imperial college singapore society sotong guide

IMPERIAL COLLEGE
SINGAPORE SOCIETY
SOTONG
GUIDE
Singapore Shopping Spree
2013
99 Cost of living in London
99 Things to buy and prepare
BOOK
– for yourself
– for college
– for daily living
99 Packing tips
IMPERIAL COLLEGE
SINGAPORE SOCIETY
SOTONG
GUIDE
HI THERE!
Feeling lost like a sotong? Daunted by
all the things you have to prepare before
heading off to a whole new experience in
London? Don’t worry!
zap to visit
our website
imperial.singsoc
Published by
Imperial College Singapore Society
Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BB
United Kingdom
©2013 Imperial College Singapore Society
All rights reserved. No part of this publication shall be reproduced, stored or
transmitted by any means, whether electronically or physically, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
The publisher shall not be liable for any
damages as a result of the use of the information contained herein. All care is taken
to ensure that the contents of this publication are free from errors.
www.ic-singsoc.net
The Imperial College Singapore Society
Sotong Guide is a series of four guidebooks which we have specially prepared to
guide you through your journey to London,
from pre-departure to settling down. This
is the second book in the series.
In this book, find out exactly what you
should grab before leaving Singapore, and
what you should get after you arrive in
London. As the living costs are somewhat
higher in London than Singapore, we have
prepared some information to help you
maximise your baggage allowance.
More information regarding our upcoming
events are found on our Facebook page.
Also, don’t forget to register with us so that
we can contact you on any latest updates.
If you have any queries or comments, feel
free to get in touch with us via email.
Lastly, we hope that you’ll find this guide
useful and we look forward to seeing you
at Imperial College London!
31st Executive Committee
Imperial College Singapore Society
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03
Cost of Living in London
T
he living costs are somewhat higher in London
than Singapore, but that does not mean that
everything is more expensive in London. The
next few sections are filled with information to
help you decide whether to buy certain things in
Singapore or over in London.
Common items you will need can be divided into
three main areas:
ÔÔ For yourself (see page 05)
ÔÔ For college (see page 10)
ÔÔ For daily living (see page 13)
In fact, most of the things you’ll need can be
bought either in Singapore or in London. If you
want to travel light, you may wish to get the things
over in London, but be prepared to pay more.
In addition, we will provide our recommendation
(denoted by a megaphone:
) for selected items,
so that you can decide for yourself what items to
take with you over to London.
SHARE THIS BOOK!
If you have friends who will
be joining you at Imperial
College next year, do help us
spread the word about the
Sotong Guide series!
ÔÔ http://bit.ly/sotong
04 | Sotong Guide Book Two
Register Now!
For us to send you updates and information on any
upcoming events, register with us now!
ÔÔ http://bit.ly/icssfreshers2013
Don’t forget to join the freshers’ Facebook group.
ÔÔ http://facebook.com/groups/icssfreshers2013
Lastly, please do not hesitate to contact us if you
have any queries.
For Yourself
T
here’s always a great temptation to lug your entire closet of clothes
over to London. But this isn’t quite practical as most of the clothes you
wear in Singapore are not too suitable for the cooler climate in London.
Clothing in London is not as expensive as you would have imagined. You
just need to visit the right shops at the right time to get the best deals,
such as the Boxing Day sales which kicks off on 26 December.
Just like in Singapore, random sale periods are also held frequently
throughout the year, and these are excellent opportunities for you to
stock up your closet with clothes at affordable prices.
autumn COLLECTION
& winter
When you arrive in London in late
September, the temperature will be somewhere between 8 and 16°C. There will be
a higher than usual amount of rainfall
in October. During the coldest months of
winter, the temperature drops below –5°C.
Layering is the way to go during winter,
as it would help keep you warm outdoors
while allowing you to adapt to changing
temperatures in and out of buildings. Here
are some of the items which you may want
to prepare before leaving Singapore.
Sweaters, wool jumpers
Wool jumpers are useful for the cold
outdoors, while cotton ones are more
suited for indoor use. You may wish to
take one or two sweaters with you over to
London and put them on before walking
out of the airport.
We advise buying the bulk of your
sweaters in London for the variety, suitability and quality. For as low as £10, you
can get an acrylic sweater. A typical wool
jumper costs around £30 in London.
Jackets
Thermal wear
Wet days are not uncommon in London.
While the rain is much lighter than the
storms you’ve been experiencing in Singapore, the wind can potentially make the
temperature a few degrees lower than the
thermometer reading.
