there can be a million and one reasons to disregard an order to go back for reservist. here are some:
1. if it clashes with the first day you report for work which, for me, is the first day of school, which means
2. i was unable to meet my students when school started. and any self-respecting teacher will know that the first time you see your students is, perhaps, the most important time - coz dats where you'll do all the self-intro and set all the grd rules. so yeah, i wasnt able to do all dat. (as a result, they had to send in a relief teacher, who made them do compo. so i have like 5/6 stacks of compos waiting for me to mark even b4 i start teaching. best)
3. if it also clashes with the last wk of sch hols which, for govt-employed educators in s'pore, is the wk of staff meeting. so yeah, i missed the first ever staff meeting i was slated to attend. and as a result, i was unable to get my timetable - which means, 1 wk into the 3rd term of the yr, and i still do not know which classes im taking. and i have not seen any of my students yet. dat juz doesnt sound gd, does it?
4. if it also clashes with oral exams briefing and the oral exams proper, for which i am an examiner. so yeah, i missed the briefing, and therefore does not have the slightest idea how to give oral exams when i do go for the oral exams. as a result, i also missed 2 days of oral exams - so they had to look for a replacement.
5. if it clashes with graduation day which, thankfully, i was given some time-off for. but it meant troubling my friend to try on and collect and pay for my gown and transcript and bringing it for me on the day of the ceremony.
6. if you are posted to a unit dat is not your original unit, and you feel utterly sianz dat there's not gonna be anyone you really know, and dat you'll be all alone. ok, this reason is purely my own. im juz whining.
7. if you juz dun feel like it.
8. if its juz VERY BAD timing. but then its gotta be a bad timing for someone at any one time. so.. BOBIAN. anyhow, i did try to defer, and my principal kindly faxed in a letter for me as well. but my reasons were not not valid enough, apparently.
apparently, there arent a million and one reasons for deferment - generally, there are only 8:
(http://www.miw.com.sg/publish/MIWPORTAL/public/mindef_services/deferment/Deferment-FAQ.html)
1. new employment
2. newly-estd business
3. examinations
4. marriage/honeymoon
5. wife's delivery
6. serious illness of next-of-kin
7. simultaneous call-up of 2 or more NSmen who are employed in the same capacity in the same department
8. representation in regional/international games
yeah, so too bad for me.
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