Photo shoot (God, no!)

We have all had these weeks when sadly nothing extraordinary happens. The routine seems to be directing our every move making any story on the topic "how was your day?" as boring as a game of chess.

I was having one of these weeks and was struggling with finding anything interesting to blog about. And as I lost all hope I was unexpectedly dragged into something mildly interesting that I am going to now elaborate on until it sound awesome (or at least long) :)

I doubt there is anyone in Aston that has not heard of the new fancy library ground floor; different opening events have been going on all through the past week, including official ribbon cut yesterday. Of course, having a new library meant new photos for the prospectus and various presentations. That is why I was not surprised to see people being photographed (in a relaxed, smart but cool fashion) when I went into the library yesterday.

I wanted in to fill in a missing book form and request a new one to be bought by the library. Finishing this surprisingly short task, as I was leaving I bumped into a girl from my course that had just done the photo shoot. We started the ever so popular discussion on how hard our course is. (for the record Applied Econometrics is the hardest subject anyone has ever created!) Then the photographer from the photo shoot came and asked K. to go back in for an extra round. I said bye and was just about to see myself out when...

The photographer asked me to join K. for the last shots. "No, no, I was just leaving.", "Come on, it's going to take a minute and we might not even use the photos.", "OK."

So there I am, in the middle of the library with K. having a fake chat, not loosing eye-contact for what seems like ages with a massive camera in my face. All I am thinking is "Stay straight!", "Did you even look at your hair today?", "Are your glasses even clean?", "Does this look fake?". Being a pro at this, the calm K. was trying to continue our previous chat. Of course, this is never easy when the person you are chatting to is a sweaty-distracted-constant-eye-contact-some guy.

As the photographer did the last shot, he asked if we would like to have one regular photo as a 'memory'. Before I could even answer, K. had said "Yes.", the photographer was behind the camera again and I felt K.'s hand on what seemed like the sweatiest back ever. Gross, no?

Half listening to the library assistant I put my jacket on. She was explaining about the potential usage of the photos (prospectus, website, TVs in library, presentation). I still have not actually seen the aforementioned photos but I guess I will. Hopefully, the rest of the uni will not.

Bureaucratism

What world do we live with? This is probably one of the most frequently discussed questions in society. Through the years the answers vary - capitalism, communism, nationalism, fascism, neo-anything-ism, anyone's-name-with-an-ism-in-the-end-ism, etc.(and this is a very long etcetera). Here I will define a new ISM, the ISM that has been ever present in our society - Bureaucratism. Can you think of any advantages of bureaucracy? (if you can please do share, especially today, I cannot think of any)

The first time I met bureaucracy is when I was ten years old and my parents had to get me a new international passport (that is how they were called in Bulgaria back in the day). They filled pages and pages of forms just to get a little piece of paper with my name and picture on it. Had I known this is just the beginning of my relationship with bureaucracy, I would have emigrated to a deserted island.

This relationship of mine has been like an unhappy marriage, every time bureaucracy shows her face I get a headache, the headache that men get when they are getting a divorce and have no prenup. When I was applying for high school, university, health insurance, work permit, bank account, travel pass, tesco clubcard, boots clubcard, H&M clubcard (I could continue with the shops for a while), credit card, (god forbid) a loan, accommodation, or any other card or piece of paper in my wallet, I would have an intimate meeting with bureaucracy that would test all my skills and senses.

To get to the point in this most important of post, I would like to give the non-UK students in Aston an advice that could probably spare them my bureaucracy-caused wrinkles. When it is time for you to get a work-permit (or whatever the certificate is called) do NOT open any of the government websites. They have no useful information, whatsoever; call HM Revenue & Customs and ask all your questions on the phone (just prepare for a waiting time of approximately 3-5 minutes).

If you do not have the phone numbers, and you probably don't, just go to the Careers Office in uni. They are supposed to be our point of contact for problems and questions connected with work and placement. Unfortunately, I decided to tackle the problem myself and only three hours later (after spending most of the time in various government websites) did I have the form I needed to fill in. The Careers Office must have answered a thousand questions like mine and most certainly would have effortlessly given me the phone numbers that I ultimately found.

So, to sum up, bureaucracy sucks, government websites are useLESS, careers office is useFUL, calling institutions on the phone is most effective (though pricey).

