Passed the driving test!

Yup! Today, I took the practical driving test and passed! only 10 demerit points! Actually I knew I could pass at my 2nd attempt.

After flunking the test for the 1st time, I immediately knew how and what the test was like and I could pass the test for the 2nd time round with a better knowledge of the traffic mistakes I made and how the test would be done.

Hmm nevertheless I was very glad that I passed finally after some long months of driving practice and having the instructor to keep a lookout for me. I even said to myself "I dont wanna fail again and have to wait for some more months b4 I can take a re-test." It would cost alot more money. And yeah one of my wishes has fulfiled finally!

When I collected a temp certified slip that I can drive now, I took a long, hot walk to the bus stop some distance away from the UBI driving centre.

Thought of those times when I first desired driving a car till now, remembered I used to go there and want to register with the comfort driving centre. but at that time, I went home empty-handed coz the staff told me to go and get a medical check up and a form that I am fit to drive. So I stopped harbouring the desire from there. Fast forward to somewhere in 2003.

Lily, Eileen and I used to talk about driving, we decided to go for basic theory tests. Anyhow I passed the first step, then took the final theory test, passed again. Took the final step and it's accomplished today!

When I first started to learn how to drive, things were tough for me. The instructor was not trained how to teach a deaf but somehow, we got things worked out normally as what a hearing and deaf would do in order to communicate.

Learnt how to release clutch, move off the car, reverse, change gears, go up the slope, park, turn left and right, watching out for pedestrains... it was a expensive but enjoyable experience for me. Initially I was not so confident coz there were so many things I had to overcome, and I knew I had to take more time to learn and practice. besides s'pore traffic so strict now.. thought i might have to try some times b4 i can actually pass.

turned out to be otherwise. realised i can actually drive better with a clear and alert mind.

those who want to pass the driving test, here are some tips:

tip 1: sleep well the night b4 the actual test

tip 2: learn mistakes the instructor told u, and not repeat them

tip 3: if u realise u can make more mistakes while driving fast, change to a slow pace. actually at 1st attempt, i drove so fast that the tester was scared out of his wits.. haha :p. today, i used the slow pace style so that i can have less mistakes.

tip 4: dont be distracted by any mistake u make. just proceed with other areas well: focus! keep telling yourself u can do it. it actually worked for me. i knew i have made mistakes but they are insignificant, not much bad as those immediate failure points that i incurred at the first test.

tip 5: dont let nerve bundles affect u.. just be yourself.. actually i felt nervous while waiting for the tester to come call me b4 the test. i was in a room with other newbies. it was like waiting for a sentence to be passed upon us! that room was like... a room where some people test your mind whether u lie or not.. yeah a lie-detector... haha oh no, no lie detector there but it was such a feeling i had while waiting for my turn. dunno why my imagination ran wild like that. was myself again when i was out of the room and went to the car with the tester. phew..

ha.. can't wait to see my driving license in the mail! hee.... 2 weeks later... counting the days...

Upset at the moment

As some of u know, I always give some money to the charity.

As I was clearing my desk, saw the NKF bottle of Bel Air. Without giving any thoughts, I went and sms a friend whether it's possible to sell that bottle.

At first, some weeks b4 some stupid thoughts entered my mind, I was thinking of giving it away as I always used to.

Then I saw the bottle still there on the desk, I thought of the past. Some years back, I was trying to help a friend earn some sales for Bel Air, she asked me to come down and buy something from Bel Air. Was pressurized by Bel Air pple to part with my $100 for NKF Children's Charity. If I did that, I would be helping my friend earn some sales points and that NKF Children's Charity.

At first, I thought wow $100 all go to the charity, I didnt want to do that, after all, it was my parents' money. And I was bias against NKF which stored a lot of money reserves.

I usually part with a few dollars (up to $10) for charity. But I was already at the Bel Air showroom and there were Bel Air people looking at me.

So.. I parted with $100 for the charity, noble eh... I m no angel but I did that anyway. I told myself it was for the charity but on that night, I was feeling unhappy with what I did although I knew I would be doing a good deed.

Fast forward to now. Triggered by the unhappy memories of the past, I subconsciously sms my friend to... get back a bit of money to justify the loss I have incurred the last time.

Then we had some sms talk and I read his smses. His replies hit me so that it struck me that I was self-centred, materialistic and selfish. I was even shocked by what I was doing. That I was trying to sell that charitable bottle for a bit of money.

Actually my self-esteem was low for the past few months coz I was no longer working. I wanted to earn some money for myself, not to get money from my parents. In fact, I had a burning desire to be financially independent without feeling guilty on spending my parents' hard earned money.

Ya... still I was upset by what I did... anyway must thank my friend... it was really a humbling experience despite that i refused to admit that i was wrong in the first place. yah and embarrassing too coz he's buying some t-shirts from me for the deaf kids over there in vietnam.

it's hard to accept negative comments about myself especially from family and friends although i know it's for my own good. just a few days ago, it also struck me that i really forgot to discuss volunteer projects with my vice-chairmen. at first i refused to listen to anyone especially those who gave useful suggestions (yah i was wrong), i was in self-denial. but somehow after having some time alone to myself, i thought what they had said. i realised they were trying to help me.

dunno what got into myself these days..... maybe i was too caught up with what i had to do so much that i thought it would make my work easier if i work alone as i always used to do.

hmm wthout those dear friends, i wouldnt realise what kind of person i was.

Thank you, Lily, Abby, Kenny and the others who tried to give me advice as possible. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Hey, u must tell me if I did anything wrong, okie.. :)

*Learning about myself, striving to improve myself everyday no matter how hard or painful it is *

"Be Yourself" Article Moved!

Hi all,

I didnt want the articles I wanted to share with u all, my friends to be put together with my own journals. So, I created another blog purely for that article and other articles.

U can read the articles at http://articlesforeveryone.blogspot.com.

Also, I have created another blog purely for articles on the Deaf: http://deafarticles.blogspot.com

Will post more articles on both blogs. Of coz, I will continue to write my own blog.

Cheers!