Choices

Quite an okay week. Spent only about seven hours out in the field compared to the original planned four day, three night exercise. Haha. Got my Heeren Privilege Card on Wednesday too. Not bad really. You know, if you refrain from splurging on impulse and pay your bills on time, having a credit card or two at such an "early" age can be a good thing. You get lots of points and privileges. Haha.

Anyway, three major issues on my mind right now. The first and perhaps the least of my concern would be the decision to matriculate earlier than the main cohort of NUS students. That would mean starting school in May, rather than three months later. Didn't attend the Early Matriculation for Returning National Servicemen talk because I couldn't wake up on time this morning. Haha. But having heard from Zi Hao and Seetoh, there're certain advantages to enrolling early. Things like being able to have a more spread-out timetable, completing certain general modules in advance, gradually getting into the mood of studying again, and perhaps even graduating earlier than the rest of the main cohort. Then again, the opportunity cost of doing so isn't insignificant either. I could miss out on three months of salary (which could be used to pay for my driving lessons and/or holidaying somewhere in the region), three months to eventually learn how to drive, and three months to tie up some loose ends here and there. I mean, when else would you get to enjoy such a long break ever again? I guess it all boils down to personal preference really, and for now, I'd rather go in with the main batch of students. =)

Then there'd be the prickly issue of shifting house. There never seems to be a perfect one. Or close to perfect for that matter. Something's always not up to someone's standards or expectations. Price, location, ease of transport, HDB, EC, freehold, view, size, interior design, unit level, facilities, age of house, number of previous owners, East/West or North/South orientation, how condusive are its surrounding neighbourhood and environs... And the list goes on and on. It's really difficult to get everyone to agree on any one place that we've viewed so far. Frankly I'd rather spend a little bit more investing in a new place and staying put in it for many years to come. But that's just me. =) Not very nice to keep shifting house. It's not easy to adapt to new surroundings. I'm not someone very open to constant change you know.

What about the Seventeens? There've been plans going on around for the group, as well as for Marianne and myself, for next year. Merger? Separation? Keep to the status quo? Pushing up some members to be assistant group leaders? Which groups might they be taking? What's going to happen to those who won't become group leaders? Nothing's been confirmed yet. But what's more or less certain is the fact that the both of us'll be moving on to serve in other areas, such as the Young Adults or/and the main service. If that's the case, it'd mark the end of an eight-year term in what we could call it, the only ministry that we would have ever known. Yeah, pretty emotional huh. Everything's just in a constant state of flux right now. Argh.

Hopefully, some of these issues'd be more or less sorted out after Agni Warrior. 6 November. I can't wait. By then, it'd be three months to ORD. Really looking forward to a more relaxed, chalet/hostel-style life. Haha. I hope so.

On a side note, do visit this website - http://www.keep377a.com/ =)

Wednesday: Having clumsily picked and poked through the stingray, I ruined the otherwise delectable dish. =(