It is driving me nuts not having the internet, seriously. I was all ready to write big emails to both my parents, check my emails, check my facebook, update my blog etc etc etc, then I discover that the TV lounge where I can get free internet access closes at 10pm so I had to leave. Just to make this clear, I am writing this on word on the 29th September at 11pm, and have pasted this into blogger.
My last entry was very rushed, all my flatmates and a few others were sitting behind me and I just wanted to write it really fast and get back to what I was doing. Today I have more time, as I have decided not to go out. This is me being anti-social, but also doing something to make myself happy. I have not really enjoyed the last couple of evening events, mainly because I don’t drink, and make no apologies for it. I wouldn’t say I’m completely tee-total as I perhaps have one drink every three or four months, but coming to an environment where drink is the main feature for the week was a bit too much. However, I don’t think I’m loosing out on any friends doing this, my flatmates completely understand, and anyone they’ve met over the past two nights haven’t remembered them in the morning so what was the point? If you enjoy nightclubs and stuff then that’s fine, that’s a good time for you, but a good time for me in the evening is just chilling out, because I’ve usually done a lot of stuff in the day and it’s not a good plan to burn the candle at both ends, better to pace yourself, particularly as this is just the first week of uni, we’ve still got a whole term to go before we can have a break yet!!
Last night was quite fun though, I’ll admit. Our Auntie (the 2nd/final years who are there to help you out at Aston) took us up to one of their friends flats, who were having a party. This party just happened to be on a final year floor, and boy to they know how to drink and play games and have some fun. I really really did not want to drink a)what they were drinking b) the amounts they were drinking, particularly as a forfeit when someone lost the game, so I had to make really really sure I didn’t lose so that I wouldn’t have to drink, but seeing as I was sober these games weren’t really hard haha. Then we went to the guild but I didn’t stay long atall and came back and had an early night. Been quite a two days last weekend so I felt that an early night would really do me good.
Then, at about 2:45 there is SO much noise on our floor I was a bit like unfghh what is that. Turns out it was the people who lived on our floor last year coming to pay a visit. I personally didn’t get out of bed, but they stayed until 3:30am or so, but looking back on it I think it’s quite funny, I wasn’t quite sure last night!
I’m actually quite impressed with my room at Aston. Despite the fact that I had no water last night and this morning, and my wardrobe is now hanging off it’s hinges but won’t open fully, it’s actually an alright room. It’s more spacious than I thought it was, and there is plenty of room for all my stuff, and feels nice and bright. There are still a few things I need to get for it, such as a throw for one of the chairs that looks like one of those chairs you would get in a hospital/nursing home, but in a few weeks it’ll look seriously good!
I had one of the girls I’d met over to my flat today whilst we waited for enrolment, as they turned us away at our allotted time because they were too busy. We chatted and stuff, and that was nice, then we went back to enroll, and it took about two hours to get to a guy sitting infront of a computer just to say “so there’s no capital A in your surname?” “no” “ok, pick up your card tomorrow from room blah blah” Rar more waiting tomorrow then! I also need to register for the medical centre, as well as having a welcome talk at 9am tomorrow and then going bowling at 12:30. Such a busy week!
Overall, I am having a brilliant time at Aston so far. We’ve had various Auntys and people coming to visit our floor and they are always very nice and helpful. The only thing that was bothering me slightly was the drinking, but I’ve also realised there is hundreds of other things to do, they are just not necessarily being the most heavily advertised. I am praying that we don’t have a fire alarm tonight though, so far we have been very very lucky, our Aunty told us she had one on her first night in Stafford, and I was dreading going out in the cold for over 2 hours apparently. I have to make sure there is jeans and a hoody next to my bed so that when it does go off, I am atleast prepared and a little warmer!
I arrived at Aston yesterday, with, for the first time in my life, comparatively little stuff. It all fitted in the car nicely, and my mum and I had a nice trip up there. We got there, got my keys from the stafford TV lounge (where I am now as I don't have internet at Aston) and then went and visited my room. I was all ready for it to be a awful, but really it wasn't that bad. I went and took all my stuff up (with the aunties help!) whilst my mum sorted my room, which was a massive help as it meant that I didnt have loads to unpack this morning when I wanted to be out meeting new people.
I went and did my last shop with my mum, and then thankfully Lidge (one of my friends at Aston who went to my old school) called me to tell me to get my fresher wristband ASAP, thank goodness I did as the queue outside the Guild was HUGE! Unfortunately this meant a bit of a rushed goodbye with my mum, but I spose there wasn't a lot to do except for hug each other (and cry!)
When i got back from getting my wristbands, some of my flatemates were in the kitchen, so I went in there and we had a good chat, two of them don't live in Stafford though. We all went over to this girl's flat (Emily) for dinner, her mum had made her a HUGE lasagne so we all had giant homemade lasagne and everyone felt like it was going to be alright.
Later we went to the guild for the first event of the week, but I didn't stay too long as I was so so so tired and it wasn't all my scene. But today I got my tickets to go to cadbury world and to go bowling, which should be fun, as well as a great opportunity to meet new people
So yes, I'm having fun. I feel like I've met some cool people already, and although everything takes a while to get used to, everyone is friendly and I know that I will get used to it.
