Bookout post:

Restored post

2 weeks down, 10 to go (with the last being a 2 day week)!

I was the Platoon I/C this week. Boy. Oh boy. Command, especially of the military sort, is just not for me - I'm too soft. My platoon mates (and even the Bruneians) commented that I often looked very mentally stressed. For some reason, the platoon was amused when I "hushed" them, and some decided to shout "hush" at various times, and mutter "hush puppies" at others. I don't really get it. They also said I'm longwinded. Also, "You're very comical as an i/c, although you don't know that" - Daniel. On the bright side, I was on MC for one day, had an off pass the next and was on guard duty one night, so I didn't have to be the i/c for that long :) Marching at the side of the platoon is cooler as you don't have hot bodies around, but you've to look out for superiors to greet.

We're starting to get into the rhythm of our course, but there's simply too much to study, in both theory and practical aspects. I missed the lesson on Bandaging of Wounds on Monday due to my MC, and wonder if I'll ever catch up. And I'm horrible with my hands, so I'm terrible at tying bandages and tourniquets.

I really do sweat a lot, and quite a few people have commented. Maybe it was the stress of being Platoon I/C this week. A sizeable number of people have been wearing just one set of Number 4 for the whole week - ugh - but I refuse to do that. Right now I think I'm going to go with 2 sets a week. Sounds disgusting, but such are our circumstances. And I hate wearing my jockey cap all the time!

I've been making do with public phones all week. As I predicted, no one bothers to march all the way down to the godforsaken one that I use (one of the 2-3 working phones there) - so far I've seen at most one other person on each day, so I've been able to chat merrily, for at least half an hour each day. Time to stock up on phonecards!

To this date, I've not actually drawn any of my slave (pittance) allowance. And prior to Tuesday night, I'd only gotten $200 from my parents since enlistment, so I've been living on hongbao money all the way :) When I casually mentioned this to my parents, I got $50 from each. Heh.

Lately, I've taken to sleeping on the floor. It's actually much cooler, though all manner of insects may crawl over you as you sleep.

On Tuesday, I went down for the PSC LMS (T) (I cannot be bothered to spell that out) scholarship interview. And I saw Kam Zhiming. Hahahaha. After the interview, I went down to RJ (yet again), in Number 4 for the first time, to get some stuff for the GP Application Question from Mrs Chan. I wonder how many people stared at me. Even though I took that little side trip, I still managed to finish everything and have lunch and booked in an hour earlier than I had to.

After I came back, we had our first IV (Intravenous Infusion). Erk. The catheter still hurts when it is embedded in the vein, so it's not just a quick "ant bite" (as injections are usually described - but what sort of ant?). For the first 3 IVs, we will be using the smaller needles (luckily). Because of the smaller needles, my response was quite muted - some strangled cries (not full voiced), no screaming and controlled writhing. I'm quite happy about my performance actually. And my buddy was very nice about it (for his trouble, I accidentally poked him in the wrist with the needle...). I just dread the larger needles, and it's terribly unfair - female trainees get to use the small needles for all their IVs.

We were finally knocked down - of all reasons, for some people making comments on how some of the permstaff were playing basketball while we were waiting for our computer lessons 2 storeys above.

A popular place to hide handphones is in your underwear - while you're wearing it. Ugh.

My brother in law gave me $10 as a taxi subisdy for my next night off! :)

Ever since I brought in my "Off!" insect repellent to spray every night, my sleep has not been interrupted by leg scratching sessions (though it has by wheezing and coughing bouts). However, some of the hardcore blood addicts still bite even if the repellent has been sprayed. Bloody buggers.

I saw and talked to my sec 4 classmate Tan Yong Chye Charles! Seems people pop up everywhere. He's learning to be a storeman in SMM. It's ironic - all the fit sportsmen get downgraded because of their injuries.

I think that the Recruits' Messes in BMTC are better furnished than the Officers, Warrant Offciers and Specialists' Mess here. Aww.

Kumar says the AJC uniform is thick, waterproof and fireproof as well. And he was surprised when I asked if the supplier was "Finest Fashion".

On Wednesday, Kumar and I were in the second shift of people guarding the MOPs and Fieldpacks in the training shed during lunch time. In the end, nobody relieved us so we spent 1 1/2 hr there while everyone else slept in the bunk.

It's really disgusting - I'd brought my singlet out to the drain to wring, and presumably as I wrung it, a giant spider crawled on. When I returned to the bunk, it crawled down my leg until I flicked it off with the singlet, whereupon it crawled under the bed. I thought I'd lost it, but later when I took my boots out to put on, it was lying motionless there. Daniel then came and stepped on it. And on the same day, our ceiling lights, for some reason, started attracting not only the usual flying insects but new guests - honeybees. Go figure. Stupid monsters.

We were supposed to have another night off on Thursday, but the whole of my bunk did not get to have it because apparently in the other bunks during area cleaning, many people were lying on the beds and complaining of chest pains. Our bunk only had 2 non-bunk cleaners present - one had just returned from the toilet, and I was cleaning up the ichor of the giant spider. Oh well. Later that day, before the night off, we saw one platoon get pumped in civvies - is that allowed?

Our latest computer lesson had a survey programmed in, with a box to collect comments. I doubt anyone reads what we might type in, though.

During Stand By Bed, some people didn't have any soap, so they split their buddy's bar into two and took one half. Too bad they got caught!

The whole of Friday was spent doing CPR. Suspiciously, all the mannikins in the CPR centre are female. The tests for CPR were rather hard, and I think quite a few people will have to come back on a future Sunday to retake the tests after failing. After CPR, I went off guard duty. No more carrying of rifles! Instead, prowlers walk around with truncheons and a searchlight (and don't need to don webbing either). Much help the truncheon will be against intruders. I had the sentry position, so I got to be blown by a powerful fan during each of my two 2 hour shifts. I got scolded for sitting down, while Frank on the previous shift got away with sleeping - flat on the ground with legs sticking out of the sentry post. Anyhow, Detail 3, the one I was in, is the worst as you get the least sleep: Before 10pm, they hold frequent turnouts to prevent you from sleeping so the only time you can sleep is after 10pm, but that is when detail 3 starts its work. So detail 3 gets a maximum of 4 hours of sleep while the other 2 details get up to 6 hours of sleep.

Someone bought a prawn cake (the fried dough fritter with a unshelled prawn stuck on top) and threw away the whole prawn, not just the shell. What a waste.


Quotes:

"Go back to bunk and tactically use your handphone."

"Why, today, all very excited? IV?"

"[On IV] Remember to put off your handphones before you start. [Trainee: Sergeant, no handphone] Don't bluff. (turn)"

"[On IV] Because of this, you want to AWOL?"

"We come here learn medic skill, not medic song (to learn, skills, not a)"

"[At 9:55am] Section 8, go for a 20 minute break. Come back at 10:45. How long is your break? [Trainees: 20 minutes]"

"[On the double decker beds] Please, those who sleep on top, don't fall off the bed"

"You know, you like unit man already. Everytime, [you want to go to the] 'bunk'. (you're like a)"

"Your POP... 24km route march, full battle order, stretcher and MOP... No lah."

"Saturday lunch is usually very nice one (nice)"