It's strange how life throws us unexpected obstacles, for which we either develop from, or fall back from in despair. It's even stranger when sometimes, these obstacles are what we have to accept depending on the choices that we make.
4 months ago, I made a decision. I knew full well the implications of my decision, but I chose to go ahead with it nevertheless. 4months later, it's taught me certain things I never thought I would have learnt. How some things can be so close to your heart despite you never actually experiencing it yourself.
I'm talking about the life as an army girlfriend here.
Honestly though, it's a surprise how quickly I adapt to such things when the need arises. I never thought I'd one day be the one who'd have to understand and accept the situation that once seemed so alien to me.
And with learning to accept these circumstances, there will be changes that I thought wouldn't have been so hard to adapt to, but for which are difficult. Suddenly, every single text counts. Every call consists of no more than 5 seconds of silence. And there's no time for petty, small issues. In short, both sides became a tad more independent- all within a span of 5 days. It's strangely surprising. I remember how I spent my first day sitting at home alone and tearing up each time I thought about how my life and his life would change in the next 2 years. Yes, it's only been 5 days, but how much have changed during this duration.
For one thing, I've come to accept the situation, as difficult as I thought it would have been to make the transition. Accepting that there will be reduced contact may be just one thing, but appears to be the most crucial thing when making that transition. From more than 50 texts a day to 5, the initial stage was bitter and painful. Yes it was heartwrenching, but honestly, it's surprising how much the human mind can accept when there's no other choice other than to live it through. I can't demand that he call me 5 times a day, and neither can I expect calls late into the night that last over 2 hours. I can't. It's simply not possible. And despite it being a painful realisation (even as I was mentally prepared for the challenges) it's strange how within a span of a few days I've proven to myself just how much I'm willing to undergo for the sake of this relationship.
I hear him tell me about the life within the army camp, and truthfully, from the perspective of someone who's not living the regimented life itself, I can say that it's difficult to imagine. It's difficult to imagine the effort needed in ensuring his rifle is cleaned, his boots are Kiwi-ed, his pillow cases and blankets are arranged in the exact same order as all his bunkmates, even his toothbrush that must be hung in the same way as everyone else.
It's difficult to imagine the confusion and turmoil they face when they are suddenly shunted into a routine where literally everything is planned out for them and where they are taught to obey instructions like puppets, when they were normal civilians just a few hours before, able to make the decision as to whether they should get up at 6am or 10am, decide if they want maggi mee or prata for breakfast, or have a choice as to what they want to wear for the day.
It's difficult to imagine the pain he faces when he has to leave his family members, his girlfriend, and the comfort of his own room to serve the nation.
I hear him tell me about how the NS is the greatest test of a relationship, and how by the first day, so many of his bunk mates are already facing the strain of the relationship. I hear him tell me how his buddy was alone by the drain and looking extremely sian because he was already facing relationship problems. And it hurts to hear things like this, because she, and many other girls including myself, will not understand the pain of having to worry about his girlfriend while he is forced to leopard crawl, crab walk, and shout, "contacted!" with this additional worry on his mind. Sometimes we might end up being an unintentional burden to him- something I will never want to put him through.
It's only been 5 days, and yes we have a long way to go. In time to come, there will be deployments overseas for 2 to 3 months. But I think that the least we can do, as outsiders to the army life, is to understand. Understand his plight the best we can, even if we can't experience it ourselves. Let him talk about his life as a 'chao recruit' and be there for him in spirit, letting him know that we will support him no matter what, such that he knows that even after being shouted at by his sergeant he will still have you to lean on, as someone whom he knows will bring him comfort even at his lowest. And perhaps, not whine when he can't text or call you often because the lack of contact is never your man's fault, because the one thing that he wants to do is to be able to call you or text you whenever it is possible- you are a form of catharsis, and perhaps his only source of relief.
I will end off by saying, again, that yes, you might scoff at this, thinking that it's only been 5 days since he enlisted. But these 5 days, in fact, the days immediately after he enlists will be the most crucial days because in those days I've learnt more about my situation than I will learn in the 2 years. True, there will be other issues that may appear in the future, but as it is, I'm happy that the most pertinent issues have already been spotted, and for which I have already adapted to.
