what's your friendship style?   Find out what kind of a friend you are and learn how to harness the power of friendships in your life. By YANNI TAN     1. What’s the best thing about having friends? a) Having a full social calendar. b) Occasionally meeting up with the few people I can tolerate. c) Sharing life’s journeys and experiences, both big and small. d) The joys of sisterhood and growing old together. e) Having like-minded peers to have an intellectual conversation with.   2. Which group of friends do you see most? a) Everyone – I make new friends easily. b) My one or two childhood friends. c) The mum’s support group at my child’s kindergarten. d) My small group of close-knit girl pals. e) I’m very busy so I don’t see my friends a lot.   3. At a party, what would you most likely be doing? a) Going from table to table, group to group to say “hi ”. b) SMS-ing away in a corner, or talking to the only acquaintance I know. c) Chatting to friends and their spouses about their lives and kids. d) Trading gossip with the circle of trust. e) Getting waylaid by people who haven’t seen me in awhile, and exchanging business contacts.   4. In a perfect world, how often would you meet your friends? a) Almost every other day. b) Once every three months. c) Once a month. d) Once a week. e) When I have the time.   5. When a friend is in trouble, she… a) Asks if I know anyone who can help her. b) Usually doesn’t call me. c) Shows up at my doorstep unannounced. d) Buzzes me immediately for an after-work meeting. e) Text messages me fi rst to check if I have time to talk.   6. Which TV/movie personality best describes you? a) Glamour girl Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) in Legally Blonde. b) Moody Heather Mooney (Janeane Garofalo) in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. c) Flustered mum Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) in Desperate Housewives. d) Likeable and dependable Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. e) Workaholic career woman Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) in Murphy Brown.   7. Can you recall your friends’ phone numbers offhand? a) No, there are too many and they’re all in my PDA. b) Yes, I only have a few close friends anyway. c) I don’t have to, they call me all the time. d) Of course, all their numbers are etched in my memory. e) I’m starting to forget as I hardly call them anymore.   8. The last time you were at a friend’s place, what were you there for? a) A gathering. b) To borrow a few DVDs/books. c) Our children’s swimming lesson at her pool. d) To hang out on her couch. e) To attend something important, like a housewarming or something.   9. You didn’t pick up a friend’s call last night because… a) I was having dinner with friends and didn’t hear my phone. b) I didn’t want to be disturbed and switched off my phone. c) There was too much going on at home – I couldn’t even get to my phone until the next day! d) I had a late meeting but called back as soon as I could. e) I was busy. Maybe I’ll call back tomorrow.   10. Among your friends, you’re known as… a) The cheerleader. b) The quiet one. c) Everyone’s mummy. d) The rock. e) The one who disappears a lot.   11. Your friend is having a birthday party this weekend. How are you involved? a) I’m rallying the troops! b) I’m showing up. c) I’m baking something nice. d) I’m in charge of picking her present. e) Oops, did you say birthday? This weekend?   12. When you meet up with friends, it’s usually… a) Drinks with the first group, then dinner with the second. b) A quiet dinner with a good friend. c) A homecooked meal at my place. d) Dinner and teh at our favourite kopitiam from years ago. e) A quick drink at the cafe near my office.

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