ww44: GBTTS

what I have discovered this week is that since I have started my placement I have had so many opportunities to Give Back To The Society. I think student life in general is all about surviving; when is the maintenance loan installment going to come in and cover my overdraft?; am i going to meet rent?; how are we going to pay the bill?; will I manage to buy all the books for this year?; can i live on 5 quid for a week after I spent all my money? (etc.)

Well, when you are on a placement the story changes A LOT. You finally have enough money to meet rent and bills, to not worry about surviving the month. Once this time come one should try to give something back. It definitely sounds so cheesy and so world-peacy but it is true. You don't need to win a beauty pagan to do some charity. The greatest thing about being on a placement in a massive corporation is that there are plenty of opportunities. Why? Because it is very important for a company to be supported by the community and charity puts every company in good light. Thus, there are plenty of volunteer work that the employees are urged to do. And this is actually and amazing thing. No matter what reasons may be behind the decision of company X to support charity Y, the end result is positive for both - better image for X and support for Y (and a warm feeling inside for the actual volunteer).

From an employee's perspective it gives me the chance to help someone less fortunate than me with the inner hope that if I ever end up needing help there will be someone else out there to help me; that if a friend of mine ever needs help and I am not there, a volunteer like me will make a change in her life; that by helping each other we will all live better lives (this sound so communisty but again true).

To get to the point there are great charities opportunities for every intern/placement student that will just make your time worthwhile. As a saying goes - "in his life a man should plant at least one tree!" So ask yourself: if I ever need blood transfusion what would I do if there was no volunteer to donate her blood to the hospital?; how would the world have looked like now if there were no volunteers ten years ago to plant trees in my neighborhood?; how would the poor homeless guy on the street survive the winter if there was no shelter to give him some food and protection?; how would we survive if we do not fight illnesses like cancer, leukemia, tuberculosis, AIDS and HIV?

WW43: Open Season

I have now been on my placement for 128 days.

When it all started I was spending my days in training trying to understand the way the company works; the programs that were being used for business activities; the routine that I would need to establish for myself; the way that people interact in a work a environment. Everything seemed so overwhelming and complicated as if I had never worked before.

Four months into the year I find myself somewhat adapted to it all. What I have discovered is that my fears in the beginning were somewhat pointless and that there is always help if I have a problem. See, what I was not realizing when I started my job was that everyone around me has already walked in my shoes, everyone had been a fresh employee once and everyone has had the same fears, troubles and adventures as me.

So, now that I finally feel comfortable in my new flat, new job, new town I have to make some noise. What is the best way - a sequel to last year's Halloween party. What better way to invite my uni mates and my work mates all together? What better way to give the greenheads just starting to apply for placements a taste of the experience? What better way to thank everyone at work who has supported me in the first quarter of my placement?

(when you read this please answer those question with a: "Duh, there is no better way.")

...to be continued

WW34: Post Big Bang

"Big Bang" refers to the operational change that happened in the company last week. In practice it is similar to a change from one operation system to another. The arising question are, how do you train tens of thousands of employees and hundreds of customers? The customers need to understand how their role in the supply chain is changing; the employees need to know what will happen with their job, most supply put.

For me this meant one thing and one thing only - MORE INFORMATION. I have been expecting my system to overload every day in the past one month. First, there is training on the old process; you finally get the idea and start doing so work and BAM! - "forget everything you have learned, there is a new process now". Then there is training on the second process and by the end of it all you are dropped in the deep and need to manage. My high-school teacher had this one story that was supposed to make me feel bad every time I got an F on a dictation - "we are on a beach, and the whole class is swimming in the deep, Vlad, while you are still on the sand". Well, this time Vlad is not going to stay on the sand.

