Volunteers for Peace
This may not be as mainstream as you would think, but I am going to do this for a cause and experience.
The last time I tried to embark on similar plans, it got cancelled. It was the Youth Expedition Project that would be led by my former alma mater to Thailand. We were going to a elementary school to set up a basic computer lab and help them with what not. That has eventually got to be cancelled when the country’s military coup broke and social unrest was at its peak in the capital.
When I am finally discharge from Army this June, I am going to start planning and realizing what I think I should do. It could be a project in Asia, or better yet, to Haiti.
There is many lessons and experiences to learn for a cause.
Believing in what that is ahead of a river.
Sound or not, right or wrong, I am not implying that people and life should not be taken seriously. I am just taking it easy, and trying not to take it for granted. It is no easy task.
I am known to my bosses and people as an agreeable person who says okay to all kinds of situations. I appear to have no preference, or for that matter consider my options seriously. I appreciate whatever good that comes to me, and I try to learn and be smarter when something goes wrong.
It sounds corny, yes. It sounds like I am giving textbook answers, yes.
However the options I have been given, I have been through; pain and disappointment, laughter and freedom. – realized there is a lesson to be learned and an experience to be earned anyways. So hey, I thought, I could just sail in which the river flows and see where it takes me too. I could hit an unseen cliff and plunge down a deadly waterfall, but am I to decide that and the life-changing consequence of it?
In the heat of our temper and hectic of our schedule, we forget how time devour yet heal our lives. We will not remember exactly what transpired, but we will know exactly how a person have ever made you feel. It could be that one lady who have ever said something special, but made you feel like you are the world to her. It could be that one buddy who have done something, but made you feel like you are the only one whom he can trust. It could be that one friend who had ever planned something, but made you feel like your birthday is bigger than the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
There isn’t a point to hold a grudge because someday, that would go away. We have too little time to be unhappy over, and a life too short to stay that way.
Not taking people and things for granted is another matter of its own. It is a herculean and an arduous task, and it baffles me from time to time. This week, my mom mumbled about how sometimes she didn’t wake on time to prepare breakfast for me when I head to work at unearthly times. She did so this morning, prepared two eggs and a drink.
Still in the daze of an uncomfortable night, I decided I was running late and I wasn’t consuming breakfast because I have entirely no appetite. She said it was fine, but it hit me that it wasn’t.
I thought how many times can I say no, before it is too late. Unable to look what that is in the future, it could well be the last time I say, no. How would I look back years down the road, top pen a regretful list of what I’d chosen to miss, what I’d chosen to say, no.
What an audacity of my schedule, blinding me from the goold ‘ol things going on around me!
Just before I left, I consumed the breakfast. I only hope I could remember how I feel when it is my turn to be a parent and nostalgia come knocking at my door.
Pursue and realize
Oaida Raul said, “I’ve always been profoundly inspired by spaceflight, the Lego Shuttle was the only space program I could afford.”
In a YouTube video of his work he had published on March 2, it has garnered over 375,000 views within a week and was featured in many online publications. In a blog post, Oaida wrote that in November 2011, he decided to embark on a small rocketry project that involves sending a Lego space shuttle model up into space. His small little project inspired Steve Sammartino who funded and helped him. Together, they worked and produced an amazing and incredible footage.
In my opinion, this is not just another funny rocketry project that people do during their free time. It inspires me and it shows the world how people go about realizing a small dream, using nothing but burning passion within them, to produce and create an enormous and incredible result.
Read more at Micro Blade Jets, 2011: A Brick Odyssey.
Backs of my eyes hum with things I’ve never done
Friday.
I visited my alma mater again, and this time I was there to have Student Affairs Office certify true copies of my academic transcripts. Later in the day, I headed to the High Commission of New Zealand in Singapore to have my identity document certified true copy. All these effort because I am trying to apply into the University of Auckland.
Whether or not the University accepts me is a matter different from my decision to study there. While I am undecided and of course, many factors such as funding and time to consider, I am trying. I am trying because when in the future, I do not want to look back and question myself with What-Ifs.
“What if I had tried to apply?”
Because I know years from now, I have tried and I have done what I have got to do.
It is about taking a leap of faith, and I have nothing to lose for trying out my dreams.
Liberal
I know it has been more than a month. And that is because I have totally lost the last ounce of determination to write. I no longer write and document every single details like I used to.
Things have happened over the last few months but mostly those from the Army. my Operationally Ready Date is less than 100 days away, and it is almost as if in the cold dark tunnel, I could finally see the light at the other end of the tunnel. In fact, I am already feeling the warmth of the light.
Last year, my Commanding Officer evaluated me during a lesson I have conducted as an instructor. During my unit’s family day in the zoo just a week ago, they announced it to the whole planet that I am one of the five awarded. I’ve already known the clockwork and under reasons of a corporate award. I consider that as a milestone in my service to the nation, nothing much.
For I know there are fellow colleagues who have put in equal, if not more, heart and soul into their work. They deserve the award as much, if not more, than I do.
Last week, my Officer Commanding put me up for yet another nomination. Soldier of the Month for January 2012. Apparently, I am awarded once again. Just like the earlier, it is another milestone in service. It feels awkward and uncanny that I may have actually achieved all awards that are available to an NSF in my unit.
