Monday, September 24, 2007
Those were photos taken at Forward Mess Chalet @ Changi. For the un-informed, there are 2 cabins in my ship for the general crew to sleep in, and this chalet is organised for the occupants staying at one of the cabins.It feels a little different, as all other chalets i've been to are with people of the same age. Or at least, i wouldn't be the youngest. So i was expecting awkwardness, which i'm glad never came. Perhaps the 1 year of working and sailing with them had made the difference.Mahjong therapy scratched my months of itch that night. But pitting myself against the well-worn mahjong hands of theirs, it really takes pure luck to win. And yet my luck wasn't bad that night after all. But the stress involved only makes me wanna play with old khakis.On a side-note, recently i was asked this similar question a few times. "What have you learnt/gained in NS?"Ok, firstly i was glad to have this casual question asked, as it suggests how much time left i have in NS. Secondly, I couldn't immediately supply an answer, NOT because of the lack of experiences. It was truly the opposite, but those intangibles aren't easy to be put into words.Yet, from the end of this chalet, I could say that one of the things i've gained, was the exposure to the kind of people whom i've never seen before NS. I'm referring to people of vastly differing backgrounds from me, leading lives of differing choices and routes..Yes, they have had much more interesting life experiences than I do, and are possibly happier and more satisfied with themselves. Never mind about the opposing principles and values. I hold my own personal beliefs, and they hold theirs, both happy in their own right. I admire them for certain reasons and secretly frown on them on things they do outside. But still, they are happy people too.Yup, what im trying to convey is: It is this chance of being exposed to them, that constitutes (only) a part of the great number of things i've gained.
And ya, i did enjoy the chalet. As always.
人生是黑白的.
12:06 AM <3
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