Something that I have learnt since starting my Masters is that it
really is never too late to start anything at University. I may be in my fourth
(and most probably final) year, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do things here
that I’ve never done before.
In one of my first posts back in the summer, I mentioned that I regret
not trying things out in my first year. Had I been bolder, I would have gone
along to Theatre Group meetings, tried my hand at yoga, and maybe gone to
Artsoc (the student art society) regularly. Alas, I didn’t truly get involved
in extra-curricular activities until at the end of my second year, when I was
elected as Lifestyle Editor for the Wessex Scene. Soon after that I realised this was a step
that should have been taken at least a year beforehand.
Now, in my postgraduate panic, I realise that the ‘real world’ does not
offer such opportunities so easily. I need not remind myself that I shall be
entering this real world of work soon (hopefully!). So I have somewhat taken it
upon myself to try and say YES to more things this year. YES to socials, YES to
obscure gigs, YES to coffee with acquaintances in order to form new friendships…
and YES to gaining new skills. If any of you have seen Yes Man starring Jim Carrey
and the lovely Zooey Deschanel, it’s the same idea… just toned down. And not 24/7.
One example of this new endeavour is my recent appearance on Surge Radio, the University of Southampton’s student radio station. I have a few
friends who work at Surge whom I have met through media projects, meetings and
social gatherings, and a few of my friends present shows on a weekly basis.
When one asked if I would like to be a guest on his show one Saturday night,
how could I resist!?
My Surge experience got the thumbs up!
My first impression of the Surge studio was how small and quiet it was
(pretty basic observations, for a soundproofed studio in SUSU’s basement!) and
once we sat down we launched straight into the show. My friend Sam has been
trained in using the equipment, so I just popped my headphones on, let him get
on with it, and the show started! We filled the hour with conversations about
films and television series, whilst playing tracks from our favourite film
scores. This was a film-based show on Surge after all - Sam’s show Screentime usually airs on Saturdays
from 7pm which he presents with his friends Jack and Tom. After a few requests
from my sister Katie and my old housemate Lou, we had finished our slot and the
show was over. It was a whirlwind hour, but I had a great time, and came out of
the studio wanting to do it all over again.
Although I was nervous, and I have a tendency to avoid all things
spontaneous, I had a great evening, and plan on getting back on air in the near
future. I’ve also set myself the challenge of helping out with SUSUtv (the
student TV station here at Southampton) before the end of my university career.
So, although I never graced the stage or tried a new sport during my
time here, it certainly hasn’t been uneventful, and I know I’ll be able to
leave next year with the knowledge that I will have made the most of what being
at University has to offer.
It has been almost fifteen years since I
left Delhi in 1997 after my Class XII examinations (equivalent to A level in
UK) to pave my way for the future. I have gone places since then… Goa, Kochi,
Mauritius, Pune, Vizag, Mumbai, Southampton and finally back to Delhi to
explore my future prospects… I tend to get very nostalgic when I come back. It
feels as if life has gone full circle.
From a reckless lad in 1997 when I left
the safe haven of school to face the big, bad world, never did I expect that my
pursuit for education would continue for years to come and would take me all
the way to Southampton. And now that I have come back to Delhi, I have two
Master’s degrees, six years’ work experience as a marine engineer and exposure
and education from a world-renowned University – University of Southampton. I
am no more an ambivalent eighteen year old – indecisive and uncertain about my
future, but a confident engineer who can command attention during a
conversation. I am no more a self-obsessed youngster but a husband and a
father.
While I address the BIG CHANGE that has
occurred in my life in the last fifteen years since I left this city, one thing
that has not changed is thecityitself. It remains the same old Delhi
– capital of the largest democracy in the world and the seat of power, brimming
with politicians, diplomats and bureaucrats. The grand look of India Gate – an
iconic monument to honour the war heroes – still stands tall and proud and does
not fail to inspire you. The old heritage buildings of the city still remind
you of the British Raj in the pre-independence era. The energy that the city
infuses in you still remains the same. The smell of the Mughlai food and the
roadside eateries – the typical Delhi cuisine – still lingers on for hours. You
still enjoy the extremes of weather here – summers hot and dusty – and winters
extremely cold and chilly. You still look forward to those evening
get-togethers in the winters on the stately lawns with kebabs and scotch –
where the topics of discussion range from issues as serious as the US elections
and the Eurozone crisis to as mundane and bizarre as the hairdo of an actress
in the next Bollywood flick. You still find lots and lots of European tourists
swarming around the places of interest. Even the people who live here have not
changed. Delhi is called the city with a large heart and the people here are rugged
– very moody and erratic, their vocabulary full of obscenities – and that has
not changed. But all things said and done, the city has a character – a
distinct and unique character – and that has not changed over the years.
So, when I arrived in the city last week
as the new me, I fell in love with it once again. The look of the city has
changed and it looks good with the latest infrastructural developments – a
world class airport, massive urbanisation drive, a very efficient Metro train
network and much improved lifestyle. I happened to come across a newspaper ad
for a UK education fair at the British Council. I was really tempted to go and
had it not been for a personal commitment, I would definitely have gone and
stood by the University of Southampton stall in the fair. It gives you a sense
of immense pride as the association with the University and the country is
everlasting and immeasurable.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited Delhi
last week and met the Chief Minister here and offered her a few tips on the
city’s expertise in higher education, public transport and other infrastructural
areas for India’s capital. During a discussion with my family members over
dinner about his visit to Delhi, I felt a sense of belonging as I told them
about the flamboyance and enterprising acumen of the Mayor and his meticulous
approach and planning that resulted in the most successful Olympics to date. No
doubt, I am a proud Indian and love everything about India but at the same time
I have been a proud UK resident and a student of the University of Southampton
– that not only has imparted quality education but has taught me a way of life.
