Week 1
It’s the final countdown. With most of the people gone, the whole place literally becomes what is termed “no-government”. Meaning, voluntary breakfast, complete ceasing of marching, non-existent lights out time and much more leeway for basically anything. After all, what is the point in being so hard on the minority when everything can end nice and peaceful.
Everything was sailing fine, until thursday. There was an instruction to be down at 8 for some outstanding stores to settle. How timings work in the army is that usually the majority of the bunk is asleep and one or two will be awake watching their korean dramas etc. So about five minutes before the fall in timing, these video people will wake up everyone. Sleep is so crucial that almost everyone has mastered the art of getting everything done(fold blankets, change into appropriate attire, sprint to first floor) in five to seven minutes. I belong to the second group, except I don’t stay awake to watch vids. My body clock automatically wakes me up around 7:20 since 7:40 is the usual fall in timing. And wake up I did that fateful day. Glancing at my watch, I figured since I had an additional 40 minutes, might as well close my eyes for a bit. Turns out after closing my eyes, next thing I knew, it was 7:58 and chaos broke out outside.
Are we in trouble?
There was so much shouting all around that momentarily I became disorientated. A quick check of the watch confirmed the horrible predicament we will later find ourselves in. Fast forward a bit, skipping past the punishment and shouting, and I find myself back at the bunk looking at two missed calls on my phone. I had send in my resume to quite a few mncs hoping that one or two would call back. Too bad I was away and couldn’t call back. Or so I thought. Deep down, I was at best half interested in working for these firms. They were vague in their recruitment advertisement and not transparent in their process. I signed up as a temporary stop gap in case I didn’t get shortlisted for “FIRM A”, which in my opinion has much better prospects. Perhaps it was fate, missing the two calls, as shortly after that, I got a call from “FIRM A”, offering me an interview for the job.
Week 2
Went for the interview, got offered the job the next day. Which is great, securing a job before officially getting unemployed. Bonus points for being a reputable company in an industry which I have been following a couple of years. Few days later, got back to camp for the last time. Did the cliches, waving my pink ic at everyone I know and screaming ord loh at the juniors one block down. Their turn will come.
Went out of camp for the final time and took a photo at the bus stop while proudly holding the day’s Straits Times. The return of freedom deserves to be celebrated.
Week 3
I don’t remember week 3.
Week 4
Holiday trip to thailand. Which should get its own post. The end.