The pursuit of money... not!

It is strange.

I left the navy, wanting to move on to another start in life. I am actually still very undecided on what to do for a living, but it probably will revolve around translation work, and teaching (English and/or taiji). Nothing fancy, make enough to make ends meet, enjoy the flowers while walking the road of life.

It seems like a strange idea to some people. They can't seem to get pass the "you mean you are not leaving so that you can make more money?"

People approach me with money-making ideas. Each of them think he has a great idea. I think so too. But I am not keen... because I am not in it for the pursuit of money. Yes, money is important; after all, this is a world in which you can't survive without money. And I am not going to be translating or teaching for free too, I do hope to earn money while doing those.

But I am not after earning lots of money, then retiring to a beach. No, that's not my dream, that's not my goal. But then, maybe, I think, maybe, it has to do with the way things are in Singapore. Our system here is such that you can't retire if you don't have money. Maybe that is why the average Singapore is more into the pursuit of money, than the pursuit of dreams. After all, pursuing dreams isn't going to keep you from starving here, not with the cost of living here.

Some movie said it, something along the line of, "We (mainland Chinese) pursue work so that we can pursue our dreams. You (Singaporeans) give up your dreams so that you can pursue work. (我们为了追求梦想而工作，你们为了工作而放弃梦想。)" Why do we work for money, when we should get money to work for us (to realise our dreams)?

I am the sifu, apparently

A farewell gift from my guys.

I am the monk Xuanzang because they say I am like their sifu (teacher). Which is quite touching because, I did try my best to teach them what I could. Besides making them deliver what they needed to do, I tried to develop them too, by teaching them what I know.

So when they remember "F.A.C.E", I was already very happy. Because I told them before, that if their work lack focus, awareness, clarity and effort, then they (and who they work for) will lose face. They remembered that, and even carved it onto a seal which was presented to me.

This little picture only made me all the more touched.

Anyway, they are following a new Xuanzang now, while I ride off to the Western Paradise (hopefully...)

A new start

After 18 years of being in the navy, today is the start of something new.

There will be many things that I will miss.

No more dusty Tanah Merah Coast Road.
No more wardroom dinners.
No more crew outings.
No more getting paid to play "games" aka CIC training.
No more conning ships.
No more working with the wonderful people in the navy.

But an end is also a beginning.

A new start.
A new hope.