Final Year Project: First Crisis Averted

As I was going to bed yesterday there was one little, long-forgotten thought that burst into my head and stung me like a bee - sh** I forgot to submit my final year project proposal. As I woke up, I decided I would do all that is in my power to fix the situation.

First, I had to print out and fill in the proposal form. Now that was a slight problem as I lost my student card this week. I was at the ISA desk at precisely 8:30, much to the surprise of the staff on duty. Apparently, before one gets a new card out, they need to go through the lost cards record. Well, my card was there! This sorted my first problem as now I could actually go into a computer lab to print out the form.

After printing and filling out the form, though, I had to take it to my supervisor to sign. I was so sure I would not find him before noon and I would miss the deadline. As I was hastily staggering toward the Economics and Strategy department, I came up with a "brilliant" plan. Was I to end up in a situation where I have no supervisor to sign my form, I would knock on every university staff door (if I have to) and ask them to sign my form. It was insane but it could just work.

This is where the dramatic end of my story is lost, as I actually did find my coursework supervisor having coffee in the communal area of the floor. He signed my form and calmed me down so now I am sitting in front of the coursework submission hub. Why am I sitting here waiting until 11:00 you may ask? I don't want to forget about submitting the bl**** form again!

Final Year Project

This year, for the first time so far, I had the opportunity to chose modules. Typically, my Economics &Management course is very structured in a way that we have set subjects that we need to take. So, for my final 20 credits I had the choice to either take two modules or write a 10,000 word coursework. I chose the coursework on the basis of my writing abilities and lack of such in accounting base subjects.

Well, so far my choice has proved extremely challenging. My first topic was unrealistic, considering the available public data. My second topic was too simple and quite obvious and was, more or less, rejected. Nevertheless, after my second attempt I sat down and decided it was time to evaluate my realistic options and ability. As a result, I chose a great final topic.

What was more important through this choosing process, though, was the incredible help I received from the Economics department. I have had the shortest possible e-mail response times and the most motivational advices. This is essentially what one needs to overcome the initial challenges.

Now, as I am at the beginning of the writing process I cannot help but be glad of the choice I have made. I know that it would be tough but I can feel it developing my skills already. Most expectedly, there will be more posts on the subject coming up.

Fire Alarms

Fire alarms have been an issue on campus since the beginning of existence. After having one two weeks in a row I am starting to think that this is indeed a big problem.

But, where do fire alarms come from?

Well, I am far from the idea that the fire alarms are Uni's fault. Big bad uni is to blame because it puts them on! No, I am sorry, but it is not the Uni's fault. The
real cause for the un-ending fire alarms are the various and plentiful "cooks" on campus. I have hears all kinds of stories about their adventures - setting sausages on fire is my personal favorite.

Almost every time when I walk into my kitchen there is an unsupervised pan overflowing on the stove or a pizza burning in the oven. The appropriate question would be, is it so hard to actually put a tiny piece of effort into the whole cooking ordeal? It isn't and the reason people don't care is because they are simply not hungry. If I put rice to boil and I really do want to eat rice, I would't ditch it for an hour in the kitchen - all day, every day!

The solution to the problem (there are three actually). First, obviously you can just watch your meal, or in other words, care about the fact that you are cooking/eating. Second, just do not cook, there is a perfectly well functioning food court in the main building and three discount pubs on campus. Last, and my personal favorite, just starve! OK, so starving isn't a good idea but I think options one and two are plenty (let's also not forget the £1 baguette shop down the street).

The advantage for the "cooks" is that they will escape those horrible fines for setting a fire alarm on. If you think about your cash-flow statement, this one major expense is more than any money you could save by not eating in the food court throughout the year.

So, together we can stop the fire alarms forever and sleep peacefully, all we need is a little common sense.

Back to Company X

I was sitting in my overfilled with stuff room yesterday, reading one of the Bulgarian classics - Tiutiun (Tabacco) when my phone rang. Company X's staffing representative was calling from an unrecognized number to ask me the question that every final year student is waiting for. As a result shall be back in the smaller of towns - Swindon - in August. I have a feeling this would be a great experience!

As we used to say in Company X - Yes, going back!

E-books

After a rookie mistake (put a wrong entry in my outlook calendar) I am currently in the main building downloading my textbooks onto my computer.

