Goodbye, navy family!

After 18 years, I am bidding farewell to the family that has been with me for half my life.

Eight and a half years of shipboard postings.

Serving onboard five different ships, three different classes, six different tours.

Sailing to fourteen different countries.

Most memorable sailing: RIMPAC 2010

Longest sailing: Attachment to Japan Training Squadron for Japan Training Cruise, lasting six months.

Topping Naval Warfare Officer Course.

Sent twice for long overseas courses, both to Japan: first for the academy, then for command and staff course.

Pioneer crew on two frigates.

Fired missiles, hunted submarines, landed helicopters.

Loaded rations, cleaned toilets, served dinner, waxed floors.

Ran on the deck, swam in the sea, jumped off ships.

Drank champagne while underway. (Shh!!!)

Movies under the stars, barbeques on the deck, fireworks from the sea.

Celebrating birthdays, recognising success, remembering anniversaries.

Learning from mistakes, learning not to make the same mistakes.

Playing diplomat, honing warfighting skills, driving ships, leading people.

Sad to go, proud to have served.

Value is relative

In a world where everyone farms, being able to do something different that people needs is valuable. And the less people who can do this and the more needed the skill, the more valuable it is. Because value is relative.

So we all ended up pursuing the "higher value jobs", the "white collared jobs", because back then, not everyone had those skills. Relatively, they were able to command a premium over other jobs. And people in those jobs could live a life that is much better materially compared to the rest.

But with education, those skills are becoming more widespread. Their value drops. Trying to aim for that same level of material comfort means having to work harder.

And once those common skills of the past start being forgotten, those who still remember them will gain in value. Because those skills are needed too, and with less people able to perform them, their relative value increases.

So if you are aiming for material comfort, you need to always pursue those skills that few people have. If you prefer to stick with the masses, you either have to work harder, or lower your expectations.

Being a translator

Trying to be a translator is difficult... there are many ways to be a translator, but they usually boil down to two types:

In-house translators
Some companies do hire translators as either a full-time or part-time job. The work is usually in a very specific field, like localisation of games and other software, or those in the publishing business, or firms providing legal services (usually patent-related). Unless you work in a firm that specialises in a certain field of translation (like patent translations), prospects are usually not that great.

Freelance translators
These are freelancers that work on a project basis. Work is found either by looking at advertisements placed by companies requiring translation help, or by registering with a translation agency that assigns work.

Getting work
Translation agencies
These companies have a list of freelancers registered with them. So when companies need help with translation, instead of placing ads, companies can just approach a translation agency for help. The translation agency will then assign the work to one of the freelancers under it, using its own system to determine who gets the job. Some have an internal bidding process, some assign jobs based on the assessment of job-freelancer fit, etc. There is some assurance of quality as agencies usually conduct their own assessments for freelancers registering with them.

One-man translation company
Some translators are so good, they can start their own businesses and companies will approach them for help. Compared to engaging an agency, directly getting help from such one-man translation companies has the advantage that you know exactly who is going to be doing the job for you.

Online Translation Agencies
These are like conventional agencies, except that they use the web fully for their businesses. Clients are charged a rate but only a small portion of that actually goes to the freelance translator. Most of the time, work is assigned in a bidding manner, so you can never be sure who you are going to get, and quality may vary from project to project. However, the rates charged are usually lower (due to lower running costs) and response is usually fast, so for short and simple projects, it may be worth trying your luck with these.

Freelancing has flexibility, but income is not stable and also not stagnant... you earn as much as you are willing to do, as long as you can find work. Until I can find a good reason to join a company as full-time in-house translator, freelancing seems to be the way to go.

Wish me luck!

Thoughts on IMDEX 2015

As a person who was frequently involved in IMDEX (a maritime defence exhibition held once every two years in Singapore), I must say that my short visit to IMDEX 2015 left me with some thoughts.

Compared to past years, IMDEX 2015 seemed to be less crowded, with less interesting displays. In fact, my walk around the booths didn't surprise me with any new and upcoming defence technology. The things on display were the routine, standard stuff. Yes, they are new stuff, but not the cutting edge stuff (during its time) that used to be on display. In fact, some booths didn't really have anything on display; they were just booths with the company's name and a few staff.

Maybe it was a bad idea to have IMDEX 2015 so close to another defence exhibition; just a week ago, there was a defence exhibition in Japan, the first since Japan decided to loosen its laws regarding export of military technology. From the news, it seems that the exhibition in Japan was a great success; it is expected, since defence contractors are probably looking at Japan being the up-and-coming player/market.

Maybe that's where all the good stuff went. And maybe that's why they didn't make it to Singapore in time.

Or maybe, IMDEX has lost its appeal. After all, it is the same broad programme year after year. And in this fast changing world, if you don't adapt or evolve in time, you risk becoming obsolete.

Prep for sea

Preparing to embark on a new journey in life.

Professional pride

The sushi chef is a professional, an expert in his field (making sushi). The guy working in the kitchen at a sushi chain is no expert, simply following a set of procedures. Both make sushi, but what's the difference? Ask Jiro.

Same tea leaves, same water. But the difference between tea made by me and a tea master?

There are things beyond the material form that cannot simply be seen by the eyes, felt by touch, heard by the ears or tasted by the tongue, but must be appreciated with the heart.

静夜思亲

静夜思亲，
明月传心，
千里家音，
贵如千金。

A full moon tonight prompted me to come up with this.

May the 4th

May the Force be with you!

Happy Star Wars Day!

Keeping training relevant

Someone said that training should be relevant to what we need to do. I can't agree more.

