Went to Sim Lim Square yesterday afternoon and very coincidentally, met one of my supervisors in the Navy. Actually, he is the head of seamen. But to call him a head of department would really send him up to the sky to an equivalent aptitude as the officers (You know these people who are not always in touch with the ground). I was very surprise to meet him again so soon after our last meeting one week ago for a Chinese New Year cum Farewell Dinner for another seaman who has flew to Australia to study. The last time we met was about one year ago. Therefore, to see him again within such a short time span is much unexpected.
His Christian name is Buffer…. No, I am joking. That is a naval appointment for head of seamen and I always address him by that term. Buffer is someone who can teach people around him a thing or two. His seamanship is so polished that I suspect one day, he would be invited to write a textbook which all sailors must read during their studies. As the head of gunners, he knows the mechanics and electronics of each and every weapon onboard…. So well, that you thought he has his lunch with ST engineers everyday. His thirst for knowledge is not restricted to his area of work. He is practically a walking encyclopedia, especially when it comes to technology. And if you talk to him about the stock market, there are chances for you to walk away with some free investment advice. Even in today’s information age, he is one of the rarest people to have around. His appearance can be deceiving though and that makes him such an interesting character.
Seeing him there reminds me that he is a very technology-savvy person. We window-shopped together and talked about the things we saw. Listening to his introduction on the gadgets we came across made me feel like someone from the Three-Kingdoms Period who just rode a time machine to 2005. Not that bad…. Maybe someone who is still using 386 or 486 processor. His superiority and my ignorance in this area do not put me down a bit, but what he is going to say later inspires me…. Or maybe, wakes me. He told me why his interest lies in technology and that is because technology is something that is changing constantly. Well, everything changes but the rate of change in technology is beyond contestation. So by learning and keeping up with technology, his mind is always engaged and not left to idle. One thing he never says is that one can harness the power of technology to gain some advantage. Look, this is someone who is learning as a means to an end…. That is almost unfound of today and that is inspiring. Nowadays, most people only learn when it can help them gain employment or promotion, earn more money. Maybe he forgets to say…. I don’t think so.
His words allow me to re-assess myself. This is someone who is so curious about the world and actively acquiring knowledge as if he is born yesterday (So you know if someone tells you that you are born yesterday, it is not a bad thing) and looking at myself… I would think that I am someone who learns only when the knowledge is required. That is my learning characteristic. There are 4 types of learning characteristics. I thought it is time I change my characteristic and start appreciating the world.
His words still ring and my mind still reflects after we parted ways.
His Christian name is Buffer…. No, I am joking. That is a naval appointment for head of seamen and I always address him by that term. Buffer is someone who can teach people around him a thing or two. His seamanship is so polished that I suspect one day, he would be invited to write a textbook which all sailors must read during their studies. As the head of gunners, he knows the mechanics and electronics of each and every weapon onboard…. So well, that you thought he has his lunch with ST engineers everyday. His thirst for knowledge is not restricted to his area of work. He is practically a walking encyclopedia, especially when it comes to technology. And if you talk to him about the stock market, there are chances for you to walk away with some free investment advice. Even in today’s information age, he is one of the rarest people to have around. His appearance can be deceiving though and that makes him such an interesting character.
Seeing him there reminds me that he is a very technology-savvy person. We window-shopped together and talked about the things we saw. Listening to his introduction on the gadgets we came across made me feel like someone from the Three-Kingdoms Period who just rode a time machine to 2005. Not that bad…. Maybe someone who is still using 386 or 486 processor. His superiority and my ignorance in this area do not put me down a bit, but what he is going to say later inspires me…. Or maybe, wakes me. He told me why his interest lies in technology and that is because technology is something that is changing constantly. Well, everything changes but the rate of change in technology is beyond contestation. So by learning and keeping up with technology, his mind is always engaged and not left to idle. One thing he never says is that one can harness the power of technology to gain some advantage. Look, this is someone who is learning as a means to an end…. That is almost unfound of today and that is inspiring. Nowadays, most people only learn when it can help them gain employment or promotion, earn more money. Maybe he forgets to say…. I don’t think so.
His words allow me to re-assess myself. This is someone who is so curious about the world and actively acquiring knowledge as if he is born yesterday (So you know if someone tells you that you are born yesterday, it is not a bad thing) and looking at myself… I would think that I am someone who learns only when the knowledge is required. That is my learning characteristic. There are 4 types of learning characteristics. I thought it is time I change my characteristic and start appreciating the world.
His words still ring and my mind still reflects after we parted ways.
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