Traffic in the Morning and Chinese Houses

When they closed the roads recently due to some useless practices for some celebrations (this was in the morning DURING peak hours too), I was stuck in traffic for 2 whole hours before I arrived at the office. 2 questions :

1. why must they close the roads during peak hours knowing FULL WELL that it will add to the already really bad traffic; and
2. if they were to close the roads and it has to be during peak hours, why did they not re-direct traffic properly to minimize the traffic.
   

In the mist of my frustrations and moving only 2 inches per minute, I decided to wipe up my dashboard, arrange my shoes nicely, rearranged my glove compartment, found some rubbish to throw out when I see a bin later. When that was done, I was still stuck at the same place. SIGHS.

Then I started to observe people. One man was so resigned to the fact that he'll be stuck there he decided to wind down his windows and smoke. He opened a fresh new box of cigarettes, then THREW THE WRAPPING OUTTA HIS CAR. No doubt, it's not as big as a ball of rubbish but still... I'm amazed that at this day and age, where technology is so readily available, where education is found at the tip of our fingertips, where we capable of building highways and high buildings, we still have people who lack civic mindedness; simple things like not littering. Today's a cigarette wrapper, tomorrow's a tissue, who knows what's gonna happen if everyone does that. Is it because we are so caught up in "advancing" that our people's minds are not?

Then as I approached the toll area and the road widened, I noticed cars stuffed themselves into every nook they can find. My head was screaming "Don't you realize that if you don't follow the queues, you'll make traffic worse!!!!!" Cars were inches away from me, believing they can stuff through the small space between my car and the car next to me. Thankfully they believed correctly, otherwise I'll be whopping some butts by now.

Back to the office at 10.30am, I was happy that it was only 2 and a half hours to lunch break. I was back to civilization, with people who believed as strongly about littering as I do.

Yesterday I helped mom clean up her kitchen. Or should I say, clear up. As we cleared, we discovered empty glass bottles and jars from ketchups, jams and peanut butters, empty bottles we never use, empty plastic containers saved from eating McDonald's sundaes and mango puddings - which of course we never used. I prompted my mother to throw these away coz we'll NEVER use them. She finally did, but not without hesitation. I told her she's only cramping up her kitchen and she does not need these stuff. Almost had to sit her down and look her in the eye. She finally agreed with me but in the last attempt to defend her keeping those thing, she said I'd probably do the same when my turn comes and I have my own place.

I hereby declare, I'm a "throw-er". Have decided to be a few Chinese New Years ago, and will always be. Sweetie, not to worry, I will throw away things more than you do. At least I won't keep used gum! I do want to be a milimalist and I will be, whether I'm related to the chinese mentality or not. From now on, we throw away the containers of everything, from ice creams to chili sauces - why in the world would you keep them thinking you'll use them when you won't and then going through the same thing again next year?

Anyway we ended up with 2 huge bags of stuff to recycle. And that's not even the end of it.

Ok, I admit, when it comes to notes and books, I'll usually keep them eventhough I don't use them. I promise to repent.