G.I.G.

Music-wise, Birmingham and Aston University have been a dream come true for me. The university has hosted some amazing gigs. Last year we had quite a bit of popular performers coming down to Aston both in freshers week and on the Lake, in the summer. I, unfortunately, could not attend the Lake gig which was unforgettable for the people who managed to go. The Fresher's week, for me, was surreal; Punjabi MC and Freemasons came and just blew me off. Now I am vigorously expecting this year's Lake Party which should happen around June, the so called "End of Year Party". 

But the university is not the only place you can see your favourite bands and performers play. Birmingham has and will be hosting amazing concerts this year. Some of the artists I managed to see so far are Lady GaGa, Ne-Yo ad The Pussycat Dolls. Today is the big day of the John Legend concert which I have been waiting for ages. Tina Turner and Girls Aloud passed Birmingham on their tours. Pink, Beyonce, The Prodigy, Katy Perry and so many more will be coming before the end of the university term. So, if you are a music fan, Aston should be and is the best place to be!

Here are some photos I have managed to take on the concerts so far.

The Pussycat Dolls

Ne-Yo

Lady GaGa

Aston Art Competition: Vote!

From net Tuesday 1oth March till Thursday 12th March, you can vote for photographs and paintings in the Library on the exhibition. Your support for my photos will be most appreciated but of course there will loads of other exhibits that are worth seeing. Go to the library and have look.

Aston Art and Photography Competition (Photo 3)

Holiday

Aston Art and Photography Competition (Photo 2)

Irena

Aston Art and Photography Competition (Photo 1)

Summer

3rd March

Today is Bulgaria's National Holiday. Let me wish all my Bulgarian friends in Aston an amazing day!

Aston Art and Photography Competition

In precisely seven days is my deadline for the Art competition in Aston University. I would ask all of you for some support with the online voting :D This week my posts will be art-competition related, the first three being my photos and the last some information on the competition and idea of the project.

:) Happy 1st March

... or as we say in Bulgaria: ''Честит Първи Март!'' (Chestit Parvi Mart)

This is the one holiday when we celebrate the beginning of the spring and wish each others a healthy and prosperous year. So, if you know a Bulgarian get yourself a white and red string and put it on your hand!

Some Catching Up... (continued)

Every person should be able to criticise him/herself, so let me say that in contradictions to some cases, there are occasions when people get an answer fro their company and a contract very fast. (even if it is a conditional one) 

Congratulations to Nasko, who got his placement today! (one day after his assessment day) 

To get back on the Aston University scene, there has been much coursework to come in the next couple of weeks. The library is absolutely over-pouring with hard-working people. Still, I have to reming you about my library-facebook theory. (remember that 70% of the people in the library are on facebook). Anyway, still people are doing work and don't really have a way around it since deadlines are coming. I have three deadlines in the first week after spring break, but I assume a lot of people may have even more coursework to submit. Therefore, maybe it is time for me to get bak to the debris of the Financial Management.

Everyone is talking about...

CHAV Night in the Student Guild this Friday (27/02/09)

Some Catching Up...

The past several weeks have been eventful and busy ad there is definitely much to tell but since I had the "Appreciation Week" Scheduled I let them pass by. Therefore, today will be my "catching up" post.

I have extremely lucky to sign the contract for my placement last year. After filling up I don't know how many different forms with identical information, leaving the final signature felt great. I always thought that once you get a placement offer you are all done, well, the reality is different. Let us look at three cases:

Viky got a placement offer three months ago. She was probably one of the first people to get an interview and a decision before the winter holiday. She will be working for the British government. Getting the placement offer, though, was just the beginning for her. There are six months of profile checks before she gets a contract sent!

After I got my placement offer and immediately accepted, I had to start filling up tons of forms with personal details: health-care, previous employment details, even a death form (concerned with who will get your salaries, bonuses, etc. if you die in the middle of the placement year). I received and signed a contract. While reading through the "Terms and Conditions", though, I fell upon a very interesting fact, the placement offer is, nothing else but a conditional offer. After submission of all the forms and documentation needed there is a profile check (just like Viky's). Thus, a placement offer, a contract, all don't mean a secure job until the end of the university year. Unfortunately, there is always a chance of getting sc*** up.

Another friend of mine got a placement offer this week. As happy as I was when I found out there was a small detail that struck me. She was not informed the exact amount of the salary ("We will call you and give you details on the placement later in the week."), no exact starting day ("All details will be explained to you in due course."), no exact proposal (you can imagine that just like in my case, the offer is conditional to her being allowed to work in the country).

In other news: 

- The mid-term exams are due to start next week. 

- The library is full of final years writing their dissertations. 

- The Business Game for the second years is in full speed with Europia's share price falling to £0.09 (that's my company). 

- D-r G.S. has given his second year students their writing task. Exam results have started to pop-out.

for more news, press the red button on your remote...

A Week of Appreciation... [UK Pubs] What Does Every Student Want?

LAGER!


I never knew the difference between lager and ale, I actually didn't know there is such, until I started working in a pub. Lager yeast ferments at a much colder temperature than ale yeast and settles on the bottom of the fermenting tank. As far back as the sixteenth century, Bavarian brewers made beer in this way, storing it in caves and some cellars, ofter under blocks of ice, allowing it to self-filter.

Because of the low temperature required, it wasn't until the advent of the refrigerator that lager was brewed in London, some time during 1880s.

A Week of Appreciation... [UK Pubs] Simply Wine!

No one knows who made the first wine. The Babylonians documented the running of a wine-shop, which appears to have been written in 18 BC. Yet, some think that the idea of wine may lead as far back as to the stone age man. He is said to have placed grapes in skin bags and allowed them to ferment by accident.

The word 'wine' has an equally mystifying origin, with roots searched in Latin and ancient Greek. It is said that Julius Caesar brought the vine to England. But scholars believe that this was more for the purposes of decoration, to remind the Romans of home. By the time of the Norman Conquest though, vines were grown and wine produced in a number of monastic institutions, especially in southern England.

Currently, in Birmingham you can find wines from every part of the World - Chile, Italy, South Africa, Australia, and even, Bulgaria.

A Week of Appreciation... [UK Pubs] The Tale of Johny, Jim and Jack!

The name 'whisky' comes from the Gaelic word for water, 'uisge', interpreted as water of life. It was believed that both better health and greater longevity could be achieved by drinking whisky. In moderation, of course.

There are two basic types of whisky, malt and grain. (Since I have been a bartender for so long I should know, well I don't) Malt is made entirely from malted barley. Grain is made from malted and unmalted barley along with other grains. There are many jealously guarded distillations and maturation processes, therefore, you can currently have different whisky types. (Of course, each company states their whisky to be the best.)

When I went to Dublin a while ago, I found out that whiskey and Guinness, and even snuff, were regarded as medications some hundred years ago. There even were different marketing strategies for their selling.

A Week of Appreciation... [UK Pubs] A Brief History of Ale

The oldest recorded recipes for beer date back to the Sumerians, some 5000 years ago. But archaeological evidence from Africa and China suggests that forms of brewing existed long before this. Making beer is believed to be as old as making bread, although no one is quite sure which came first (just as the debate on the chicken and the egg).

