Imperial College Singapore Society

freshers’package2013

For most of the incoming freshmen, going overseas to study in college will be their first time being away from their family and home for an extended duration of time. This is a daunting task for many due to the lack of support and the unfamiliar environment, much unlike the home-ly surroundings and company they used to enjoy.

To help our freshers allay their fears and integrate into life in London as smoothly as possible, the Imperial College Singapore Society (ICSS) organises a comprehensive Freshers’ Package every year.

This package comprises events which allow freshers to seamlessly as-similate to life in Imperial College London, and are held from July to October each year. Most importantly, the package sets the foundation for our ICSS vision: to be a Home away from Home.

introduction

ourapproachICSS Freshers’ Package 2013 is based on a 3-step approach involving the following phases: information, interaction and integration.

information interaction integrationProvide our fresher’s with the essential information on the administrative procedures, as well as life in London.

This will mainly be done through talks and a number of publications posted online on our ICSS website.

Through events, foster inter-action among the freshers, as well as between the freshers and seniors.

This will help the freshers forge new bonds and friendships and build a support network which they can rely on when they de-part for London.

Integrate the freshers into life in London and Imperial College by introducing them to their new environment and provid-ing guidance and support.

From food and transport to ex-ploring the neighbourhood and city, all aspects of the freshers' needs are well-covered.

1 Sotong Guide2 Pre-Departure Talk

3 Sojourn 20134 UKBound

5 Fresher’s Pickup/Walkabout6 Tour London7 Hyde Park Picnic8 Hall Fiesta

ourapproachICSS Freshers’ Package 2013 is based on a 3-step approach involving the following phases: information, interaction and integration.

information interaction integrationProvide our fresher’s with the essential information on the administrative procedures, as well as life in London.

This will mainly be done through talks and a number of publications posted online on our ICSS website.

Through events, foster inter-action among the freshers, as well as between the freshers and seniors.

This will help the freshers forge new bonds and friendships and build a support network which they can rely on when they de-part for London.

Integrate the freshers into life in London and Imperial College by introducing them to their new environment and provid-ing guidance and support.

From food and transport to ex-ploring the neighbourhood and city, all aspects of the freshers' needs are well-covered.

1 Sotong Guide2 Pre-Departure Talk

3 Sojourn 20134 UKBound

5 Fresher’s Pickup/Walkabout6 Tour London7 Hyde Park Picnic8 Hall Fiesta

eventcalendar11.05 Sotong Guide Book 1

01.06 Sotong Guide Book 2

22.06 Sotong Guide Book 3

13.07 Pre-Departure Talk Sotong Guide Book 4

16.08 17.08 18.08

Sojourn

07.09 UKBound

28.09 Freshers' Pickup/Walkabout

05.10 Tour London

12.10 Hyde Park Picnic

19.10 Hall Fiesta

The term “Blur Sotong” is a Singaporean colloquial slang to describe someone who is confused and does not know what is going on. For the freshers who are about to embark on their college life overseas after two decades in their familiar home, it is natural that many of them will be equally baffled too.

Thus, the first item in the Freshers’ Package is the Sotong Guide, a comprehensive publication which aims to provide information and prepare the blur sotongs for life in Imperial College and London.

The Sotong guide will be published online on our ICSS website. This year, the guide will be structured into a series of 4 bite-sized booklets which will be pub-lished at regular intervals. The content of the booklets are as follows:

sotongguide

Before Leaving Singapore 11 May

� Medical issues (vaccines, X-rays, health checkups) � Step-by-step guide to applying for ATAS � Step-by-step guide to applying for visa/exit permit � Financial preparation � Documents to bring over � Publicity of Pre-Departure Talk

Singapore Shopping Guide1 June

� Cost of living in London � Things to buy and prepare � For yourself: clothing, footwear, bags � For college: stationery, electronics, textbooks � For daily living: bedding, utensils, medication � Packing tips (hand carry, luggage, shipping) � Publicity of Sojourn and UKBound

Arrival in London22 June

� Travelling from Heathrow to halls � Step-by-step guide to opening a bank account � Communication essentials � Transport network explained � Security advice � Early arrivals: where to stay? � Publicity of Freshers’ Pickup/Walkabout

Life in London13 July (Pre-Departure Talk)

� Hall life � Recommended places to shop � Recommended places to eat � Recommended places to sightsee � Publicity of Hyde Park Picnic � Introduction to Sports @ ICSS

BOOKBOOK BOOK

1 2 3 BOOK

4

The term “Blur Sotong” is a Singaporean colloquial slang to describe someone who is confused and does not know what is going on. For the freshers who are about to embark on their college life overseas after two decades in their familiar home, it is natural that many of them will be equally baffled too.

