The Story of Stuff

You have to watch this video. I've only seen it halfway and it's amazing. It's up to you, yes you, the individual. You have the power of choice.

The video powerfully highlights how trash is made, [complicatedly, very complicatedly], used and thrown away. Annie Leonard isn't kidding when she says we live in a crazy throw-away culture. WE DO! And yet, much as I want things to change, I really don't want to change my lifestyle. To dwell deeper, I probably don't know how.

I was just doing some reflection.. It's true that advertisers and corporations are telling us to to shop, shop and shop. My friends marvel at the miraculous powers of retail therapy. Hey to all girls [and boys], time to wake up that retail therapy is hyped-up and brings detriment so subtle.

So what? Say no to shopping, forever? Hmm, I guess not. So what's the benchmark then? This is exactly why I don't know how. Advocates can go on all day about how to go green but I need a true role model to show me how.

Please note that this is not meant to be depressing but enlightening. :D

My driving instructor

Let me introduce to you Mr Ng Chin Lye, No. 1 driving instructor for manual cars. He charges only $24 per hour, and man, that is way cheaper than school rates. And he's better than the instructors, from my experience of course.

With a private instructor, you can be flexible with scheduling lessons and not have to change instructors all the time, unlike with school. Yes, it's true that according to dubious news reports, school candidates have a higher first-time passing rate. But with Mr Ng, you can be sure that he gives you real methods and tips on how to drive. I must say that he's really anal about how I should hold steering wheel, how to turn, how to even hold the gear stick. It's all about details.

So if you're looking for a really good manual driving instructor who isn't expensive at all or you wanna switch instructors or get out of school (in my opinion, you really should), do engage Mr Ng Chin Lye cos as he always say, 'BAO HUI!', meaning, sure know.

His number is 96809525

Change

There's so much of my physical appearance that has changed since April. My long hair was chopped off and I donned on spectacles. I've never really publicly gave my reasons and it only after a period of time, like now, that the reasons came to me.

Firstly, I wanted a physical change as the environment changed around me. Secondly, I wanted to find out how much of myself was attached to my physical appearance. Admit it la, most girls look way better with long hair and spectacle-less. My tutor, whom I have the highest respect for, said this in his very first advice to me: Beauty and brains are a lethal package. You can use it for destructive means or you can use it with responsibility to bring about a greater good. Thirdly, I really wanted to know how much I've been relying on physical looks to have my way.

So I must say, I myself wasn't really prepared for the change I guess. My best friend said, 'Yeah, it's true that you look a lot less prettier. You've lost that auro around you that you used to have. It's just way different now.' And I had an admirer last year, whom I could say was my no.1 fan at one time, who didn't recognized me at all when I saw him 3 times in a mall. That, provided me with a crashing realiszation that MUCH has really changed.

When that happened, that day, I got quite upset and confused. It seemed that I had reached my goals too successfully. So I whipped out my journal and as I began to write, God showed me that while physical change is tangible, what's more real is an inner turnover. I cannot just pretend that I care not for how I look when I haven't really trusted God with my all and find my security in Him. Since then, God has been doing 'repair' work in my life. I'm not perfect and never will be, as long as I'm on earth. But I know that my great God would never quit on me and will continue to refashion me to be more like Christ.

Friends

I remember when I was in kindergarten and primary school, there was this whole big game of 'I friend you' and 'I don't want to friend you already'. It's a mystery of how everyone knows how to play it without being taught the rules. As we grow older, we still play sometimes but of course, with tact and strategy. By the way, it's a girls' game.

Now that I'm 19, it feels awfully childish when someone close just pisses me off and I have that urge to ignore her for as long as I can. Well, I guess you can say it's about forgiveness. And it is. It's about swallowing my humongous pride and telling myself that I'm not a smart ass no matter how much I like to think so.

I do feel that there's a limit to what a friend can do befor you say 'enough is enough'. And maybe for this particular relationship, I've had enough.

Photo blog

http://fuzzyshot.com/annahan

That's my new photo blog. :D

School

A common question posed to me nowadays by peers, seniors and juniors alike is: How's school, Anna?

Ans: I'm really busy!!!

Take this week for example, I'm been reaching home after 10 pm since Monday and tonight, I will again. Out of the 4 weeks I've been in school, this week has been the most chaotic.

In Business Law class on Wednesday, due to my lack of preparation for class, both the seminar questions and syllabus, most of what went on in class flew over my head. Some of my classmates impressed me with their answers and questions, and subsequently, gave more queries for me as well. [because i could only partially understand what they were saying] That left me thinking, shouldn't they be as busy as me, so that they shouldn't have the time to study yet? NO FAIR. haha.

Well for one, now, I've got to commit to 2 meetings of choir practices a week. Yes, I've joined the SMU choir and I'm enjoying myself so far. And secondly, I've got church ministry commitments. Both can't be helped and I just have to get over the fact that the LONG HOLIDAYS are well over and it's now back to the grind.

I passed! [just the theory]

Oh, forgot to tell, I've passed my Final Theory Test!

I really thank God for this one cos I didn't go for all 4 sessions of my e-trials and I failed the last time. The online test simulator by sgdriving is good too! Helped me practised questions for free! yayness.