Changes?

As promised, I've deleted the list of new Kabinet ministers. Since the list is widely available elsewhere now, It's no longer needed here.

I was talking to Zairus the other day and we soon talked about how much our lives have changed in a few years. Indeed it has.

I'm sure most of you can still remember your college days, when money was scarce and often had to make do with whatever was available. Although this does not apply to everyone, some people were fortunate enough to have monthly allowances enough to depress a working man. Having rich parents have its' perks huh?

Anyway, I'm not one of them. I relied almost exclusively on my study loan, which does not amount to much at all when you minus all the necessary expenses. But I was never used to have much money anyway. My parents were strict with me and Pija when we were younger, we really had to work hard to get anything we want. Nothing comes easy. I guess that helped in conditioning me, plus the fact that I spent 5 years in a boarding school with even less money, for penny-pinching college life.

My lowest point? When I bought my electric guitar. I was only a newbie then, still learning the basic chords yet I had the guts to go out and buy an electric plus an amp to go with it. Yeap, with PTPTN money. That cost me quite a bit, and since I don't want my parents (my mom, specifically) to know what I did with my money (she'll go nag-tastic on me, I'm sure!) I adjusted my finances. That meant instant noodles twice a day for a few weeks, then once a week for maybe another 2 weeks. Then when it ran out and I can't find any more pennies to buy more, I only drank water. First day of that, I'm still okay. Second day, by dinner time I'm already on the phone for emergency funds. All that for the freaking guitar.

Thing is, I don't like borrowing money about as much as I hate lending people money. I hate asking for help too. I know that's not good, but that's me. Everytime I ask dad for money, he would always ask how much do I have left. I would always lie (sorry!), and say enough to last a few days. In reality, I never asked until I can't even afford a meal.

Apart from that, I usually did OK. No car, so I walked to the classes, to the cafe, to the library, to everywhere. I never asked for a ride unless if it's raining, again my flaw as I said before. I know most of my friends won't even mind, but I hate to burden people. Anyway, rainy days meant an excuse for me to skip classes sometimes. Okay, maybe not just sometimes =P Sometimes I would still have to scrounge for coins from under the bed and in my laundry bin to buy my meals, but nothing as drastic as that time.

Wasn't sleeping properly too. Stayed up most nights and missing classes in the morning because I can't wake up. My record is 3 straight days awake, after that I slept for maybe 40 hours. My housemates thought I must've died in my room, so they knocked like mad. They actually woke me up, and I can tell you now that it felt more like waking up from a coma that sleep. I wonder if they didn't, how long I would have slept.

I wasn't a model student, skipping classes, studying only when I absolutely have to and only to pass exams, having fun more that I should basically. But I had a great time. I know I'm very lucky to get where I am now, which I don't think was even remotely possible in those days.

So that was what we talked about. Me - from no car, mostly no money and very much a slacker to who I am now - err, old beat up car, still mostly no money and still mostly a slacker. Aiseh, not much difference lah pulak...