And another one...

I posted recently about a team-building I attended with the RAs and this weekend I went on another one, but with AUBG Olympics. One of the few sports clubs left in AUBG.

One of the best decision I made since coming to this school is to join this club. It is not all about the sports, actually sports are just a tiny fraction of my desire to be part of it. It was mostly the people and their relation to each other. How they would be a big family having fun together and at the same time organizing one of the biggest events, entertaining people and promoting healthy life.

With all those cool people, we went to a hotel in a village nearby Blagoevgrad and spent the night playing games and having fun.

As last time, there was a team of people responsible for the games throughout the whole night. What was better, is that this time the games were actually interesting and most people had lots of fun. Everyone was enjoying himself with a drink or two - Yanev most of all as he passed out in the middle of the night.

As the team-building was going to an end I decided not to stay more and drink, but to go to bed at a more decent time and actually be able to function on the next day.

It is always a good time when you are with friends and I cannot wait for the next time we will go outside of Blago and have a blast.

The Galaxy Gear

If you think about the recent mobile products of Samsung, you can tell yourself that they actually did a very good job. Very high quality products and at reasonable and competitive price. Maybe if they change the plastic panels to aluminium will be just fine. Anyways, a huge innovation they introduces was the Galaxy Gear or the watch which you can connect to your phone.

As you can see from the picture it is another smart gadget which perfectly complements the already amazing smartphone. 

The size of it is a little larger than what most people take for a watch, but at the same time is is completely adjustable with its metal clasp. It comes with a charger, a headset and besides that it has a tiny camera and almost all features of a regular smartphone. Except the time, it can show you the weather, pictures, videos, you can listen to music and simply dial numbers without even bothering to take your phone out of the pocket. It is a huge concern how much the gadget will last in terms of battery charge as so far it can sustain functions till up to 1 day or 1 day and a half. 

Here is some more information about the product:

http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/gear/gearfit_features.html

and of course a video:

The Art of Acting

A university that satisfies all its students' needs is indeed a good university. Academics might be a priority, but one develops himself in various ways and that is why there should be variety of options and challenges every students can take.

If we set aside the usual stuff - work-studies and clubs - those that, indeed, will broaden your horizon in one way or another, students can devote their time in other curious ways. For instance, different forms of art - piano, drawing, choir or theater.

I personally decided to take up Acting. Throughout the whole summer before senior year we have been discussing it with some of my best friends that the very last semester should be filled with all kinds of emotions. There you go. For the last 4 weeks we have been rehearsing a play which will be performed some time in April. It consists of three miniatures which are not connected, but have something in common - comedy.

The miniature I am part of is called "The Proposal" and it is about a middle-aged man who is in desperate need for a wife and he is asking for the hand of his neighbor's daughter, who is in desperate need for a husband. While reading the lines for the first time we did not really know what to expect and it did not sound interesting or as a comedy sounds. But, however, as we started analyzing each character, imagining them in different situations, making interactions with one another, it all started making sense and eventually we got so into it that we are now absolutely sure it will turn out as a great comedy.

More updates will come later in the semester.

Have you ever been part of a play?
Which one?
What are your favorite forms of art?

Do not forget to answer the questions in the comment section below :)

The Team Building

To be in a team means a lot. You are part of an entity which works together for the greater good (or evil). Being in a team means you need to take responsibility towards the others as they count on you and you on them. But I am pretty sure you are all familiar with that. However, what every team needs is definitely a way to bond, a way to become closer and a way to build itself - this is why teams go on team-buildings.

Speaking of which I am a resident assistant at AUBG - small university in Eastern Europe which, allegedly, provides world class education. The team of the resident assistants (RAs) in one of the dorms has created a family environment throughout the years for me. That is why they are something I cherish and something I am always ready to fight for. Since my first year, I am part of the RA organization and for 7 semesters I served the campus and my residents with pleasure :)

Here comes the important part. Throughout those 7 semesters, or in other words 3 years and a half, I have witnessed many people come and go. Some graduated, some quit voluntarily, some involuntarily, some decided to take up a different activity and so on and so forth. The point is that the same team of RAs managed to change multiple times for good or bad. The point is, however, that we always stayed together, always supported each other no matter what. And this is how it should always go. Staying together means staying strong, keep that in mind!

