Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Andrea Stories

Change & Growth

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://andreastories.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://andreastories.com/blog/)
- [A Letter To 19-Year-Old Me](https://andreastories.com/self/a-letter-to-19-year-old-me/) - You’re 19, waiting to start university. I’m 23, in my final semester. Here is my dearest message to you, on academics, friendships, community and relationships.
- [Main Takeaway from 2025: Burnout is real](https://andreastories.com/self/main-takeaway-from-2025-burnout-is-real/) - One sentence to sum up my 2025: Burnout is real. I learnt the hard way to not take this matter lightly. Here's a reflection piece as I look back at my 2025.
- [24 Takeaways From 2024](https://andreastories.com/self/24-takeaways-from-2024/) - As 2024 draws to a close, it's a chance for me to reflect on my experiences this year. Here's my 24 takeaways!
- [Honest Thoughts About Vietnam](https://andreastories.com/travel/honest-thoughts-about-vietnam/) - Looking back at my travel experiences in Vietnam so far and gathering my thoughts about the culture and people there. 100% my own pov!
- [I Trekked Alishan And Here's My DIY Guide!](https://andreastories.com/travel/i-trekked-alishan-and-heres-my-diy-guide/) - Want to visit Alishan National Forest Recreation Area on your own? I trekked Alishan for the second time in October 2023 and here's my DIY guide to help you!
- [Vietnam Trip 12D11N Expenses](https://andreastories.com/travel/vietnam-trip-12d11n-expenses/) - I visited Vietnam again for 12 days! Here's how much I spent across these categories: pre-trip expenses, accommodation, transport, food, activities and more.
- [North Vietnam Trip 11D10N Expenses](https://andreastories.com/travel/north-vietnam-trip-11d10n-expenses/) - I went to North Vietnam for 11 days! This is how much I spent across the various categories: pre-trip expenses, accommodation, transport, food, activities and more
- [How To Get From Haiphong to Cat Ba, Vietnam](https://andreastories.com/travel/how-to-get-from-haiphong-to-cat-ba-vietnam/) - Getting from Haiphong City to Cat Ba Island is not straightforward because you would need to take a mixture of bus or taxi and ferry. Here's how to do so!
- [Ha Giang Loop Experience And Tips, Vietnam](https://andreastories.com/travel/ha-giang-loop-experience-and-tips-vietnam/) - I embarked on a Ha Giang Loop 4D3N adventure and thoroughly enjoyed it! Here's my personal experience and also sharing some tips for future loopers.
- [How To Get From Hat Yai To Songkhla, Thailand](https://andreastories.com/travel/how-to-get-from-hat-yai-to-songkhla/) - To get from Hat Yai to Songkhla via public transport, there are 2 main segments. From Hat Yai airport to Hat Yai bus terminal, then to Songkhla city.
- [Experiencing Thailand Again](https://andreastories.com/self/experiencing-thailand-again/) - I went to Thailand again this year, but it's my first time visiting after I started to learn Thai. And it was such an eye-opening new experience!
- [Songkhla Trip 4D3N Expenses](https://andreastories.com/travel/songkhla-trip-4d3n-expenses/) - I went to Songkhla, Thailand for 4 days! This is how much I spent across the various categories: pre-trip expenses, accommodation, transport, food, activities and more.
- [It Wasn't Just About Washing The Dishes](https://andreastories.com/self/it-wasnt-just-about-washing-the-dishes/) - I was reading a book titled: "Unseen, Unheard, Undervalued" by Dr Janina Scarlet, and I found myself reflecting on my childhood experience of being unheard.
- [Interesting Facts About Svalbard, Norway](https://andreastories.com/travel/interesting-facts-about-svalbard-norway/) - I visited Svalbard, which is part of the Norway kingdom, and learnt some interesting facts! To start, did you know it's the only visa-free zone in the world?