It has been two months away from Southampton and I look forward to wrapping
things up here and returning soon. Till then, I shall bask in the warmth of
Delhi.
Okay, before you all cry out in dismay, I have not lost my marbles, I do know that it
is only November and you know what; I don’t care!
I am in the Christmas spirit and nothing
is going to stop me.
The SUSU shop is selling advent calendars, I have started seeing mince pies everywhere and forget about the Coca Cola TV ad, there is another incredibly heart-warming John Lewis advert to feast your eyes on! I kid you not, my housemate and I
spent a good twenty minutes watching John Lewis’s festive creations throughout
the ages and I started to feel that tingling feeling of happiness that comes
with watching Love Actually and the smell of pine trees.
Most of us students will only be in Southampton for another four weeks before
we all depart to the warmth of our family homes for the holidays, and I wanted
to give all the other Christmassy-inclined folk a heads up on the things to do
in the Southampton area at this time of year. If this is your first Christmas at
the University you don’t want to miss a single thing!
This weekend my housemates and I are going to Winchester, primarily so I can
fall over a lot on the ice-skating rink, which is behind the beautiful backdrop
of the cathedral. Can you imagine anything more magical? Except perhaps a large
glass of mulled wine and some early shopping at their markets, both of which
are provided! Tickets for students are a reasonable £6 off-peak and £7.50 peak.
Winchester is a charming little town which cannot help but feel very English
and very Christmassy, so if you haven’t been yet check it out, have a little
potter around and go into one of their many cafés.
I
think I will be clinging to the rail a lot.
However, if you’d like something a little closer to home, how about Southampton’s
very own city centre market, which will be returning for its ninth successful
year and never fails to bring a touch of the continental to Christmas. So,
whilst you may be doing your Christmas shopping in West Quay I recommend you
pop outside and replenish your energy supplies with their incredible variety of
scrummy treats – including German beers, hot chocolate and Gluhwein.
If you are not feeling festive yet, just wait until 28 November, when our very
own University campus will be doused with sparkles for the turn on of the
Christmas lights! I know that it is cold, and often raining, and perhaps
standing outside in the evening isn’t your idea of heaven but this event is the
culmination of the University’s 60th anniversary celebrations and they
will have no doubt pulled out all the stops. Plus there will be food (mince
pies galore), drink (nothing like mulled wine after a lecture), and to top it
off, a Christmas market! It starts at 5.15pm on the red-brick area outside the
Students’ Union and will include Vice-Chancellor Don Nutbeam’s end-of-year speech.
Now, whilst I admit that Southampton doesn’t have Rihanna on hand to turn on our
lights, we do have someone even better; Pavlos Kontides! Our very own Olympian
will be there along with our torchbearers Mostafa Soleimani and Kangjing He,
what could be better.
So perhaps before reading this article you weren’t really in the mood for all
this turkey talk, perhaps you were focusing on the absence of our summer rather
than the forthcoming holiday, perhaps you were being a scrooge, ignoring all
the evidence that Christmas surrounds us already. Well, to all of you lot I say
embrace this wonderful time of the year, tie your scarf a little tighter, gather
the ones you love close, sing some carols and make the most of it.
So, yes I know it is November but like I said, I don’t care. I’m going to
embrace Christmas.
Weeks like the one that I’ve just experienced remind me of the very
best that life as a student has to offer: long hours armed with notes and books
at the laptop screen, a resulting humongous dearth of sleep which, unless
combatted with some form of caffeine or sugar (or both!), transformed me into
an extra from Land of the Living Dead, and an ever-present sense of impending
deadlines looming over me - but simultaneously some of the best days of my
life!
I wrote last time about how it was performance week for the SUSU
Theatre Group November play, Great
Expectations, a show two months in the making. What I didn’t mention in my
description of the exhilaration that such a week brings is the logistical
minefield of balancing three coursework deadlines with such an additional
commitment – and the assignments were all due at the same time!
Learning the art of stage fighting was a unique and enjoyable
experience!
(Credit: www.joehart.co.uk)
And if time wasn’t short enough, to top things off a couple of my
housemates were aware of a particular house they wished to reside in next year
(a very short walk away from the Hartley Library – so suitable for 3rd
year!) going back on the market, and wanted the rest of us to set affairs in
motion to ensure we’d be next year’s tenants.
In summary: crikey!
Everybody has their own ways of dealing with the natural pressure that not
only academic life, but also student life in general, brings. Not only must you
overcome course deadlines, but also personal, extra-curricular and
self-maintenance obstacles as well, always with one eye on the future. Personally, my preferred mantra is to remain organised and move through
life “one day at a time”, listing pressing issues in order of descending priority
and simply battling my way through them in the knowledge that, ultimately,
regardless of the end result, there’s not much more you can do than your best.