Surprisingly, this past two weeks (the post Big Bang weeks *or BB) have been amazing. My placement has finally started to kick off with some very busy days, some issues that needed sorting and real challenges. Everyone from the Placement Office in Aston used to say last year that this will be a real job; and it is. So, BB or no BB, placement is going great :)

A little message: Fresher's Week 2009 is kicking off in a month and your truly will be back to the Aston campus to capture all the new adventures and meet the new freshers.

WW31: Intro

It is high time I pulled myself together and continued this blog. To get you closer to the "placement scene" I will start writing not in English but in International Corp. language (or ICL for short).

Every multinational company has its ICL and ICC (international corporate culture). In my IC the unique characteristic is acronyms. This week I even found out that some employees use acronyms for their names as well. But I need to give you an update on the scene before I drop you down in the deep. Longs story short here is everything that transpired in the past several weeks in five sentences. Training. Team Building. Training. Work. Now, here is the beginning of my placement posts ... ww(work week) 31.

What amazed me and still amazes me is that everyone who works around me seems to be suspiciously happy. I was extremely wary of this particular gaiety that was noticeable in the air all around the office. I mean seriously is it that ICs are a magical place where poop tastes like tapioca? Three weeks later, I think I am getting used to it. Of course it is not all fun and games but, to go back to the point, why, why, why is everyone so happy with/on their job? I will attempt to find an answer of this question in the upcoming year.

What is a major difference between university term and placement is the regime. I look back and remember the sunny days in Birmingham when I would wake up at noon, have brunch with my flatmate and go shopping until the afternoon because my lectures start at two. Now, there is a perfect routine in my day; I wake up between 7:20 and 7:45, have a shower, shave (something I never used to do), iron my clothes (another thing that would never happen at uni), take out the trash and catch the 08:08 or the 08:25 bus; then at work, get my morning apple and massive tea. Writing it makes it even more routiny. Most, most important, my week passes as quick as a roller coaster ride speeding down the highest peak of the track.

One other thing I need to mention is actually the most important: PERKS! Working for an IC has a lot of perks glued to it: free gym in a luxurious hotel, free drinks and snacks at work, and well, other free stuff (NB! the list continues). But not to bore you, ww 32 will bring the rest of the update :)

Untitled (yet again)

Being the dus***g that I have spent a month not writing a single post for my very few readers (Sorry A.!). Some call it writer's blog, other call it summer break, third call it busy time... I call it intolerable negligence!

Anyway, I assume no one is interested in my rambling about the existential problems of the human being; you all want to hear if I have survived the e.n.d.. (Back Eyed Peas said it: "The E.nergy N.ever D.ies" - So do the overworked, hangover students! We are tough as f***!)

In the last few days of the exam session the whole Aston university went into overload. There were students that were so stressed out that they started planning road trips before their last exam. Others started sleeping in the library - as much as the library users became less and less. There were those that just gave up, lost motivation and started planning retakes. Nevertheless, there were the students that were ready and certain that they would make one more push a final struggle before the e.n.d..

(btw The E.N.D. is now in stores)

Following the exam session was the moving adventures of my fellow students. A lot of students left on the same day as the last exam, having had enough of campus after a long "revising" month; but there still was a considerable crowd attending the Astonbury (the biggest party of the year, celebrating the end of university and the beginning of summer). I have posted some photos from astonbury in the end of this very boring post.

(btw Astro Physics available on iTunes!)

My friends had the same trip I had from campus to the notorious Aston Brook Green. They followed my instructions and sneakily stole a trolley and negligently pushed it to the "new" house. They were kind enough to store the stuff of many of us placement students. Then they left; I left as well. What followed for me was Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Rome and Sofia or an awesome two weeks and a half. Now it is my placement adventures to come!

Crazy Ride, Astonbury, Birmingham, 2009

Ministry of Sound, Astonbury Afterparty, Birmingham 2009

Buba and Emilia's grown-up moving to Aston Brook Green, Birmingham 2009

Rome 2009La Mansion Club, Rome 2009

Library Adventures # Fin

OK, it is half six and of course I am in the library. I have been in the Main Building from two and am currently a walking wreck! There is one more exam left and, of course, it is the worst one; or as my lecturer would say a proper finish.

