Leaving again, not for any land of smiles

Finally i'm here, doing what i've been longing to do for the last couple of weeks. Somehow i haven't managed to find the time nor the energy to breathe a new breath of life into our blog. Now i do. Why? Because its 8.45 in the morning, and half of singapore's probably still asleep, given that its holidays for almost every student.

Staring down at my empty bags, i feel no eagerness to pack and to get ready to return. A very sharp contrast to how readily i accepted the task of filling two suitcases to the brim, a mere 15 weeks ago. Most people are amazed at how long my holiday is, but i never stop telling them that its way, way way too short. And i can only add a "no kidding" to their look of disgust that often follows.

Am feeling quite lathargic now, probably not from the mad dash i had this morning, but moreso from the monotonous lifestyle i've been living over the last 3 years. Every year its the same, study like a mad dog, and return for a break, before heading off to study like a mad dog again. I need something fresh, something different, something like... ARMY!

Yes its true that i might get confined throughout the weekend for not zipping my pants right, or for not killing the spider on my bed, or for snoring too loudly at night. But hey, at least i don't have to worry about when the next midterm is, or whether i'll get an extension on that research project!

Oh my, it sure is worrying that i'm looking forward to something that so many of my friends dread. There is no doubt that the 20 months spent in a green uniform will be another obstacle in our relationship, but lets look at it this way, going away on a 24-minute ferry ride (or do they use buses these days) is waaaaay better than going away on a 24-hour flight.

Somehow, i don't feel immensely overwhelmed by the idea of leaving this year. Because the fact that only 7 months will be spent instead of 9, plus i won't have to leave again... does provide a certain amount of catharsis.

Memories don't last too long. And that's why i'll always be close, to replenish those memories that are lost.