Showing posts with label NS Journal Y08G1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NS Journal Y08G1. Show all posts
Summary of my NS experience
cjLee

*my company's teacher, Cikgu Diswa and I on the night of graduation, 10th March '08*

okay. here's an update for ns, my opinion. Sorry it took so dang long...
Just couldn't get my mind to come to terms of blogging.
Anyways, here it goes~

National Service (NS) for me was all right. It might not be as memorable or as 'fun' as i have hoped. Sure i did all those activities that were to give trills~ ie. Flying fox, high rope, obstacle course, kayaking, marching competition, netball competition, shooting M16... but i didn't had the fun i thought i would.
I've been to 2 camps, for those who knows not, Kem Bukit Saban, Betong and Kem Puncak Permai, Bau and have had the privilege of gaining experience from two obviously, very different camps.
Here, I've summed up the contrast.
and have loaded up some photos from both camps in my multiply acc.
KBB, Betong
Rural woody area.		 KPP, Bau
Very close to town.
Looks plain and simple. Modern Looking.
Yellowish-brown water for use Non-opaque paip water
for use.
Only main rules are imposed. All rules are a must to
followed.
No trainees from Semenanjung. More than a hundred.
Friendlier trainees. Racial boundaries.
only Celcom line usable. No specifications.
Food was okay. Better food.
Evening exercise not a must. Evening exercise is
a Must.
Cemented dorm floor. Tiled dorm floor.
12 people ony in my dorm. 26 ppl in ths dorm.
Pakaian awam' allowed
outside dorm.		 Only allowed in dorms.
Allowed to return to dorm by 10.30pm during free nights. Return to dorm around
11pm no matter what.
Somehow less tiring. More tiring.
Insufficient water
for shower all the time.		 Rarely happens.
Bigger obstacle course
(in woods).		 Smaller.
Small pond. Average sized pond.
Less trainers. More trainers, much
more friendly &
easy going.
Can sit with any group of
'wirawati', no matter which company at the hall.		 Allowed to sit with
our own dorm mates
only *tho we do move to
other tables sometimes*.
Can enter other company's dormitories.
Use i-talk card.
 Not encouraged to
enter other company's
dorms.
Use phone card.





Facts
1) In the 1st month, we go for classes from day to night.
2) Bau camp definitely have better facilities.
3) Commanders from both camps are friendly.
4) I moved to Bau camp on 24th January after my transfer was granted.
5) I did not get all teary on graduation day at Bau camp.
6) I had a better circle of friends at Betong camp.
7) Gone sick the most times in a light year. (while in Btg)
8) Ate the most medicine in such a short period of time as well. (while in Btg)
9) Overall an experience non the less.
10) My brain has gone rusty.
11) My bones are still lazy.
12) I got around 10 bruises on my left leg while at KPP, after the obstacle course's competition.
13) I think that I did more exercise that actually benefits while at home.
14) At the back of both my foots, below the ankle are dark patches of skin caused by the class' heels worn.
15)I think KPP's classes are held more interestingly than KBB's for module PK. or i could be wrong..

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Typical Class Session
cjLee
The NS program started on a thursday, 3rd Jan '08. That day was the first class of Modul Pembinaan Karektor, Modul 1- Menampilkan Yang Terbaik Dalam Diri Sendiri. It was particularly boring and vapid.. I find it easier to fall asleep in each subsequent class.

We each get a workbook and the class was conducted in a kindy-style, as most would call it. The class hit off with music, to which we were forced to dance/walk around the class, clapping hands according to the beat. *Only compelled to do so for the first few class sessions. The teacher eventually got fed up of asking us to do so.. =P*

After two or three songs, there would be another one, signalling for us to be sitted before the end of it. Otherwise, we would have broken a class rule.. When we're all seated, we'll be asked to clap hands for ourselves.. == *I find this utterly pointless*

Then the teacher would read whatever he's teaching from a piece of paper, readily prepared for all ns teachers. We would then be asked to stand up almost immediately after we're seated to perform 'Gerakan Ceria' of the day according to a topic. Ie. Act out what one does when he wakes up --> teeth brushing, showering, clothing, hair combing, breakfast eating etc.. After that, we are to clap hands for ourselves and be seated. When we're all seated, we'll be asked to stand up once again and move to our divided groups. =="

From then on, the class will continue following the topics of the workbook. Whenever there's an activity or a game, my teacher will take an agonisingly long time to explain it. First, he'll read the instructions from the paper in his hand, next he'll repeat the whole thing with explanations for each sentence. Sometimes, he'll repeat it all over again, this time, with his own words.. *Gomez* Then, he'll have a group do a demo. Finally, it's out turn to carry out the activity and most of the time, we finished it off in about a minute or two, while he took about 10-15mins to explain.. =="

When we do our workbook, we'll be asked to sit in 'diet' form, which is face to face with a person and share what we've written in out workbook.

Classes begin from 9am to 12pm with a break at 10.30am-11am. For Monday and Tuesday, there'll be classes at night too~

Classes for modul 1 was really uninteresting and wearisome, due to boredom. Modul 2-Menampilkan Yang Terbaik Dalam Diri Orang Lain was more lively because there were more activites and more eventful. Overall, we devoted about 2 weeks to each modul mentioned and were all glad when both modul ended~ Throughout the duration, made more friends and meet more people. Class sessions (& Aktiviti Riadah) were the only time one is official allowed to interact with the opposite sex. For this camp, interaction with the opposite sex isnt too difficult as compared to the other camp i was transferred to.