The library has gotten so much better now that I don't even need to go there. Apparently, except one, all my textbooks have been uploaded as e-books onto the library catalogue. For me, this means the end of the textbook reservations and the end of chest pain in the beginning of each term. (I get chest pain when paying for some of these greatly overpriced textbooks of ours.)

There is a little catch with the e-books, though, you can only print or save ten pages at a time, so right now my computer is full of P_1-10, P_11-20, etc. files. Nevertheless, this will not stop me from using only (or mostly) the e-books as the year progresses.

Aston Exchange

Apparently the Aston Free Marketplace is not as popular as it was back in the day. I sold all my textbooks from my first and second year through the free website designed to help students exchange textbooks without the amazon and e-bay fees. Check it out at:

http://astonexchange.co.uk/

Placement Essay (Results are out!)

The Placement Essay has brought me so many troubles it is actually ridiculous. After spending so much time writing it, making a mistake submitting it, now I had problems receiving my mark.

Apparently, essays were marked in the beginning of the Summer and results were sent out in August. To make things more interesting my results got lost by the greatly "talented" Bulgarian Postal Services. So there I am in my kitchen, catching up with my flatmate when the question, "so, how much did you get on the essay?" puts me in a most bewildered state. See, I had no way of knowing that the postman was talking on the phone, planning his night out, when he was delivering my letter to the wrong address (hope he had a nice time, though).

I ran off to the Placement office and asked for my results to be re-printed. This time I would pick the letter up myself. On the next day, I am sitting and waiting for my letter... then opening the letter... then (i remember) seeing one sole thing on the whole page... 39.95%...

Yes, this is essentially the lowest you can get to pass but come on. I enjoyed my placement so much and this did not reflect any of my experience. However, under placement on my diploma it would say 39-point-bloody-95. I was not going to leave things there; e-mailed the tutor immediately and asked her to meet me as soon as she can.

On the next day I am sitting in a meeting room in front of the undergraduate office and hearing: "So, I liked your essay, I hope you like your mark. How did the placement go?". WHAT THE FLIP (guys I was not thinking flip). I only had strength to give my tutor the letter I received the previous day. She started laughing and said, "Wait here."; came back with a similar letter 3 minutes later, this time the letter read - 60%. "There must have been a mistake in the system. They could not explain it."

It took me about a minute so assimilate the new situation after spending two days cursing the unfairness of the world we live in. Then I had a nice chat with the tutor about how much I enjoyed the placement and how much I miss being there,.

The Beginning of The Eng

My final year has officially started with my first two lectures this morning. It is a very different experience going back to studying after having had a proper job for a year. The confidence I gained while on placement has totally changed the way I interact with the lecturers. I feel at ease participating in the discussions and as a whole appreciative of the lecturers taking the time to teach me.

Looking back at my first two year I have been late, unprepared and, well, asleep. This year is a new chapter in my uni experience. True, the lecture rooms, the lecturers and the class have not changed, but my attitude has.

This better not be one of them standard student self-motivation talks in the beginning of the new course. Let's see how the rest of this week goes...

God, it's good to be back in uni. This time around I had a goodie bag waiting for me in my amazing lakeside room!

I am currently waiting at Sofia airport for my flight to Birmingham to depart for the very last time. The years I have spent at Aston now seem to have gone by as fleeting as a roller coaster ride. A ride that has changed my life completely. For everyone who has (or even the people who haven't) missed the first three or so years of this blog, this post is all you need to know.

THE COUNTDOWN TO YEAR 4

5. 27 Sep 2002

I was a scared little (or not so little) boy sitting in the back of the class in Sofia's oldest English High School. I was utterly confused by the crazy red haired teacher shouting at me from the other end of the classroom for not knowing how to spell "city". The whole concept of the English language, culture and country was something so foreign and eerie that I could not get my head around it. Still, I had to write "city" 50 times as a punishment for my mistake (this word will be stuck to my head for eternity).

4. 27 Sep 2006

I had spent the Summer trying to make my mind up as to where I want to go to uni. Finally, in September it was clear that I will be going abroad. I spent the 27th trying to find the red haired screaming teacher (from above) and see if she would tutor me. (writing and deleting the rest of this paragraph after deciding it is to over-dramatic)

3. 27 Sep 2007

I was sitting in my Dalton Tower room, putting the last of my stuff in place. I was having the best time of my life. I had arrived in Aston, had met the most amazing people and had discovered what it is to party in the UK.