Thus, the first item in the Freshers’ Package is the Sotong Guide, a comprehensive publication which aims to provide information and prepare the blur sotongs for life in Imperial College and London.

The Sotong guide will be published online on our ICSS website. This year, the guide will be structured into a series of 4 bite-sized booklets which will be pub-lished at regular intervals. The content of the booklets are as follows:

sotongguide

Before Leaving Singapore 11 May

� Medical issues (vaccines, X-rays, health checkups) � Step-by-step guide to applying for ATAS � Step-by-step guide to applying for visa/exit permit � Financial preparation � Documents to bring over � Publicity of Pre-Departure Talk

Singapore Shopping Guide1 June

� Cost of living in London � Things to buy and prepare � For yourself: clothing, footwear, bags � For college: stationery, electronics, textbooks � For daily living: bedding, utensils, medication � Packing tips (hand carry, luggage, shipping) � Publicity of Sojourn and UKBound

Arrival in London22 June

� Travelling from Heathrow to halls � Step-by-step guide to opening a bank account � Communication essentials � Transport network explained � Security advice � Early arrivals: where to stay? � Publicity of Freshers’ Pickup/Walkabout

Life in London13 July (Pre-Departure Talk)

� Hall life � Recommended places to shop � Recommended places to eat � Recommended places to sightsee � Publicity of Hyde Park Picnic � Introduction to Sports @ ICSS

BOOKBOOK BOOK

1 2 3 BOOK

4

pre-departuretalk13.07.2013

The Pre-Departure Talk is the opening event of the Fresher’s package, and thus the very first point of contact between the society and the freshers. This year, the event will be held at the 170-seater auditorium of The Treasury, which is centrally located at the heart of Singapore. The talk will consist of two parts: presentation and engagement.

The talk begins with a lecture-style presentation to disseminate essen-tial information about living and studying in London. Topics such as ac-commodation, visa application, things to bring, and all other necessary preparatory work will be covered here.

For the second half of the event, the freshers will be grouped into their respective course of studies and engaged by a Year 2 student from the same course. The Year 2 senior will serve as an academic advisor and address any course-related queries from the freshers, providing them with greater clarity of what is in store for them. The engagement also serves as an excellent opportunity for the freshers to meet and mingle with their fellow coursemates for the first time.

Last year, Pre-Departure Talk 2012 saw an attendance of 85 freshers and 40 seniors.

pre-departuretalk13.07.2013

The Pre-Departure Talk is the opening event of the Fresher’s package, and thus the very first point of contact between the society and the freshers. This year, the event will be held at the 170-seater auditorium of The Treasury, which is centrally located at the heart of Singapore. The talk will consist of two parts: presentation and engagement.

The talk begins with a lecture-style presentation to disseminate essen-tial information about living and studying in London. Topics such as ac-commodation, visa application, things to bring, and all other necessary preparatory work will be covered here.

For the second half of the event, the freshers will be grouped into their respective course of studies and engaged by a Year 2 student from the same course. The Year 2 senior will serve as an academic advisor and address any course-related queries from the freshers, providing them with greater clarity of what is in store for them. The engagement also serves as an excellent opportunity for the freshers to meet and mingle with their fellow coursemates for the first time.

Last year, Pre-Departure Talk 2012 saw an attendance of 85 freshers and 40 seniors.

sojourn16.08.2013 17.08.2013 18.08.2013

Sojourn is ICSS' annual freshmen orientation camp and is the defining moment for most of the Singaporeans at Imperial College. As the high-light of our Fresher's Package and a key component of the Interaction phase, its effects are far and wide for it sets the foundation upon which subsequent relationships are built.

Being a large scale event with massive participation over a few days, Sojourn requires a lot of detailed planning and preparation to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Preparation for Sojourn started in April and extends all the way until the end of the camp. All this is certainly no easy feat, but the extensive planning and preparation is done for a sole purpose: our freshers.

On the first day, the freshmen are broken into their individual orientation groups, headed by six Orienta-tion Group Leaders (OGLs). They will start a series of icebreaker games so that they can get to know their fellow orientation group (OG) mates. This will be fol-lowed by a the inter-OG beach games after lunch, where the different OGs will compete against each other. In the process, the freshmen will build cama-raderie and strengthen the ties already made in the morning, as well as feel a sense of pride fighting for their OG. After the sun sets, the night games will begin! For this segment, the OGs embark on a quest with a multitude of team bonding activities designed to en-hance their group dynamics whilst having great fun.

