TGITA Ep 2...

Dear Diary...

The people I'm with were...unique. They had their own idiosyncrasies. Some of them could be called nerds while others were just plain scary or irritating.

Some examples include those who labeled their belongings excessively. And I mean excessively. They labeled their shoes - both sides, they labeled their toothbrush, they labeled their shaver, they labeled their ziplock bags that held these items and yes, they labeled the bag that stored the labels. Talk about ownership.

Some bathed with their underwear on - afraid of others seeing their twig and berries. While others washed their dirty laundry without wearing anything. So, as they manually washed their dirty laundry, their bells were jingling away to the tunes of Christmas.

And there were those who can't help but be the rash under everyone's armpits - downright irritating. Talk about practising good hygiene habits! They powdered their boots EVERY SINGLE time they wore it, they powdered their underwear before they wore it AND after, and they powdered their slippers. Oh yes, these few also genuinely believed that the prickly heat they were using during their powdering rituals would repel poisonous snakes. Why and how? Grab a can of prickly heat and go figure. Hint: It is in the trademark.

Sleeping habits also varied amongst individuals. Some of them snored while others coughed incessantly. Some of them slept on the bedsheets while others ended up sleeping between the bed and the sheets. Some woke up on time while others woke up in time. Orders that were as clear as daylight blew by like the carefree wind: " Ok gentlemen, tomorrow reveille at 5.00 a.m. Breakfast at 5.15 a.m". Instead, to them it sounds like this: "Ok gentlemen, tomorrow wake up anytime you like before 5.15 a.m and then we can take our own time to eat. Ok?" Anyway, who eats at an ungodly hour like that! If it provides us with the energy for our morning training, I highly doubt so because what went in through our mouths came right back out at the other end in a matter of minutes.

Well, to you, this may seem like ranting. But these horrible habits of theirs will soon take a toll on me and even affect our training. And if the latter happens, I would be held responsible. Why? Because I was to become their platoon IC . And I was to take up that role for a VERY long time....

Yours truly
TGITA