Ale was an important drink in medieval times and the fermentation process was considered almost supernatural. Even the word "ale" has some Old English roots suggesting sorcery, magic and intoxication.

Drinkers in the bustling ale houses a hundred years ago had their ale in ceramic cups that had whistles baked into the handles. The customers would blow these to order a refill.

Today, of course you can get ale in almost any British pub. If you ask me, Ale is a winter drink, and the biggest variety of ales is found in the winter. You can have ales with different colours and tastes, whatever suits yourself.

A Week of Appreciation... [UK Pubs]

The has been one thing I have always wanted to familiarize you with and that is the rich history of the UK pub culture. A lot of people think that it is all about drinking but in seven short days you will see that is a lot more! Hopefully, you will enjoy it and I will repeat the "A Week Of Appreciation" idea further.

Before I came to the United Kingdom I didn't really know much bout the typical British pubs. All I knew was that they have draft and they are wooden. Well, when I came to Birmingham I found out some unbelievable places; there are some pubs that are just a must go to. (Plus there are three pubs on campus!)

If you want to actually understand the scene at Aston, you need to see the simple British world [as my mum says, see the little things], you need to feel the creeks of the old wooden floors in the semi-detached houses, you need to hear the wind hitting your deep window seal. So let me begin with a more relaxing part of UK culture, the drinking culture of course.

One of the most amazing thing about British Pubs is their names! [The Spat & Snail, The Newt & Cucumber, The Yard of Ale, Scruffy Murphie's, The Pitcher and Piano...] I never knew what is preferred, animal names, or maybe vegetables, or fruits; no matter what it is, every pub name is unique and memorable.

i.e.

Everyone is talking about...

Rag Week Two is ending...

Second years don't really have time to be sad because there has been a continuation of interviews with future employers on campus that will continue in the next several weeks. All the luck to the interviewees.

The Aston Student Guild: Aston Brook Green

ABG is the living quarters managed by the Guild. There is one great feature about Aston Brook Green - it is CHEAP; and by cheap I mean, it is the cheapest deal you can get for your second year!

The application process usually starts in February so check out all the details and apply. It has been extremely fun living here, and even though it is no Ritz, you can make it a home. Of course, still there are so many choices for less or more than three people around in Birmingham. TO live in ABG you have to be three. Good luck with everyone with their applications for an accommodation.

Placement Adventures # [One Last Time] !This just in!

I have to stop my trail of posts with some news I just found out that will be more useful for the current students, than the future, but still...

Almost every student in Aston, no matter what degree, will undertake a placement year. Once he/she finds a placement there are some questions that will come from the company, mainly concerning living and working permission in the UK for Non-UK students. Well, if you are from Bulgaria or Romania, here is what you need!

Now, as long as you have a work permit for just casual part-time work (i.e. up to 20 ours) you do not need anything else. Furthermore, if you have any kind of work permit (i.e. vacation work) and it is dated more than a year ago, you do not need anything else.

You do not need a work permit if:
"[If] you have been working with permission, and without interruption, in the United Kingdom for a period of 12 months ending on or after 31 December 2006. For example, you are already present in the United Kingdom as a work permit holder or in some other category that confers permission to take employment (for example as a student and you have been in part-time employment continuously for 12 months)"

You may be asked for a Student Visa or a document proving that you can study in the UK. This will probably be due to bad company information. The document that states your permission to study, live or travel in the UK is your passport (ID card).

This is it really, once you have these two, you are good to go!

The Aston Student Guild: Website

I have already mentioned the ASG website to you in my previous post but here are some of the features that I have not mentioned to you.

Definitely the best feature of the website is the "Photos" section. I was amazed to find photos from times I don't even remember. Every event in the Guild and in uni in general is recorded and there a hundreds of photos. In the same time the "Photos" section is extremely under-used and it is just a shame to leave the great photos just dust in some server.

The website is also the easiest way for any student to connect to the execs in the Guild. If you have any problem it is so easy to just write an e-mail to anyone and they are all happy to help. Don't forget that in the end of the day the Guild is managed by us students and there is no one that can understand you better than the Guild staff.

Everyone is talking about...

Rag Week Two!

The Charity week in which while partying you are actually helping someone, or the excuse to go out every day week, is hitting off on Monday!

The Aston Student Guild: Job Shop

The Job Shop has been one of the most useful resources I have used in the Aston Student Guild. Recently, I have been crazy about the job shop website. Basically, currently you don't even have to go to the Job Shop itself since everything is on the website. www.astonguild.org.uk 

You can also access the website from the main Aston University page by forwarding to the Aston Student Guild web-page. You don't need to be registered to view the adds but the registration process is fast and easy. I don't generally fancy registration processes for different websites because they just fill you inbox with junk but the Aston Guild website has not sent me a single spam message for the year and a half I have been registered.

The jobs in the Job Shop are mostly fun and all part-time and I would really recommed checking them out. Some of the amazing offers I have seen were:

• Mystery Shopper;
• Movie Extra;
• Web-Journalist;
• Music Event Organizer; etc.

Placement Adventures # 11 (The End!)

I have been postponing this post for two days now, because I didn't have Internet at home.On Friday the unthinkable happened, but let us go back a little bit...

This Thursday I was having a general lazy day when I got woken up by my phone. A company X invited me for an interview. This was perfect since I was still waiting for an answer from the assessment day. When I hung up my phone after the conversation with company X, I saw that I have about 7 missed calls from an unknown number. The number was very weir, non-standard and could not be dialed; so, after several failed attempts, I decided to just continue with my day.

On Friday morning, I was sitting in an extremely boring lecture in 9 in the morning when my phone rang. The sound of "I Like To Move It" by Will.I.Am filled the otherwise dead lecture theatre! Of course I hung up immediately when I saw that it was the unknown number that called me on Thursday. I had not choice, I had to get out of the lecture and try to dial it one more time. I asked my lecturer if it was all right for me to go out and he let me. Of course I could not dial the number, yet again... "Call failed"

I decided I cannot let this go; I stood in frond of the lecture theatre and was begging my phone "Please ring, please ring! I will never ever miss a call ever again!" THE PHONE RANG!

X: "Hello, Vladimir"
V: "Hi!"
X: "This is S., from Intel, we met on the assessment day two weeks ago"
V: "Oh, hi S."
X: "Are you OK"
V: "Well, I am having a lecture right now, but yeah I am good"
X: "Vlad we would like to offer you a job!"
V: "Oh my god! Oh my god! Thank you, so much!"
[...]
X: "I will call you later in the day to discuss details. Have a nice time at uni."
V: "Thanks, thank you so much!"

I still cannot believe it! Later in the day I had a longer conversation with S. and I confirmed verbally that I accept the placement job offer for a thirteen month placement at Intel.

The search was over!

Placement Adventures # 10

Right before exam session I had my first Placement Interview. I will never forget the date and time: 14th January, 08:35. I was in Swindon, which is almost two hours away from Birmingham.

I had to leave home at four o'clock in the night, go to the library to print some interview information and then I caught my train at five. It was such a long journey. I had one change in the middle of nowhere kind of town and in half past seven I was in Swindon.

As you can imagine, knowing my travelling experience, I got lost. Evidently there were two exits in the train station, I took the North Exit, while I should have taken the South one. I ended up walking like a madman for an hour and a half until I found the long craved interview place.

