politickings.

saturday morning for someone who's going to take politics and international relations, i hate getting involved in politics. i'm the kind of guy that doesn't care if i offend people with regards to work. as long as we get the job in hand done. and as long as it's done well.

for that same reason, i was the "bad" guy to many in ngee ann floorball. making the unpopular decisions but knowing that they were the right ones. sure, it affected my playing, my form and ultimately my place on the "elite" powerplay line. but i left behind a team that had the resources and the people to win tournaments, to be able to improve and progress as a team. it was bitterly disappointing when the succeeding committee threw it all away. so much for foresight.

i've always believed in balancing what's the right decision and what's the popular decision. there's hardly any decision that's right and at the same time popular. so here i am. stuck in the middle of a brewing "political conflict" in the office. on one hand, i've got someone who feels he's being picked on. on the other, i've got someone who feels that he's just showing negative attributes and showing undesirable attitude.

it's difficult playing the mediator in this. it's not like school days where we all feel angry for a while and that's the end of it. i guess as we grow older, we're more susceptible to holding grudges and remembering negative events. in any case, i'm staying out of this one. i rather keep a low profile here. i've said so many times before, i rather be out in the field where politics are kept to a minimum. where everyone is focused on getting the mission completed. differences and arguments are solved there and then. in the office, it just snowballs and goes on and on. it's tiring keeping track with who's angry with who and for what. it's tiring hearing all their ramblings about what this person did last time to piss him/her off. you get my point.

anyway, here's a shout out to the following people.

manthu/sam/bitch/"jie jie". my wonderful, loving (cough) sister. congratulations on reaching the end of your 16-year-long academic career! always bear in mind that school days were the best we'll ever have, that that's all behind you now. all the best with your new career - in the working world. i'm sure i don't have to say what a difference it all makes now. keep the faith and question not what's written but know that faith alone can get us through even the toughest of tests. i'm a testament to it (think O levels for me!). enjoy your hong kong trip. i'll see you here in a week and don't forget my pop tarts!

weiling. and you have finally graduated! i must say that it was a good thing we've kept in contact. after what? 8 long years. thank you for looking after this boy here back when he was in sec 2 and 3. attending all those workshops/camps in ngee ann. who'd be foolish enough to learn C++, AND gate, NOR gate and all that rubbish at that age? and who else who would have their middle finger all wrapped up with 12 stitches? heh. all the best with deciding which job is it you want. i'm sure you'll make the right decision once you've thought things through.

jo. i know it's difficult. you know it too. but whatever happens, like you said. perhaps it's God's way of saying that it's not to be? time will tell. hang in there. pray about it. i'm sure in due time you'll find out why things happened the way it did. like the song title: someday we'll know. for now, ben & jerry's should be enough of a distraction. happy people co. remember?

zhao. accounts and finance issues are a real bother aren't they? haha. you'll do fine so don't you worry. unfortunately the projects we do in school are in some ways controlled. in the sense that we'll all achieve a predictable set of results from which our tutors and professors can grade us. in the real world, it's all open-ended. if you need help with computing issues you know how to reach me, i'll be more than happy to help (provided i can remember what i've learnt though. hah!). prata, milo dinosaur and endless (or aimless) driving around bedok MUST be fulfilled this year! for now, good luck with your internship and do take care, you're falling sick all too often.

shuren. 9 june.. the day you receive your black bar, remember not the tough times you went through. remember not what you missed out on in signals. being a combat engineer officer isn't all that bad if you look at it from a different perspective. even more so since you're going to be an instructor. remember this though, that black bar means more responsibilities, more things to answer for. do it safe, do it well. you'll make a fine officer. that i'm very sure. (want to swap? haha! intel spec not exactly very fun also)

ivan. yes. we all lose believe in the system that put us where we are now. we question ourselves. but the oath we took on 8 june 2006. it means so much more than just words coming from our mouths. whether or not you're a citizen or pr, no one's a second-class member of this society and country. in this country you'll truly find home: friends, family, a safe country in which to live and thrive in. and in retrospect. it doesn't matter that we're not officers in rank. all that matters is we prove our worth even as CPLs, 3SGs and even LCPs. we both know that we're better than a lot of them in OCS and SISPEC. no one can take that away from us.

zak. national service beckons. it's good that you're all gung ho about it. but whatever it is, enlist in one piece, ORD in one piece. don't end up like yours truly here, nursing injuries that are potentially life-long ones. i'm sure you'll do fine. focus and push yourself. you'll amaze yourself with how much you can achieve just by putting in that little bit more effort.

to everyone else mugging for exams, slaving through the night to submit essays or researching your thesis, good luck and all the best. i'm sure you're all putting in maximum effort but please do not neglect getting a good night's rest, taking plenty of water and eating well. damn. i sound naggy. with that, have a good weekend everybody.