- [I Finally Donated All My Hair](https://andreastories.com/self/i-finally-donated-all-my-hair/) - I finally donated all my hair in April 2024, after waiting for too long. Here's me sharing my experience, thoughts and feelings regarding my hair donation.
- [I Didn't Know Donation Takes Work](https://andreastories.com/self/i-didnt-know-donation-takes-work/) - Earlier this year, I decided to donate books and stationery which were still in decent condition. Little did I know, donation took this much work!
- [23 Takeaways From 2023](https://andreastories.com/self/23-takeaways-from-2023/) - As 2023 draws to a close, it's a chance to reflect on another year of growth. Here's my 23 takeaways this year!
- [What To Take Note Of When Visiting Egypt](https://andreastories.com/travel/what-to-take-note-of-when-visiting-egypt/) - I went on an Egypt group tour in mid December 2023. Here are some key pointers and tips to know if you intend to travel there too!
- [Taiwan Trip 9D8N Expenses](https://andreastories.com/travel/taiwan-trip-9d8n-expenses/) - I went to Taiwan (again) for 9 days! This is how much I spent across the various categories: pre-trip expenses, accommodation, transport, food, activities and more
- [NUS Module Review: BT4212 Search Engine Optimization and Analytics](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-bt4212-search-engine-optimization-and-analytics/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for BT4212 Search Engine Optimization and Analytics
- [NUS Module Review: IS3150 Digital Media Marketing](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-is3150-digital-media-marketing/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for IS3150 Digital Media Marketing
- [NUS Module Review: DBA4711 Applied Analytics](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-dba4711-applied-analytics/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for DBA4711 Applied Analytics
- [NUS Module Review: DOS4811 Data Visualisation](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-dos4811-data-visualisation/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for DOS4811 Data Visualisation
- [NUS Module Review: DBA3803 Predictive Analytics in Business](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-dba3803-predictive-analytics-in-business/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for DBA3803 Predictive Analytics in Business
- [NUS Module Review: DBA3702 Descriptive Analytics with R](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-dba3702-descriptive-analytics-with-r/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for DBA3702 Descriptive Analytics with R
- [NUS Module Review: IT3010 Data Management for Business Analytics](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-it3010-data-management-for-business-analytics/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for IT3010 Data Management for Business Analytics
- [NUS Module Review: CS3240 Interaction Design](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-cs3240-interaction-design/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for CS3240 Interaction Design
- [NUS Module Review: IS4301 Agile IT with DevOps](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-is4301-agile-it-with-devops/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for IS4301 Agile IT with DevOps
- [NUS Module Review: IS4151 Pervasive Technology Solutions and Development](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-is4151-pervasive-technology-solutions-and-development/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for IS4151 Pervasive Technology Solutions and Development
- [NUS Module Review: IS4250 IT-enabled Healthcare Solutioning](https://andreastories.com/school/nus-module-review/nus-module-review-is4250-it-enabled-healthcare-solutioning/) - Sharing module synopsis, main learning objectives, course deliverables or graded components, and my personal review for IS4250 IT-enabled Healthcare Solutioning
- [Learning A New Language: Thai](https://andreastories.com/self/learning-a-new-language-thai/) - I started learning Thai officially in April! Here's some thoughts and reflections on my learning journey from these past 5 months ...
- [I Logged Off From Social Media and My Life Felt Boring](https://andreastories.com/self/i-logged-off-from-social-media-and-my-life-felt-boring/) - In May, I realised that I was spending too much time on social media and felt frustrated with myself. So, I decided to log off from it, and my life felt boring.
- [“I’m Not Your Maid!”](https://andreastories.com/self/im-not-your-maid/) - Here's my little rant and reflection on the imbalance in sharing household chores within modern families. Can we do better?
- [4.5 Years in Aikido Exco: 12 Lessons Learnt](https://andreastories.com/life-lessons/4-5-years-in-aikido-exco-12-lessons-learnt/) - After being a part of NUS Aikido Club's exco throughout my university years, I would like to share my main takeaways and lessons learnt!