The interview was a part of a whole assessment day which started sharp at nine. First, there was a welcome presentation and a word from the current interns. Since there had already been one in Aston, there was no news for me there. The second task was a group project. We were supposed to prepare a presentation about a company suffering from operations problems. After delivering the presentation there was a tour around the building and lunch. Then the serious part started.

The third very important task was after lunch. I was told in my acceptance letter that I would need to prepare a presentation on the company with strategies of dealing with their top five customers. I had already done quite a bit of research the previous day and was quite prepared. I have to say, though, the four applicant that were in my room were very not prepared. We we delivering our presentation in front of a five-person jury. Straight after the presentation came the interview.

The interview seemed very relaxed and friendly; notice the word "seemed" I am using. In the end of the day you never know what is going on in the interviewer's head. So, there were four main topics they asked me on:
- Have I in any time of my life had to influence some one (or group) and how did I do it?
- When have I faced a task that I was not prepared for and how did I face the challenge?
- When have I ever processed data and how did I do it?
- Questions on my CV.

Everything seemed to be over in a glimpse of an eye and I was back in the presentation room where the assessment day took off in the morning.

Before it I was back on the train on my way to Birmingham. I am still waiting for the answer, so hold your thumbs up!

To be continued...

Everyone is talking about...

This is the new weekly topic I am adding to the blog. There are so many events in Aston that I have not told you of through the past nine months; this is a way of me not skipping any juicy events.

The AU Ball - the Aston athletic union ball is going to hit the university on Saturday. My flatmate Kara, and probably every female athlete in Aston, has been preparing her dress for months now. The AU ball is going to be an event no one wants to miss out on. /Invitations for the Aston athletes only!/

''2 mln new jobs by 2017''

Here is an article I read today that concerns most of us:

Students and graduates worried about their future careers will be buoyed by the news two million jobs will be created over the next 10 years.

A report by UK Commission for Employment and Skill claims there will be 1.8 million new jobs in business, education and other services such as computing by 2017.

Education roles will account for 500,000 jobs and 1.3 million will be in business and other services while another 200,000 will be in other industries.

These will add to the 11.5 million jobs already available, taking the total number of paid positions to 13.5 million.

Skills Secretary John Denham said: "We must not lose sight of the future needs of our economy and do all we can to help people get the secure career jobs they want and need in the industries where growth will be the strongest in the coming years."

Milkround News, 19 January 2009

02:26 This is the last, 24th post of my sequence. I hope you had fun tracing the day with me, and learned to always try to plan ahead! I will share the productivity level of my sleepless nights (meaning the results) when they come out in a few months. --last exam from exam session to come in 11 hours and 34 minutes --

*rest and a week of losing time to come in 13 hours and 40 minutes*
(God I love Countdowns!)

01:26 Not worried about exam any more. In the end of the day I am trying to do my best and this is most important. Am I showing my best? Probably not. Have I done all I could to reach best knowledge? Probably not. Yet, in the end of the day I am certain that I have worried and tried and did all I could do for the time I have had. Would I trade any of the time I had in Bulgaria with my friends and family and Ania's farewell week for a higher mark? No. --12hrs, 34min--

00:26 Started revising. I had forgotten how much one needs to read to be able to pass history - my Emerging Economies Exam tomorrow. I was dumbfounded when I found out how many people have failed this module in the past three years. Now I understand - you cannot truly prepare; there is no single set of things you can revise; lecture notes are just not enough; and even if you read all the articles we have had to read through the term (I pride on reading almost half) and you memorize the lectures, as long as you cannot analyse your readings you cannot pass. This is a problem, after so many sleepless nights my analytical skills are probably weaker than ever; so, I have decided to go to bed at 02:30, right after my last post and wake up at 7 to continue. Surely almost 5 hours sleep will do me good. [+ (you have to be so concentrated to understand these articles and when you're tired it's impossible) + (the exam starts at two so I have half a day tomorrow just for revision)] -- 13 hours, 34 minutes till exam --

23:26 Having Dinner, starting in a bit! -- 14 hours and 34 minutes till exam --

22:26 Well, I will be honest with you, I have not done much :D till now! will start though, will start! - this is a proof of my library theory (although I am not in the library it is applicable), remember one of my previous posts about the library and how everyone there are on facebook and youtube! Well, you don't have to be in the library to waste your time when revising! -- exam in 15 hours and 34 minutes!--

21:26 Just had a fag and a tea, will make myself one more and the revision night may start - this one will continue till 2 in the afternoon tomorrow but unfortunately my experiment will end before that... you will hear the results later and see if this policy is a good one or a bad and if there is a point f my exam tips! --16 hours and 34 minutes until next exam--

20:26 As a typical student, before getting to the point I am wasting my time! Now I am talking to my ex on skype about last months of 2008! Seriously, I think I have a special power - Time Wasting :D -- 17 hours and 34 minutes until exam--

19:26 could not wake up to do this post... :( God I hate it when I am too tired to turn an alarm off, or wake up :( ,still, revision has to continue --next exam in 18 hours and 30min--

18:26 Sleeping for a bit.

17:26 OK, maybe the exam was not that hard, now that I think about it... Anyway too late now, so there is no point of bargaining or anger, or depression! Life goes! Now the most important thing is sleep! --next exam in 20 hours and 34 minutes--

16:26 Exam has finished and I am so tired! I am not mad about the mark any more. I will try to compensate in the second term. -- next exam in 21 hours and 34 minutes --

15:26 There is only half an hour left and I am still struggling; am just waiting for death now!

14:26 The exam has started and now I have accepted my faith, I am either barely going to pass or fail! God, please let me have at least 35%, I will compensate with the coursework!

13:26 Have you ever heard of the different stages you pass when you find out you are going to die from cancer, for example. I remember there's regret and acceptance in the end, of course after you have passed bargaining and sorrow. Well, right now I am on the bargaining stage - please let a fire burn the exam papers, nothing else just the econometrics exam papers, just postpone it a couple of days! On the other hand I am also realising this is not really going to happen so I am just regretting not studying when I should have! --exam in half an hour--

12:26 I finished my first exam (Microeconomics) half an hour ago. Now I am sitting in Dolche Vita and am trying to memorise at least some of the Econometrics stuff. --next exam in 1 hour 55 minutes--

11:26 Exam will finish in about ten minutes, I don't know how correct my answers are but at least there is something on the paper! -- next exam in 2hours and 34 minutes--

10:26 First hour of exam is about to pass, people can now leave the examination room!