The following day, the OGs will leave Sentosa island for mainland Singapore where they will participate in an amazing race. Game stations are located all around Sin-gapore, and as the OG travels to each station, they will be given challenges to complete so as to earn points and clues directing them to the next location. These challenges and rewards provide a common goal for the OGs to strive for, hence further uniting the freshers. At the end of the tiring yet exhilarating day, the OGs re-turn to Sentosa for their OG cohesion, where they spend an intimate evening together engaging in light banter and conversation. Through heartfelt and meaningful conversations, the freshers will be able to connect with each other on a deeper and more profound level.

The final day of Sojourn is designed to end with a bang! Having spent the first two days of the camp with their OGs and building strong friendships in the process, the final event now brings all the fresh-ers and seniors together. In the adrenaline-pumping and thrilling war games, the OGs battle for survival and domination, fending off attacks from other OGs while sparking their own. Eventually one OG prevails, but together as one Singapore Society, everyone has achieved so much more. After the prize-giving cere-mony to reward all the OGs, the entire ICSS gathers to celebrate the end of Sojourn. The OGs will then leave Sentosa island with mixed feelings, bringing with them newfound friends and precious memories.

May � OGL selection interview � Booking of camp venues

June � Sojourn T-shirt design � Intensive planning of

programme and games

July � Intensive preparation of

Sojourn programme � T-shirt printing � Gathering of logistics � Allocation of manpower � Recce camp venues � Liaison with food caterers

August � Two complete dry runs � and... Sojourn 2013!

timeline

programme

Last year, Sojourn 2012 saw the massive participation of 77 freshers and 60 seniors and the statistics for pre-vious years are likewise. There is a clear tradition of ex-cellence to uphold, and ICSS is confident of living up to the legacy of the previous Sojourn camps. However, as the event is heavily subsidised by the society, ICSS can only achieve its aim of delivering a stellar Sojourn 2013 with the help and support of its partner organizations.

icebreakers . beach games . night games . amazing race . OG cohesion . war games . prize-giving ceremony

DAY

ON

E

DAY

TWO

DAY

THRE

E

S J UO O R

N

On the first day, the freshmen are broken into their individual orientation groups, headed by six Orienta-tion Group Leaders (OGLs). They will start a series of icebreaker games so that they can get to know their fellow orientation group (OG) mates. This will be fol-lowed by a the inter-OG beach games after lunch, where the different OGs will compete against each other. In the process, the freshmen will build cama-raderie and strengthen the ties already made in the morning, as well as feel a sense of pride fighting for their OG. After the sun sets, the night games will begin! For this segment, the OGs embark on a quest with a multitude of team bonding activities designed to en-hance their group dynamics whilst having great fun.

The following day, the OGs will leave Sentosa island for mainland Singapore where they will participate in an amazing race. Game stations are located all around Sin-gapore, and as the OG travels to each station, they will be given challenges to complete so as to earn points and clues directing them to the next location. These challenges and rewards provide a common goal for the OGs to strive for, hence further uniting the freshers. At the end of the tiring yet exhilarating day, the OGs re-turn to Sentosa for their OG cohesion, where they spend an intimate evening together engaging in light banter and conversation. Through heartfelt and meaningful conversations, the freshers will be able to connect with each other on a deeper and more profound level.

The final day of Sojourn is designed to end with a bang! Having spent the first two days of the camp with their OGs and building strong friendships in the process, the final event now brings all the fresh-ers and seniors together. In the adrenaline-pumping and thrilling war games, the OGs battle for survival and domination, fending off attacks from other OGs while sparking their own. Eventually one OG prevails, but together as one Singapore Society, everyone has achieved so much more. After the prize-giving cere-mony to reward all the OGs, the entire ICSS gathers to celebrate the end of Sojourn. The OGs will then leave Sentosa island with mixed feelings, bringing with them newfound friends and precious memories.