My exam session has been spread through a month this term. Everyone (in the Economics department), was so happy when we found out. So much time to study! Well, after a series of sunny days we all realised that exam sesh was the last thing on our minds. Furthermore, as exam sesh is extending, motivation is getting lower and lower (an inverse relationship as we know from math). God, I cannot even talk normally anymore! (and this post is getting too many exclamation marks)

Anyway, it is 5 ot of 6 baby; the last exam tomorrow, as much as will ruin my average, will be the end, the end, the END! What is to follow is a year of adventures...

To come back to my original post topic, the library is so empty right now it is sad. This place used to be half full at any time of the day about two weeks ago. Now with most of the first and final years finished, it is a ghost-town! I am on the second floor and there are exactly three other people: a guy siting on a computer, the cleaner and a sleeping student that has made a bed of chairs (bless him).

Seven is fast approaching and it is time for me to continue...

Library Adventures # 6

While I was preparing for my exams, other people had already been having theirs. As a result the library has gotten emptier and emptier. Now it is just use regulars all knowing each other, all sitting on the same tables, all spending equal amounts in this historical site.

Right now it is literally impossible to walk along a corridor and not see someone you already know or met in here. This is definitely nice since one feels surrounded by friends. On the other hand, the emptier the library is getting, the less motivation I am having. I just want to join all my friends that have finished their exams and are having a party-month! (since we finish in almost a month)

Can't happen, though! So, all it is left for me is to keep reading my averagely boring economics articles.

Library Adventures # The Experiment

Experiment No1

I will follow the revision time of one student to check what a student (the one siting next to me on the computer desk) generally does in the library:

22:21 - writing a wall-post on facebook
22:26 - starts writing an essay (short one) on Word
22:27 - checks phone and send a text
22:28 - joins neighbouring students to check out a football game recording on youtube
22:29 - i can see that he has so far written exactly 6 lines and then i realise i m also wasting my time, but at least i m having fun :)
22:30 - continues to write essay
22:40 - on facebook again
22:44 - on webmail
22:45 - leaving the computer!

that is 21 minutes he will never see again! In the mean time, although losing time, I managed to find out what "Classical Liberalism" is, yey me!

Library Adventures # 4

08:37 13 May 2009

I just arrived in the library. It is a ghost-town; everyone is either sleepy or tired, or both. While climbing the stairs I saw this friend of mine; she has an exam in less than half an hour! (maybe it is not library adventures, that I am having but exam sesh adventures...) Anyway I just wanted to take the time to wish everyone good luck on the exams!

Library Adventures # 3

22:57 12 May 2009

I promised that this exam session I will try to follow not only my experiences but also the experiences of the other suffering students in the library. So, here is a perfect example.

A hope-high-score girl is sitting next to me. She is doing something biological/food industry connected. She has done an essay in the module (which generally means that some of the material she has already thoroughly researched). It is a known fact that to get above 70% one needs to show knowledge not included in the lectures, or in other words, do some research and find cool examples. So at 4 to 23:00 the hope-high-score girl is sitting in the library searching for extra information. Instead of leaving to go home (she also lives far away) she will stay in the library. By know (she has studied all day) she has dark circles under her eyes and her voice is all grumpy. Still, she is not giving up, she will do whatever she can to get a higher score on the exam.

The only question that keeps whirling in my mind is, unless the exam is tomorrow: Why continue working inefficiently all night instead of just go home and sleep? It is obvious why if the exam is tomorrow, it is silly if the exam is in several days. My exam is on Monday, so tired after almost a full day (12 hrs) revision, I need to get home get some sleep and come here fresh, at 8:00, again! For me this is the best strategy!

Library Adventures # 2

After an immense struggle to find any, and I mean any, books for my Public Policy module, God forbid a table to read them on, I decided to give some advice to anyone struggling with library matters.