09:26 At this time my exam is just about to start (I wrote this post a bit earlier) so I cannot make and conclusions on the experiment. I can evaluate chances though, previous Microeconomics Exam - 78% need little to pass! I hope I am OK :) --2 minutes to exam--

08:26 Have transformed myself in human form and am heading towards uni. --1 hour till exam--

07:26 I have woken up 20 min ago and am continuing the studies! --2 hours till exam!--

06:26 Am so tired; have finished multiple choice questions; can barely keep eyes open; will go to bed for 40 min (hopefully it helps) Did it tell you I fell asleep on my first exam in this exam session - Strategic Finance :) -- 3 hours till exam--

05:26 I am still revising, finished all open questions, will be starting multiple choice. In the one hour that has passed I managed to have a tea and two cigarettes, one right after my last post and one just before this one. Had to brush teeth (When you drink coffee and black tea in a combination with cigarettes in the middle of the night you can actually feel the nicotine on your teeth! Yes, I know it is quite disgusting!) Decided to stop smoking after exams. Made plans for econometrics revision - later tonight. -- 4 hours till exam --

04:26 The revision continues, since it is night productivity is low, for the past hour the inconsiderate student has done only 2 questions and a half, productivity on the exam has to be almost twice as good, 4 questions for one hour! Since productivity at night is slow (and getting slower) one needs to, spend much longer and most probably see the dawn! --exam to start in 5 hours--

03:26 I am sitting in my room, "revising", this has been quite a common situation in the past week - last minute revision. It happened on Wednesday and Thursday an through the weekend! so for the record - MICROECONOMICS AND ECONOMETRICS REVISION (last minute of course) -- exam to start in 6 hours --

The Experiment!

Remember those tips I gave you last week?

Well, it seems that even I cannot follow them! So, we come to "The Experiment!"; this is my way of giving you a tip through experience. Before I wrote last week's post I was "revising". I was revising so hard! ...in the clubs in Bulgaria (Do you know how hard it is to concentrate while there is loud music?), in the clubs in Birmingham (Seriously, it is hard!), in the pubs in Dublin (Guinness does not help!), and then again in Birmingham! To come to the point, I have had an amazing winter holiday, there was just one thing missing - revision!

The countdown will start, and experiment in which I will record an hour (when possible) of my day, and believe me it is going to be a long "day". Here we go!

Tips to overcome exam stress

Sitting exams is never easy, but there is no escaping them at university. Here are a few positive tips to help you battle any stress and ease yourself through the exam periods. Remember, you'll be the one sitting the exam so you've got to take responsibility for your studying!

Find a revision style that works for you
No one revises in exactly the same way. A mixture of reading, talking, writing and testing could all be necessary so try to find out what works best for you so you can make the most of revision time.

Take time to relax
Although you might feel guilty not revising for every hour up until the start of an exam, too much studying can have a detrimental effect. Taking time out to relax for an hour or so will not only keep you calm, but will train you to remember key details when you return to the books.

Sleep!
The quiet of night time may seem like an ideal time to absorb information, however try not to stay up until the early hours as you might not be able to retain information you think is ingrained into your memory the next day. It's better to get some rest and feel refreshed the next day than wasting energy and being tired from a lack of sleep.

Stay well fed
Stripping your diet down to tea, coffee and snacks may see you through the day, but they are not a good option for a healthy brain. Eating properly will keep your energy levels up and stop your mind wandering.

Ask for help
If you're struggling with a topic be sure to talk to someone. Even chatting to a fellow student not on your course can help make things clearer in your mind as you will be recounting the knowledge you have already revised. Talking about any stress you might be feeling is also the best way to overcome it.

Boarding (check-in continued...)

Discarding the last empty bottles from my desk I cannot help but wonder what does the future hold from now on. I mean it is the end of an era! Wait, I need to go back and give you some feedback first.

I told you earlier that you will be flying a lot once you start uni in England, and that you have all those opportunities to travel around Europe. Well, there is one more thing that university life brings along - departures. You will be saying buy to so many friends you meet on the way. Today I said goodbye to my best friend. Graduating Aston this year she already got the results from her desertation, got several job offers, and is now moving to Warsaw. Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking, 'this is an amazing opportunity'. Well, what I am thinking is - 'this is the end of an era!' So in this post I am not going to give you tips, I will be stating facts, universal truths, general experiences you will have once you start university.

In Aston I have met so many different people, students that are older than me, students that are younger, students from different cultures, religions and races, and every person I have met leaves a trace. Probably, if I take another bachelors after this one, a master's and a Phd I will be the wisest person. (at least on campus!) Yes, but unless you happen to marry someone you met in university, you will have to say goodbye at some point; and I don't mean goodbye forever, but still a goodbye. You will not be living in good old Dalton any more, you will not be drinking together after lectures, and you will definitely not be having an 'illegal' library chat on a silent floor.

So to get to the point, just as your plane will land in Birmingham, it is very likely that it will depart. Just as your friend's planes will leave at some point. But sill, I like to think that the whole 'Aston Experience' (AE) will be one big and unforgettable adventure, an era that will be cherished in your mind.

In the end can I first ask Ania to stop crying while she's reading this! All the rest get prepared because exam session is starting!

Check-in (all passengers)

Studying abroad will have one major consequence - have your luggage packed!

In the past year and a half I have flown more that I have my whole life. As you can imagine each flight has been an adventure so here are several flying tips (...or are they memories?)

Flying tip number one: Do not and I repeat DO NOT go out the night before! You will have trouble finding the most common of belongings, such as, PASSPORT, USB stick, watch, phone, wallet, etc. Have some nice rest, do not listen to your friends calling! Be responsible! ...and if you do go out, do not sleep! If your friends are telling you two hours of sleep are better than none DO NOT listen to them! You will not hear your phone! (I never do.)

[...this blog has become the Dos and Don'ts of Vladimir Galabov)

Flying tip number two: Always have at least some luggage packed the night before, don't leave packing for the last minute!

Flying tip number three: Always book your coach ticket (if there is such) earlier! Do not wait for the day of the flight, sometimes even the night before you will not manage to find a coach ticket!

Finally, flying tip number four: You will be doing this a lot, so whatever happens do not make a big deal out of it: no panic and no stress!

[...and don't forger living in Birmingham gives you one of the best opportunities - fly low-cost anywhere you want - I am going to Dublin for £8 return this week.]

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!
May 2009 be filled with a little more love, a little more luck, a little more smiles and at least a pocketful of sunshine!

Mummy, I am going to get a part time job!

Away from getting on with university work, everybody may seem to have the perception of students wasting away their days watching daytime television and recovering from parties at the weekends. Of course it's tempting to live that life, but it won’t help you launch a career when you graduate unless you know a boss who will let you watch television while you work and take Fridays off. Part time work while studying offers many career benefits, even if they can add up to a heavy schedule around essay and exam time. Here are some tips for making the most of them.

Get a job to improve your skills, not just your bank balance
University life is not getting any cheaper so it's commonplace to give up a few evenings or a day at the weekend to ease the strain on the student loan. The benefits don’t have to end with your bank account getting healthier, if you can find a job that gives you experience other employers value it will be even more valuable.

Plan your vacations
Sure, you need some time away from studying, but vacations are prime periods to get more involved with work that can aid your CV. Internships normally run during the summer and Easter vacations, which may be a course requirement, or a great way to advertise your skills to a potential employer for when you graduate. You could also use a vacation to turn a part time job into a full time one if your workload permits, bumping up your bank balance and perhaps offering more responsibility.

Change your job to broaden your skills base
There is nothing wrong with having one part time job during your whole time at university, but don't be afraid to seek out a change of scene if you are getting bored doing the same thing or feel like a fresh challenge. This can really help strengthen your CV if you can build up a wide variety of skills or show progress. There are normally plenty of part time opportunities for students, although you might want to secure a new job before quitting your current one.