But that same person said that he would be satisfied if the training system is one step behind the current system, although the truth is that it is usually two or three steps behind.

It doesn't make sense.

How can training be relevant, if it is one or more steps behind the current system?

Training must prepare us for the current, so that we are relevant and ready to do our jobs. And it must be forward looking, to prepare us for the future in this fast changing world.

How can something be relevant, if it is always one step behind?

Farewell to our founding father

建国英雄泪雨送
万民追悼李光耀
记念伟人庆其功
迈向未来新加坡

On a rainy day as a nation bids farewell to our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, let us move forward as a nation and celebrate his successes.

47 years ago, we did not waver in rain or wind. Today, we continue to stand strong in the heavy rain and strong wind.

Rest in peace, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Being clever slows your learning... sometimes

Sometimes, we are too clever for our own good. Especially when it comes to learning something.

Some things must be learnt in stages. There are no short cuts. One step at a time. Practise what you are taught, and you will eventually get there.

But sometimes we are too clever for our own good. We try to think we know better. We try to put our own little theory together, and think that we understand things better than our teacher. We think this newfound understanding helps us to learn faster.

Sometimes, that "understanding" is actually us not really understanding. Instead of bringing us faster to our goal, we end up taking an even longer route.

We may be smart, we may be clever, but sometimes, it is not about how smart or clever one is. It is about how much one practises, how much effort one puts in.

Busy start to March 2015

March 2015 started off really busy for me.

After spending the Chinese New Year in Japan, there was quite a bit of things to catch up on back in Singapore. Like housework. Like my calligraphy practice. Like work.

With so much to do, it is no wonder that I became so tired over the past week and a half. Over the past few days, since March started, I have been so tired that I just couldn't find energy to practise taiji. And that speaks a lot for someone who thinks that one needs to practise precisely when he is tired, in order to be great.

So four straight days without practice... that's something that happens only when I am on holiday.

I need to get my act together and back to practice!

In memory of Robert H. Gallagher

My mentor and good friend, Robert H. Gallagher, passed away on 23 Feb 2015.

As a friend and mentor, he has influenced me in many ways, taught me to think critically, and was crucial in strengthening my foundations as a naval officer.

The following is an extract about his life, taken from his memorial service held on April 5, 2015 at St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville, Nevada:

Robert H. Gallagher was born to Merchant Marine Harold Gallagher (where Robert believed he got his "sea legs") and Ruth Eugenia (nee: Reasoner) Gallagher on May 2, 1946, in Toledo, Ohio. He spent his younger years in Ohio, Maryland, and Florida. He graduated in June 1965 from Dixie Hollins High School in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Robert joined the U.S. Navy Reserve prior to his high school graduation and went onto boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center later that same year. His enlisted years in the Navy were spent as an Engineman on two LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) during the Vietnam conflict--where he was promoted up through the enlisted ranks to Chief Petty Officer. In the early 1970s, he separated from the Navy to attend college. He received his Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 1975 and a Master's degree in International Relations from Troy State University in 1988.

In 1975, he re-joined the Navy graduating from Officer Candidate School with a commission to the rank of "Ensign." He obtained his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) wings in 1976 from the Pensacola Naval Training Center. He served his aviator career in Fixed Wing Squadron 151 and 161 flying in the F-4 Phantom jet. Robert spent the majority of his naval career in the Pacific theater having spent four tours of duty on USS Midway (CV-41)--two squadron tours and two ship's company tours--forward-deployed in Yokosuka, Japan. He and Sandra met in San Diego and married in April 1986.

Following his retirement as a Lieutenant Commander in November 1991, Robert became an English sensei and mentor to Japan National Defense Academy students, several of whom he remained close to following his return to the United States in 2006. Upon Sandra's retirement in 2012, he and Sandra made their final move from Pennsylvania to Gardnerville, Nevada where he passed on February 23, 2015.

Throughout his life, Robert loved the Navy and his Irish roots (a stubborn Irishman he was!). He especially liked history and politics. He was well read and could talk to almost any subject. He enjoyed travelling the world and acting as a "tour guide" no matter where he lived or travelled. He had a very creative mind and could be a "MacGyver" when needed, and he truly enjoyed tinkering with his Honda vehicles. Family and friends gave him several aliases over the years including "Chief," "Admiral," and "Professor"--all of which he was very proud.

Some other things about Robert that I came to know about along the way during the many years of our friendship.

- After getting his Bachelor's degree, Robert had wanted to return to the surface fleet (where he came from during his enlisted days), but was told by the recruiting officer that the Navy was not accepting applications for the surface fleet. He thus decided to sign up as an aviator, thinking that if he flunked flight school, the Navy would assigned him to the surface fleet. Of course, he didn't flunk flight school, and went on to completing the rest of his naval career as an aviator.

- While he was staying in Japan after his retirement, he would bring visiting USN admirals on tours in Tokyo, to places such as the Tsukiji fish market.

- He has ejected from a plane before. Apparently, it was a planned ejection. The ejection seat used for this planned ejection was still on display in USS Midway when he brought me around in 2010.

- He was married to a Japanese lady while stationed in Yokosuka, and they had a daughter. They divorced, however, and he did not talk much about this first marriage.

Learning to teach

I signed up for an i-to-i TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) online course today.

First step towards doing something that I had always wanted to do.

Drawing inspiration from "Dead Poets Society".

Now I have something else to keep me busy after work, apart from taiji and calligraphy.

Happy Valentine's Day

February the 14th.

Happy Valentine's Day!