To not repeat my mistake again, today I came to the library at 8 o'clock in the morning. It is an interesting fact that the library may be fuller in the night than in the the early morning. At seven or eight the place is a perfect desert because most of the people have given up or fallen asleep. Around ten, though, most of the people would have surely woken up and headed to the library. There are two well defined waves of incomers: 9:00-10:00 in the morning when the students that have left around midnight come; 12:00-13:00 when the all-nighters have managed to get out of bed. The first crowd is definitely more dangerous since they are not that tired and ready to run or argue, or even fight for a table!

To escape these problems, try to wake up at 8 o'clock in the morning and bring your a** to the library. Put your stuff on a table. If you still feel tired, go back home to sleep and come later, if not you can have a whole day for sweet revision.

By the way, the book shop under Dalton has some amazing 99p revision packs that help a lot!

(I am never writing a text message again, I just had to go through the whole post fixing "u", "ur", etc.)

Many times in our life we have been wondering what happened all those years; how did i ended up here? What happened? It’s a question that you sometimes find yourself asking.

Lately I met some new people and I found a person from my years of primary school and out of the blue I started thinking what happened to our long gone innocent childhood? I cannot really give a satisfying answer on that because I myself do not have the slightest idea. The thing is that in our process of evolution we lost friends, we made new, we grow up and thought of love, we stopped dreaming and started working, we stopped having time and we started having a gadget for writing down our appointments.

I have to say I don’t like responsibilities but I appreciate the fact that I have the chance to be a person that won’t let down their friends, family and of course herself. For me the commitment we take though relationships is a commitment we carry as long as we can. It’s the part that makes us stronger confident and able to have the stamina to fight through difficult times, so when I meet people that still believe in that and still have the dream makes me feel that whatever comes won’t be that hard to handle. Friendship is a valuable asset to our every day lives it makes us better people and gives us hope.

So, some people believe in God, some people believe in money, some others in aliens well I believe in to two things in friendship and myself, simply because they will never fail me! So whatever you do and whoever you are make sure that you will have somebody near you because a person without a friend is a life without witness!

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine. (Thomas Jefferson)

Now Stop!

It is time for my regular recap post. Last week I was sitting in my room and I realised that this blog is the longest commitment I have ever had in my life. I have never had a job for a longer period because I get bored and change it, I have never had a same room for such a long time because I always get bored and move the furniture, most of all, I have never lived in one house for such a long time (since uni, of course) because (well not boredom) contracts end. Evidently this is a game of I have never now :)

Anyway, putting this aside I have a lot planned for May for you all. First obviously my Library Adventures are continuing! I will follow one more night of a revising student (except this time it will not be me!). Most importantly, I will introduce you to my new assistant. Yes, you heard correct, I am having an assistant blogger. With the exam session going on (as my average is going down) I will need a fellow hand to make sure to never miss a post. Viki will be providing this place with another point of view. Oh, but not to worry I am never stepping off the throne!

Library Adventures # 1

This post has been posted a bit later than written...

01:14 6th May

As the rows of people in the library are getting less and less not that is after midnight, tension is increasing! See what you may not know is that the library is not only a place to study during the 24/6 opening times at exam seshes. It is also a social club for students to interact! So many people come here just to have a little chat with someone they have not seen in a while. What is more, so many students spend hours in hours here "studying" without ever completing a single line/lecture/practice test.

See what p***** me off is not talking; I do not mind a person having a little chat with a fellow sufferer; it is the shouting! Yes, you read right: SHOUTING! I was just on the phone discussing my coursework with Nasko when a group of unsatisfied girls (and I mean se******) started shouting in the hall. They did not get caught this time but I bet they will, eventually.

When the library is open 24/6 the security is doubled and is walking around all night. If they hear anything more than the sound of silence they add you to the Black List; a list of student that have had warnings. After the third warning you can get banned from the library! Now, getting banned from the library is a very new LOW! And it is not just low, it is "low-low-low-low" (Rida, 2008).