I'll post some pics of my room etc later, my flat wants to make dinner :)
Everything is finally getting real now, with only 4 days to go!
I have finally, apart from ONE thing, bought everything I need. I can safely say that there is no chance of me blowing my loan on shopping because I NEVER want to go again! I've been shopping almost every day for the past 2 weeks, and it's definitely become tiresome 
I've started to pack a few things at, my room looks like a bombs hit it, but as I keep reminding everyone, it will be gone on Saturday along with myself! All my worldy possessions into these boxes, definitely don't know how it will fit a) in the car b) in my room, which is quite small.
I've finally had everything through (the post rarely comes these days 
) like my fresher pack, with my fresher ID card. I'd already seen the events on the Guild website but it was nice to have it all in shiny book format! I'm very excited for the events, particularly the beach party (despite the cold weather!) I think I'm going to buy the wristband for all the events for the week, saves the hassle of having to keep buying tickets. I quite like the look of the daytime events, which include a trip to Cadbury's World 
which I haven't been to since I was about 6, on the hottest day of the year, when all the chocolate had melted haha.
I actually cannot deal with the amount of ironing needed! I have considered taking my huge pile of clothes to a professional ironer it is that bad! But needs must! Don't want to have to waste my time ironing when I'm actually there
It's really cool how many more people have said they want to start blogging, obviously onto something here! I wonder how blogging during freshers is actually going to work out though, we'll see but I will definitely update as much as possible
I'm leaving for Aston in 8 days, but most people at others unis are leaving tomorrow (boo hoo) so I have to endure a week of endless facebook statuses and albums about how much of a good time they are having during freshers.
I had my school prize giving last night, it was so weird to be back there and to see everyone lower down the school in their new uniforms. So much has changed there in what, 10 weeks?! Anyway, I won the snazzy Business prize, and got a trophy:
The speeches given were all very positive about our futures, and it did kind of make me think how much everything is about to change, and what I'm leaving behind by leaving school. But then again, I can't wait to meet all these new people and build up new things, so maybe it's not so much loosing as trading.
I haven't even considered packing yet, and I need to do loads of bits and bobs still. Oh well, all in good time! Maybe it's a good thing I'm not leaving tomorrow...
I decided it was probably about time that I wrote my first blog, and what better way to do so than write about my trip to Birmingham yesterday.
I think quite a few people have gone to visit Birmingham since they've had their offer confirmed, and I definitely think it's a good idea just to have a wonder round without worrying that you're supposed to be somewhere an hour ago and you still can't find where you're supposed to be.
I went with one of my fellow Astoners, and we started off having a quick nosy around one side of one floor of the Bullring (more on that later!) before coming out and making our way to the Aston campus completely map free! We spotted the towers and lakeside, so followed them and we didn't go far wrong.
We went up to the towers... and we were looking at Stafford so we thought we'd look inside.. it was open. But then we felt a bit awkward because someone from the office was watching us so we hastily left.
At this point we decided we were starving, so we found our way to a bullring map, and had a look at what to offer. We picked Nandos (despite the fact I'd been there the day before hehe). We decided that in 4 years we should come back and sit and the same table (although it was pretty cold by the door) and reminisce about our time at Aston :p We probably outstayed our welcome, and drank many many many free refills, and so we decided we should have a wander round for a bit longer.
So we walked through the East Wing, the West Wing and every other wing of the Bullring, going into the shops which looked interesting (the entertainer, I need a builders hat for one of the events during freshers, the ELC, same reason, and Selfridges obviously because it looks cool:
There is literally three of every shop in Birmingham, and treble that for Starbucks. It's fantastic actually. They also have more shopping centres than I care to put a number on. Some are really run down (the Pallasades!) some of the others, like the Pavilions were very quiet but looked almost brand new.
We wanted to find Broad Street. We were armed with not just 1, but two maps, plus the street maps and sign posts, and we walked, and we walked and we walked and eventually we suddenly realised we were there. So we walked up Broad Street for a bit, which took us almost out of Birmingham, and we deicded to come back, so we followed road signs until we finally made it back. We must've walked for two hours straight and decided that our legs could not walk anymore, so we went and found a Starbucks (not hard to do) and had a nice sit down! Too bad their new 'Vivando' drink sucks. But I couldn't complain too much, my feet were too grateful for the rest.
SO finally we decided to get the train home and leave. And it was one of those brilliant times where you look on the board and see the train is coming in 7 minutes; not so soon you have to run, but not so long you have to wait for hours. On the way back though.
Overall, brilliant day. It really hit me actually that I'm actually going to be moving to Birmingham! That the Bullring will be my local shopping centre! It's all very exciting, and I can't even say I'm particularly nervous :D
Long long post, don't worry, there won't be anything this exciting until freshers week now 
Labels: Aston Uni, Birmingham, Freshers, Students
Hi, I'm Nikki.
I'm about to go into my first year at Aston Uni,to study Business and Management.
I'm easy-going and energetic, I'll try anything once. Anything you want to know, just ask.