It is inevitable that judgement may be made by other people, but I have learned to believe in myself. I understand such nature in people from all the worl experiences before Army.
–
One too many person have asked for my plan when I am finally discharge from service this June. I am often lost for words because I can’t see what is coming, and I do not have a concrete workplan for myself.
My backpacking trip to New Zealand last November have made all the difference to how I think and approach my future. I have, suddenly, found a frustration in how majority of us follow the footpath that the government had laid for us.
Preschool. Primary school. Secondary school. Tertiary education. University education. Join the working class.
So much that you do not have to ask what most people plans were because it is so definitive and finite. I feel myself move away towards much liberal options. it may sound big and extravagant, but I would like to see the world and know people of other places and culture.
Many people might not understand, or give a second thought to my idea. The reason may be because we are raised in such materialistic society. We have had to fight so hard with each other through examinations and employee rankings to secure prestige, power and money.
We might have mistaken contentment and the need for more.
Our dreams as a child might have taken a back seat amidst the competition for good preschool, university offer and a job that pays.
I want to look beyond the hectic of our city and be contented with my progress. The greatest pleasure in life are often small and free.
Play the harmonica.
This clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live cracked me up so much I thought I might share.
He started off with a holiday greeting before continuing, “last night, more than a billion people gathered in the Chinese Times Square watching Chinese Ryan Seacrest banter awkwardly with Chinese will.i.am.” With a footage of the Chinese President, the close caption and Chinese-accented narration of the video said the Chinese resolution is to “get organized” and “play the harmonica.”
I love this guy.
Good ol’ times
Lunar New Year came early this year, but with atmosphere is diluted without any big hint of all the festivities. I woke up today and decided to trash some of the useless old belongings I had for years but never used them. Those junk includes equipment manuals, installation discs, old books, army stuffs (which I am pretty sure I am not using them anymore).
As I rummage through my stuffs, I realized I have come so far today.
Amongst a mass of picture and photographs which I do not have a decent album to store, I came across this from some 14 – 15 years ago. This was a picture taken during a National Education Trip when I was in Primary 4. I vividly recall this place in Jalan Sultan where my friends and I had a rest and lunch. Although they were my closer friends in primary school, I couldn’t really recall their names.
I probably will try to locate them on Facebook, if at all possible because I don’t remember their names.
What The Face?
The first episode of Modern Family played out with Phil Dunphy being the super-cool dad who assumes he knows all of the lingo used in text messages. He says it is important because to talk to their children like a peer, but being a father is called “peerenting”. LOL – Laugh Out Loud. WTF – Why The Face?
Why The Face was the all-time favorite one-liner for Modern Family fans like me but I always thought it sounded awkward. I mean, how do you use Why The Face in normal conversation to exclaim your rogue surprise yet being satirical?
I think I know today.
I conducted lessons for the Specialist Cadets this morning and because there is less work to do today, I decided to do my routine of walking around and trying to get to know them better. I went ahead to confirm if they were mostly diploma holders.
“So, you guys are from poly right?”
“Yes, sergeant.” A couple of them responded and one added on, “So, sergeant, you are from poly too?”
“Yes. I am from NYP.”
“So you studied business…” He carried on quizzing me.
“Yes. Business Informatics. Wait. How do you know?” I am puzzled, wondering if he is another course mate whom I don’t recall.
“Oh. You have the business face.”
There was a moment of silence before I blurted, “I have what the… face?”
The entire table laughed but I just kept quiet because that was suppose to come out “WHAT THE FUCK?” I realized at the eleventh hour that it may sound too rude for such a general observation about me. More over, I thought it is too rogue for a guy with a ‘business face’. I made it in time to say the word ‘Face’ and thank God it kind of suited the entire conversation, anyway.
Twenty Twelve
Probably like the other half of the population, I have stopped making New Year’s Resolutions. It is not like for the next 300 odd days will I before I sleep think about 1) I have to be more patient, 2) I have be fitter, 3) I should avoid unhealthy food, and 4) I have to save money for my house and children. The next time anyone think about the resolutions they made would probably be the year after. They might even forget.
The Mayans thinks it may be apocalyptic, but I have learned not to worry about everything under the sun. It is a waste of time worrying unless there is an imminent danger or when I finally reached a crossroad where I have to make a decision. When you have reached your the life of yours, no amount of worries and prayers can save you of death from the simplest way. If you are meant to live, you will survive the greatest tragedy in history.
For the entire year, my tagline for this blog was, “Trading memories I held, for stories yet untold.” My backpacking trip to New Zealand made a huge difference in me. I spent a great amount of time thinking about the people around me, who I have become today, and who I will be tomorrow. The world is huge out there yet I know there is only one place I can call home, and only one place where my kin and kith, memories and feelings so dearly belongs. I can’t trade those away.
This year forward, I hope with the life of mine that I could be more contented. I want to be contented with what I owned and achieved through my own merit. I want to see greater maturity and a wiser personality in myself. I want to learn to love just about everything and everyone around me. I hope from trust and determination will I take leaps of faith from even greater heights.
“Mai i te aroha, ko te aroha.” is a sentence in Maori language that translates to, “From love, comes love.”
