Survival: Reservist Camp

Dear Diary,

I am back!!!! I can’t say how glad I am to be back in one piece. The reservist training is now over but somehow I can’t help feeling that the entire period was just all about the last two days! I got patches of huge bruises all over my knees… pretty unsightly but thank God for them! At least, I did not get some of the incredibly injuries that other soldiers got. There was even one with a ligament tear at his right ankle and was evacuated to the National University Hospital. Then as a medic who treated him, I had to write as many as three incident reports for that. I actually tried “practising” pharmacy in my camp by bringing some medications I had to camp and administering them when my soldiers required. In those 2 weeks, provided the sick with counselling and medicines which included cetirizine (they told me that they felt that it is the best for itch), loratadine (Clarityne), chlorpheniramine, Clarinase, dextromethorphan syrup, Tussils 5, Betnovate cream, paracetamol, methyl-salicylate cream (Begesic), piroxicam gel (Rosiden), diphenoxylate (Lomotil) and many more… hee…

Yesterday, we had a mission exercise outfield and I could barely tolerate the sweltering mid-day heat. I thought I was bordering heat exhaustion but I chose not to give up. The exercise ended much later than scheduled and I returned back to camp barely “alive”. I guess age has indeed caught up with most of us and as much as the spirits are willing, our physical conditions did not permit us! Then they scheduled a “Happy Hour” that late evening. I thought it would probably be good food and booze. Apparently not! In fact, four scantily-clad girls probably in their early 20’s strutted onstage and danced sexily to the tune of Pussy Cat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha”. I guess I was a little surprised at the sort of “entertainment” they had for us. My platoon were given each a magazine “Playeur” as our prize. Got a shock to realise that there were pictures of Dawn Yang (the famous blogger) in her lingerie in suggestive postures. Tossed my copy of the magazine away. A fellow Christian soldier eventually protested all the way up the hierarchy over such sexually-connotative events. Army life sure tests what we stand for. Guys generally fall into temptations easily and the best way is still to stay away from them.

That same evening, I was awarded a good service medal for the all work I put in for the past in-camps. Yay! ;-) Beer was on the commanding officer’s tab and I took one can. Kinda made me a tinny weeny tipsy and I fell into a well-deserved slumber. The next day, which is today, started a little sad. I failed in my application to work in Economic Development Board (EDB). My plan is now left in tatters and serious jeopardy. Gonna pick myself up again and try something else. Realise that having a pharmacy degree and pharmacy practice work experience may just be too specialised for my own good. The search continues.

Can’t wait to catch movies, have some nice meals and maybe even visit places-of-interest if I can somehow find someone to accompany me over the next few days next week! Ok, that’s about it. Time to sleep! Goodnight.

God Bless,

Andrew