Yes Woman – the art of trying something new

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.

Joanne

Delhi… the love continues

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 the city itself. 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.

Rohit

It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

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 60^th 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.

(Here is a link to the facebook event page, just in case you forget the details - http://www.facebook.com/events/239170616211579/)

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.

Florence

One day at a time

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 3^rd 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.

Robin

The best laid plans…

I write lists. A lot.

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.

Joanne

Diwali – the festival of light

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.

All is well that ends well!

Rohit

International development in 2012

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 16^th 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 17^th 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.

Feel free to email us if you have any questions - idc@southamptonhub.org.

I hope to see you there!

Florence

Great Expectations (and life in the Performing Arts)

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 14^th and Saturday 17^th November, with all performances beginning at 7.30pm; there is also an additional matinée performance at 2.30pm on Saturday 17^th 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. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Robin

Twin one, twin two!

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 21^st Birthday

Last year, in my third year at Southampton, I celebrated my 21^st 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!

Joanne

The University staff - the unsung heroes

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.

Rohit

‘Something wicked this way comes’: Macbeth - a Theatre Group production

Deadlines out the way – check.

Halloween creep in the air – check.

Dark, chilly, winter night – check.

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.

Florence

Santander Spanish Classes – 2012

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!

Rohit