4 months ago, I made a decision. I knew full well the implications of my decision, but I chose to go ahead with it nevertheless. 4months later, it's taught me certain things I never thought I would have learnt. How some things can be so close to your heart despite you never actually experiencing it yourself.
I'm talking about the life as an army girlfriend here.
Honestly though, it's a surprise how quickly I adapt to such things when the need arises. I never thought I'd one day be the one who'd have to understand and accept the situation that once seemed so alien to me.
And with learning to accept these circumstances, there will be changes that I thought wouldn't have been so hard to adapt to, but for which are difficult. Suddenly, every single text counts. Every call consists of no more than 5 seconds of silence. And there's no time for petty, small issues. In short, both sides became a tad more independent- all within a span of 5 days. It's strangely surprising. I remember how I spent my first day sitting at home alone and tearing up each time I thought about how my life and his life would change in the next 2 years. Yes, it's only been 5 days, but how much have changed during this duration.
For one thing, I've come to accept the situation, as difficult as I thought it would have been to make the transition. Accepting that there will be reduced contact may be just one thing, but appears to be the most crucial thing when making that transition. From more than 50 texts a day to 5, the initial stage was bitter and painful. Yes it was heartwrenching, but honestly, it's surprising how much the human mind can accept when there's no other choice other than to live it through. I can't demand that he call me 5 times a day, and neither can I expect calls late into the night that last over 2 hours. I can't. It's simply not possible. And despite it being a painful realisation (even as I was mentally prepared for the challenges) it's strange how within a span of a few days I've proven to myself just how much I'm willing to undergo for the sake of this relationship.
I hear him tell me about the life within the army camp, and truthfully, from the perspective of someone who's not living the regimented life itself, I can say that it's difficult to imagine. It's difficult to imagine the effort needed in ensuring his rifle is cleaned, his boots are Kiwi-ed, his pillow cases and blankets are arranged in the exact same order as all his bunkmates, even his toothbrush that must be hung in the same way as everyone else.
It's difficult to imagine the confusion and turmoil they face when they are suddenly shunted into a routine where literally everything is planned out for them and where they are taught to obey instructions like puppets, when they were normal civilians just a few hours before, able to make the decision as to whether they should get up at 6am or 10am, decide if they want maggi mee or prata for breakfast, or have a choice as to what they want to wear for the day.
It's difficult to imagine the pain he faces when he has to leave his family members, his girlfriend, and the comfort of his own room to serve the nation.
I hear him tell me about how the NS is the greatest test of a relationship, and how by the first day, so many of his bunk mates are already facing the strain of the relationship. I hear him tell me how his buddy was alone by the drain and looking extremely sian because he was already facing relationship problems. And it hurts to hear things like this, because she, and many other girls including myself, will not understand the pain of having to worry about his girlfriend while he is forced to leopard crawl, crab walk, and shout, "contacted!" with this additional worry on his mind. Sometimes we might end up being an unintentional burden to him- something I will never want to put him through.
It's only been 5 days, and yes we have a long way to go. In time to come, there will be deployments overseas for 2 to 3 months. But I think that the least we can do, as outsiders to the army life, is to understand. Understand his plight the best we can, even if we can't experience it ourselves. Let him talk about his life as a 'chao recruit' and be there for him in spirit, letting him know that we will support him no matter what, such that he knows that even after being shouted at by his sergeant he will still have you to lean on, as someone whom he knows will bring him comfort even at his lowest. And perhaps, not whine when he can't text or call you often because the lack of contact is never your man's fault, because the one thing that he wants to do is to be able to call you or text you whenever it is possible- you are a form of catharsis, and perhaps his only source of relief.
I will end off by saying, again, that yes, you might scoff at this, thinking that it's only been 5 days since he enlisted. But these 5 days, in fact, the days immediately after he enlists will be the most crucial days because in those days I've learnt more about my situation than I will learn in the 2 years. True, there will be other issues that may appear in the future, but as it is, I'm happy that the most pertinent issues have already been spotted, and for which I have already adapted to.
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