Don’t put paid work first
After all this, remember that you are at university to study. Employers might put pressure on you to work extra shifts, eating into time spent on course work or revising for exams. If this happens, make it clear it is unacceptable and consider leaving. They should understand a degree is more important than a part time job.

Aston Update (pt.II)

Let me start by wishing Happy Holidays to everyone!

I have been planning this post for quite a while but with the holiday frenzy overtaken my family, I have been most occupied. So let me continue...

The other major Aston happening has been the coursework submission. The second year has been copious with papers. I had to write a business plan for the Business Game Module (a total of 25 pages) and an article for the Econometrics Module (a total of 17 pages). The last week of November and the whole of December was the 'Lab Time Special' as I like to call it. The 'Lab Time Special' is a particular phenomenon which implies the 24-hour working computer labs will be full 24/7. I have seen people spend their entire Saturday sitting in them labs - no food, no drink; just a fag from time to time. We were like an army of zombies, ready to kill anyone who would stand in the way of the coursework completion.

The day of submission was the most hectic of course: people running everywhere, sheets flying around, angry mobs complaining about the queue at the Copy Shop or the non-working printers. I have even hear do of people who had had a most unforgettable day...

Mr A. encountered a very serious problem - the night before submission day he was again sitting in the cold computer labs, finishing his report; when leaving the lab he "saved" all his information on his USB stick and left; getting home he tried to open his files and guess what, "the files have been corrupted" message sows on the screen!

Poor Mr A. could not find the problem, or recover his files so he had to ask for an extension. While I was drinking wine around Christmas, Mr A. was writing his article, yet again! I hope he saved it this time!

Aston Update (pt.I)

Here is the long promised update on the Aston scene. As usual there has been so many stuff happening a person cannot even follow all the action. To be honest I feel like I have just started the term and it is already finishing.

Maybe the most stressing task everyone have found this year was the Business Game. It has been most interesting but incredibly demanding. Till now I had two main tasks in the module: a business plan and a presentation. God, I still remember the day of the presentation as if it was five minutes ago. We were all so stressed...

To be able to understand how awful the presentation was you have to know everything that happened in the previous 72 hours. The presentation was on a Thursday at 11:20. We met on the previous Tuesday to see how far we are with the whole idea of even putting everything together. Tuesday was a disaster, we found out that we were totally unprepared. We met in a computer lab in the business school and stayed there for about 5 hours trying to write our separate parts. Then we put it all together and I will be honest with you, it looked awful...

11:00 Wednesday we met to start practising the "whatever you call" the thing we put together the previous day. I found out that no one except me has ever presented anything, ever (I was so lucky to have so many presentations is my high school. Our timing was bad, no one could improvise and as a whole the idea of even standing in front of a jury the next day seemed ridiculous. We stayed together till about 10 in the evening practising an correcting, correcting and practising until finally we made it under the 15 minute limit.

09:00 Thursday, two hours before the big presentation, we started our final preparations. The previous night I had fixed the slides themselves and everything was starting to look good. Then a new problem arose: we were too fast and seemingly were just speed-reciting the whole thing. Two hours later we seemed to have narrowed it down to 12 minutes, which was still quite bad, but still a solution. Going last, I had the task of slowing down as fast as possible and winning us some time, which was quite easy; I did not have anything prepared and was just talking freely about my slides. I could extend my 5 minutes to whatever I was asked.

11:10 Thursday. While we were waiting to be called into the room the atmosphere outside was unbelievable. You could easily cut the air with a knife! The group waiting with us was supper ambitious and unbelievably competitive. Then about 5 minutes later the groups that were before us came out and said and I quote: "They are going to eat you alive!" and "Good luck!" with a nasty smirk on their st*** self-obsessed face. My group sank, oh, poor guys, they had done so much work the days before. I looked the the annoying group leader right into the eye and I told him: "We don't need luck, these guys are more prepared then anyone in the university!" Literally, a second later we got called in...

The Jury was of five people: one representative of Lloyds, one representative of Accenture, two people from the Aston Business School and my Business Game tutor. The time in there passed in a glimpse of an eye. We seemed to be over so fast and then the questions came. We got asked the two nastiest questions in the history of presenting!

A week later we found our result - 67%, not too shabby but still, for all the work we had put in, unbelievable low. This week I found out that they had cut points for the most ridiculous reasons! It is true what they say, when there is a jury, there is unfairness!

..to be continued

Placement Adventures # 9 (en ultramar)

en ultramar - n. oversea (Webster Spanish-English Online Dictionary)

I was planning to stop the placement adventures for a while and continue with university stuff but I just cannot drop one of the most fascinating job offers in the Aston Business School Placement Website.

I have been discussing so many different parts of the application process and the different opportunities and the help you can get but I have never mentioned the possibility of going abroad or as called in the ABS website "overseas". Partly, because I have not considered doing a placement in another country, I have not searched or encountered any information on the mater until this week; and there is PLENTY!

There is one inportant thing one must decide first - does he/she want to work or study? Does that sound odd? Well, if you go overseas you could study in a different university for a year. Some of the locations I remember are Austria, USA, India, etc. On the other hand if you want to have a "placement" placement you can chose from some of the adds. Please note that I am only discussing regular students like me, not students studying a language or planning to go abroad from the start. It is high time I got to the point.

While I was browsing, bored, in the library I found a job add that was offering a placement with "company X" in the Netherlands. That just sounded so exciting. Now I am almost ready with my application and will be submitting it tonight.

If anyone is looking for adventure and excitement, check the available placement (or exchange) abroad!

Placement Adventures # 8 (Wywiad)

wywiad - n. interview (Polish - English Dictionary www.dict.pl)

After months of waiting and 7 Placement Adventures today I just got my first interview invitation. One of the "X companies" saw potential in me! Evidently Placement adventures # 8 will be continued soon. (15th January)

to be continued...

Placement Adventures # 7 (изпит)

изпит - n. test (Bulgarian-English Webster Online Dictionary)

The Online Assessment is definitely not what one would expect, or at least, not what I expected. Here I will try to describe in detail the whole process so that you are
all prepared.

As most of the placement adventures, this one starts with online registration it is definitely a comparatively fast process, though. After the registration you enter into your own account. In my account there were four tests - two practice tests and two real tests. They were divided into two basic categories: logical and math.

1/ The Logical Reasoning Tests (LRT) started with a practice test of 5 questions. I have to say they were terribly easy. The actual or as they call it "main" test was 24 questions for 12 minutes and some of them were so difficult that I could hardly be sure of the answers.

Here is a website that could help you: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/spatialtest

Here are some examples of questions:

The Answer here is C


The Answer here is D

2/ Numerical Reasoning Tests (NRT) were much harder. There were 5 practice questions, which I have to say were not too hard, some basic calculations. The main test was 20 questions for 20 minutes and the questions were so hard; the last four questions I, literally, just clicked to not leave empty!

I am fairly certain that for some people the online assessment is going to be a piece of cake while for others it is going to be extremely challenging. You cannot do with it, bu you can not do without it! As far as I am concerned, what is left for me now is WAIT FOR THE RESULTS!

Placement Adverntures # 6 (答え)

答え - n. answer, reply (Japanese - English Dictionary http://linear.mv.com/cgi-bin/j-e/dict)

The time when I started the series of posts called Placement Adventures was roughly the time when my adventures actually started. In the past several weeks I have been rewriting CVs, writing Covering Letters and filling up Job Applications. it is so much work and you never know if it is going to pay off.

