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!