2. 27 Sep 2008

I was walking towards the Aston Students Guild, and although it was almost midnight I knew the night was still young. I had no idea I would meet life-changing people and spend the rest of Fresher's week running to the Aston campus after work.

1. 27 Sep 2009

Waking up at my usual 7 o'clock I was getting ready to run to the Swindon Flemming Way bus stop. I would have a short gym sesh before going to work. This placement year routine had become second nature to me. I felt like I had lived in Swindon and worked for Intel forever. Had I known I would be crying like a little b**** after leaving.

So, there you go people, I am now a 21-year-old, final year student on his way to return to uni. This year is bound to be the pinnacle of my life-experience so far (or at least I hope so).

Summer Post #2 (Placement Year Feedback)

This is the moment of truth people. Every student on a placement receives feedback on his performance in the end of the year. Today is the time when I found out whether I have done a good job. I am not sat in a meeting room in company "X" waiting for my manager to come in.

Maestro, countdown sound please!

Summer Post #1

The Summer's on but there shall be no break for the Aston students starting their placement in the upcoming weeks. I will be welcoming the new students in company X on Monday. There will be a lot of experience share, advices and training I suppose. We shall have our one little Aston camp!

Astonbury 2010 (Photos)

Here are some of the many photos from Astonbury 2010. I noticed the guild team still have not put theirs on so this is kind of the only source ATM.

The Hoosiers

Mr Hudson

Me and me mates just before getting drenched.

Astonbury (Recap)

Let me start by apologizing for my drunk blogging yesterday. The atmosphere was just overwhelming! In summary the two acts I saw - The Hoosiers and Mr Hudson were spot on! I missed some of the other acts either due to rain or to queues.

The longest queues were definitely in Einies where there were about ten bar staff that were being pressed by the alcohol thirsty mob! Still, I have to say that having mind the ratio bartender to student/customer was much in the latter's advantage I was served quite quickly each time. The food this year was yet again spot on. My mate reportedly had six burgers in the time we spent on the festival site.

The stage was more or less the same as last year. It still seemed quite impressive in the evening. Having in mind we were not on the lake but in front of the guild I expected many problems with space-less-ness and fountain-diving. None such occurred. One of the highlights of the evening was the closing DJ set that really got the blood pumping!

In the end there is nothing more to say than good work Aston Guild (but please make it on the lake next time).

Astonbury (last but one)

The rain can never stop the power! We fired off with The Hoosiers and now we are jamming on a Fugees mix while waiting fir Roll Deep. It does not get better than this! A special shout out to the crew Nasko, Kara, Emi, Sasho & Charlene! God and all Goddesses bless Aston!

Astonbury (continued)

... and then the rains came to try and ruin the party :(

EOY Recap (continued)

As of today the final weekend of academic year 2009/2010 is upon us. Are you ready to party Aston Uni style?

EOY Recap (continued)

I have now spent one week back at good old Aston. There have been so many overwhelming changes on campus.

For starters the gigantic new accommodation looks done. It has been spread across zones that used to be unused thus creating this massive space that I can already see as the best place to chill out in the summer, on the grass, with your mates and some water guns. Well, Dalton and Lawrence will have to get knocked down first but that is life I guess; although Dalton does still hold much sentimental value, I would love to see what will be done with the newly freed space.

There is also this amazing new food court that just lured me in. After getting lost in it I was drawn to the Asian food bar partly by hunger and partly by curiosity. I spent every consecutive morning getting a strawberry, apple and banana smoothy. I can already envision next year as being the year of the smoothy!

When I was starting this post I was thinking - uni is indeed an ever evolving organism; whether the changes will come from new students, staff or simply renovations, there is always some developments to get your head around.

Moving-In//Moving-Out (Warehouse)

Finally the first part of my moving adventures is over. After going to the Black Eyed Peas at the NEC (God bless Birmingham for its venues!) I stayed with my mates on campus and packed up some of my gathered clutter and put it in the Aston Storage facility. This has been the biggest bargain of 2010 for me.