May � OGL selection interview � Booking of camp venues

June � Sojourn T-shirt design � Intensive planning of

programme and games

July � Intensive preparation of

Sojourn programme � T-shirt printing � Gathering of logistics � Allocation of manpower � Recce camp venues � Liaison with food caterers

August � Two complete dry runs � and... Sojourn 2013!

timeline

programme

Last year, Sojourn 2012 saw the massive participation of 77 freshers and 60 seniors and the statistics for pre-vious years are likewise. There is a clear tradition of ex-cellence to uphold, and ICSS is confident of living up to the legacy of the previous Sojourn camps. However, as the event is heavily subsidised by the society, ICSS can only achieve its aim of delivering a stellar Sojourn 2013 with the help and support of its partner organizations.

icebreakers . beach games . night games . amazing race . OG cohesion . war games . prize-giving ceremony

DAY

ON

E

DAY

TWO

DAY

THRE

E

S J UO O R

N

ukbound

While Sojourn aims to foster interaction among the freshers and seniors in ICSS, UKBound provide our members the op-portunity to expand their social circle beyond the ICSS family. An annual in-ter-varsity event organised by ICSS, the event is meant for all Singaporean stu-dents heading for the UK and serves as a great platform for our freshers to interact and make new friends prior to departure.

The main highlight of the night is the beauty pageant, which will see the hunks and babes from the different universities battle against each other in a contest of beauty, charisma, wit and charm. The en-tire ICSS community usually turn up to support the event, and as they cheer and root for Imperial representatives, they strengthen their team spirit and estab-lish a common Imperial identity as well.

UKBound 2012 saw a turnout of over 400 freshers and seniors from the vari-ous UK universities, making it another highly successful event in our calendar.

07.09.2013

ukbound

While Sojourn aims to foster interaction among the freshers and seniors in ICSS, UKBound provide our members the op-portunity to expand their social circle beyond the ICSS family. An annual in-ter-varsity event organised by ICSS, the event is meant for all Singaporean stu-dents heading for the UK and serves as a great platform for our freshers to interact and make new friends prior to departure.

The main highlight of the night is the beauty pageant, which will see the hunks and babes from the different universities battle against each other in a contest of beauty, charisma, wit and charm. The en-tire ICSS community usually turn up to support the event, and as they cheer and root for Imperial representatives, they strengthen their team spirit and estab-lish a common Imperial identity as well.

UKBound 2012 saw a turnout of over 400 freshers and seniors from the vari-ous UK universities, making it another highly successful event in our calendar.

07.09.2013

To help freshers experience a smooth transition to life in London, ICSS organises the freshers' pickup and walkabout to welcome the freshers upon their arrival.

Chartered buses pick up the freshers from Heathrow airport and send them directly to their halls of residence, be it in Princes Gardens, Evelyn Gardens – even the further ones like Pembridge Hall or Wilson Hall.

After the freshers drop off their luggage in their rooms, they will go on a walkabout led by OGLs previously from the same hall. During this walk-about, the freshers will be shown the route from their hall to school, the nearest convenience stores, supermarkets, local banks, as well as other key locations which lies in the vicinity of each hall.

They will also be brought to purchase essential items they need for settling down, such as SIM cards, Oyster cards, bedsheets and duvets. All these measures help to ensure that the freshers feel comfortable and are quickly assimilated to life in London.

freshers' pickup+walkabout

28.09.2013

To help freshers experience a smooth transition to life in London, ICSS organises the freshers' pickup and walkabout to welcome the freshers upon their arrival.

Chartered buses pick up the freshers from Heathrow airport and send them directly to their halls of residence, be it in Princes Gardens, Evelyn Gardens – even the further ones like Pembridge Hall or Wilson Hall.

After the freshers drop off their luggage in their rooms, they will go on a walkabout led by OGLs previously from the same hall. During this walk-about, the freshers will be shown the route from their hall to school, the nearest convenience stores, supermarkets, local banks, as well as other key locations which lies in the vicinity of each hall.

They will also be brought to purchase essential items they need for settling down, such as SIM cards, Oyster cards, bedsheets and duvets. All these measures help to ensure that the freshers feel comfortable and are quickly assimilated to life in London.

freshers' pickup+walkabout

28.09.2013

tourlondon

The weekend after the Freshers' Walkabout, the OGLs will bring their OGs on a tour of London. On the itinerary are the most famous attractions the city has to offer, such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar's Square, London Eye and more! The day-long outing typically ends with a meal in Chinatown to satisfy the freshers' cravings for oriental food after a week away from home.

05.10.2013

The Freshers' Hyde Park Picnic is usually held during the first fortnight of the Autumn Term, allowing the freshers to get comfortable outdoors before the arrival of the winter chill.

Food and drinks will be provided at the picnic, and the following sports will be played: Touch-Rugby, Captain's ball, Frisbee and Football! For those people who proudly proclaim that they lack any form of athlet-ic ability, picnic mats will be provided and they can revel in card and board games instead.