This is all from me for now.

References:

Rida, F. and Wayne, L (2008). Low Low.

Aston Excellence Awards

The Aston Excellence Awards are the single event of the year when you can say to your favourite lecturer: "Thanks, you made an impression on me!". The awards are given to members of staff  that make outstanding contributions towards the achievement of Aston’s mission to develop Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Research and Community Engagement. So, it is like the lecturers' Oscars. I am personally nominating my favourite lecturer just to make a nice gesture. He has definitely influenced me in many ways and got me hooked on a subject I am not particularly fond of. 

I think one of the best feeling is the one of appreciation; as when you write a coursework that you spent so much time on and you receive a good review (Oh my god, look at the writing so many amazing stuff about my baby!). Personally, for me it is not the grade but the review on the return form that just makes a difference.

Anyway, probably most of you have read he e-mail distributed by the university about the voting process. If you have not, just ask in a comment and I will give you the contact person myself. But you need to submit your nominee before the 27th May. And before I forget, I think that if you vote you get to go to the ceremony (Need to double check that.).

Facebook users risk lower grades, study claims

A study has linked Facebook users with worse exam results than their non-social networking friends. 

Researchers at Ohio State University found students who enjoy communicating via cyberspace spend less time studying and risk getting a whole grade lower than their peers as a result despite more than three quarters of Facebook users claiming their interaction with friends on the site didn’t interfere with their work. The study claims Facebook users averaged one to five hours a week studying, while non-users studied 11 to 15 hours per week. The researchers surveyed 219 students at Ohio State University, including 102 undergraduate students and 117 graduate students. Of the participants, 148 said they had a Facebook account. 

Students who spent more time working at paid jobs were less likely to use Facebook, while students who were more involved in extracurricular activities at school were more likely to use Facebook. Aryn Karpinski, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in education at Ohio State University, said: “We can't say that use of Facebook leads to lower grades and less studying – but we did find a relationship there [...] There's a disconnect between students' claim that Facebook use doesn't impact their studies, and our finding showing they had lower grades and spent less time studying."

Milkround News, 20 April 2009

Nightlife (or endless sleepless nights)

I assume you are expecting to read a story about Birmingham clubs and Aston uni nightlife. Well, I am trying to show you a different view of the nightlife (as a friend of mine says: "What can you do man, as long as you're trying!").

After the open day last week I got a bit melancholic about leaving uni for a year. Most students say that the placement year is always amazing and uni is never missed. Well, we do not realise how amazing uni actually is. To get to the point, one of the things I will always miss is the sleeplessness.

SLEEPLESSNESS: a term describing the phenomenon of main building always having students strolling around the halls

But it is a general truth, there always ARE student awake and happy to study and explore the Internet at any time of the day. It is 22:41 and although it is Sunday, the labs a buzzing with people. You have "first row guy" checking the Aston Webmail, "loud girl" checking her Facebook and dealing with some complicated mathematical chart, "scrumpy" in the back trying to do work mumbling something about all the people making noise, "first row girl" writing an essay, "second row girl" watching a movie on YouTube, etc. No one seems to be tired and I bet that some of the people will have my early tutorial at nine tomorrow morning. As long as there is RedBull and Relentless no one is going to leave the room. Everyone will try to do as much of their planned task as they can. Talking about planned tasks I have a report to proof-read...

24 April 21:04 Afer the exam that as expected woucl have gone much, much better the student is blue and decisive to study harder next time. Yes, every student, always is! 

24 April 08:30  The now tired student s going to his exam. Of course one never knows the outcome but surely had revision been more thorough there may have been a better outcome from the "exercise".

24 April 00:45  After dinner and several drinks at the favourite Yardbird the tireless student is ready to start revision for tomorrow's exam. Of course studying all night is a habit and necessity by now! 