The time when I started the series of posts called Placement Adventures was roughly the time when I started checking my e-mail twenty time a day, sometimes every half an hour, eagerly waiting for an answer from one of the four companies I have already applied for.

The time when I started the series of Posts called Placement Adventures was the time when I started praying for an answer (and oh my God, it sounds so cheesy and film-like but in reality imagine a more whnier and desperate kinda way)

At two minutes to two o'clock today (Oh, my God even the time is epic) I got the first invitation to stage two - Online Assessment Centre. Finally one of the X companies decided I am not a total screw-up, finally someone decided to give me a chance.

Now my Placement Adventures continue and I will be needing help...

Placement Adventures #5 (S'appliquer à )

S'appliquer à: to apply to (Collins French-English Dictionary)

Probably the most frustrating part of my placement adventures has to be the online applications I have to submit. Of course the applications vary between the different companies. There is one thing in common, they are all perfectly appalling. It would be so much easier to just send your CV with a Covering Letter to an e-mail. I can probably divide the different characteristics of the online application method in several points:

1) Registration I cannot believe how many websites I had to register in. I am currently a member of the Toyota, Peugeot, Kraft Foods and Intel websites. And bear in mind that I have just started applying, I haven't even submitted applications in all of the companies. But you always have to register. Bottom line, I wake up with 5 extra e-mail every day!

2) Online CV The most frustrating thing in the online application process is the so called 'online CV'. Most of the companies want you to, literally, write a new CV for them. In some cases it is even more detailed than your normal one. In other, it is much shorter. Only after you make your online CV you can attach and submit your normal CV. I just don't see the point in sending two CVs. Do you?

3) Questionnaire After the online CV most companies would ask you to fill in a online questionnaire. Up to ten questions which you need to answer in up to 150 words. You can imagine it takes so much time.

4) Online Covering Letter Some companies want you to write your 'motivation' in your application. Others just want you to give an answer to a specific question concerning the company.

5) Online Tests Some companies would start testing you from the very application: " In 2000 words answer the question - What is the effect of the economics crisis in the company X's industry."

The bottom line is - be prepared with time and patience!

Placement Adventures # 4 (Curriculum Vitae)

Curriculum Vitae: a summary of your academic and work history (The Princeton Dictionary)

In other words, the one way you can tell your future employer who you are, in an extremely concise way of course. There are three huge disadvantages CV:
- You don't really have a choice for the format (for your placement CV that is)
- It is so extremely impersonal (I mean, you can't even state anything in first person)
- You have exactly two pages to describe the best of all your life!

And yet, that is your best shot at getting your future employer to hire you, and what's more - IT IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE! Therefore, right now everyone I know from uni is constantly asking for tips, writing, rewriting and obsessing about their CV. Of course, everyone includes me. I spent two days writing my "new" CV hoping it would be good enough. The worst thing is, I can never know if some particular employer is going to like it. So, as the placement office advisers said: "Just send it to as many companies as you can!"

To be honest, I have had plenty of support from the Placement Office when writing my CV and, yet, there is never a guarantee, is there? In the end of the day, all one can do is hope that his done a good job enough making his academic and work achievements seem impressive. All that is left after that is WAIT...

PS: I have just added a free messaging service, you can send a free text message to any mobile in the world. I just tried it and it is working just fine. You have to register real fast first to get a password sent, but it is all free. Enjoy!

Placement Adventures # 3 (Far Far Away)

On a floor far far away (actually 6th) in the Aston Main Building you can find a very extraordinary room - The Placement Office. I have talked with so many people from so many universities and the Aston Business School Placement office is the most useful place for a student on the quest for a placement. Even the other schools in Aston don't have the office. There are three main features to it:

1) Placement Office Briefing Sessions
For me these lectures have been the most useful feature of the placement office. They literally taught me how to write a proper CV and cover letter.

2) CV and Cover letter check
The CV and Cover letter check is the bets thing for a placement student. Keep in the you can have specialized companies check your CV but that will cost up to £200. In the placement office it's free! (God I love free stuff!)

3) Website
The website has, for me, being the perfect planning tool of all the stuff I have to do to get a placement, starting from choosing an employer, a position, writing a proper CV and then a proper cover letter.

4) Appointments
Hopefully my time will come to use the 15 minute appointments. A student can have a mock interview and practice what he/she is going to say on the actual job interview!

5) etc. ask for more!

Oops, my briefing session is starting!

Placement Adventures # 2 (Meet the X)

This week I will use X for every company that has had or will have a presentation at Aston. It is unbelievable how many companies are interested in having interns from our university. I did not realise how amazing that is until I talked with a friend of mine who is from a different university and unfortunately hasn't had the same 'luck'. But is it luck? No, it is probably university connections, the good performance of previous interns or postgraduates, or maybe even our Business School rank place. So, prospective students beware of the internship opportunities you are going to have once you get here.

I have been so busy last couple of weeks that I did not even manage to go to half of the presentations. There is at least one every day of the week! Here are some of the companies that I managed to go to (only in the first week of presentations)


I will return to this list tomorrow and give a little feedback on the company presentations.

Placement Adventures #1

The second year brings one horrible thing - Placement Search.

It seems like every single student is searching for his/her placement. How can you tell - there are three questions anyone can ask you through the day:

- So, are you gong to company X's presentation?
- So, how is the placement search going?
- Did you find a placement yet?

Of course, it always seems that the person asking you is one step ahead and is just trying to rub it in your face. Thank got there are so much help from the Placement Office. It my LAST HOPE! Talking about the Placement Office, I have not given you any updates on any placement stuff yet, so this week is the official placement week in my blog.

The End of an Era

January 19th 2008 is one of the dates I think I will always remember - the day when I started my first job in the UK.

On the 18th January I went out with Kara and just as we were dancing she told me that the pub she worked in were looking for staff. On the next day, as a joke, I went to the pub and had an interview with on of the managers Simon. I clearly remember his questions and my lies:

Simon: Do you play sports?
Vlad: Oh yeah, me an my flatmates play football every week
(Yeah wight we did it twice through the whole year)
Simon: I see you have work experience behind a bar.
Vlad: Oh yes, you can see that I have worked quite long in 'No Name', the only thing I have not done is pour pints because we did not serve draft. You can call my ex-manager Jane Ramsheva for reference
(Manager, right, that was my ex-girlfriend)

Anyway, I got the job. I got home and three hours later they called me for a trial shift and induction. Just like that the roundabout started turning and after almost a year it stopped. Yesterday I served my last pint and do not intend to go back any time soon. But, still, I can't help but missing The Newt. I have this theory that there is 'A Newt Curse'. Every single employee that has left keeps coming back, either to work, or as a customer, but they can never stay apart for too long. Probably it is the staff, probably it is the atmosphere, but I know I will be coming back, not only to get a pint but to see my ex-colleagues and my ex-managers, to sit on the old chairs where I used to sit after shifts. For the time I worked in 'The Newt' I saw the management fully changed four timer. The only three people that are left from my starting team now are Simon, Kara and Sam. Yesterday I found out that Simon has give his one month notice and is going to Australia in December. Now that I look back the only things I remember are the fun times and the ridiculous situations. I bet you can get a feeling of the place too, even if you go 'as a joke', Student Nights are now Saturdays but I know who will not be serving you!