You’ll probably need to put on your jacket
the moment you step out of the airport, so
you might want to place it in your hand
baggage. You don’t need take too many
jackets with you, as London’s shops offer a
wider choice in terms of functionality and
design.
If you are getting a jacket, make sure you
get one that is waterproof and windproof.
Hooded jackets are recommended for an
occasional unexpected showers or when
the strong wind gusts renders umbrellas
impractical. You may consider investing
in a good leather jacket as it is lighter to
wear during the warmer autumn days.
Winter coats
For those who might be more sensitive
to the chill, do not fret. There will be a
wide variety of Heat Tech thermal undergarments at affordable prices from Uniqlo
once you’re in London too. They would
probably come in more useful for winter
ski trips. It might be good to consider
bringing a set of woollen long-johns too
for when the weather gets a lot colder.
Nylon tights
For ladies who would like to wear skirts
and dresses, you may wish to bring a few
nylon tights over. Again, there is no need to
bring too many pairs as you can purchase
them after you arrive in London.
Scarves, gloves
Winter coats can be bought after you
arrive in London. The gap of a few weeks
gives you sufficient time to do so. Therefore, you shouldn’t need to buy thick puffy
winter coats from Winter Time in Singapore, especially when a more reasonably
priced and fashionable range of winter
coats awaits you in London.
For those who are more sensitive to cold
environments, you may wish to buy a scarf
and a pair of gloves in Singapore. Put them
on before leaving the airport.
Take one of each item over and buy the rest in London.
06 | Sotong Guide Book Two
spring &COLLECTION
summer
When the cold season is finally over in
April (or March if you’re lucky), it’s time
to switch over to a lighter set of clothes.
If there is that extra bit of space in your
luggage, you could throw in some of your
favourite T-shirts.
Although there are not a lot of occasions
where formal wear is required, you may
want to buy it in Singapore as it might be
difficult to find affordable formal wear on
a short notice.
Some occasions that require formal wear
include freshers’ ball, various boat parties,
alumni nights and internship interviews.
Medics may require formal clothing on a
more frequent basis, as there are patient
visits and simulated patient interviews.
London prices for comparison...
Item
Price
Long sleeved shirts
£15 – £30
T-shirts
£6 – £30
Blouses
£15 – £30
Jumpers, cardigans
£8 – £35
Jeans
£10 – £50
Bermudas, shorts
£15 – £30
formal
COLLECTION
For the gentlemen: a formal suit, a few
long sleeved shirts, ties, leather shoes.
For the ladies: a few evening dresses,
dress shoes.
Buy in Singapore.
For Yourself | 07
footwear
Casual shoes
Most students studying in Imperial
College travel by foot. When buying shoes,
ensure that they are sturdy and comfortable enough for walking. As the first few
months in London tend to be quite wet,
you may want to consider getting something waterproof!
Waterproof boots
During the wetter months of the year, you
may find leather boots or hiking boots
useful in keeping your feet warm.
If you don’t have one yet, buy them
when you get to London as they are quite
reasonably priced.
You should probably buy them in
Singapore and wear them on your flight.
Sports shoes
A mere five-minute walk from school,
Hyde Park is a scenic place for sports of
all sorts. For those who enjoy an active
lifestyle, you may wish to buy your cross
trainers, soccer boots, etc. in Singapore,
unless you don’t mind waiting for a good
deal in London.
Buy in Singapore so that you can use
it straight away.
08 | Sotong Guide Book Two
Slippers, sandals
Take your slippers or sandals with you,
as there is less variety in London. When
moving about in halls, slippers are very
convenient. Furthermore, you can wear
them during spring or summer!
You’ll be able to get more comfortable and better quality ones in Singapore
for the same price.
ÔÔ Shampoo
ÔÔ Soaps
toiletries
ÔÔ Shower gel
ÔÔ Toothbrush
ÔÔ Toothpaste
ÔÔ Face and body moisturiser
Toiletries take up a lot of luggage space
and weight, so you might just want to take
a weeks’ worth with you to London. All of
these are readily available and reasonably
priced in supermarkets or convenience
stores in London.
Often cheaper in Singapore, buy only
if you have the excess weight to spare.
Moisturiser and lip balm are highly recommended during the windy and cold winter
season.
ÔÔ Sanitary pads
For the ladies, sanitary pads in London
are of lower quality. For those who are
particular, you may wish to stock them up
while you are in Singapore.
