The day I depart to Aussie Land

26th June '06

I always tend to do things last minute. When I was about to leave Singapore for Melbourne, I was doing shopping on that same day, buying things I thought would be necessary, which I should have done few days ago. If not for my mom’s nagging, I may not have started packing 3 days ago. But thanks to her, most of my packing was done, and with my last minute shopping of stationeries and stuffs, I am ready to go.

So my family has prepared last banquet for me before my departure, my mom prepared a sukiyaki. But I came home slightly late, so they started first before me. Nevertheless, I got to eat a tasty wagyu (Japanese beef), and savoured my mom’s dish for the last time in a long while.

On that same night I’m departing to Melbourne, my mom and my sister Mari were flying to Sydney as well. After a few days in Sydney they would come over to Melbourne to see me.

When we were about to depart, Brian came and fetched us. He generously drove us to Changi airport, saving us great deal of time and expense.

Once we reached airport we immediately checked in, and made our way to the entrance gates. Momo and Brian saw us out; poor Momo was to spend the rest of a week herself alone, we left her in good hands of Brian to send her back home.

My departure time was getting close, so I had to hurry. Before I made my way to my gate, my mom gave me additional pocket money, given from my ever generous uncle Shun-chan. I said goodbye to my mom and Mari, and as I left them I felt a surge of mixed feeling of excitement and anxiety, for I was about to fly to a foreign land, all on my own, spend the rest 3 years there…

久々の投稿

It’s been 2 months since I have left Singapore to come here, Melbourne to study in Monash University. So many things happened since the last time I ever posted on my blog. I think I shall slowly post up one by one about the events I think significant in my life. Not just to update my well being to my friends who bother to read this, but also to keep a chronicle of events for me to look back and remember.


16th June, My ORD (also my ROD)
The day I had been waiting for dearly, for past year and more, the day I am released from Singapore army. For 2 years 4 months, I have served Singapore Armed Forces as one of the National Serviceman.

I went through many things during my time in army, be it good or bad, exciting or boring, tough or easy. But no more, my service to Singapore has ended on this day.

During the afternoon, I came back to my camp to sign some papers that would officially confirm me as released from military organization. Usually a Singaporean guy would receive back his “Pink IC” (identification card) on this memorable day, but I was special. Since a year and a half ago, I had ceased to be a Singapore citizen, thus my IC was collected and destroyed by the Ministry of Immigration.

As I entered the administration office and received some briefings, I was told my testimonial by my officer was still pending, and I have to come back again on few days time to collect it. Damn it, my superior was not doing his stuff in time, as usual.

But anyway, as slowly made my way out of the camp, I looked around and savored its beautiful scenery for the last time. Unlike other army camps, SAFTI MI, my camp is a beautiful place, by design, for foreign officers and VIPs come to this place often.

It was a cloudy day, as though to follow my heart which was heavy with melancholy. It was suppose to be the day I over joy for the freedom returned back to me, but instead felt a little sense of lose and sadness that a chapter of my life has marked a period.

As I left the compound of SAFTI MI, I took few pictures of myself with the huge gates of SAFTI behind me, for me to keep it in remembrance.