Now I can finally write on my CV:

The Newt (21/01/2008 - 24/10/2008)

My First Lectures at Aston University (Round II)

It has been too long since I have been postponing this post. You would ask why is that? The Answer is hidden in the very title of this post: 'Round II'. The second year is, so far, the toughest year in my academic life (not that my academic life is so long, but still). Here are the simple impressions of an average second year student, that's me.

1) Unbelievably for me, and everyone else in my lecture theatre, first day of uni started at 9 a.m. with my fist lecture, and by lecture I mean a full length, 54 slide, 98 minutes revision of Micro economic concepts. I could not believe my eyes, the lecturer not only had time to introduce himself and finish the lecture, but also finished 2 minutes earlier.

2) The second lecture got the theatre fully overcrowded; it was so hot that people started falling asleep (incl। myself); it was so full that you could hardly hear the lecturer. It has been sorted by now, but still.

3) The third lecture was very, very disturbing। I got told that I am to be taking part in a simulation of a car-production company; later in the week got chosen for the Financial Management position; in the following weeks understood that I am scr**d.

4) The fourth lecture was finally just an introduction to the module, no information to remember, just half an our of the most stressful numbers in your life. The second lecturer, basically told us that we are all doomed and will get low grades.

5) The fifth lecture was the Business policy and I can openly say, the worst subject this year। It is basically a lot of obvious assumptions, put in a textbook. When you add the US influence on the textbook, the whole subject becomes bloody evil.

6) I missed the sixth and final lecture because I got confused with time। Yet last week I managed to find out that I don't remember anything of my statistics classes and that I may possibly fail the test next week.


So these are my first impressions from this year. Now I assume you don't want to hear only about the academia but also about the life. That is why I am dedicating next week to the upcoming Halloween (Halloween is huge in Aston). I am not only going to tell you all about my Halloween Aston Party, but also take out the old box of photos from last year.

My Very First Lectures at Aston University

I can still vividly remember my very first week in Aston. I was so excited, hoping to perform good and show my best, ready for the adventure that was my first year. Or at least I thought so...

My very first lecture was - Introduction to Organisational Behaviour. Patrick, the lecturer, just mesmerized everyone in The Great Hall. I think from all my first year lecturers Patrick was the one that just always managed to pull out an actual show. People would sometimes applaud him after the lectures. So, to go back to my very first lecture. I stepped into the Great Hall expecting the worst. I had no idea what Organisational Behaviour is and I imagined the professors to be all serious and stern. Patrick started with introducing himself (as every lecturer) but it was not the usual introduction, it felt sincere, honest and really personal. As if we were out in a pub - me, my mates and Patrick and we were just telling each other crazy stories from when we were young (lets just say that). I left the lecture calm and relaxed, thinking that everything to follow was easy and fun. God, I was so gullible!

The Management came next, then the Economics, then the Accounting, the Marketing and they all just seemed so difficult and new. I had never ever discussed the subjects in school. I would comment on every lecture with my mates and we would all be like: 'That wasn't too bad...' or 'I liked it', or 'Piece of cake!'. Bloody hell, we were all so wrong. It turns out that you have to actually read after the lectures and prepare yourself for the next one, and write homework, and even do research. You can imagine that the longer it takes one to realize all that the harder it's going to be for him to cope with it. Well, we found that out in Week 3 when we had our first quiz in Financial Accounting. We all felt so unprepared and plain stupid. That is when we had to go back to the first lecture and catch up. We would have study groups which now seem like a total waste of time. We would call friends and previous teachers and even parents for help when all we needed to do was read and just absorb the material.

Still, there was one subject that I immensely liked from the very first lecture. That is - Quantitative Techniques. Oh, I still remember the first slide, it was on some material I had covered in school 5 years ago. I finally had a subject that I had an amazing advantage in. Yes, it was not very interesting, but I did not have to study at all. I never bought the Quantitative Techniques textbook and I still love the subject.

Just like that my first week was over, and then the next one... Today I feel like I just got into uni, not much wiser and not much smarter, just a boy on its way to real life. OK, well, maybe a bit smarter and just a very tiny bit wiser, and more prepared for what is to come.

The First Week of Uni

No matter which year you are, what degree you are having, or what plans you are trying to fulfil, the first week of the uni year is always a bit scary, a bit disturbing, very exciting and always fun. In the first year of uni your module leader may tell you that you are going to fail but you are going to laugh in his/her face. Later on you may think thing through, more rationally and seriously, but in the first week it is all about the fun.

The fun comes from the constant complaining about the lecturers, the unending small-talk about controversial** subjects, the hasty remarks abut everything new. In the first week of uni you will be laughing at you future misery and I bet that future you will be cursing those gullible moments of mere understatement.

In the week to come I will share with you my perceptions from last years lecturers during freshers week and what has changed this year...


**controversial (in tha first week of uni you will find yourself arguing with your mates about a certain module - they would think it's impassable, while you can already see the first on your diploma)

Freshers Flu

Hopefully, there are less flu cases between students this Freshers Week compared to last year. I can still remember my first freshers flu last year. Me and my eight flatmates were all sick and were ready to try anything, I mean ANYTHING (:P), to get better.

I was living on a box of pills my mother had given me. I think I was taking a total of ten a day. Now that I think about it, that surely cannot be good for you.

One of my flatmates, the infamous 'Party Animal' was trying to cure himself on herbal tea and vitamins.

'The Hippies' were so desperate they even agreed to try some of my pills. In the end they could not put themselves through it and left the pills for when they are on their deathbed.

'The Hard Worker' being a pharmacy student was living on paracetamol because it is the base of most of the flu pills.

Of course we all got better with time but, still, the experience was not a good one.

... Unfortunately I did not learn from my mistake and currently am one of the ill second year in a raw. The flu will pass and, surely, will not ruin last weeks amazing experiences. Yet, I felt obliged to give TIP 10 FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: Health is important! Try to stay healthy and enjoy the uni experience at its fullest.

Freshers Week 2008

Freshers Week 2008 has hit the university and does not want to let it go. It is unbelievable how a humans body can withstand the torture that is Freshers Week. There is a full schedule of activities starting early morning and finishing, well, early morning; absolutely no time for rest. I have already posted the events for the week and there is no point of repeating myself, instead let me share with you the highest and lowest points of the week.

The Freshers Pub Crawl has been the highest event this week, and definitely the most attended. I have to say that compared to last year, this year's pub crawl was quite unorganized; and yet, I had so much fun. This year fewer pubs were included: (and surprisingly - one restaurant)Einstein's - Sound Bar - MinZu - The Newt - The Yard of Ale - Scruffy's. Of course the big finish was at The Guild, which was at its fullest. The 1st October will be remembered for a long while. It was truly the best night of the Freshers Week so far.

There have been quite a lot of disappointmets. As a whole the Guild has lost some of its glamour this year. I was surprised to see the once constantly overflowing halls now empty with a sigh of disappointment in the air. I think this year's Indie Night was the biggest disappointment of all. The were more people in Einie's than in the main room. Another fact that has surprised me is that I have been able to get in after 11:30 buying a ticket at the door every night. Last year you had to pray to get inside after 11:00 with a ticket.