The storage for the whole summer was 30 pounds for four massive boxes or whatever other items that one wants to bring. The moment I was sure of the price (word of mouth because I did not actually read the e-mail I received - oops) I hurried to the finance office and sweatily ordered myself a four box voucher. Then I went back to my mate's and we started eagerly packing. After about two days of postponing and one day of packing I was back at the storage room awaiting my trolley. The one I received was the standard massive cage that we managed to fill over the brim. Let me tell you pushing this trolley was like dragging a cart full of stones; every piece of uneven tiling was like a small Everest, every little rock was like the grand canyon. I just think that the creators of the trolley did not mean for it to carry every single belonging for two shopaholics.

Anyway in the we got to the storage room alright (pushing the trolley through main building's halls was one of the funniest experiences I have ever had). We signed up the boxes, tagged them and they were taken in. Now all I need to do is not lose my receipt (although I assume that even if I do they have my student number so nothing can go wrong).

EOY Recap

As the last bank holiday till August is upon us with a promise of parties and rest for all placement students, back in Aston it is the last exam week. The library is full with students on the verge of insanity eagerly preparing for their last exams. As my second year mates say, "the last exam is the hardest one". I think this has to do not only with the subject of the exam but also with the summer utopia that everyone who finished their exams already have created; it has to do with the end-of-year parties that the student guild has organised; it has to do with the buzz around the lake that seems endless throughout the hot months; and, of course, it has to do with the moving out preparations that everyone is struggling with...

Unfortunately, doing my internship has isolated me from the whole experience that is the end-of-year. But not one can stay away from Aston for too long. That is why on Tuesday I am off to join the Aston crowd in a week of celebration of the last exam. More to be reported soon.

EOY - end of year

Astonbury 2010 (tickets)

For everyone who could not go to the guild and queue tickets are sold online here: http://www.astonguild.org.uk/astonbury/events/index.php?page=event&event_id=457683

Astonbury 2010 (lineup)

Here is the announced lineup for the event:

Mr. Hudson
Roll Deep
The Hoosiers
Gracious K
Portlan
Sick City Club
Heroica
The After Hours
Kredz
Wildkatz
Bhangra Society
Essence
SPD
And many more!

Astonbury 2010 (update)

Tickets will be on sale tomorrow in the guild!

Online sale will be available for everyone who could not make it later this week.

More updates are to come. The pull-in of the dates is great, though.

Astonbury 2010

It is end of year time again but it is not just exams coming up. The biggest party fling is upon us - Astonbury. Tickets for Astonbury will be sold online from the 31st May. The event itself will take place on the 13th of June after all exams have been done with.

Aston is year on year voted one of the best university from a student social life perspective. The student guild execs make sure every year there are numerous massive parties with famous performers. This 24 hr even will combine the whole year into one.

Last year we had all upcoming artists in Aston, including Daneo, Taio Cruz, The Futureheads, Guru Josh Project, Chipmunk and more. Who will be performing this year, some top secret info is on its way.

The Countdown to Destruction

It is official people, the D&L towers are going down. The current announced date is 8th May 2011. I present to you The Countdown to Destruction!

GRADUATE EMPLOYERS TOLD TO SCRAP 2.1 MINIMUM

While in my second year I spent some time interviewing final year Aston students on their expectations and decisions for the future. The majority were, of course, worried about finding a job after graduating. Always being a hot topic, here is an article on graduate hiring that I just got my hands on.

A poll of more than 600 students and graduates by Milkround.com found 58 percent want graduate employers to scrap this minimum requirement where it is used.

They want recruiters to understand job suitability cannot be judged solely on degree classification.

Many graduate employers use a 2.1 degree as a benchmark for their recruitment: unless candidates have or are expecting a 2.1 degree they won’t even be considered for a role if they have desirable skills such as relevant experience.

When submitting applications online, 2.2 and third class degree graduates will often be rejected after an initial batch of screening questions, preventing them from giving evidence of their potential employability beyond academic achievement.

Commenting on 2.1 minimum requirements, one respondent said: "The achievement of a 2.1 is arbitrary in terms of grading as some institutions award marks much more liberally than others."

Another added: "There should be a substitute for people who did not achieve a minimum 2.1, such as a strong extra-curricular background or likewise."

Eva Malecki, Graduate Recruitment Manager at Centrica, said: "We do not have a 2:1 cut-off as we believe that accepting applications from graduates with a 2:2 or above will enable us to attract and assess a larger, more diverse graduate pool, especially as the value of a degree classification can vary from one institution to another. To secure the best talent for our business, we look beyond a degree classification; job history, activities and interests outside of university and competency based examples are just as important to show us that an applicant has skills beyond their degree."