The key to our success is definitely the team spirit. And how is that achieved? The ways are various, but what worked for us are the regular casual gatherings, the often team-building trips, the nights-out and all the time spent together around the front desk (our work area) and meetings. All those activities complement to the mood of each one of us. You might be terribly overwhelmed with work and studies, but there is always time to relax with another of the RAs.

Yet another team-building happened this Saturday. Mountains were preferred than the usual SPA in this time of the year (The missing Winter). The whole trip included some walking, a night in a very fancy hut, some football in the snow, barbecue, a great dinner, tons of team-building games, some drinks and sadly leaving on the next day. At least we managed to stop by a monastery on our way back and eat one of the most delicious breakfasts in Bulgaria, namely mekici. A great end to a great team-building.

Skapto 2, RA Team

This is a picture from the hut right before dinner. We managed to play games before and after. Some more serious, some more amusing. Nevertheless, fun is guaranteed.

What is your favorite team-building game?
What kind of team are you part of ?
Write your comment in the comment section below :)

Plovdiv, European Capital of Culture

My home town is Plovdiv, even though I was not born there. However, most of my life I have spent in the second biggest city in Bulgaria and that is why I feel it as my home town.
Last summer I learnt that it has been nominated for an European Capital of Culture for 2019. Indeed, this is one of the oldest cities on the Balkans and it has amazing cultural history. It is a crossroad of different ethnicities living together for centuries. It has an incredible Old Town with an ancient theater and Roman Stadium. It is a city where you can see churches and mosques are built next to each other.

For the last several years it has won several international and Europe projects for development of cultural activities. Plovdiv is one of the few cities worldwide that is built on hills and most of the old town is suited on top of some of those hills.

The award European Cultural Capital was initiated so that European nations can get closer to each other, it was created with this fundamental idea by the Council of Ministers of the European Union.

Every year two European cities take the award and to participate they need to have a matching theme with the requirements of the European Union

Here is a video about Plovdiv and its History:



Plovdiv @ Via Diagonalis - MOVIE - EN from plovdiv2019 on Vimeo.

The missing Winter!

Adrenaline can be raised through various ways: driving with 300km/p, jumping from an airplane, bungee-jumping, taking drugs and many more are the means, but what keeps me going through the winter is skiing. Yes, sports can be a great source of bringing up adrenaline. If you did not know, try your favorite sport and put the biggest effort, devote as much energy as you can and you will feel it.

This is what skiing does to me - words can hardly describe the sensation and emotions which this winter sport creates. However, we can hardly call this time of the year winter. Cold weather, smaller days, snow, thick clothes and sledges are some of the key features which will make you reminisce of winter, but half of those are missing this year. Why? No one knows why. But I do not care much really, because whatever the reason is I cannot practice my favorite sport.

Generally, I visit ski resorts not more than 4 or 5 times a season, which is not even closely enough to satisfy my thirst for the sport, but that's because of my financial situation. If I had more, I would go more. This year, reaching 3 times will make me happy. Quite ambitious huh? As they say the last week of winter already passed and from now on we should expect the days of Spring. Believing this claim is up to you, but I refuse to. Winter should be cold and snowy, winter should be filled with children laughter while making snowmen, it should make you recall the summer days and the seaside, it should make you desire hot drinks and nights in front of the fire place.

Why there is no winter. Is it because of the global warming or it is a pure coincidence. Should we expect this in the following years or we can hope for more than 10 centimeters of snow.

My last skiing trip was last weekend and to be honest I enjoyed it so much. Somehow as if I knew there will not be a chance for another. Since the early morning till the very last moment we were constantly on the track sliding up and down until we ran out of energy. Exactly how skiing trip should go. In the end of the day plans were made for future trips, but then there were none. I am glad so many people share the same excitement for the winter sports, but so what? I can officially say that we are missing a winter here.

Kartala, Bodrost.

Here is a picture of me jumping towards the camera. As you can see it is an amazing day at the top of the world. We want some more of those winter days. Don't you?



What is your favorite winter sport?
Do you think winter will come back or will be forgotten?
Write your answers at the comment section below :)