Of course, the easiest way to alleviate work pressure is to complete it
as early as possible, but for a broad variety of reasons, it doesn’t always quite
work out that way! For example, two of my pieces of coursework were to be
completed in groups so, despite making solid starts to our projects beforehand,
sufficient progress could only be made throughout the week when we were
together. Therefore, the vast majority of the workload had to be done during
reasonable daytime hours, resulting in every day being packed full of meetings.
Fortunately, although time-consuming, these gatherings turned out to be
hugely productive and, when combined with a couple of late nights pooling
individual contributions, such teamwork resulted in both deadlines being met on
time, hopefully to a successful highest. When these assignments were polished,
I was able to use the extra time to meet with my housemates, view the particular
property they had in mind... and then become suitably excited about moving into
it next year!
So rather than rushing through the tasks that lay before us, which
might’ve led to us producing below-par work or making the wrong housing
decisions, each of my groups acted as teams and, collectively, did our best to
take it, however clichéd, one thought process at a time.
And that just left the small matter of a show to fit into proceedings!
With technical, dress rehearsals and performances from 6pm on Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday onwards respectively – the foremost ending at 2.30am (as
the technical crew practised the show’s 50 scene changes for the first time!) –
and huge amounts of time invested in the production previously, I knew that the
show week of Great Expectations would
be physically and mentally exhausting.
But I’m hugely privileged and grateful (particularly towards the
directorial team of Jamie Hemingway and Kerry McIntyre) to have been cast amongst
inspirational people – the cast, the directorial and production team, and the
backstage crew - who took the challenge in their stride, and, despite a couple
of early technical hitches and intense green-room (or early morning) work
sessions, pulled everything together to put on a show which garnered critical
acclaim in the Soton Tab and
attracted very healthy attendances indeed. Plus, from a personal point of view,
I received more hugs throughout the week’s showings than I’ve ever had before in
my life - because some members of the audience felt sorry for my character!
And although at times we all found keeping up with our courses a
struggle, the group’s support for one another shone through and lifted morale,
providing invaluable light-heartedness in an intense week, and hence proving motivational
in encouraging everyone to not panic and to just work our way through our
deadlines and other demands – one performance evening at a time.
We calculated that, during the course of the three hour show, Pip
(Chris Barlow) had only twenty minutes off-stage!
(Credit: www.joehart.co.uk)
From the above, you’d perhaps get the impression that I’d be keen forget
about the stress of the events. I can’t deny that I’d appreciate a slower pace
of life this time round but, upon reflection, last week was one of my most
memorable in Southampton to date, as I encountered the motivational powers of
teamwork in accomplishing difficult feats, resulting in memorable camaraderie –
and, with the occasional late night, I felt like I got the authentic ‘student
experience’!
Nothing seems quite as satisfying as feeling that, when you’ve
completed a job, it’s a job well done, and hence a hectic week stuffed with
demands like meeting multiple coursework deadlines, securing next year’s
residence, and celebrating the individual and collective achievements that Great Expectations represented (not to
mention enjoying the cast activities following every performance!) feels like a
challenge conquered and a week well spent, particularly thanks to the people
with whom I spent it.
The Great Expectations cast
photograph – I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people with which to
share the past two months!
(Credit: www.joehart.co.uk)
But most significantly last week, for me, echoed the importance of
recognising priorities, setting targets – be they academic, extra-curricular or
fulfilling other commitments or responsibilities - and, rather than becoming
overwhelmed by their demands, working through them as steadily as possible, doing
your utmost to enjoy events in order to draw the most from them that you
can.
In other words, taking life at University one day a time.
Those who know me well, particularly my ex-housemates from my undergraduate
course, know that I live my academic
(and personal, for that matter) life by lists. I make shopping lists, budget
lists, event lists… but my favourite list of all is the To Do List.
Almost every day, I will take a piece of lined paper, and neatly write
down all the things I need to do. Then, on another sheet, I note down the days
of the week, with an hour-by-hour schedule of what work I’ll be doing,
interspersed with social events, meals, and Wessex Scene activities. These
lists, as meticulous as they are, are never kept to; and so, the cycle begins
again the next day with a different list corresponding with what I did not
stick to the day before. It has come to
the stage where I am starting to wonder if I am solely to blame for the vanishing
rainforests all over the world.
Immediately, the anxiety and stress I feel about my work load lifts,
and I can breathe easy once again… until the next day.
After talking to my friends, I know that many students rely on the To
Do List to get things done – and it works better for some than others. Many of
my student friends find that crossing off tasks gives them a sense of pride at
having finished a task. Often, especially as a Humanities student, you have no
physical evidence of having completed a task; reading a novel or a journal does
not always finish with a printed essay or report, and so nothing really
feels as if it has been instantly achieved.
To Do lists therefore make me feel like my day has been a success,
whether I have had Wessex Scene commitments such as editing articles, have been
working hard in the library until it closes, or fitting reading sessions in
between a mocha with friends. Since an MA is a long term thing, and the outcome
can’t be seen for a while, I feel the need to feel accomplished – and a To Do
list does just that.
However, it is a little ridiculous. I rarely stick to them, and often
end up rewriting them. Nobody can ever work solidly all day long, especially
when distractions happen after lectures, when before you know it you’ve been
chatting to a friend about what to see at Union Films that weekend for the last
hour or two.