Besides class sessions taking pretty much of the day, sometimes we would have theory classes, eg. CPR and Safety talks and Types of Ropes in the afternoon at the hall dressed in PT(sports) clothes. We also had about 3 PTS(Permainan Tanpa Senjata) sessions. It's something like Teakwondo. We dressed in PT clothes to do this, while in my latter camp, they had to be dressed in Full Celoreng! (the full camouflage-looking attire) which makes one feel REALLY WARM!

At other times, besides the classes, we dont do anything but be seated in the hall and wait patiently for time to pass by.
PK2 - My Class
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2nd Sunday of NS
cjLee
6th Jan. '08

The first Sunday that non-Muslim trainees get a step out of camp ground. I, as a Roman Catholic got on a bus to St. Anthony's Chapel, which is the furthest from the camp.

The chapel is little, surrounded by trees, earth and mosquitoes. Mass service started at 8.30am in Bahasa Iban and a little Bahasa Malaysia when the chapel was fully filled. Half the time i was relating everything to English.. == This is the only mass celebrated by a priest. The following visits were conducted by a brother or two.. *i Dont know, i didnt attend.*
After that, we took a 25mins bus ride to Betong town~ Where we were only allowed to spend 20mins.. == WtF .. methodists spent 2Hours there!
So in that short frantic time, i bought a shoe glue to seal my gawping class' heels and spent the rest of the time waiting for others and (somewht 10mins) looking for doris' relatives' shops.. to no avail.. Soon it's back to the bus and Back to camp..

Since it's the first week of the month, my mom came for a visit!~ Supposely with my dad but they met an accident on their way up so my mom hitched a ride and only she showed up. *Details of her visit will not be mentioned.*
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Week 1
cjLee
30th Dec '07 - 5th Dec '08

First week of NS was a Bore~ Major letdown~
We practically sat down and waited for the hours to pass by.. From sunrise to sunset.. I suppose it's a way of adapting us to the new surroundings but they Should have at least given us Something to DO! so that most people wouldnt be terribly homesick. Then they did something worser by taking handphones away on the eve of New year. T.T Only light side, we got our free clothes and met some more new pals~

Hence the first week went by rather slowly. By the end of the week, it feels like i've already been there for a month~ ==
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Day 1, 29Dec'07
cjLee
*this is the 2nd time i'm posting this entry..==*

I only started having the sinking feeling that 'IAMGOINGTONS!' when i got on the bus. == The ride had a couple of stops took about 4 and a half hours to reach destination.. Due to some mechanical problems, my ride was last to arrive at camp, that's around 3.15pm. Took a hell long time to register and only got that dealt with at around 6pm-ish.

Had dinner before climbing uphill to dorm, hoping to find a comfy bed i saw in the newpaper.. Without luck, all beds of my Company were already occupied! At the bright side, i managed to get a canvas bed so that's where i slept.

My 016 hpno. also has no line there, unless i climbed higher uphill to where the 'laboratories' are.

To conclude, first day of camp was rather grumpy and grouchy for mua~ Did make a couple of friends.. woofWoof..
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goin off
cjLee
All Packed and ready to go~ *i shld think..
cya all.. in a month+~
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FOUR Days to Go
cjLee
Have not started packing...
Just found out, will be getting RM300/- from this program.
Visiting hours, every 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, 8.30am-5pm & visitors are disallowed from bring trainers out of camp ground...
rawr...
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SIX Days To Go
cjLee
preparations: I've just picked out a bag~ lol. & aired it this afternoon. Havent bought all the things i need.
What I've heard about the camp I'll be sent to:
  • Well equipped facilities.
  • No paip water system. Will be using river water for everything. So, I hope it rains almost daily, else there'll be insufficient H2O, what with low pressure and everyone washing at the same hour. ==
  • Since it's river water, some people are not used to it and get diarrhoea.
  • Mosquitoes aplenty... more insect repellent..

What I heard, that I didnt know of but concerns me in a way:
- Forbidden to bring one's own medication but paracetamol.
- Laundry service for the clothes they provide for us. Trainees only wash the clothes they brought.

Here's a rough guide on the normal days at ns.*copied out of Star newspaper dated 23th Dec '07*

5-6.30am - Rise & Shine, morning prayers
6.30-7.30am - parade & morning exercise
7.30-8.30am - breakfast
8.30-10.30am - character module (games and activities)
10.30-11am - morning tea
11-12.30am - continuation of character module
12.30-2.30pm - lunch & solat Zuhur
2.30-4.30pm - physical module (outdoor)
4.30-5.30pm - tea break & solat Asar
5.30-6.30pm - recreation (games and interaction)
6.30-8.30pm - R&R, dinner, solat Maghrib/Isyak
10.30pm - supper and briefing
11.00pm - lights out
*clueless as to what happens from 8.30pm to 10.30pm. Class sessions or free time i suppose..*
-What's on my mind-
  • Am neither thrilled nor upset.
  • I read that all systems, in terms of health, food...etc have improved by a notch, so that somewhat makes me feel a bit better...?
  • One of my 'ns preparations' went.. awful.. T.T

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Day 1, 29Dec'07
cjLee
I only started having the sinking feeling that 'IAMGOINGFORNS' when i got on the bus.. == Ride had a couple of stops and took more than 4and a half hours.. Due to some mechanical problems, my bus arrived last and reached camp at around 3.15pm. Took a hell long time to register and only got everything dealt with at around 6pm-ish.
Had dinner before going uphill to dorm, hoping to find a comfy bed i saw in the newspaper... But There were No More Beds~!! so slept on a canvas instead...
My 016- hpno. had no line there, unless i climbed higher up the hill, outside the 'laboratories'. So first day was a rather moody, grumpy and unhappy one.. woofWoof..
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