How Uni Life Influeced Me So Far

keep munchin' them brownies! hahaa

With the first year done and all grades received, I can discuss what major lessons this year has learnt me.

1. I became a bit more feminist. Not in a bad way (I don't think there is a bad feminism, but I might be wrong). I just took into consideration some gender-related issues (both in music and life) and became more aware of gender inequalities. This must be influenced by my essay research on female punk rockers who were subverting the dominant imagery of a female in both everyday life and music.

And being a feminist doesn't mean being all-naturalist, men hating bra burner. That's a stereotype, dear readers. I am just aware of inequalities, especially when it comes to music industry when people presume you are less skilled just because you are a female.

2. My tutors are my friends. It does sound odd, but they actually want to get along with you. Some of them can be grumpy at some point, but, they are AWESOME.

3. Marmite. It is a love or hate thing. But marmite on a toast with butter and mature English cheddar cheese is a ticket to heaven. 

4. "You're the first European I met who drinks so much tea. You're not only good in English, but you're also good at being English" my ex-flatmate once told me. This explains it all.

5. Chips with salt and vinegar. Chippies in Falmouth are amazing! I don't understand how people cannot like chips with salt and vinegar!

6. Midnight trips to library are awesome. The library on campus works 24/7, so if I'm bored I can go to the library and read the most random books I can find.

7. CORNISH PASTIES. pasties, pasties, pasties!!! The best thing ever. 

8. Creativity and weirdness is good. Being creative, weird and different is AWESOME!! Though it makes you feel lonely sometimes...

9. My English language has improved. Quite a few people said that. Haven't noticed the improvement though.

10. Student halls will hold a special place in my heart. Yep, the nostalgia, 3am fire drills and general student'ness.

11. Stereotypes are true. Especially about Eastern Europeans. Vodka shots taste like water to me. Enough said. haha

12. Jacket potatoes. With cheese and beans. Cheese first, please.

13. I've actually did good at uni this year. Four firsts and two 2:1s. NICE

14. Hanging out with mates. Guys, to be more precise. Less drama and more fun. Love hanging out with guys. 

When Simona Is Bored

This how my newest soundcloud account is called. I decided to upload all the nonsenses I do whenever I'm bored, so that the world could embrace all the weirdness I make....

My newest weird creation - AutomatonAttack. I made it within 2 hours. I had an insomnia, was bored and didn't know what to do. So I opened my DAW software and made something that turned out to be this thing. I was so bored that I even made the picture...

End of the First Semester and its Results (so far)

the library building on campus

Yay! The first semester at uni has ended, all assessments are handed in; all I have now is the wait for the results.
This week is a reading week and the following one is a SONVA winter festival and we'll have loads of workshops and inductions that are mandatory. For the reading week we've been given some texts to read before the module starts after two weeks. These texts are basically about linguistics, semiotic language, signs and pre-symbolic meanings in the culture and art. Heavy stuff. Especially when my first language is not English, but it's the day number two and I'm already halfway through! YAY for me!!

I also had to write an essay 2500-3000 words long. If I get a good mark, I'll be MORE than glad!
Below I am sharing a song I had to mix for Creative Recording, Production and Performance module at the uni. We've been put into all female and all male bands (all female ones don't work... seriously) and we had to write one song, record and make our own version of the song with DAW (digital audio workstation) software and we write a supporting documentation (1000 words) about the creative use of technology ans the process of the song-writing. Mixing was hard as the girl whose vocals I used could not sing properly, so I had to split almost every word and make the lower notes sound louder. Tiring! But yeah, hopefully my tutors will like this.

Bragging About Hardships

SPOILER ALERT: yes, I will rant in this post.

Basically, my flatmate in the student halls talked about this one girl from her school who is constantly updating her Facebook status with posts about how hard her life was and what difficulties she has experienced. This somehow inspired me to philosophize and write something new. Clearly, she may be one of those who are boasting about hard times they have had just to have more sympathy and be more popular, and I clearly understand the meaning behind this (I will not further discuss this in the post, maybe later).

HOWEVER, as a person who's been (and still is) put through quite a few hard times in life (which I won't discuss) I do not see the concept behind being proud of your hardships. YES, you can talk about it for your self-counselling as it makes it feel easier to cope with.
But there is a difference between talking to people you trust and random strangers on the internet.
I do not know what point I am going to make, but in my case, I tend to keep things to myself and open up when people are willing to hear my story, not shove everything down their throats whether they want this or not.

Maybe the 'essay long' post by that girl about her life story made me question the meaning behind talking about hardships out loud, make it public.

I understand mentioning it a couple of times, but not everyday. People will get tired and think of a person as another attention seeker...

I do believe someday I will be able to talk about what was (and is) happening in my life out loud, but I would not do it the way the girl is doing.. If I speak up, I would make everything count, to rise awareness, or for another reason. Well, I am actually already expressing my inner thoughts through music and art. So I am one step closer to speaking up. Time will tell..