The other day I read an article about whether writing To Do lists makes
you unproductive, and it really got me thinking. Is my obsessive list-making
just an elaborate form of procrastination in disguise? Am I writing my lists in
order to feel productive, rather than
as an aim to actually complete my tasks? Surely I’m not just replacing the
things I need to do with a list, and then ignoring it. Or, maybe I am…
My course is really starting to get stressful now. January deadlines
are starting to need organising, the Wessex Scene is taking up a lot of time
(not that I don’t love that!) and I am feeling the pressure. After all, this MA
was a choice and I need to do well. And with this come more lists, drafts,
calendars and diary entries.
So maybe this month I should scrap the scheduled To Do list and bullet
point everything I need to do in digestible chunks so as not to overwhelm
myself. Perhaps I should avoid assuming I’ll spend all day in the library when
I know I won’t and start looking forward to getting things done. After all, my
future self will thank me.
How much I had been looking forward to this much awaited and much
deserved break in India, when I realised that I had got saturated enough in
Southampton, as the month of September rolled in. It was supposed to be nothing
less than a perfect holiday – meeting family, friends and lazing around. But,
the stay in India has so far been action-packed and quite eventful and if there
is someone to blame – it is only me and my ruthless planning wherein I try to
squeeze in so many things in such a short time! But after a warning from my dear
wife – and with the festival of lights, Diwali, round the corner – I knew that it
was time to relax and unwind and immerse myself in the festivities.
All dressed up for Diwali Celebrations
Diwali, the shorter version of Deepavali – means row of lights. It
is the most important festival for Hindus throughout the world and a major
festival celebrated with pomp and style in India. It signifies the triumph of
good over evil. It also marks the end of harvest season in India and is a way
of thanking the goddess of wealth for her kindness and blessings. It is the
festival of lights when people clean up their houses and decorate them with
lights, candles and lamps. They visit friends and relatives and give each other
sweets and chocolates and set off crackers and fireworks in the evening.
Last year, during Diwali, I was at Southampton, away from friends
and family and did miss them a lot on this special day. The day began with a
hearty breakfast and then both I and my other Indian flatmate made a long list
of people to be called back in India to convey our good wishes and greetings.
We then made a quick trip to the nearest Tesco Express and recharged our cell phones
with twenty pounds of talk time each. We must have spent at least a couple of
hours in this mammoth exercise. I now realise that being so far away from
family and friends makes your heart grow fonder – and this was perhaps the
first time we were away from them on Diwali. As afternoon set in, we rushed to
the temple in town for prayers. There was a huge Diwali celebration carried out
on campus last year by the Hindu Society of the University and that added to
our happiness on this special day. There was Indian food arranged and Diya
(lamp) decorations all over.
It was so heart-warming to witness the bonhomie in the University
and celebrate Diwali with students from all over the world. There was also a
fireworks display in the evening. As the day ended, I realised that it was not
all that bad. Maybe it was the first Diwali away from home and that caused the
home-sickness but it was different and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This year, I was at home in Mumbai and caught up with all the
celebrations and splendour of Diwali at Mumbai. It was my daughter’s first
Diwali (last year she was just a month old) and that added to my joy. It was a
real treat to watch my daughter get dressed in the typical Indian dress. She
looked like a princess as she ran through the whole house. My parents and
brother had come over for the occasion and it was a perfect family time for all
of us. The whole day was spent decorating the house and enjoying each other’s
company.
Diwali Celebrations at Marine Drive,
Mumbai
As I stood on my balcony overlooking the sea and Marine Drive at
night, I realised how beautiful the city looked, glittering with lights and
swarming with people. It marks a perfect end to my long vacation as I gear up
for the forthcoming assignments.
This world is complex, unfathomable some might even say, and yet one
thing which is at its crux is development – its incessant evolving nature. Understanding and interpreting this movement is the tricky part, because why do some
countries progress while others suffer stunted growth?
Naturally I am biased; I have a deep passion for international development, but
I truly do believe that it affects every single person, every single day. Just last
week it was announced that the UK would no longer be giving aid to India – was
this drastically overdue for a country which has its own space programme, or is
this a spending cut measure at its cruellest?
People commit their lives to trying to work out how best to help the world’s
vulnerable, the most sustainable eradication of poverty, how to support
developing countries so they are self-sufficient, because vitally, development
is simply not just a transferring of funds. It is governmental officials, intellectuals, NGOs, think tanks, independent external bodies and people like you and I who just question the world order and demand change. Development is about getting
informed and asking whether what we’re doing is the best thing –and there is no
better place for your questions than at Southampton’s very own International Development Conference, held this coming weekend.
Okay, so I’ll repeat this again, I am biased, and I am helping to organise this
conference, but because of that I am in a perfect position to tell you how
awesome it will be!
The tagline of this year’s conference is ‘Social Action in 2012’ – we wanted to
keep it current, in such a fast-paced environment we wanted to tackle how the
world is now. It is easy to become insular, to get trapped in our own interests
and not think of the wider challenges and innovations unique to 2012.
We’ve invited a whole host of speakers and organisations to come and talk about
the status of development and we’d love for you to come along! There are
different streams within the conference, each focusing on a different element -
from human rights, to social media, ethical consumerism and more traditional
charities.
