josephdreamer

[josephdreamer]

Recalibrate, Refresh, Reservist (Pt 2)

So just like that, our 3rd cycle of ICT is over.

Some things haven't changed. Chan is loud-mouthed and crude as ever, Faiz with his weird yet humorous antics, Elias and his lame dad-jokes, just to name a few. Its amazing how even through the years, the dynamics and camaraderie is largely unchanged. We're all still brothers-in-arms. Still one OPFOR platoon.

And yet, there's so much that's different too. We've got a few new faces among us, almost all of us are now in full-time jobs, a handful of us are married, and Syafiq even has a kid now! We're in vastly different stages of life compared to when we ORD-ed in 2016, and it's evident. Time waits for no one.

I have a lot to be grateful for over these past 2 weeks. I've already mentioned how it's been a great break from the daily hustle of the corporate life. It's also made me rethink about what I really want to be doing. Do I want to be in Corpcomms for the next few years? When my child grows up, do I want him/her to see me in this current job still? I'm still not sure, but this reservist has got me thinking.

At the same time, I'm also reminded that I'm not alone in this journey. NS has made us closer than anything else could, and the friendships I've forged through the blood, sweat, and tears of the mandatory two years are one of the strongest things in my life. They're doing life alongside me all the same. We can do this. We've got this.

I didn't realise how much I needed this ICT until I was in the middle of it. Now that it's over, I'm going to miss my OPFOR bros again. But life goes on. It has to. When we next meet, some things will have changed again. But some things will also remain the same, perhaps forever. I'm not sure if I'm ready for these changes yet, but I've damn well got to try.

I'll be alright. Our bonds are proof of that. I don't need to be afraid. I just need to step forward.

[josephdreamer]

Recalibrate, Refresh, Reservist.

So I just finished my 1st week of my 2-week 3rd cycle of reservist. And I enjoyed it immensely.

I know it's a sentiment most of my peers wouldn't echo, but I always look forward to my reservist weeks. I was lucky enough that nearly all of my reservist platoon mates are from my NS OPFOR platoon. These are men who are already brothers-in-arms. We've gone through hell and high water together, and we'd do it all again in a heartbeat if we had the same fellas side-by-side with us.

Coming back to reservist this year has been an absolute joy. Many of my platoon mates are from every walk of life, and I love how everyone is so different yet we're all still so very bonded. Now that we're all in the prime of our young adulthood, it's even clearer to see how different we all are. Even so, we're still able to come together and have a fantastic time.

To be clear, it's not like our reservist weeks are meant to be fun. They're not. We have physical fitness training, outfield defence training, and refresher modules on rifle handling and standard combat procedures. But beyond all that, we're able to fill the in-between moments with laughter and joy. We can make the most dull of moments feel like the time of our lives. The highlight so far has got to be when a bunch of us watched an OCS cadet struggle to overcome the SOC balancing beam from the comfort of our bunks. He didn't make it, but we had a good time thinking that he might.

We played lots of Call of Duty. We watched movies in the lecture theatre we hijacked right above our barracks. We played soccer and went on jogs among ourselves. We ordered in food and had late night conversations in the empty canteen beside our bunks. It felt like nothing had changed. Everything had changed, and yet nothing had changed at all.

I'm going to miss these assholes so much. These rascals, these misfits, this ragtag rojak of rebels and troublemakers. I love these guys, and going back to my regular life after these 2 weeks is going to be so hard.

But I'll find a way to do it. I always do. We always do. That's what makes us OPFOR. We always figure a way to make it work. That's why we're the Aggressors of the Army.

I also had a bit of time to think about what being a soldier meant. And I think I've decided that it's about Discipline, Camaraderie, and Duty. I feel like that's what defined my life as a trooper in OPFOR. Maybe it's not going to be the formula for everyone, but it's what works for me.

Anyway, it's not like I won't see these guys again. Elias and Luke stay near me, so there'll definitely be chances to meetup in future. I still need to invite a few peeps over to see my house and meet the wifey, maybe Syafiq and Jin Han and Brendan or some others. It's funny how even in these later years I'm still developing new friendships with these guys. It's awesome, honestly.

I love these guys so much. Sometimes I used to occasionally regret not accepting Sir Jin Rong's offer to be sent to SCS back in AIT, but not anymore. I wouldn't give up what I have now for SCS nor OCS. My time in OPFOR has been priceless, and it's only going to get better.

[josephdreamer]

[josephdreamer]

[josephdreamer]

[josephdreamer]

Gotta remember to keep my hopes up high but my down head low. Learnt that from a song.

[josephdreamer]

"I can't promise you my best at all times, feels like anyone who says that is lying. But I CAN promise that I'll never stop trying."

[josephdreamer]

There's nothing wrong with missing somebody, right?

Even though I still see you sometimes.

Even though I know you're around.

But not really.

[josephdreamer]

[josephdreamer]

[josephdreamer]

Verses on different subjects → (2 / 5)

[josephdreamer]

I’ve not watched Crazy Rich Asians

But i’ve recently just heard the chinese cover of Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ and I think it was masterfully written and produced. While not exactly a lyrically-accurate translation, the mood and message of the original song remained faithful, so big props to the producer(s).

But I then saw in the comments section (you’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy than a youtube comments section) a lot of people saying how hearing an english song in chinese lyrics was so touching and how the beauty of bilingualism was making them cry and I was just like omg how extra can some people get. Like seriously I grew up bilingual too but I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about this song; i only found it while looking up the original english version.

BUT then i thought about how my life experiences would be different from others. Perhaps other chinese people have legitimate reasons for feeling the way they did. Perhaps westerners dont treat easterners like us as equally. Perhaps they had every right to feel the way they did about a chinese version of an english song. Who am I to judge them based on just a youtube comment? 

[josephdreamer]

At least hermit crabs can move into larger shells

As a multimedia artiste taking in criticism and feedback, I find myself wondering:

Am i growing?

Or am i conforming?

At what point have i grown into the shell that’s been placed around me in this corporate agenda? Or perhaps it was naive of me to think that i could remain original in this industry in the first place.

Gotta stay rebellious. gots to.

[josephdreamer]

[josephdreamer]

“If we wait until we are ready we will be waiting for the rest of our lives.”

— Lemony Snicket (via goodreadss)

[josephdreamer]

my magnum opus