Sorry the first thing you read in my blog was ranting, I don't do it all the time, but sometimes you just need to say something!
Ok, so now I'll take you back to my fresher's week.
To be honest I had a pretty rubbish fresher's week (this isn't ranting by the way, it's statement of fact :P). I had already arranged a job in Gosta Green, a very popular on campus pub which I suggest you frequent as often as often possible for reasonably priced food and drink (little bit of free advertising for the boss there!). Stupidly I agreed to work 3 evening shifts during my freshers week, all of which were on popular nights when big events were on at the guild, I missed out on a lot! I'm still working there all these months later, and I would recommend a job to anyone at Uni. Having something other than studying and socialising/drinking is great because you make new friends, and I find it keeps me sober a few nights a week as well :D However, do not give up your fresher's week fun for love nor money!
On day one, it was a saturday, I was shipped up in a van with all my belongings (yes that's right a van, it's becoming a running joke in my flat that I came to Uni prepared for anything), and when I had all 10 boxes plus extra bags in my room I made my parents leave ASAP so I could begin what I thought was an amazing new life of freedom and enjoyment. I very quickly turned on the spot and said "Oh Shit what have I done?". First stage of leaving home- your family aren't always there anymore, not even to nag you- those first few weeks I missed even that.
I don't know how other Uni's do it (I've never thought to ask anyone come to think of it :P), but Aston have current students around during international and home student fresher's week to help you move in and settle down, they are commonly know as Aston Aunties, a strain of super friendly and super helpful (sometimes) students. I think the Aunties saw me coming with all my baggage and neglected to offer me and my fatigued parents a hand- so if you see one looking idle when you are moving in make sure you grab them and tell them to grab a box or a bag!
When I was all moved in, me and the few other guys in my flat who had arrived by then waited patiently for the Aunty who had been assigned to our flat to come and meet us. She didn't turn up, when she finally did it was to tell us she needed to go get her tan topped up after her summer holiday and that she would come back later to take us to the guild in the evening- we never saw her again. I think she was an exception to the rule of how helpful Aunties are, and things were quickly made better when our flat was adopted by Auntie Tampon. Pretty much everyone at Aston is given a nickname at some point, a term of affection, and it's become second nature to me now to refer to a grown woman as Tampon.
I haven't really picked up a nickname yet, at work I am often referred to as Gunther owing to my apparently strong resemblance to the fat German kid from The Simpsons- I refute this claim outright, but if paid enough I will consider donning the pair of Ledehosen and engaging my bosses twisted fantasies :P Within my flat I'm known as Alex-Mom, mainly to differentiate me from the other two Alex's in the flat, and also because I have a habit of mothering the other guys- I can't help if they don't know how to cook, clean or iron!!!!!!!!! Second stage of leaving home- realising you have little or no basic domestic skill. I didn't get caught out by this one, my mum was hard on me as a kid and I learnt it all then ;) Only joking mum! Other students don't need to either though, read a basic cook book over the summer, watch your parents when they are in the kitchen, ask them how to switch the vacuum cleaner on and how hot is too hot on the iron, all simple measures I feel.
OK now give your eyes a five minute break, and then read on in the next post about Registration, Fresher's Fair, and first week of lectures........
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