, i wouldn't want to be spending the next 2 hours on a filthy ran-down school bus).
The trip was quite short although it took us almost an hour to get out of the Stadium Hoki Sultan Azlan Shah, the wait was annoying, but i enjoyed the companion of my classmate, which i was very lucky to have one in the same camp.
Upon arriving, guess what, it was on a sun-scorched barren tarmac, with little shade around it, I was like, okay, maybe the facilities aint that bad. Then, we hauled down all of our stuffs from the bus. AND the majestic sight of the flour factory just beside the camp just "fascinated" me, that means we have to live with dirty and polluted air for 3 months, yuck!!
If you think the marching field which was basically a barren run of tarmac was dreadful, wait till you go into the mess hall. First of all, it's a mess as i was jam packed with people, with little air circulation and even less fans, the air-cond units were running but it hardly made a difference. It was dreadfully stuffy and hot, you won't stop sweating as your eat your petty, lousy and equally dreadful meal.
I didn't really run into any trouble on the first day, in fact, everything went on smoothly, i proceeded to picking up my new clothes (thats the fun part), and headed back to my dorm. There i was happy to see Alex, a strictly English speaking Indian with some knowledge in Cantonese(for some reason, he's really good in Canto-abusive languages), and there was Penguin, which we called by the name as he ran like a penguin strutting on ice.(chuckles)And then there was Tok Wan, Syafeq, Vincent(the boss), Jun Xiang, Thesigan, and many other, we all lived under one roof for the next 2 months. Can't say it's trouble free tho.
I was assigned to my company, the Charlie company. I've heard alot about the company, how the team failed to win more than an event in the camp during the tenure of the 1st batch, BUT, that's about to change. During the first few days, we had Tai Ko, a Camerons guy who was tall and big, tho i'm taller, as our stand-in leader, immediately, i found out something amiss, THAT poor guy didnt know nothing about marching orders, and i practically slapped my head. Luckily he didnt last long, phew, what a relief, then there was Penguin stepping up and he marginally did his job well for the first 2 weeks. His assistant, Shahrul was a pain in the ass, not only he's a jackass and an asshole, he knew nothing about marching. No wonder he got booted out during the first marching session between leaders.
And finally, my tenure as a leader began, the Charlie trainer asked if anyone was involved in uniform units before, you know, to replace the exiled Shahrul. I raised my arm and was surprise that no one besides me volunteered. He asked me to give an order, and to his disbelief, how loud was my voice that even the birds on the trees flew away, and there you have it, a permanent Charlie leader.
Thats all folks for the day, i'll continue my story in part II in the next few days, keep and eye for it.
Now, a photo of my beloved company, Charlie, i was not in it sadly.....

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Michael Jackson's special memorial post...

Well, Michael Jackson died almost 2 weeks ago. The King of Pop finally put the curtain down on his well illustrated but troubled life. He sacrificed his childhood, to give us his moment of magic. His troubled childhood played a major part in his downfall from glory, they say that although he's a well and matured man outside the frame, inside he's still a small child trying desperately to grab hold of his long-departed childhood.
I can't say Michael Jackson played a major role in my life like some fan would've said, but he did lighted up some sparks of fire in my heart with his soothing productions like Billy Jean, Heal the World, We are the world, I'll be there, Beat it, and of course, You are not alone. With these tunes, he made fame and fame ultimately led to his downfall. 13 Grammy awards and the title King Of Pop just ain't enough to salvage MJ's life, he had a Neverland Ranch but it was closed due to his heavy debt. His brick brown skin gradually transformed to the white pale skin of his that we know today, yet he still gave us magical moments. Some may say he bleached his skin, and did complicated cosmetic surgeries to change the fact that he's African American, but who cares. All i cared about is his music and i'm not the kind who would bothered with his looks or whatever.
So, Michael Jackson, may you find peace in heaven, sitting side by side with God and our Lord Jesus. Rest in peace MJ, you've suffered enough in this cruel world.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

ARGH...

It's been very unusually tiring for me this week as days went by. I've been dozing off unintentionally in class, and i don't know what's wrong, but oh well, guess that can't be helped. I've been selected as the president of the Badminton club in my school, although i'm honored, i don't think i'm ready to take such huge responsibility, perhaps a role as vice president would suit me more.
I've watched the recent transformers movie, Transformers: The revenge of the fallen.
Well first of all, i have to give credit once again to the special effects team because they've put up a wonderful job in doing the effects which i watched in awe, it was flawless. Apart from the special effects, the sound effects were awesome and the giant robots were very lifelike, credit to the design team. The movie was alright, some brilliant performances from Shia Le Bouf. Sad to say, Megan Fox didnt really live up to her hype as the heroine in the film, she looked totally passive and her face was stoical. Although Bay ought to be given credit for managing yet another great film, the story plot was pretty much flawed and there wasn't too much excitement in it. The storyline was pretty much predictable and there was too many scenes with slow motion which was an anti-climax.
The movie was not that fast paced, and the big robots fighting scenes were not exciting enough. In conclusion, bravo to the special,sound effects and the design crew but the movie just didn't quite live up to it's expectation. I still enjoyed the movie tho.
I think i might have a career in film critic.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

This is hectic lifestyle...

Hi there everybody, it's been a week since the new system of form 6 was implemented. As far as i can see, this system is worthless. This is due to the fact that we well form sixers will have less time to study and many tuition classes had to be rescheduled or canceled once and for all. I was beginning to wonder why did our government have to make our life so difficult. Is this a way to discourage people to enter form 6, i wonder. I don't know what will our juniors feel in the next 2 years. Perhaps they will actually like this stupid system. We are being treated like test subjects, don't we all possess rights? I have to make a statement here, WE FORM SIXERS ARE NOT LAB RATS FOR YOU TO TOY AROUND WITH, WE DO NOT DESERVE THIS KIND OF TREATMENT FROM THE MINISTRY.
On the bright side of my life so far, i'm starting to like the subjects, especially Mathematics, this is a drastic change in my life as i've always detest mathematics once and for all. My teacher has given me great encouragement and enforced my knowledge with tonnes of exercises every day. Her attitude towards her students will actually make me feel guilty when i did not manage to complete her homework, so in general i'll finish up my homework, except when i got stuck. She even told me that, let the past be past, and work hard now to redeem yourself. Her words made me recover from my SPM heartbreak when i got a 7D for additional Mathematics.
So long for today, i urge all Form sixers to try to bear the burden and not backing off that easily, we'll show them we're no push-overs. Continue to voice your displeasure because we have our rights and not ones to be toyed around with.
Now a photo for you guys to check out



MY DORMITORY MATES FROM NATIONAL SERVICE(IM THE ONE SECOND FROM 3RD ROW, FROM THE RIGHT)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

National Service Memories



THESE PEOPLE WILL POSE ANYTIME ANYWHERE, EVEN WHEN LIGHT'S OFF



OOPS, BUSTED, JUST KIDDING~

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

THE FEMALE COUNTER-PARTS



GIRLS FROM PLKN SEGARI,LEFT TO RIGHT:QIU NING,YEE LING, JIEN MAY, JOANNE, SKY