23 April 18:00 Head back to Birmingham

23 April 07:00 Go to New Street Station and catch train to Swindon to meet future placement colleagues and boss.

22 April 16:30 Head to work

22 April 15:00 Visit Dolche-Vita for a quick espresso.

22 April 14:00 Send-off lecture for all those who managed to find a placement.

22 April 11:57 After the first post-holiday day of lectures I need to start prepraring for the first exam (Friday 24 April). As usual the library is full!

21 Apr, 08:49 heading into a Finance lecture.

... catch up!

The sun has risen above Birmingham and the Summer has apparently come; and what does Summer mean? let me quote: "I ain't studyin'!" As much as every student want to start their revision, the temptation shining outside is luring us towards the lake and the centre.

This week we will follow a student's week in Aston and get a feeling of the Summer atmosphere!

Easter

Happy Easter everyone, well it was almost a week ago in here but, still, happy Easter. I am actually celebrating Easter tomorrow, since I am Greek Orthodox.

In the week to come, there will be a lot of events so keep checking :)

Ania's Graduation Story (pt.3.)

11am

After a string quartet played for most of the time we impatiently waited, an organ player cam on the stage and started playing the majestic instrument. At first both me and Irena were staring like little children at the organ player, magnified by the music. After ten minutes we were again bored out of our guts.

And suddenly the ceremony started. First we were asked to turn off our phones and use our cameras on non-flash mode. Then ceremonial music started and the university academia came out. First the lecturers, then the representatives of different schools and last the chancellor, and the vice chancellor sat on their corresponding seats.

Then everyone gave a speech and the ceremony started. Me and Irena were seating in awe mesmerized by the ceremony. (Then I spent some half an hour wondering how you spell awe.)

Every candidate was called, personally, on stage, greeted by the chancellor and applauded by the audience. After a good hour, Ania came on and we started screaming and cheering. She walked as fast as she could, greeted the chancellor and then hastily stepped off the stage. (Later, Ania told me that she was unbelievably nervous; she was not sure what exactly is going on; was surprised the chancellor actually talked to her; and was too nervous to talk back.)

Outside there was a group photo and then a procession towards uni. Once in uni we went to the party of the corresponding schoold, gave in the robe, and rushed home, already tired by the overwhelming day.

Ania's Graduation Story (pt.2.)

10 am

One we got to the Town Hall, Ania needed to collect our invitations and then we had to join the guests and she the graduands. Then the worst part of the day came. We sat in our seats I the Town Hall for about an hour. At one point I dosed off, shortly awakened by the kick of the little child behind me. Irena told me that evidently it is normally not allowed for children under seven to attend graduation ceremonies. I thought it was ridiculous but, as many times before, I was proven wrong. Anyway, there was quite a bit of kicking I got to enjoy. If Ania could only hear our complaining she would have never invited us.

Vlad: “No, seriously, I am going home! [..] I will fall asleep again! […]God, I understand now why you hate kids!”

Irena: “Seriously, I do not understand who let them get kids inside. On one hand it will not understand anything from the ceremony. One the other, it will not remember anything!”

Ania's Graduation Story (pt.1.)

31st March 2009
7 am

The alarm of my clock went on wakening up everyone in the room. The day of Ania’s graduation had come. We all go dressed as fast as possible; I shaved, the girls fixed on make-up and we left.

Fortunately, Ania had a schedule prepared and knew exactly when and what to do; first step was getting the graduation robe. Evidently, every different Aston University school has a different robe. The master programme from the School of Life and Social Sciences had a black and red robe prepared for the grduands.

One interesting fact I found out: once you graduate(i.e. pass exams or desertations) before the official ceremony you are called a GRADUAND; only after the ceremony you can call yourself a GRADUATE.

