Pancake Day!

Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is the first day of Lent (the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday) and is widely observed in the English speaking countries, especially Ireland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada. In most traditions, the day is known for eating pancake before the commencement of Lent. Pancake are eaten as they are made out of the main foods available, sugar, fat, flour and eggs, whose consumption was traditionally restricted during the ritual fasting associated with Lent.

This year, my housemates and I took the opportunity to celebrate the Pancake Day for the sake of celebration and an excuse for having pancakes rather than for any religious reasons.

Our pancake recipe comprises of:

1.       Pancake Mix

2.       3 eggs

3.       2 teaspoons of Vanilla essence

4.       Milk

5.       Banana

6.       Home-made Strawberry and berries jam

7.       Honey

8.       Condensed-milk

9.       Sugar

10.   Nutella chocolate

11.   Shaved dark chocolate

After an hour of standing patiently and flipping pancake carefully trying not mess it up, here are some photos of our creations J

Jokingly serious

Draped in a green Billabong-jacket, I sluggishly slouched on the desk with my fingers agilely scrolling up and down the Facebook page one ordinary chilly afternoon in the university’s library. Just as I was randomly reading comments and statuses written on the social network website, my eyes caught attention on one of the statuses on my wall. “Boost up your Student life and Join or Start the student societies and clubs today!” posted by the University of Greenwich’s official Facebook page.

Without much thought, I promptly twisted the computer screen and showed my colleague, Nils, the status. “Awesome!” was his reply with a sinister smile.

Nils then enthusiastically tried to convince me to start our own society—“The ambitious student society”. I burst out laughing when he confidently announced the name of our “future society”. Nils then went on explaining the minimum requirements for entering “the ambitious student society” were a minimum first for all the courses and all society members must be ambitious and nerdy. I was speechless for a few seconds before “LOL-ing” (laughing-out-loud) at his idea. Of course, we were just having a good time cracking jokes and we were not serious about setting up such a ridiculous society in the university. (I hope Nils is not)

The moral of the story is that I have a joker as a friend and University of Greenwich offers an opportunity to every student to participate and set up a society or club to celebrate the university's student life as long as it is not ridiculous.

(kasuchan.org/.../uploads/2008/03/nerd.png)

Life as a University of Greenwich’s student.

Life as a University of Greenwich student is a “Beautiful mess”.

Juggling coursework, exams, extra-curriculum activities, my part-time job and social life can be hectic, draining and challenging yet simultaneously interesting and rewarding experience or what I call “mess” for a young independent individual.

From my personal experience as a BA Hons International Business student, I initially found it difficult to juggle all my responsibilities while trying to maintain my grades and adjust to the British culture and environment. However, after much struggle and aid from my fellow classmates and tutors, I was able to handle the afore mentioned stresses and challenges.

University of Greenwich, from my perspective, is a great platform for both local and international individuals who aim to grow and develop into young, knowledgeable, promising and ambitious young adults. This is because the university offers both a perfect blend of theoretical and practical learning process and an international environment to mingle with students from all walks of life and from over the world! Frightening assignments, tests, presentations, group works and terrifying exams would also play a role in training students to acquire essential skills such as the decision making skills, creativity, communication skills and presentation skills.  Besides the dry and intellectual stuff the university has got to offer, the University of Greenwich also offers intriguing extra curriculum activities such as badminton club, basketball club, football club, drama, debating and economic societies, which open doors for students to develop and learn new talents and also to meet new people.

To sum up, although it can potentially present students with a reasonable number of responsibilities, however, I personally believe that the journey and life at the University of Greenwich could shape and mould each of its students into young, professional and promising adults by the end of their graduation. After all, life as a University of Greenwich’s student is a “Beautiful mess”.