Here are but a few:
Build Africa:
Build Africa works exclusively in rural areas of Uganda and Kenya. They combine
learning and earning opportunities which offer long-term solutions to poverty
for children and their families.
Their vision is for every young person in Africa to fulfil their potential and
to make a difference. http://www.build-africa.org/
WAM International – Women Advancing
Microfinance:
The mission of WAM International is to advance and support women working in
microfinance and microenterprise development through education and training, by
promoting leadership opportunities, and by increasing visibility of women's
participation and talent while maintaining a work/life balance. http://www.wam-international.org/
Save the Children:
Save the Children works in 120 countries. They save children’s lives. They fight
for their rights. They help them fulfil their potential. http://www.savethechildren.org.uk
Medical Aid for Palestinians:
Medical Aid for Palestinians works for the health and dignity of Palestinians
living under occupation and as refugees. http://www.map-uk.org/
Restless Beings:
Restless Beings is an international human rights organisation which aims to
support marginalised communities that are deprived of media or public
attention. Its projects are holistic in operation and work towards
self-sufficiency. http://www.restlessbeings.org/
Southampton Hubs (who are putting on this conference) asked University of Southampton
students what was a BIG DEAL to them. I think the results clearly show an
interest in international development – there is no better place to explore
this than at our conference!
The format of the conference is as follows:
On Friday 16th November there will be a film screening – it
is a film made by HART a humanitarian charity and it investigates a silent, yet
tragic topic. It explores the refugees living in the South Sudan caves, trapped
between the two newly-divided nations; they became the target of genocide
killings and they fight back. After the film we will chair a discussion with a
speaker coming down from HART.
On Saturday 17th November we have a full timetable of speakers and talks;
we have also allotted time for networking and for you to have a chat with the
representatives from the various organisations. Therefore if you have any
niggling questions, if you want to know a bit more, if want to be engaged and
have a closer look at our global order and see if its working properly I urge
you to join us. This weekend you are given the opportunity to try and
understand our world just a little bit more, so come along and show your interest.
More often than not these days, my housemates have witnessed me
stumbling through the door late in the evening and inevitably asked
“Rehearsal?”
Yes, it’s the week of the show, and last-minute preparations for SUSU
Theatre Group’s production of the Charles Dickens classic Great Expectations are in full swing. Check out the SUSUtv show preview below (and keep your
eye out for the upcoming trailer at the same place!)
Soon, a production process which started in mid-September and has since
featured interpretive dance, zumba, blocking, class wars, stage combat
workshops, human pyramids, Epsom races, innumerable line slip-ups, trailer filming,
accent meddling, ballroom dance choreography, zombies, beard growing (sorry
Mum!), costume fitting, flyering, in-jokes and cast bonding aplenty will, by
the end of the week, have concluded, followed by the inevitable climb-down and
post-show blues as all involved accept that, at last, we might actually have to
do some work!
For obvious reasons, nothing builds teams quicker than the human
pyramid exercise!
(Credit: http://www.facebook.com/TG.GreatExpec)
Great Expectations is the story of the poor young orphan Pip (played superbly by Chris Barlow), who experiences a rapid rise in fortune and class as, after a terrifying encounter with the escaped convict Magwitch (an effervescent Alex Curtis), he goes on to encounter friendship, wealth, mystery, betrayal, murder and, in the form of the beautiful yet cold-hearted Estella (the astounding Ashleigh Clowes), love, on his path through life.
Watching over him is a whole multitude of characters, including my own,
Joseph Gargery, Pip’s blacksmith brother-in-law whose life in poverty is cast
aside by the fortune-seeking Pip, part of a talented and diverse ensemble cast
which incorporates the eerie Miss Havisham (an Alice Walsh who still gives me
the shivers!) and strict lawyer Jaggers (the commanding James Forster) amongst
others.
Joe Gargery and Pip at the Forge.
(Credit: http://www.joehart.co.uk/)
It’s a tale which has resonated throughout generations of English
Literature, with adaptations abound as recent as the BBC’s TV series last year,
a dynamic ensemble-based and immersive (you, the audience, are part of the
but one which finds a fresh new life in the Annex Theatre with our production through
show!) telling. Without wishing to give too much away, there’re plenty of
exciting new tweaks and additions to the show whilst retaining the classic core
story, making it a show not to be missed.
Accordingly, I’m writing this article sat in a rehearsal, fatigued and
slightly stressed, with three tricky coursework deadlines looming on the
horizon, ears pricked in case I hear my cue, and knowing that, upon my return
to the house tonight, I’ll need to do a couple more hours of hitting the books.
So why, given the time commitment, do I do it?
And the answer is simple: I couldn’t live without it!
Although I can recall finding acting tricky at first, the first school
play I was involved in, Our Country’s Good, infected me with a passion to continue auditioning for shows, just through the sheer buzz that being on the stage provided. I can be quite an introverted or sleepy person at the best of times – “good morning” seems such a mouthful after a 9am lecture! – but when I’m in character, standing afore expectant eyes, I get an electric sense of adrenaline coursing through my veins, and the thrill makes me conscious of every minute detail of my face and
body, be it the position of my hands, the way I’m speaking or my expression. In
short, I feel completely empowered, particularly when an audience’s reaction
gives you immediate feedback on the extent to which you’ve succeeded. There’s
nothing quite like delivering a punch-line to be greeted by laughter (hence my
recent joining of Comedy Society!), or reading a positive review in the student
or local press, for putting a skip in your step.