But putting negativity aside, I have been enjoying Freshers Week 2008 so far and I am going to keep a positive spirit and wait with anticipation for tonight's surprise. Tonight is set to be on of the best. Yet we are all expecting the closing party on Sunday, which is set to be amazing.

International Freshers Week

The International Freshers Week has taken over Aston's Campus and although it cannot be compared to Freshers Week, there still are some lush parties. There have been three ultimate party places this week.


Einie's has been on every night and I have to say is unbelievably full. Yesterday it was busy with fuss and and excitement as the first Pub Quiz Night was spicing up the new freshers. The £2 Carling was the hit of the night! Yet, I have to say, the air conditioning problem was unbearable this time. It was like a Roman Spa in there.


Gosta was a unsually full on Monday. I missed the Pounded nights all summer. They were still going, there was just no one there. Now it was finally a good start for Gosta - a full house all night.


I have to say that Gate Crashers is the hit of this Uni season. I talked with freshers that have been there every night and don't want to go anywhere else. The reconstruction has been massive and every trace from 'The Works' has been swept by glamour. Gate Crashers seemed massive yesterday(and I used to go to 'The Works' regularly), the main room being the hit of the night. With three massive disco balls, an enormous light wall and eight smoke machines, Gate Crashers' main room is currently the best club in Birmingham!

... International Freshers Week is not finished, there is more to come. Tonight the first Karaoke night is set to tart the new season. I personally will be going to the grand Karaoke final in the Newt, though.

If you are not a fan of Karaoke, Kelly Rowland is set to sing in Selfridges. The party is supposed to be invites only and lots of V.I.P. guests. This is going to be the ultimate party place tonight! (well, for those who manage to get in).

The Countdown to Freshers Week #1

As promissed here is the official 'Auntie' T-shirt for next week.



(If you open the image you will see the official events for the whole Freshers Week)

The Party Animal

The last Aston character that I am going to share with you is my 'party' flatmate from last year. You will probably meet 'The Party Animal' during Freshers. He is, literally, all over the place when it comes to a party. During last year's Freshers Week he managed to popularise the pre-guild/warm-up party in our flat so much that it became a tradition for people from Dalton to visit us every night. Once he got us a V.I.P. in Oceana with free drinks all night. And, well, even after four months he still called me when he came back to Birmingham to hang out. He is truly unstoppable. But how would you recognise the party animal.

First, and most importantly, 'The Party Animal' always has to be trendy. Then he must never feel cold or heat. No matter what the temperature, 'The Party Animal' has to have an outfit prepared and suffer the consequences. Last but not least, he should be able to sacrifice a night's sleep or exams' preparations for the party's sake.

Yet, I have to say that 'The Party Animal' surprised me very positively in the end of the year and got quite good marks, not mention passed all his modules. I have big hope for him... Here's THE PARTY ANIMAL'S TIP FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: DON'T MISS THE SESH AT MY FLAT BEFORE THE GUILD!

Now before I sum up, I have to say that the characters I described are only four of the seven people I lived with last year. The rest three are individualistic and I don't want to put a name tag on. And last, there may be a hint of 'The Hard Worker' or 'The Hippies', or 'The Party Animal' in any of us. Aston's campus is so colourful and interesting that you will find your own characters and you own friends. Hopefully, you will be lucky enough to live with them for a year, like I did. Now that I look on the year that has passed I feel no regrets, I was blessed to have such fun times.

Here's a little heads up on what is to come here till the end of next week. You will get and exclusive sneak peak at what is to come at Freshers and hopefully a Rota of the different events. International Freshers Week started yesterday and I will give a post with the events to come in the week. The first hint is:

The Hippies

After a comparatively short break and a lot of sunbathing I am back in Birmingham. I feel just like last year - cold and filled with anticipation. Kara is going to be an 'Auntie' this year and we will have a very good insight on all the events from this year's Freshers Week. The International Freshers Week takes off next weekend to warm up the campus and prepare us all for the big 'F'. (For everyone who are not familiar with the term 'Auntie', an 'Auntie' is the person male/female who is supposed to welcome, help and integrate the freshers in the Aston atmosphere.)

If I remember correctly, though, I still have several untold stories. I already started describing several types if typical students or at least what I think is typical. After 'The Hard Worker' which is a very common type comes another huge group 'The Hippies'.

'The Hippies' male or female have the same characteristics. First, they are always a part of the bigger 'Hippie Society' in the university. They would know all the other hippies and meet socially with them at least four times a week. Yet, they always seem to 'not care' if the group has a fallout or a big trouble. When a problem comes, 'The Hippies' will not hesitate to save themselves first. Still, 'The Hippies' are in some rare occasions ready to help someone from the group to improve their 'Hippie' status or just to feel better about themselves. In the end of the day, though, 'The Hippies' are supper nice to all the 'Non-hippie Masses' on campus and if you don't provoke them can be extremely friendly.

In their studies 'The Hippies' grow up to their name. They are not going to miss the sesh in flat 11 next week for some accounting test, or not got to Oceana on Monday because some boring professor decided to give them an essay to write. Of course that results is lower grades. Although quite bright, the hippies are always struggling with tests and grades. They have the most fun, though... Even 'The Party Animal' would go out less than 'The Hippies'... They just do not care and cannot be bothered.

'The Hippies' are in university to have the experience, not to get the best grades. And they may actually turn up to be right in the end, I still cannot say. Now that I look back on the months I have spent living with 'The Hippies' I actually miss them. We had so many fights because of the different way we lived our lives that sometimes we didn't speak to each other for weeks. Yet, when I look back on the whole experience I had with 'MY Hippies' I miss them and their nonchalant character. When you are in a bad place no one can cheer you up as good as 'An Aston Hippie'.

The Hippies would probably miss to give an advice to the prospective students but they may invite you to a party...!?

The Hard Worker

You can already feel the anticipation in Birmingham. The city is waiting for the new Uni year to start. In less than a month freshers will start flooding the Universities. Last year at this time I was making the final preparation for my leaving Bulgaria. I still cannot believe how much my life has changed since then. One of the people that changed it is 'The Hard Worker'.

'The Hard Worker' is how I will be calling one of my ex-flatmates from Dalton. He was doing a masters in Pharmacy and was swamped with work all the time. Unlike most of my friends who are just above average like me he was the best in his course. On his exams he would do unbelievably good. A 90% for 'The Hard Worker' was not that good. He always wanted to get higher. This ambition put him on the pinnacle of his course, reigning over the other pharmacy students.

Yet, 'The Hard Worker' was not what you would expect. All puffed up from going to the Aston fitness centre every day he was beyond shape. And most unexpectedly he turned out to be a party animal, that is, when he actually went out. See, the difference between me an average and him an elaborate student is that he does not go with the flow. If the whole Uni is going to Oceana tomorrow, and there is a test the next day, 'The Hard Worker' wouldn't because unlike me he had discovered something very important.

'The Hard Worker' has given me many advices during my first year. Yet, the most useful was: THE HARD WORKER'S ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: You will spend only a couple of years in university, and those years will affect your whole life. Think about what and when you are doing. There will be time for partying after university, but there is no way you can travel back in time and change your Diploma!