- [30 Tips For Travelling In Taiwan](https://andreastories.com/travel/30-tips-for-travelling-in-taiwan/) - Sharing a compilation of tips for travelling Taiwan on public transport, hostel accommodations and food, based on my personal experience and observations!
- [Taiwan Trip 21D20N Expenses](https://andreastories.com/travel/taiwan-trip-21d20n-expenses/) - I went to Taiwan for 21 days! This is how much I spent across the various categories: pre-trip expenses, accommodation, transport, food, activities and more
- [Thailand Trip 21D20N Expenses](https://andreastories.com/travel/thailand-trip-21d20n-expenses/) - I went to Thailand for 21 days! This is how much I spent across the various categories: pre-trip expenses, accommodation, transport, food, activities and more
- [I Realised These 10 Things From Travelling](https://andreastories.com/travel/i-realised-these-10-things-from-travelling/) - After travelling for a while and visiting countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, here are my top 10 realisations as a traveller from Singapore.
- [I Took 2 Sleeper Buses in Vietnam](https://andreastories.com/travel/i-took-2-sleeper-buses-in-vietnam/) - I took a sleeper bus from Ninh Binh to Sapa, and another one from Sapa to Hanoi. Sharing my experiences for both bus journeys to help manage your expectations!
- [22 Takeaways From 2022](https://andreastories.com/self/22-takeaways-from-2022/) - As 2022 draws to a close, I reflected on the past year and thought about my key takeaways! Quote: "Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations."
- [I Travelled Solo To Thailand For 21 Days!](https://andreastories.com/travel/i-travelled-solo-to-thailand-for-21-days/) - I travelled solo to Thailand and explored Phuket, Khao Sok, Chiangmai and Bangkok across 21 days! Sharing what I learnt from my experience here.
- [I Started On Medium, Now I'm Continuing Here](https://andreastories.com/self/i-started-on-medium-now-im-continuing-here/) - I started writing publicly on Medium via the username @andrea-makoto. In Sept 2022, I decided to create my own blog!
- [I Almost Got Scammed On Carousell](https://andreastories.com/life-lessons/i-almost-got-scammed-on-carousell/) - I was selling some bags on my Carousell SG and encountered a bogus buyer. I was requested for my email address and card details, I almost fell for the scam!
- [Feeling Burnout From Online Dating](https://andreastories.com/self/feeling-burnout-from-online-dating/) - I’ve used several online dating apps, such as Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel and Bumble, for almost a year and I’m feeling burnout already. These are my reasons ...
- [3 Golden Principles My Mentor Taught Me](https://andreastories.com/life-lessons/3-golden-principles-my-mentor-taught-me/) - In this article, I share 3 golden principles that my mentor has taught me and hope that I always keep them in mind!
- [4 Ways To Earn From A Blog](https://andreastories.com/blog/4-ways-to-earn-from-a-blog/) - In this article, I will share with you 4 ways you can earn from your blog. I ranked the 4 ways from the most to the least direct method.
- [My Blog Does Not Have A Niche](https://andreastories.com/blog/my-blog-does-not-have-a-niche/) - My blog does not have a niche. I write as I go through life and reflect on my experiences.
- [How Long I Took To Set Up My WordPress Blog](https://andreastories.com/blog/how-long-i-took-to-set-up-my-wordpress-blog/) - Most beginner WordPress tutorials take only 15 mins to 1 hour. But, that wasn't true for me. In this article, I will share how long I really took to set up my blog.
- [How Much It Costs To Run My Blog](https://andreastories.com/blog/how-much-it-costs-to-run-my-blog/) - In this post, I share how much it costs to own my domain name and host my personal blog. I purchased my domain name and WordPress hosting plan from Hostinger.
- [How To Set Up A Website: General Guide](https://andreastories.com/blog/how-to-set-up-a-website-general-guide/) - A simple, general 3 steps guide to set up your own website or blog. In this post, I will go through the 3 steps needed and share factors you should consider.