But what really makes being a member of the Performing Arts societies
such an absolute delight is the people behind them. Nowhere else have I ever
encountered such a sharp, witty,welcoming, creative, enthusiastic, talented and buoyant bunch of people, and being alongside them not only improves my own performing abilities because of the high standards they exhibit, but also always generates memories I know I’ll go on to cherish in life. There’s nothing quite like the mentality of a team about to display their collective endeavours to the general public, as everyone strives to help one another, and the show, be the best they can be, and it results in some strong friendships.
Performing is great for quickly getting to know some inspiring and
fantastic people!
(Credit: http://www.facebook.com/TG.GreatExpec)
So to everyone out there who’s ever considered dabbling in acting,
singing, dancing, comedy, writing, circus, magic, bands, choirs or staging,
just go along and try it out! After all, you may not get the opportunity again,
and the Performing Arts department at SUSU is a magnificently challenging and
simultaneously rewarding one. It’s never been easier to get involved in its
activities – simply take a glance at the PA website here (or drop me a comment below) for
your preferred society’s details and drop in to a session, and you’ll soon be
welcomed into the fold.
So why do I do Performing Arts? Because I love performing, and I love
spending time with my fellow performers, such as the cast and crew of Great Expectations.
Looking back on how far we’ve come, and at the feats we, as a group,
have together accomplished, I can earnestly say the experience has been an
uplifting honour and privilege, and one which I’ll miss dearly. Now, with the
end in sight, it’s over to you guys to come along and give us that last push to
spur us over the line. Actors rarely get the opportunity to thank their
audiences, but they really do make all the difference to build confidence, to
build atmosphere and to build a show, so please take a night off the books (or
the clubs!) next week and get yourself down to the Annex Theatre for an
evening’s entertainment.
To finish on a typical outrageous show-name pun: I hope we, as a cast
and crew, can match your own (hopefully) Great Expectations!
SUSU Theatre Group’s Great Expectations runs every night at the Annex Theatre, Highfield Campus, between Wednesday 14th and Saturday 17th November, with all performances beginning at 7.30pm; there is also an
additional matinée performance at 2.30pm on Saturday 17th November. Tickets are £8 for Adults, £6.50 for Students and Concessions, and £5 for Performing Arts Members, and can be purchased at the SUSU Box Office, online boxoffice.susu.org or reserved by emailing greatexpectations@theatre-group.com.
This week I will be turning the ripe old age of twenty-two; I’ll be
spending the day with my nearest and dearest university friends, celebrating in
ways only students can get away with, and generally making the most of being in
Southampton, spending the next day with my parents in the beautiful city of
Winchester. But being a student here at the University of Southampton has
really changed how I celebrate birthdays.
I am a dizygotic twin. Or, in more familiar terms, a non-identical or
fraternal twin. My sister Katie and I were formed from two separate eggs,
rather than one single egg. Technically speaking, then, we are no more similar
to each other than any other siblings; we just happen to share the same
birthday.
When I tell people I’m a twin, they tend to get fairly excited. People
have visions of us walking around in matching outfits, speaking at the same
time, knowing what the other is thinking. Sorry to disappoint you, but I can do
none of that with Katie! Occasionally we say the same thing at the same time, but
mostly we’re nothing alike. At all.
Several people in my secondary school did not know we were even related until the
last week of our final year, and we’ve always been described as ‘chalk and
cheese’ – especially by our own parents.
Here are some examples: I am studying a Masters in English Literary
Studies after graduating from three years of studying English at undergraduate level. Katie hates reading. She hated studying English at school, and she would
rather watch a film than settle down with a good book. She does not enjoy
academia, but is the best cook I know, makes fantastic cakes, and knows her way
around a clothes shop as well as being a talented artist. I love poetry; she
hates it. I love vegetables; she used to hate those too, though she likes them
more now. I have naturally dark brown hair, pale skin and glasses; Katie was
born with naturally blonde ringlets, rosy cheeks, and perfect eyesight. I don’t
think you could get more different than that without changing gender!
Katie and I this summer at LeeFest
The NHS website states that:
"About one in every 65 pregnancies in the UK today is a twin pregnancy,
which means that about one in 32 babies born is a twin."
Twins are far more common than you first think, and fraternal twins are
more common than identical twins. Although this makes me feel a little less
unique, it does bring up some interesting subjects for me to consider.
Fraternal twins are hereditary, meaning that I could well become a mother to
two children at the same time in the future. Not only this, but fraternal twins
become more likely after you’ve already had a pair - which means, if you’re
extremely unlucky (or lucky, depending on your outlook!) you could be a parent
to two sets of twins.
So, going back to our birthdays. Before university we had always
celebrated our birthdays together, with our different friendship groups and
various family events. We always received presents at the same time, even
receiving identical gifts occasionally, and our primary school classes found it
easy to wish us many happy returns without forgetting the other one! The only
slight differences were what cakes our Mum would bake, and Katie always got
given her cake first, being the older twin by 40 minutes (yes, 40 minutes… sorry
Mum!)
