STUDY TIME!

It is ironic how we, well a lot of students, complain about boredom during holidays, when we have got very little or no academic work and then when we have to study, there are suddenly a hundred and one interesting things to do!

Exams are fast approaching and everyone is caught up in some work. I have got two papers to write in May-Contract and Criminal Law; and I feel slightly worried-especially about Contract Law...I am trying my best to cover as much as possible and understand the concepts and hopefully I will be fine with the exams.

The weather is not helping at all! The clouds and rain just make me want to sleep all day long, or just cuddle up in bed, watching movies. I think my ability to focus is being put to the test...

Apart from the exams, my housemate and I have both got our 21^st birthdays in May as well!! I would have given a little “whoop” but its exams period so no one is really going to have time for birthdays L ....we are thinking of celebrating it together in June though, when everyone is done with exams and in a good mood...hehe...so I will let you know how that goes.

Well, I have got to go now; Criminal Damage is calling my name (that is one of the topics I am studying for the exams) and so until the next post, its byee and GOOD LUCK to those writing exams and to those who still have coursework to do!

Les Misérables

No, I am not miserable. Lol. It is the name of a movie which has got some of its scenes on our Greenwich campus, which is pretty exciting. I watched a bit of the filming when I went there to collect a booklet. You can look at some pictures here:

http://www.demotix.com/news/1141446/elephants-greenwich-sets-are-built-les-miserables-movie

Anyway, let us talk about the Easter break. It was fine, thank you for asking...hehe...I am not going to lie though....one bit of studying was not done. I tried....I even opened some books; but that was where it ended. All I spent my time doing was sleeping, managing to sprain BOTH my ankles, catching up on episodes of Nikita, Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl and 90210 that I had missed during the coursework time, sleeping some more, eating and oh, did I mention sleeping? I did think about studying for exams but I just could not bring myself to it. I kept justifying myself by saying I needed to rest after all the stress I had been through in February and March.

Haha...of course I am not going to leave studying to the week before examinations! Failure would be my portion if I did that! I have gotten enough rest now and started studying. Luckily, the dates I write my two papers are close to each other and so I will be done with exams in no time.

I hope you all had a good rest as well, during the break and energised for the rest of the term’s work!

My plate is full!

 Yes. There is too much to do this month and I honestly don’t know how I am still breathing. I have had to do so many last minute things recently, which is not something I usually do. It is partly my fault though. I have not planned very well this month and I am bearing the consequences, which is panic and stress. Anyway, I am a survivor (Destiny’s Child voice) so I know I’ll finish everything on time and still have a smile on my face at the end of it all.

In more interesting news, I visited the Harrow College yesterday to help give mock interviews to sixth formers; and I must say it was very interesting! I loved every bit of it and I will definitely do it again, if I am ever given the chance. When going, I thought all I had to do was ask the students questions that are usually asked during interviews, give them tips on how to improve their C.Vs and presentation skills, and most importantly feel like a boss (Lol, just joking!); however, I learnt so much! Most of these students were very confident and knew what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of them told me about some jobs they had done and how some certain equipments work and some IT terms they had learnt. It was a great experience, and that is the ray of sunshine I have got breaking through the dark clouds of coursework this week. J

I do have to continue my work now...hopefully, my next post will be void of the word “coursework”, as I am sure everyone is tired of it by now.

Toodles!

Forget Y.O.L.O.....YMEP-That’s the Motto ;)

Hi everyone!!! I am in such a good mood today, despite the fact that I have got a lot of piled up work waiting for me and a test to prepare for. Maybe it is because I just attacked some donner kebab after waiting the whole day to eat...mmm....Ah well, whatever it is, I am glad I am in this mood.

I told you some time ago that I would be moving houses and that I would give you an update later. Well, my friends and I have FINALLY moved in!! You cannot imagine the amount of stress and disappointment we had to undergo...but as they say, it gets tough before it gets better...we are settling in quite well and our lives are returning to normal. *whew* J What does the title of this post mean anyway? You may ask....Well, Y.O.L.O (You Only Live Once) is actually the musician, Drake’s new mix tape title and hip hop lovers have been using it a lot these days to justify some things they do..Lol..Like if someone is drinking too much in one night or taking a risk, all they have to say to justify themselves is YOLO....It is being abused though. Hehe.

With YMEP....that’s the name we have given to our house....The YMEP villa...and trust me-you don’t want to know what it means!

 I just realised that I keep telling you I will update you on one thing or the other...and then I forget. I am sorry! About my friend’s 21^st birthday, we had a surprise formal dinner for him at Brown’s at West India Quay. It is a very nice place actually, and the food is good. We all got dressed up (guys in their suits and girls in their sexy dresses and heels ;)), had some good food and wine and then went to a club after. It was quite fun! We were actually planning to get an *cough* “exotic dancer” *cough* for him, just to embarrass him; but things did not work out the way we wanted them to....and it was probably for the best. Hehe.

Yesterday, the 6^th of March was also my beloved homeland, Ghana’s 55^th Independence Day celebration. Whoop whoop! God bless Ghana!