After taking the robe was time for us to head to the Town Hall. The uni always prepares busses for the graduands and their family’s but it is so much better having stroll down the town centre. Well, as we discovered, there is such a thrill from shoving your success into the other peoples’ faces. I was only one of the guests and walking next to Ania still made me feel amazing and hyper successful.

Graduation (pt.1)

Next week is my best friends graduation. Thus, I will follow the whole experience as closely as possible. I know that all prospective and current students are very, very interested in some of the different aspects, such as:

- How many people can you invite?
- Where is it going to take place?
- When is it going to take place?
- How glamorous is it?
- What happens at the reception?
- What happens at the actual ceremony?
- ... etc.

Well, we will finally get answers to those questions.

Yesterday, I asked some of my mates in uni if I should do the posts and they said "Do we know that we are actually going to get to the graduation ceremony?". Well, Whatever grade we have and whatever time it takes for us to graduate, as long as we are doing the work that is expected of us, we should be fine! So prepare yourself Aston, because soon there will be no unrevealed secrets and no mystique connected with the long awaited graduation ceremony!

Elections

Last year I did not cover the Aston Elections but this year I feel like I need to.

Let's face the truth, a student representative cannot really influence as much as we would like to. Yet, it is our only shot. For every different student there is a different important issue in uni. An international student may have different needs from a home student; may want different changes; may be concerned with different issues. For me the most important problem is the Education and Welfare and the VPEW is the most influential figure. This year I am supporting Rehana! I know that probably I should stay as partial as possible but in the end of the day it is "Vlad's Blog" and I am just saying my personal opinion.

What is important is that you vote! Every person who does not vote wastes his right! Today is the last day, so while you are having an hour to spare between the lectures, have a walk to the Student Guild or to the ground floor in the Main Building and put your personal vote for consideration.

Flu, pt.II

The second flu wave has hit Birmingham, why second? Let's rewind a bit...

Probably, you remember that I told you about the Fresher's Flu (one of the phenomena happening during fresher's week). To be accurate the reason for the Fresher's Flu is not only the excessive partying, students just don't want to let summer go. We are prepared to continue wearing our T-shirts in the cold and cling to the idea of summer as long as we can. But who want to let summer go? Probably no one, thus, we end up with a Flu wave in university.

The second flu wave can be connected with the question - who wants to wait for summer? Once the first sun ray hits the lake and stays there for more than half an hour we are ready to take off our clothes and pretend the summer has finally come. We would sin on the lake, play ball, even sunbathe! Last week Birmingham was one of the hottest points in Europe, the South East, North and Central Europe being covered in stow. And let me tell you, no one was planning on missing even a minute sitting at home. The lake has been raving with visitors all week, people ready to endure the cold just to capture a single sun ray and dream about the summer.

The result of course is Flu. Everyone I know, and probably everyone they know, and everyone they know know, and everyone they know know know (lol this may go on for a while) is SICK. They would either complain about a sore throat, or a runny nose, or a bad cough, or fatigue... The campus gets filled with sick people complaining and infecting each other! Of course in a week it will all be back to normal. We would all have spent the necessary time, money and thought trying to get better. Maybe a bit wiser and a bit summer-less we will continue with our daily routine.

I guess you can call this a pre-summer flu, the one that may infect you body but will not infect you dreams of an awesome summer!

G.I.G. (continued)

There could not have been a better moment to continue the gig post. Tonight the Aston Guild will be the host of an "Ultimate Bangra" Party with special guest - Punjabi MC! He is coming to Aston for a second consecutive year. To compare he has been to Bulgaria only once! Will tell you all about the night by the end of the week.

Now to go back to my original story line. John Legend was of course amazing on Saturday! The concert was in the Carling Academy. This meant cheaper tickets and an actual chance to see him up-close. We managed to even get behind the stage for a second (until security saw us). Katy Perry and The Prodigy will be visiting the Academy in the upcoming two months. Here are some photos from the concert! 

Who else but Beyonce is visiting Birmingham in May and I will be there to cover the concert for you!

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!