Not only does the picnic serve as a platform for the freshers to interact with the ICSS community, it also introduces them to another integral part of ICSS - the weekly sports and games sessions.

Interested freshers will be recruited into the various ICSS sports teams, and henceforth join the teams for their weekly playing sessions. This brings about multiple benefits. Firstly, apart from their own course and OG, the freshers now belong to another social circle, i.e. their sports teams, and hence have a wider social circle. Secondly, the regular recre-ational sessions will also enrich the freshers' lives as a student.

hydeparkpicnic12.10.2013

The Freshers' Hyde Park Picnic is usually held during the first fortnight of the Autumn Term, allowing the freshers to get comfortable outdoors before the arrival of the winter chill.

Food and drinks will be provided at the picnic, and the following sports will be played: Touch-Rugby, Captain's ball, Frisbee and Football! For those people who proudly proclaim that they lack any form of athlet-ic ability, picnic mats will be provided and they can revel in card and board games instead.

Not only does the picnic serve as a platform for the freshers to interact with the ICSS community, it also introduces them to another integral part of ICSS - the weekly sports and games sessions.

Interested freshers will be recruited into the various ICSS sports teams, and henceforth join the teams for their weekly playing sessions. This brings about multiple benefits. Firstly, apart from their own course and OG, the freshers now belong to another social circle, i.e. their sports teams, and hence have a wider social circle. Secondly, the regular recre-ational sessions will also enrich the freshers' lives as a student.

hydeparkpicnic12.10.2013

hallfiestaBeing from a country dubbed as the food paradise, it is only natural that all Singaporeans crave good food. In fact, there is no better way to rally Singaporeans in a foreign land than to have them come together and whip up a few authentic Singaporean dishes! The final event of the Freshers' Package is an inter-hall culinary competition known as the Hall Fiesta.

For this event, seniors return to the hall they used to stay in and join forces with the freshers to prepare a range of mouth-watering dishes. In the process, culinary skills are imparted from the seniors to the freshers (and possibly the other way too), forming cross-generation friendships. At the end of the day, all dishes are put together to form a sumptuous feast.

Photos of the completed dishes will be taken and uploaded on Facebook, and the chef whose dish obtains the most number of likes after a week will be the winner. For the freshers, their interaction with fellow chefs of the same hall is invaluable. Many of them go on to form cooking groups. This ensures that not only are their gastronomical needs well taken care of, they also have a group of friends to enjoy their meals with all the time. This will help the freshers to integrate better into life in halls.

19.10.2013

budgetBased on our previous expenditures, our projected expenditure for 2013/2014 is as follows:

Pre-departure Talk (£80) � Venue booking: £50

� Printing: £30

Sojourn (£1560)Heavily subsidised event

� Venue rental: £800

� Food subsidy: £400

� Logistics (games, transport): £180

� T- shirts: £180 

UKBound 2013 (£200)Partialy subsidised event

� Venue subsidy: £200

Hyde Park Picnic (£50) � Refreshments: £50

Fresher’s Package Total: £1890

budgetBased on our previous expenditures, our projected expenditure for 2013/2014 is as follows:

Pre-departure Talk (£80) � Venue booking: £50

� Printing: £30

Sojourn (£1560)Heavily subsidised event

� Venue rental: £800

� Food subsidy: £400

� Logistics (games, transport): £180

� T- shirts: £180 

UKBound 2013 (£200)Partialy subsidised event

� Venue subsidy: £200

Hyde Park Picnic (£50) � Refreshments: £50

Fresher’s Package Total: £1890

conclusionThe Freshers' Package 2013 organised by the ICSS is done with the aim of making our Freshers’ transition from living in Singapore to life in London as smooth as possible. Having once been in their place, their concerns and apprehensions with regards to coming overseas to pursue an education are well-understood. Hence, the ICSS tries its best year after year to organise as comprehensive a Fresher’s Package as possible, to do for our juniors what our seniors have done for us.

In order to attract as many freshers as possible to participate in our orientation activities, the ICSS provides a substantial subsidy for the events which are part of the Freshers’ Package. However, this would be very difficult to achieve without the help of partner organisations, especially the International Office which is a key source of support for the ICSS. As such, the ICSS is highly indebted to its partners for helping to make the pre-departure experience of each of our freshers a cher-ished one. We wish to continue paying it forward, and do hope that the Freshers’ Package 2013 will act as a strong base upon which the ICSS can strive to be a home away from home.

Sincerely, Imperial College Singapore Society 31st Executive Committee