However, for my first year at University I was suddenly able to
celebrate my birthday alone, for the first time in my life. To not be sharing a
day celebrating with my sister, who had always
been there, was a really odd sensation. Even though we didn’t do everything
together as some twins do, we still celebrated the day acknowledging each other
and actually being physically present. In 2009, aside from a phone call, I had
spent the day without her. This was a little exciting; but I’m not one for
being the centre of attention, and it was a new experience to have one day
entirely to myself with people who didn’t know Katie.
Katie and I having tea at the Ritz for our 21st Birthday
Last year, in my third year at Southampton, I celebrated my 21st
birthday, again without my sister. However, the first weekend after the big
day, I went home and visited family before being treated to tea at the Ritz
with Mum, Dad, and of course, Katie, for our special birthday. I was experiencing
the birthday treat with the person I had always celebrated with, and it felt
more normal to me than celebrating on my own!
This year will potentially be my last year of celebrating a birthday at
University. Next year, I’ll probably be going back to celebrating it (to a
certain extent) with my sister. It’ll be like getting used to it all over
again!
We’ve become closer since I left for Southampton three years ago (the
distance probably helps) and we chat more like friends than we used to. I have
always looked up to her, and though we still bicker occasionally, I do consider
her to be one of my best friends. We are in no way joined at the hip, but she
is without a doubt one of the coolest people I’ll ever meet.
Katie and I at my Graduation this year – sorry, but I had no
embarrassing baby photos on my laptop!
So Happy Birthday Katie – enjoy your
day – because before you know it, we’ll be sharing birthday cakes all over
again!
Could you imagine a state wherein the University had just academics and students and was devoid of support staff – no Student Services team, no Outreach and admissions team, no Examination management team, no School Office team, no library staff and none even to man the SUSU shops and the cafeterias on the campus? Well, I would shudder even at such a thought.
The students are the heart of this great institution. The University stands because it has students who come with aspirations and ambitions and go with a sense of content. And yes, the professors, the tutors, the researchers and instructors are the brains of the University. Their hard work and toil in research inspires a student to join the University and perform to his or her best.
But if the students are the heart and academics are the brains of the University, the support staff is nothing less than the backbone without whose unflinching support the University would not have scaled such great heights. So here is a small tribute to them and how they help mould a student’s career.
The International Office team's officers are constantly on the move, attending international education fairs and seminars organised by the British Council and local education agents. They are a stepping stone towards the lifelong relationship with the University which an international student makes. Not only are they a deciding factor behind a student’s decision to join the University, but they also guide a student to choose a subject as per his vocation and aptitude. I can never forget the words of wisdom tendered by the International Officer for India during an education fair in Mumbai. I had endless queries and all my emails were answered promptly by her.
A similar effort is made by the Outreach and Admissions team which cater to the students from within the country. They visit schools throughout the year, meet the students and counsel them. They are also responsible for organising the much awaited Open Days at the University. I took part in the Open Days this year and one could judge the scale of effort and involvement by the sheer turnout of students and parents alike at the University.
I would be failing in my duty if I do not mention the constant support of the School Office team in paving a student’s career. Right from the induction process, to University ID cards, letters to the bank or the City Council, to help with finalising the modules and timetabling, students get all the help and guidance they need. I have never seen the school office team perturbed even during the crucial months of examination and results when they have a lot of pressure on them.
Similarly, the library staff are always there to cater to a student’s needs. The library is open until late during the examination months and the library team go out of the way to ensure every student gets a place to study in the library.
Of course, there may be shortcomings or delays at times, but they are always corrected with alacrity. Words alone cannot acknowledge the role played by each and every member of the University's support staff in our lives.
This is the perfect recipe to go see a play; and what better play to see than the University Theatre Group’s Macbeth.
Potentially Shakespeare’s darkest production was incredibly apt for a bitterly
cold night after Halloween. To say I was excited was an understatement, like a
typical English Literature student my heart holds a tender love for
Shakespeare. I even have Shakespeare word poetry fridge magnets – my housemates
and I try to make our own breakfast masterpieces. Nothing great has transpired
so far, I guess it’s something best left to experts.
As is the acting - my Year Six production of Macbeth left a lot to be desired
compared to this wonderful show.
Cam Bevan, who played Macbeth, stole the show (and my heart). He was
INCREDIBLE. Within seconds you forgot that you were watching a university
production, in a lecture theatre, and that all these actors and actresses are
full time students with other commitments and responsibilities. The sheer
dedication that must have been given was inspiring, there were no slip-ups with
language – in fact they managed to make the sometimes unintelligible vocabulary
perfectly comprehensible; their expressions and passion told the story. I can’t
imagine how difficult it would be to learn a whole script, especially one with
long soliloquies, but to learn one in a language which is unfamiliar is even
more admirable.
There must have been some lines which they loved to say:
“Out, damn spot”
“Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble”
“Is this a dagger I see before me?”
And so many more – lines which I recognised but didn’t know until now were from
Macbeth. It is impressive really, how indelibly Shakespeare’s words have
impregnated themselves into our consciousness. So much so that despite being
hundreds of years old this play is still being performed in university theatres
up and down the country, and people of course still want to watch it, because they
still appreciate the timeless talent within the play. Sometimes I overthink
things, but it is the notion of a piece of art enduring so long which makes the
act of watching it ever more powerful.