- [When I’m Nothing New](https://andreastories.com/self/when-im-nothing-new/) - I relate a lot to Taylor Swift's song "Nothing New". Sometimes, I have an achievement, but that proud feeling dwindles later on in comparison to others.
- [How Much I Spent On My Vietnam Trip](https://andreastories.com/travel/how-much-i-spent-on-my-vietnam-trip/) - I went to Central Vietnam for a week! This is how much I spent across the various categories: pre-trip expenses, accommodation, transport, food and more.
- [I'm Not Very Fond Of Physical Classes](https://andreastories.com/school/im-not-very-fond-of-physical-classes/) - My university resumed fully physical classes. The first week of school just ended and here's some differences I noticed between physical and online classes.
- [18 Tips For Travelling In Vietnam](https://andreastories.com/travel/18-tips-for-travelling-in-vietnam/) - A compilation of tips for travelling in Central Vietnam, on weather, communication, dining, traffic, transport, attractions and what you should be wary of.
- [I Cycled In Hoi An, Vietnam](https://andreastories.com/travel/i-cycled-in-hoi-an-vietnam/) - I cycled in Hoi An, Vietnam for a day! Besides learning to adapt to the roads, I also grew more self-aware, so here's me sharing my journey and reflections.
- [The Power Of Asking](https://andreastories.com/life-lessons/the-power-of-asking/) - I discovered the power of asking in 3 situations and realised that it can help us get closer to what we want. Asking is scary, but potentially life-changing!
- [5 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Full-Time Job](https://andreastories.com/career/5-factors-to-consider-when-choosing-a-full-time-job/) - 5 factors to consider when you are choosing a full-time job, based on my experiences from 4 internships, including pay and culture.
- [I Walked Away From My “Dream” Company](https://andreastories.com/career/i-walked-away-from-my-dream-company/) - I worked in my "dream" company and eventually realised that it did not fit what I want in my career, in terms of pay, culture and growth opportunities.
- [Skype Made Me Anxious](https://andreastories.com/career/skype-made-me-anxious/) - The instant messaging tool: “Skype for Business” made me anxious at work because of how it tracks users with its statuses: active, inactive, busy and offline.
- [Dating Apps: Hinge vs Coffee Meets Bagel](https://andreastories.com/self/dating-apps-hinge-vs-coffee-meets-bagel/) - Which do you prefer? After using a few dating apps for a few months, I thought it would be quite fun to compare two that I have used most often: Hinge and CMB.
- [How I Stayed Ahead of My School Deadlines](https://andreastories.com/school/how-i-stayed-ahead-of-my-school-deadlines/) - In this article, I share a simple, fuss-free, and effective system I used to manage schoolwork, allowing me to stay ahead of deadlines!
- [Orientation Camps: Yay or Nay?](https://andreastories.com/school/orientation-camps-yay-or-nay/) - Wondering whether to go for your university's orientation camp? Physical camps resumed and I thought it would be nice to share my own personal experience!
- [How To Manage Your Finances?](https://andreastories.com/life-lessons/how-to-manage-your-finances/) - A simple, introductory guide for Singaporeans that covers the main reasons why we need money, what kind of funds we need, and ways to accumulate wealth.
- [My Hair Growth Journey](https://andreastories.com/self/my-hair-growth-journey/) - I sat in my hair salon and recalled the very first time I told my hair consultant I wanted to grow my hair longer. Here is my entire hair growth journey.
- [Unpopular Opinions](https://andreastories.com/self/unpopular-opinions/) - Hold your horses, snippets of personal & contentious thoughts ahead. (By the way, we can agree to disagree.)
- [Is Online Dating A “No” For You? (Part II)](https://andreastories.com/self/is-online-dating-a-no-for-you-part-ii/) - Online dating: What do we really know? Well, I “dabbled” in online dating for a month, and here’s what I took away from my experience.
