In an attempt to tune myself into a entrepreneur frequency, I had picked up self enriching books and collected articles on interviews with those rich asses. One term was often used -- Carpe Diem - seize the day. I defined it as working the hell of of oneself. But today I saw a different meaning to it...
*****
After Eugene and I clear our bunks of everything - his XBox and my 21' Sony Wega - we were set to leave this Siberia camp for good. Human beings are naturally unreceptive to changes once they are in their comfort zone. Comfort zone, ya, that's me and my management. Ken requested me to educate my new understudy about the existing culture. Now that Eugene and me are being replaced by a DXO - MAJ (Ret), and a newly commissioned 2LT, the staffs were rather fretful about the management revolution. The new boss was inquisitive about every detail. On his second day, he told Ken to write a report on the fire hazards in the laboratory. Well, in the past, my concern for the lab was on how to make the room better ventilated, so that sleeping would be more fitful.
Eugene drove to the Detention Barrack (DB). We are on our monthly visit to a serviceman, Z, that was under me. In my department, Z is actually my favourite subordinate, for we shared the same topics, and often engage in quality conversations. He had been inside for 40 plus days already. We went through a series of metal barred gates before reaching the barrack itself. The double concertina wires on top of the fences suffice amply to the apprehensive atmosphere. We came into the narrow corridor that could take only two men side by side. A doorway laid ahead. I caught a familiar cheeky smile from a dark figure, seated on the floor, peeking out from the doorway. I eagerly return the smile. Although it was only a 40 plus days, it seemed ages since I last saw him. Eugene and I were led into the visiting room, before Z was brought in. He seemed to have beefed up. Clean-shavened, and dressed in a worned-out yellow shirt tagged with a number, Z grinned as he sat down. Man do I miss this signature grin from my office.
"I miss sitting on a chair..." Having a chair to sit down is a blessing. The floor has been the seat and bed for his past 40 days. He had to imagine how a TV look like. He eagerly asked about how's things going back in camp, how's everyone doing. He asked about the latest PS2 games, latest movies, TV dramas, new handphones models, and even the Tsunami that happened one month back. Only for 40 days, he knew that he had been outdated. It really shows how fast the world is progressing outside the cell. I would never have realised this if I hadn't seen him.
Every morning is his sandbag regime, when he would have to carry 20kg loads of sandbags and march 4km. It explained his beefed up physique. This was done at the parade square, where it was the only chance to see a few HDB flats charting out in a distance. It probably gave him the confirmation that he is still at home - in Singapore.
Today, Eugene and I got our promotion to the second bar. As he congratulated us on that, coincidentally, Z was promoted from Category C to Category B. From today onwards, he need not attend the daily sandbag regime. According to his cellmates, life in DB is worse than that of Changi Prison. Only now is him allowed to be visited by his girlfriend other than his family members. On Saturdays, he could play games like chess and watch a movie. He got the chance to wash his own ration plate, which was an opportunity to move and appreciate everything outside the cell.
Other than the sandbag regime and visiting periods, he had to spend the rest of his time in the cell. Changing of cell rooms takes place regularly. There would either be 3 cellmates or 1 detainee alone in a cell. Therefore he met alot of new friends who, besides exchanging numbers for future contacts, exchanged their unlawful experiences. Even when it seemed that there was nothing to be learned, he had picked up new knowledge and skills from within. As the detainees are not allowed to talk across cells, there exists a sign language unique to the detainees. From the conversations he learnt the operation of underground trades. Things like how inspectors get their information, and the best ways to smuggle drugs.
I was startled at how the detainees spend their times inside the cell. When held in a 3 person cell, they would walk to and fro the cell from one end of the wall to the other while engaging in conversations, when the distance between walls only take a few steps. This is an attempt to kick the habit of sleeping after meals, and wake up to just another meal again. When it's a 1 person cell, he would walk up and down the diagonal of the cell, covering a longer distance so as not to get a dizzy spell from the turning.
When asked what he would want to do and who he would want to meet most after the release, Z anticipated the days that he could slack around at home and spend more quality time with his family. In times of seclusion like this, he laments that it's only his family who worried most about him. He grieved about how he had been taking everything for granted in the past.
The visiting stretched out to over an hour, knowing that Z would be more than pleased to stay every second longer on his chair. While Eugene felt depressed about the whole visit, I had left the barrack positively. I revised a philosophy that I used to ponder on. Living a life - it's all about appreciation than anything else. Carpe Diem could be inferring to another aspect than to work your ass out daily to make a living. Do take a break from time to time to enjoy and appreciate every object that you can see, every feeling that you experience, every conversation that you engage, every expression that you capture, and everyone that you meet.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)