Anyhow, I digress… Not only was Macbeth incredible, so was Lady Macbeth (Amy
Fitzgibbon)! I had forgotten how dark and treacherous this play was until I saw
her. Callous and ruthlessly ambitious initially, yet gradually fading into
madness. I found her captivating. As I
did the whole play - the murder of Macduff’s child in front of his wife sent
shivers down me, to act such raw emotion was undoubtedly incredible – indeed, I
felt like a vulgar spectator on someone else’s grief. Similarly when Macduff
heard news of their murder his reaction was heart wrenching – now I know I am
of the emotional sort, but I implore anyone not to be moved by their
performance!
There are so many elements of the play I would like to comment on – the
terrifying sightless witches (literally, I was so scared!), the hilarity of the
drunken guard which allowed for a brief interlude to all the murder and
wickedness – I particularly enjoyed his quasi-crowd participation, the
impressively choreographed sword fighting, and of course, the music and
lighting which was faultless.
I beg everyone to go and see this play, not only because Shakespeare is our
national inheritance and we enjoy every opportunity we have to see it, and not
only because it is put on by our University and we should support such local ventures,
but because it is BRILLIANT.
So go see it; do something a bit cultural, a bit different, and I guarantee you
won’t be disappointed.
It’s running in the Annex Theatre at 7:30pm until Saturday 3 November. Tickets are available from SUSU Box Office, or on the door.
After the second semester exams this year in June (which really
were quite taxing for me with loads of assignment deadlines close to the
examination date and five examinations with three of them back-to-back), I desperately
needed a break. So I treated myself to a holiday to Italy and France and I will
write about those experiences at a later date. On return from the much deserved
vacation, I realised that my postgraduate classmates had already begun working on their
dissertation and with the interim project presentation just ten days away, I
began to panic. Ideally, I should have relaxed for a couple of days after the
vacation and shaken off the inertia (posted all my excellent snaps on Facebook,
checked the number of likes and replied on the comments) before I could gear up
for my next goal i.e. the presentation. However, I did not have any such
luxury. Ten days of hard work and I was ready dressed in a suit outside the
lecture theatre for my presentation. The words of praise from the project
supervisor meant that he was convinced and in turn, I was happy. I knew that
the rest of the summer would be spent working for my dissertation. However, the
summer got a kick-start with an opportunity to attend the Santander Spanish
classes. Undoubtedly, the Spanish course was one of the best things I did this
summer.
My love for the Spanish language dates back to my school days.
However, being a science student in India hardly leaves any time for you to
pursue such desires. One finishes school, joins university and gets busier day
by day. Therefore, I had made up my mind that I would push my luck and somehow
do a Spanish language course here at the University as the Centre for Foreign Languages at the Avenue Campus is one of the best in the
world. During the initial few days here at Southampton, I remember visiting the
Avenue Campus and putting in an application for a Spanish language stage 1
course. I did attend the lectures for two weeks with the most fabulous
instructor Cristina G Hermoso. But I was disappointed when I got a message from
the Programme Co-ordinator asking me to reconsider my decision of undergoing a foreign
language, as the masters course I was enrolled in was quite intensive and thus,
would leave me no time for any other course. I remember speaking to a friend of
mine that evening and telling him that “Maybe, God does not want me to learn
Spanish” and thus rested my case of learning Spanish by shifting the blame on to God and forgot all about it in a few days.
An email from the Career Destinations team in May asking for applicants
for a fully funded Spanish course from Santander revived my love for the
language. Santander Universities sponsors Spanish
language training for a select number of Southampton students. Career
Destinations, in collaboration with the Centre for Language Studies runs two
beginner-level, intensive Spanish language courses in June. Students need to
attend lectures for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon for
a week and also complete a self-study project at the weekend, besides three
hours of self-study daily. Well, I did apply and very meticulously
drafted my statement of purpose and was glad to get a call during my vacation
in Italy that I was selected. To say the least, I was overjoyed.
I had enrolled for course 2 and it began on 20 June. I was greeted
by a group of students from various disciplines; Humanities, Medicine,
Geography, Electronics and Computer Science and Business. There were students
from first, second and third year and two masters students including me and
even a PhD student. In short, it was a good mix of students from various faculties
of the University. The course began with an introduction from the ever-enthusiastic
instructor Cristina. She warned us that we needed to progress on a daily basis
to be able to cope with the class and also advised us that we should make the
most of the opportunity as we were selected amidst a number of applicants.
It was indeed a very hectic course and I realised this as the days
progressed. It was simpler to grasp for students who knew French, Greek or
Portuguese but not so very easy for me (an English speaker) and one could see
the students from Japan and Vietnam struggling as it was really very different
for them. However, our instructor made the course as much fun for us as
possible with speaking lessons, conversation tutorials, participation games and
a few competitions to keep the interest alive and kicking.
All smiles - Santander
Course 2 students with the instructor
As the week drew to an end, we realised that time had indeed
flown. We had made some great friends and spent some wonderful moments
together. There was so much to learn from each and every one of them. We had an
oral exam on the last day and we really needed to practise hard for that.
However, it went well and the instructor was happy with our performance. I
was really grateful to the University which gives so many opportunities to a
student to learn and perform. At last, my wish of learning Spanish was
fulfilled and I realised that it was not all that difficult. Better late than
never!
