Hello, welcome to the 4th question of #52questionsfor2018!
I initially said I started this project to be more productive, but I just wanted to feel alive while waiting for job interviews. (lol) You know how boring it can get doing nothing unless you’re Patrick Star!
So, with these 52 questions, I hope you'll get to know me better than before. But who am I, really? I’m just an ordinary girl trying to navigate adulthood by writing blogs and books.
Now, question 4 is going to be the hardest to answer: What’s the most expensive thing I’ve ever broken? The answer is my pocket camera. I know, it doesn’t sound like a huge deal, but let me explain.
I’ve loved photography since I was in junior high school. My first photography project was actually shot on my old Nokia phone (can’t even remember the model!). After I graduated from high school, I asked my dad for a special gift—a real camera, not just the one on my phone.
At the time, my dad was working in Jakarta, living near my sister and her husband. My brother-in-law, who studied computer science and knew his way around electronics, helped my dad choose an affordable yet decent camera. They picked the Olympus T-110, a pocket camera with impressive performance.
I was beyond thrilled with my new camera! It had the compact size of a pocket camera but delivered DSLR-like results. Need proof? Here are some shots I took with it! (Sorry about the annoying watermarks—teenage me thought they were cool! lol)
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| Look! |
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| Oreos and twilight! |
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| Book. glasses. and the sun |
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| Colored pencils |
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| The Soldiers |
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| Black and White cube |
So, the most heartbreaking story will start here…
n my 4th semester, I had a Land Survey course where we studied soil horizons. This meant we had to dig into the soil up to a depth of 1 meter and examine its color. By analyzing the colors, layers, structures, and textures, we could gather valuable information about the soil's capacity and determine the best vegetation for the land. Our surveys covered everything from lowlands to highlands, taking us from open fields to dense forests. It was one of the toughest subjects during my bachelor's studies.
One day, I took out my camera to capture pictures of the soil layers. To get the perfect shot, I had to crouch down or even lie on the ground. But then, disaster struck. I accidentally dropped my camera, and it fell straight into the 1-meter-deep hole. And….It had cracks on its LCD............................................................................................................... (Let’s cry together)
I was overwhelmed with anxiety, sadness, and frustration when it happened. After the fall, the camera's LCD went completely black, and I couldn't see anything anymore. Back in my room, I frantically searched for repair options. I visited several places, but the cost of fixing it was nearly as much as buying a new one. I couldn’t bring myself to tell my sister, dad, or brother-in-law, because I knew they’d be upset.
So, I decided to "bury" it—literally. I placed the camera back in its box and tucked it away in my drawer. Along with it, I felt like I buried my creativity too. (Crying). To this day, it’s still in my drawer, untouched. I can’t bring myself to even look at it, because I feel so guilty.
That was the saddest chapter in my story with that camera. I hope it never happens again with any of my other cameras! (Amen!)
Sharing this feels like reopening an old wound. What about you? What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever broken?