- [Is Online Dating A “No” For You? (Part I)](https://andreastories.com/self/is-online-dating-a-no-for-you-part-i/) - In the past, I was very closed off from the idea of online dating because of the attached negative connotations. But over time, I changed my mind and saw the positives of online dating...
- ["I got dishonorably vaccinated"](https://andreastories.com/self/i-got-dishonorably-vaccinated/) - I got Covid-19 on March 2022 ):
- [Women In Tech: The Conversation](https://andreastories.com/career/women-in-tech-the-conversation/) - NUS Computing Club released their new series: “Too Nerdy to Handle”, which showcases different facets of computing students. In this article, I respond to their first episode's questions!
- [21 takeaways from 2021](https://andreastories.com/self/21-takeaways-from-2021/) - As 2021 draws to a close, it is important to look back at the past year and reflect on how much we have learnt and grown. Here are my 21 takeaways this year...
- [Stop Your Pity Party](https://andreastories.com/self/stop-your-pity-party/) - Self-pity is unhealthy and self-destructive. Here is how I shut down some of my own pity parties and thus regain some power over my life.
- [Different Groups, Different Dynamics](https://andreastories.com/school/different-groups-different-dynamics/) - During one of my semesters, I took 4 modules, among which 3 had group projects. Interestingly, I found my experience in these 3 groups to be quite different.
- [Taking A Closer Look At My Friendships](https://andreastories.com/self/taking-a-closer-look-at-my-friendships/) - Friendship has always been important to me. But as I grow from my early childhood to my university years, my perspective on friendship keeps changing.
- [COVID-19 & Working From Home](https://andreastories.com/life-lessons/covid-19-working-from-home/) - Covid-19 and how it has changed our perception on working lives with work from home (WFH) arrangements
- [Why I Wanted To Be A Boy](https://andreastories.com/self/why-i-wanted-to-be-a-boy/) - When I was younger, I remembered wondering how much better my life would’ve been if I wasn’t a girl. It took me 20 years to finally be comfortable as a woman.
- [3 Takeaways From My First SWE Internship](https://andreastories.com/life-lessons/3-takeaways-from-my-first-swe-internship/) - Back in May 2020, I attended my first software engineering internship with Jaga-me. My experience was very humbling & enriching, here are my top takeaways!
- [To My Younger Self: You Are Enough](https://andreastories.com/self/to-my-younger-self-you-are-enough/) - I am on my own journey of breaking out of my childhood prison and dealing with stereotypes and expectations, like how to be a girl, daughter, sister and more.
- [Have We Gotten Tired Of Waiting?](https://andreastories.com/self/have-we-gotten-tired-of-waiting/) - In today's world, we seem to have grown impatient. We can't wait for long and always seeking that instant gratification. I'm worried for myself.

## Pages

- [Home](https://andreastories.com/) - Life Lessons >>> Reflections and Personal Growth >>> Travel Career >>> School & Module Reviews Blog Matters >>>
- [Contact](https://andreastories.com/contact/) - Contact Me Hello! Relate to something I wrote and want to have a chat? I welcome you to reach out to me! Open to collaboration enquiries and discussions too. You may also contact me via Instagram: @andrea_stories_
- [About Me](https://andreastories.com/about-me/) - Hello, I’m Andrea My Background I’m from Singapore and currently in my 20s. Why I Write I started writing in 2020 on Medium (@andrea-makoto) and continued to do so because I found writing a really great way to express myself! Writing has allowed me to process my past in a clearer manner and undoubtedly empowered
- [Newsletter](https://andreastories.com/newsletter/)

## Categories

- [Self](https://andreastories.com/category/self/)
- [Blog](https://andreastories.com/category/blog/)
- [Life Lessons](https://andreastories.com/category/life-lessons/)
- [Travel](https://andreastories.com/category/travel/)
- [School](https://andreastories.com/category/school/)
- [Career](https://andreastories.com/category/career/)
- [NUS Module Review](https://andreastories.com/category/school/nus-module-review/)