However, among the 42 percent who think the 2.1 minimum requirement should not be scrapped, one said: "If the minimum requirement is scrapped students won't try so hard and become lazy knowing that getting a graduate job won't be as competitive. This is a waste of taxpayer's money and a decision which would punish those who work hard to achieve success.” Another added: “Even if you get a 2:2 for your first degree and that you're not qualified for applying for most big organisations, this is not the end of the world: it just means that you have to stay strong and put in extra effort."

Milkround.com spokesperson Mike Barnard said: "Graduates who don’t have a 2.1 degree will always be frustrated by its appearance as a minimum requirement, but recruiters are facing far more applications than ever before as the demand for jobs is high: a 2.1 minimum is a simple way to cut applications down, save time and get a highly academic candidate.

"However, any recruiter who enforces their 2.1 minimum risks missing out on non-academic talents that could be vital to a role but not associated with the level it says they achieved on their degree certificate. No institution is the same so it’s also important recruiters understand a 2.1 degree from one university may not be comparable to a 2.1 degree from another."

Milkround News, 28 April 2010

Internship Recap

It is without any further notice that I have just been reminded that in precisely 100 days my placement will be over. It has definitely bee one of the best experiences I have ever had. Thinking back on it now I didn't even plant to go on a placement in the first place; I decided to change my course after freshmen year. I would have lost on so many experiences and adventures. As much as I have developed as a person in high school and university, this year "in the industry" (to quote the Aston placement newsletters) has thought me everything about real-life business experience that I could possibly want. Before I would have studied so many aspects of my current job but would hesitate to call in a conference call (or any call for that matter), now it is a tiny part of my daily routine. What is most valuable, though, is the look into my strengths and weaknesses that I got through the feedback my colleagues and managers gave me. When you receive a low grade in uni there is always someone to blame it on but when you are told "hey, this part of your job has to improve" the ball is strictly in your field. Similarly, a high grade is often regarded as luck but there is nothing lucky about securing a million dollar deal and hearing a "good job" from your colleagues. It is this type of comments, advices and help that will make me miss all the people I am currently working with. What is more the way I have been accepted in into the society has been amazing. I have rarely had a party-less week. When I leave the company doors in three months I will feel like I am not just leaving a job but that I am leaving friends behind.

Moving-In//Moving-Out (definitely moving in)

Could I BE more absent minded and absorbed in daily routine?

As usual I totally forgot to keep checking my status for the Lakeside Application. God, I have been wanting to live there for three years now. Well, I was saved by the bell, or more specifically by an Aston accommodation offices who kindly reminded me that I am yet again late with a deadline. Just picture me sitting on a kitchen table at 1 o'clock in the morning, just coming home from a leaving due, sweating in front of my laptop screen having read this angel-of-a-lady's email. Yes, quickly remembering all my credentials to log in and, yes, without a glimpse of a thought paying the deposit as if saying to the accommodation office - "too late to decline me now!".

Well, for what is worth I got the Lakeside room and could not be happier. The only "moving" problem now is transporting all my stuff from Swindon to Birmingham. I guess you should be expecting a post about the warehouse services of the uni :P

Placement Essay (Finito)

I can finally say that the placement essay is done with and submitted. It was a hard week doing the final touches. The writing of the essay actually took just as much as the revising and editing since there were so many guidelines I had to follow; special covers, abstract, references, content, graphs, tables... it was a nightmare. Especially, since I totally underestimated the time it would take me to make the essay into a final product that can be submitted. Anyway, I managed to submitted by post on time and it was all fine. One tiny detail, however, skipped my mind (and I am saying tiny but it was of utter most importance) - the essay had to be submitted online. Silly me, of course, got absorbed with work and friends, and planning my holiday that I totally forgot that this was due at all. Partly, I think I was so satisfied how I had finished so much earlier than my mates that I stopped thinking about uni work whatsoever.