I would end this rant now before it gets out of hand

Bye!
S.x

I Have Survived Another Xmas

YES! I have nearly survived my 19th Christmas! Good one.

Just before Christmas I had my wisdom tooth extracted. My face was swollen, I couldn't eat and it hurt like hell. But I was fine on the 25th. Call it Christmas miracle, if you want.

Today I finished taking my antibiotics prescribed after the surgery. 

This meant only one thing - BEER AND CORNISH PASTIES (the ones I brought home from the UK).

I suddenly felt weird when I realized that in one week's time I'll be back in the UK. 

S.x

Hook And Line

One week and assessment to go and my Christmas holidays will begin. And yes, I'm not feeling festive.
I have mixed feelings about coming holidays. On one hand, I want to come back and spend some time with my family, on the another, I don't really want to travel. Maybe it's the fault of my 12 hours journey (train+airplane+journey home).
Student life's fine. I don't really get drunk, because I cannot drink alcohol, apart from my occasional cans of beer after rough days. Although It's fun to laugh at my drunk flatmates. Not in a bad way, obviously.

No Arms and No Friends

During the lecture my tutor played a song by Birdengine and I absolutely fell in love with it!

Ah, I love studying popular music, talking about subversive meanings of subcultures, the meaning of hegemony and dominant ideologies in music, music industry, creative recording and practice. I have an essay due in January, and I'm so scared. Let's hope things will be okay.

here are some random photos I found online... still better than nothing

The Ghost Inside

It's been a while. I was busy with my studies, and to be honest I still am. I'm not complaining, I love studying Popular Music at Falmouth University. I didn't think that we'll be philosophizing about hegemony in popular culture, about autonomy of art and how music subcultures can be subversive.
Actually, nothing really happened during almost two months in the UK; some things happened, but not something you might be interested in.
okay, see you later! And hopefully I'll have something to talk about next time.

Leaving Home Country

My flight is tomorrow at 7:40 (LT time) in the morning.
I'm sort of scared. Maybe it's because of the sudden changes. Or just a general fear that disappears once I've reached the destination.
So, at 9 in the morning (UK time) I'll be in Bristol airport. So, if by any chance you'll be there as well, go ahead and say hi to me! This obviously won't happen, but anyways...

The next post will be from the UK.

..and here are some photos of my hometown I took a few weeks ago.

... and the song is SO SEXY <3

Where Is My Mind?

I know I've been absent though I sort of promised to post more frequently.
I've been procrastinating, thinking about my life, or sometimes even avoiding to think altogether.
I've been accepted at Falmouth university, booked a flight, train tickets, hotel,... Almost everything is done, I only have to wait to be accepted to live on campus.
People would say what's wrong with me then.
I wish I could know.
Maybe the fear of the future has something to do with this, yet my feelings are blunted.
My course starts on 23rd September, so I have one month left to be here. But I think getting out of my home country would improve my life somehow. Don't ask me how.

The Morning Fog

I took this photo in early Saturday morning at about five in the morning.

And the song below fits the photo so perfectly! Even though I was listening to different song at that time.

I'm actually doing a series of photographs, called 'My Little Dead Hometown' where I take photos of my hometown, of the real hometown. Just the way I see it.
If I have enough courage, I'll upload even more photos I've taken.





p.s. I've added a new page about Lifescouts Badges.

Hugs,
S.

School times. Remembered

With the celebration of my school graduation day (or a prom), I've decided to share some of the photos taken during those twelve school years.

Unfortunately, there aren't THAT many photos (unlike some of my classmates' facebook photo albums, ha ha!) - those years weren't always the easiest for me, so I didn't have an intention to memorize them all. But I'm glad I've survived. Somewhat.

To be honest, I didn't want to go to the event but I had to take my graduation diploma so that I can send its photocopy to my university. The whole event is mostly about boasting; it's a paradise for show-offs and pretenders. Despite them, I did enjoy the event.

AND most importantly I'VE FINALLY GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL!!!!

So here are the photos:

My first year at my first school. I'm the tallest one in the last row

A photo of my ex classmate and me at my first school
when I was fifteen, or something...
This one's embarrassing...

The same year. Took all those when I was in the artistic mood. And YES, my first school looked like that before the renovation.

Halloween at my new school, 2011. I was a make-up artist of the event.

A photo from Song and Dance festival in 2012

Photos from another 'being inspired at school' series.

These are the photos of the 'Last Bell' celebration. It's basically a day when an event is held for senior highs, during which everyone is crying and continuously reminding you that you're old, and those times spent at school will never come back. I felt weird when everyone around me was crying their eyes out while I didn't. Why would I cry? For leaving a place where I didn't feel good? No, thanks!

A photo of my class, obviously...

The first page of yearbook of 89th graduates and teachers.

Yesterday's photos

FUCK YEAH!!!

With my lovely sister

Afterparty

That's all from me for now!

Take care.x