My students

One year back, while doing my fyp project, i thought probably i would become a P.E teacher ( or any other profession ) so that i can break away from being an engineer. The silly thing was, i chose engineering in the first place.

By some funny reason back then, i was rejected after an interview in MOE headquarters. All along i always believed i had the cut to be a teacher, because i feel i always have this relentless will to impart and share in a slow and patient manner.

Oh well, at least i could still explore my so called talents - GIVING TUITION.

Junjie and Weiling ( the creators of this blog ) completed PSLE last year. I was glad to find out from their parents that they were doing good. Junjie was the top 10 in his class in Maris Stella during continual assessments while Weiling found a new passion to substitute her skipping rope - volley ball. Somewhat, i feel this sense of achievement at this juncture.

Despite my tight schedule on shifts, I have not given up on this mentoring role. I still have 3 more boys under my charge.

One of them ,Gerald, is a math prodigy in the making, doing his PSLE this year. The 2nd eldest boy, Ryan(P4), is a complete opposite of Gerald, always trying to skive and often put the blame on his school teachers whenever i accuse him of not knowing some fundamentals and basics in the textbook. The 3rd boy, Timothy(P2)is a fine mix of his 2 elder brothers.

A few days back, i flashed out my new hp and Timothy's eyes gleamed in curiosity.

Timo, "NEW PHONE!!!"

Goat, "Yes, smart boy...."

Timo," My mother also buy new phone. Some 'soul' phone. How come everyone is buying new phone?"

Goat, "Ermz... I wont change phone that easily. My previous phone spoiled and gave up on me you see..."

Timo," So nice one... my mother has a new phone, Gerald has a phone, I think ryan will get a phone in one year's time. Mommee told me that i can only have phone when i'm primary six. "

At this stage, my mind spun into space. I could remember those days when i had to plead with my dad that i was ready to support my very own pager. I was 16 years old then. Look at what technology has in store for our Gen Y folks!!!

Goat," SO, will you want an expensive phone like your mum's?"

Timo," NO! That is way too expensive. But i think there are phones that cost 28 dollars out somewhere...."

Goat, "Oh, so you saying that 28 dollars is ok for a phone? " ( at this juncture i marvelled at how cheap handphones can be )

Timo, "No, that's also very expensive. Maybe if there's a phone that cost 5 bucks, i want!!!"

I smiled at Timothy's responses. Those werent what i expected from a typical 8 year old these days.

This boy's a sensible one.

Survival of the fittest

Sometimes, working in shifts takes its toll on your body.

For my case, its abit of that, plus the very fact that my work place is beside old changi hospital. This makes buying food very very inconvenient. The front gate is located such that you will need to exchange some perspiration for some good food in Changi Village( just like some army camps where you literally had to do DETOUR around for 800m for a direct distance of 100m )

All thanks to that, i have to plan my timing strategically for meals. If i had to start work at 1pm, i had to leave the house by 1045am in woodlands, take an express bus 969 ( not really so 'express'; bus had to plough thru the veins of yishun town first ), so that hopefully ( if there's no jam in TPE ) i can reach tampines interchange by 1155pm and have my 10min lunch at the nearest food court.

After that i am under the mercy of this bus number 19, that comes once every 10-15min. This bus journey will take up another 20-35min ( if there is NO JAM in loyang avenue), before leaving me stranded at the foot of my work place ( the radar centre is located at the top of Biggin Hill ). Time check now will be about 1245pm.

I will then do a mini trek up, leaving me in beads of perspiration by the time i embrace the entrance.

Good workout some may say, but coincidentally, my 1155pm lunch would have been digested from that long 35min bus ride on 19 and the mini trek up.

So by 230pm, my gastronomic senses would start to spring alive yelling for food. Being a trainee in live traffic environment, i cant plug in and out my headset anytime for a snack because i need to maximise my training curve per controlling session ( about 1.5 to 2 hrs )

Working from 1-8pm means that i would have sat roughly for 3 such sessions, leaving me fighting my own war with my stomach as i try to squeeze brain juice on numbers and spatial awareness. Working in a 15deg environment worsens it.

When my digital watch beeps 745pm, i finally earn my right to go home. Everything repeats itself as per day travelling, except that the last bus out from loyang to tampines comes around 815pm.

This means that i CANT HAVE MY DINNER in changi village at all. No time!!!!!

Now comes the final struggle. I reach tampines interchange around 845pm ( provided smooth traffic in loyang ) to join the queue for 969 home. If i'm unlucky, i would have to stand for 30min ,hungry and weary, until i reach home at 930pm.

And the best part is, my next day would start at 8am in the morning, so i try to eat sparingly and consciously, not wanted to suffer indigestion by sleepng early with a full stomach.

Funny part to all these phenomenon is: HOW COME my flabby tummy is still there?

I think i was a clown in my previous life

I get the kicks when i do slalom. Especially with people looking at me.

Here's the inspiration of the day. Guo Fang, Chinese National, in a Korean Competition held last year.

"Cycling" my guts out

My OJT( On the Job Training ) so far wasnt really a smooth one. But i felt i got used to the life there. On the whole, the lao jiao ( old bird in hokkien ) controllers are accomdating to me and Mr Chen ( Herman )'s adaptation to live traffic. I wonder hw long their tolerance can last. Hopefully both of us in the same watch can learn the trades of the work systematically and from there pick up speed in our controlling techniques. (We want our license and LUMP SUM payback!!!!!)

Controlling aircrafts to many sound very noble. Actually it really is. But i wont say its very difficult, because like most things i do e.g chapteh, slalom, so long as you start systematically on it, soon you will find it more than just an occupation.

Unlike many of my engineer/auditor counterparts ( i am not including teachers here because they work 24/7 ), i am running on shifts.

Basically, my shift system is such :

Its 2 days of work and 2 days of rest. First day of work starts from 1pm to 8pm; 2nd day of work is queer and weird -> Its called the split shift i.e its made up of an 8am to 1pm shift and then 8pm ( same day ) to 8am the next day( i get to catch about 3 hours average of rest within this grave yard shift timing though )

Subjecting to this sort of timing makes the days and weeks go by REAL fast. Thank goodness i managed to clinch my bridal package and banquet venue by the time i completed my non radar practical course.

So what do i do during my free time now?

1. During my rest time on the split shift day i.e 1pm to 8pm, me and Mr Chen ( Herman )would head down to the SAA gym and chapteh - run- swim - abs work out.

2. Since the beginning of my OJT i havent really have chance to do slalom during my rest days but i hope i can do so ( after finishing this entry )

3. Manage time to meet up with friends, most of whom are much much richer than me.


Monkey Tong ( Left ) who manages his shoe craze often, spending about 450SGD( on average ) on a pair of his limited edition shoes.

9th Comm, NTU ODAC. We had 9 peeps turning up. Not bad already, considering that our full strength in the comm last time was 14.