So, I was sitting on my desk having my quick lunch before I run to gym when the light bub came on and I realized how foolish I had been. Luckily for me I had a copy of the essay on my work laptop so I just uploaded it (20 minutes past deadline). Then I panicked; all that hard work, for nothing! I quickly called the coursework office and being lunchtime no one answered. A soothing sun ray, however, arrived in the form of a confirmation letter in just a few days. Yet again, I had been prepared to pack my bags, go back home and work in M&S until the rest on my life. But Aston works in mysterious ways. I think what I am most often forgetting is that one the other side of the phone there is an actual human being and they do listen to my voice mail apology. What is more, it is high time I understood that my lecturers, tutors and all the staff at uni are just there to help me. Now all that is left is for that bloody essay to live up to its potential. I hope I've done well enough. Results to be revealed in a couple of months.

Placement Essay (Crisis Averted)

This weekend I finally managed to finish the introduction for my essay. I have made an action plan and now all I need to do is follow the steps and continue writing. I have given myself a deadline of EOM (end of month).

Step one of my action plan is interview employees of Company X on essay topic. Until now everyone has been really helpful so this should be easy enough. I guess this is kind of similar to the interviews I did for The Times 100 Recruiters. At least I will finally have an answer to a question that has been wobbling my head - can you get any useful information from a non-written source?

Bonus, Bonus, Bonus !!!

Placement year is just awesome. I just found out there is another bonus coming up. When I was applying for the placement, I though: "Hugh will pay the bills" but wow I have been paying much more. I have already had three bonuses since I Started work and there are rumours of a third. I am just so impressed how students are taken so seriously and treated as full-time employees. Should keep working hard and get even more (so greedy already).

Placement Essay (Crisis, Crisis!)

My netbook broke down last week and with it all my research is gone for good. Two moths of work are now stuck in an UN-bootable device and as the computer company support people said "there is no guarantee that any of [my] data will survive". As you can imagine been the ignorant positivist that I am, I have not backed up any of the data. It is just sensible that we come to...

TIP NUMBER 11 FOR ASTON (PROSPECTIVE) STUDENTS: Backup all your data!

Coming back to my story. I was doing a recap and action plan of what to do next. First, I have mentioned most of the research in the proposal that I handed in to my tutor and the placement office, that still ought to be in my sent files. Then, I can just start having fun with the most amazing Aston tool ever - the e-library. This has saved me so many times now that I should say: "God bless the kind people from the Library services for creating the e-library!"

The e-library is an add-in to our online uni account that let us access journals, essays, etc. 24-7 no matter where we are in the world. In basic terms the site is like a search engine with all a student needs (especially one that needs to do coursework research).

So I guess this week will be my week of research fun. One of the best thing about Company X is that the let me do uni work while on the job so I can just book one hour in my calendar each they and spend it in the "library". Of course, I will keep you posted.

Moving-In//Moving-Out (continued)

I have completed my application for the uni accomodation for the final 2010-2011 year. Everything seems to have changed already since I started attending Aston. The towers will be gone by the time I graduate and last week I could only apply for Lakeside and Stafford. What is most interesting, though, is that the new dorms will be opened for first tennants. Living in only a five bedroom flat in an en-suit room will change uni experience entirely. A part of me misses the old times when we had to queue for the bathroom in Dalton and when we used to crowd in the kitchen. It looks like the final year will be a totally different experience (a quite posh'er one for sure).

One thing has not changed, though - when you apply for the uni dorms you can just select your preferences but may not be allocated in your first choice. This saves the excitement so familiar from the first year and brings me back to when I was pre-UK'ish. Anywho, I have to get back to work since, even though I am alowed to allocate time for university related matters in the office, I do not want to exploit company resources too much.

Moving-In//Moving-Out

In every student's life there comes a time of the year (and I mean every year) when he/she has to move to a new flat. This is inevitable and here are the reasons why:

• if you live in dorms the first year of uni you need to move out the second (0nly first, final and international students are allowed to live in the dorms)
• if you go on a placement or exchange (and most students do) you will need to move, again, to the town (and/or country) you are going to work/study at
• when you go back to uni in the last year you are bound to not leave on the streets

Thus, my tail begins. For the past three years I have been moving every summer and applying for new flats every February. The first year it was Dalton. (Good old Dalton will be torn down sooner or later so thank God I have photos of it to remember it by.) The second year it was Aston Brook Green (My impeccably dirty house was the coldest place on earth.) This year my Swindon flat in Gordon Gardens. (Finally some comfort and heat.)

So, as you may have already guessed now I need to decide and apply for a new apartment. The more I think about it the more I see that living at uni just seems to be the best offer there is. So, Aston Accommodation office my application is on the way.

