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ER Loh! ER Loh!

He’s really, really got it.


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The exam, passed on the fourth painful attempt, followed by the interview, and then the news that KK now qualifies as Er. (short for Engineer) Loh.

All we really needed was the official statement and the pay raise (not yet), right.

But what a big unexpectedly lavish event it was. It’s like a freaking convocation. How this country loves its engineers!

Today, professional engineers, old and new, congregate at the Jubilee Hall in the Gardens by the Bay flower dome (it’s the event hall with a galaxy of balls on the ceiling) for the Professional Engineers Board Day of Dedication.

There’s a newspaper supplement!

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A Minister who hands out the thick parchment scrolls to all the ‘new’ Ers!

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A very serious swearing-in ceremony in which all the ERs read aloud a 106-word pledge  (I counted) to “dedicate my service to the development of society…”!

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Everyone wears ties! (KK struggles to follow the Youtube instructions on his phone. I, well-versed in tying RGS school ties, automatically produce one of my lopsided fat-knot ties after 20 years – you never forget - which while ugly is functional. It was re-tied by his friend who must have thought it was unacceptable…)

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There’s food! (I was too busy eating to take photos)

There’s 4D! Well. It’s not related to the event but KK strikes the first 4D he’s ever won in his life when he bought his PE number. A small sum, but the lucky strike adds some mystical glamour to his achievement.

We really wanted to bring the kids. But the organizers said kids were not allowed.

It was truly very somber.

As I sat twitching away in a sea of very proper, well-behaved, obedient and quiet professional engineers dressed in a sea of blue and white shirts and a lot of spectacles, I could not help but giggle at the fact that I actually married one.

You need to be in a big group of people of the same occupation, to realize that certain stereotypes ring very true indeed.

Such dependable men, these.

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* Hooi Leng, KT and KK

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* KK and his spectacularly-dimpled boss

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* One more time!
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