Let us talk about my academic life now...I got my Value Chain Management results and I actually did much better than I thought I would (remember I was so bored with the assignment that I felt it would reflect in my work?)...thank goodness!

I am still struggling with Contract Law, still enjoying Criminal Law and traumatised by the amount of work I have got to do for Project Planning and Management and Information Systems. Lool. Is this life??

I have got to go now and so, until the next post, it’s YOLO!! Live your life to the fullest ‘cos You Only Live Once J

Coursework Stress!

Hey there! It’s that time of the year when every lecturer wants their coursework and forgets that you are human and not a robot. -__-  Lol. I just completed my Criminal Law coursework about automatism, insanity and intoxication and I feel so relieved. It was only 1,500 words but it took me a really long time to complete. I’m not blaming anyone though-I have been procrastinating a little. I am loving Criminal Law (more than Contract Law, which I never seem able to get my head around)...It is really interesting and we read about all these shocking and sometimes funny cases. It may interest you to know that insanity is not necessarily a mental illness....you could be classified as insane if you have diabetes for example, and your lack of insulin caused you to act violently...yea...the law is very controversial.

I have also been having some housing issues recently, hence the picture up there. February has been a very stressful month for my really close friends and I and I cannot wait for it to be March. Hopefully, with even more sunshine, everyone will smile a bit more and not feel too burdened by the work load and other problems which may crop up.

I have four more pieces of coursework to complete before the end of March, plus the weekly assignments (oh happy days!) Hehe....but I have got some motivation from a friend of mine who has just graduated with a pharmacy degree (another tough course) and so I am sure I will survive..lol.

Good luck to everyone doing some form of work and with that, I leave you with this song: Concentrate by Xzibit (hehehe ignore the rest of the lyrics of the song and concentrate on the chorus..lool) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syBr-7WPSo8

Half and Half

Hello people! This month has been one of those ones that I wish could hurry up and pass by; there have been so many stress filled times and disappointments that it is even hard to believe. There have been some good moments though, like getting surprise cupcakes and chocolates from my friends on Valentines Day (aww I am loved! lol) and going ice skating at the Canary Wharf Ice Rink (I am doing quite well-I only fell about five times).

I hardly have time these days though, having to deal with housing issues and coursework. Oh coursework, coursework, coursework... *sigh*. I am not the only one feeling the strain from the workload though-everyone is complaining. I find that a bit comforting because I know I am not alone in this. Lol. I need some serious motivation right now because all I want to do these days is sleep and not bother about school work-and that is not a good sign.

It is one of my close friend’s 21^st birthday and we are planning a surprise for him....I probably shouldn’t say too much on here in case he reads it; but it will be this weekend and I am looking forward to it-I do need to release some stress. Releasing stress will however come with its consequences, like not finishing coursework on time; so I am being wise and completing at least 80% of my work today-just to be safe....I will let you know what happens this weekend. J

Talk to you soon!

Let’s move!

In the almost two years I have been here, I have moved houses about ten times (OK.  I’m exaggerating. Lol); but I have moved around quite a number of times, and every time I learn something new; and so I have decided to share what I know.

In the beginning it seems like finding a nice place to stay and moving is not much of a big deal....But IT IS! It can be extremely stressful and draining especially if you are not really sure of anything that is happening.

As a student, your budget is most likely going to be tight; and so if you want to rent a private accommodation, you would like to be able to fit your rent into that budget and still enjoy the house...and so here are a few tips. J

Be certain of the amount of money you want to pay each month, including bills. You do not want to agree to pay a certain amount and later realise you have to pay electric, water, gas, transportation fees, food, clothes and the occasional (or many) nights out (and by then your funds are very low or zero o_0!! ). Students get exemption from council tax, by the way (find out more here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/LifeAtUniversityOrCollege/DG_071488 )

• Share! Share! Share! Find people you get along with and share a house/flat. This reduces the amount of money you would have to pay monthly; and I have realised that the more rooms in a house, the less the rent is for each person. So it may be a good idea to become more sociable J
• There are quite a lot of websites you can find properties on (zoopla, student.spareroom, findaproperty, etc. Google is also a very powerful toolJ). You can also walk into one of the many agencies in your town centre-but mind you! Although finding a place with agents is much easier, they charge administration fees and many other little fees...and so, if you would rather not incur extra costs you should try to deal directly with landlords.
• Be ready to make a lot of bookings, phone calls and bus/train trips.
• Keep your rent in mind when you are out chilling/shopping-we want to leave a good impression by paying on time, don’t we? J
• Remember to change your address at your bank, uni and other important institutions.

O.K  so these are the few tips I have got for you...there are a lot more things you may need to know; but I think you should be fine with these basic pointers.

Time for feeling like a property agent is over. Lol....in other news, I cannot wait to complete university!!! I have got one more year to go; and honestly, I feel like it is not coming fast enough...all I want is sleep!! Is that too much to ask? L Lol! I’m also hoping it doesn’t snow...If I’m falling down on dry pavements; imagine what is going to happen to me if it snows x__x Hehe...

Anyway, as usual I have got some form of assignment to complete and so I shall end here. Take care and happy house hunting (if that’s what you are doing.)!

Xoxo

Dani J