Top 20 Placement Companies

Here is something useful for all students applying for or wanting to go on placement. The top 20 Employers for 2010 were determined yesterday. Here I give you the top 10 with ratings:

1. Microsoft 8.35
2. Grant Thornton 8.20
3. BDO 8.19
4. KPMG 8.09
5. Intel 7.96
6. PWC 791
7. BAE 7.91
8. Morgan Stanley 7.87
9. BAE Systems 7.80
10. Pinsent Masons 7.76

It is great that Aston has connections with most (if not all) of those employers. I have friends working in almost all of the top 20 companies. You can see the full list by following the link below:

http://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/articles/top-20-employers/

Placement Essay (The Proposal)

After a lot of time loss and inefficiency I have managed to spend the time since New Years in writing my Placement Essay proposal, that I handed in last week. Actually (I know it sound fallacious) I have had so much fun writing the proposal. I think that maybe it is the working nine till five routine that has got me missing uni and writing the proposal I felt like I was back in Dalton again trying to finish one of the economics courseworks.

What is to follow now is writing the actual essay and although I have already done all the research there is one last thing I need to take care of - the interviews. As an option for the essay research I can take interviews with employees of company "X"that are connected or working in the field/problem I am writing about. This out to be fun, I mean, I enjoyed the last interviewing job I had so much last year. So, the placement essay adventures must continue...

Working From Home

Our modern world allows us to have a special kind of a working day best known as working from home. Here is how the day starts:

08:03 - Trying to get the wireless on my work laptop to work

08:38 - Wireless finally on, now need to connect to company network

08:42 - Computer not working at all - restarting...

08:51 - Finally connected to work network

...let the working from home start!

... i have managed to read through some of the material. Concentrating has been so hard with all the distractions around me. Anyway, tomorrow is the only day that I will be working from home. More on working from home tomorrow.

... two days later I haven't done much :(

Placement Essay (The Tale Begins)

Beware! The long lost son has returned...

I am now back in Bulgaria having my winter holiday and it would have been weird had was I not doing uni work, yet again. For the past three years I have not had a winter holiday in which I can just sit back, relax and enjoy the winter as I used to do before.

Anyway I should leave those ignorant thoughts behind me. The bright side is that I keep, even while working nine-till-five, diving into the well of knowledge that is the Aston online library (or the e-library). I have spent my day reading (and falling asleep while reading) different articles written by known and unknown scientists. I hope that by Christmas I at least have a vision of my placement essay. The problem is that there are so many topics and so many directions (or chemin as the French say) that I can develop my thoughts in.

So, let's trace how far I can get in one week...

... my final two choices; i wonder which one is better; should i add name tags?

...very unsuccessful first attempt

ww46: Charity Calendar

Today I am not going to be writing a long post because I have concentrated all my attention to Photoshop. I am working on the month February from the Charity Intern Calendar. Expect the end result this weekend :)

WW45: Networking

What I was told from the very first step I made in company X is that I need to develop a network; that is a healthy relationship with various different employees. It is presumed that the wider the network the better. Of course, the corporate logic behind this is that the better the employees know each other, the easier and faster they will work with one another.

Well, this "networking" has turned out to be the funnest most natural thing ever. Basically, what I am asked to do is make friends and be nice to people. There are of course tools to help me - I can set up private meetings with anyone I want, called 1:1 (one on one); I can shadow someone for a day (that is sit with her for a day to see what her job roles is all about); I can do various team building events and trainings, etc.

To be honest, at first I found it a bit awkward, I was meeting people I barely knew and expected (from myself) to talk with them as if we were old time buddies. Every time I had a 1:1 I would apologize and say how sorry I am for losing their time. Every time that is, until my one on one with L.H.. She told me that the most important mistake that I am making is apologizing. She said that I need to be confident and try to squeeze as much as I can from this placement, try to focus not only on my job but also on myself.

I am a bit of a workaholic, always have, so I did not follow L's advise fully. However, I did start approaching people confidently, with a sense of comfort. Now I know that at first all I had was the "new-kid-in-class" syndrome. It is perfectly natural for a person to be nervous when put in a new environment, surrounded by strangers. So to all your future placement students, when you go to your company X, do not hesitate to explore - meet new people, get involved in different projects and activities. What I can say about my placement so far is: "pa-ra-pa-pa-pa I'm lovin' it!"

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!