For school: A small bag for your daily commute – large enough
to fit your files, notes, laptop and the occasional textbook.
For travel: A backpack for short holidays – not too small to fit
your clothes, not too big as a hand baggage (see page 16).
bags
Bags in London are not cheap, so you may want to get them Singapore.
hangers
Some halls of accommodation provide a few
hangers, while others don’t. You may want to
take a few hangers with you over to London and
buy the rest there when an opportunity arises.
Some shops such as Topman or Primark give
out free hangers with any purchase. Just let
them know that you are a student in need of
hangers. If you’re lucky, you can get as many as
10 hangers per transaction.
For Yourself | 09
For College
Stationery
W
hile it may seem convenient to purchase
stationery from the college bookstore, you
might want to consider preparing an adequate
supply whilst you are in Singapore. Here are some
items which you may want to put in your luggage.
Pens
Highlighters
Pens are readily available in London, but
you might not be able to find the brands
which you are used to. If you are lucky
enough, your trusted brand of writing
instruments (including their refills) can be
bought in London at twice the price.
For those who love to colour their notes,
you may wish to buy a few highlighters in
Singapore. Highlighters are also given out
for free during fairs.
However, if you are not picky with the type
of pen you use, free pens are available at
various fairs held throughout the year. If
you collect pens from each booth, you’d
probably have enough to last you for the
entire course. It is also worth noting that
some of these pens are of high quality.
A 30-centimetre ruler will be suitable for
most students. If you prefer tearing paper
using a ruler, a metal one would be recommended.
Pencils and Erasers
If you are studying in Imperial College,
chances are that you’ll need pencils and
erasers for your occasional graphs and
sketches. The price of a tiny eraser in
London is equal to the price of a large
white soft eraser in Singapore.
Include a few boxes of pencil lead if you
are using a mechanical pencil. Throw in
a sharpener if you are using a traditional
wooden pencil.
10 | Sotong Guide Book Two
Ruler
Sticky Notes
Free sticky notes are given out for promotional and publicity purposes at a number
of fairs and events.
Writing Pads
Writing pads (or paper of any sort) can
drastically increase your luggage weight.
While they are more expensive in London,
prices are still reasonable if you buy them
in larger stacks. If you want to bring a
writing pad, you may wish to put it in your
hand baggage.
Files, Ring Binders and Dividers
While these are useful in keeping your
notes in order, you may wish to get them
over in London due to their weight.
Correction Tape or Fluid
Correction tape or correction fluid can cost
a few times more in London, as these items
do not seem to be quite popular with the
local community.
T-Squares, Flexi Curves and
Scaled Rulers
Certain courses including Civil, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering require
drawing equipment such as T-squares,
flexi curves, and scaled rulers.
It is not necessary to buy these as you can
borrow them from your seniors. You may
consider bringing a set of drawing pencils
as those sold in London are much more
expensive.
Textbooks and Notes
Textbooks are generally more expensive in London
than in Singapore. Check with your department or
with seniors who are studying the same course if
there is a list of recommended textbooks.
Second Hand Books
Library Loans
Some departments organise a second
hand book sale at the start of the term,
where you are able to grab textbooks at a
fraction of the price.
You may also loan textbooks from the
college library. If you plan your loans and
renewals properly, you could potentially
borrow the book for the entire year.
More information will be given by your
department during the few first lectures.
A-Level Notes
Grab your textbooks in London.
Take your A-level notes with you if you find
it useful and relevant to your course.
For College | 11
Electronics
In general, electronics are more expensive in
London than in Singapore. If are thinking of buying
big-ticket items such as laptops or cameras, the
next electronics trade show in Singapore should
give you the best cost savings.
Scientific Calculators
Electronic Storage
For examinations, calculator models are
specific to each department.
Thumb drives or external hard disk drives
are useful for transferring large files
between laptops and college terminals.
These will be very useful for projects.
Before buying a calculator, you should
check with your department or with
seniors who are studying the same course.
Laptops
Ensure that your laptop is in a good
working condition. Laptops are generally
more expensive in London if you have to
replace them for any reason.
Buy in Singapore.
LAN Cable
Depending on your allocated halls of
accommodation, you may require a LAN
cable to access the internet. If you prefer
working from your desk, a 2-metre LAN
cable should suffice. If you want the
freedom to use your laptop anywhere in
your room, a 5-metre LAN cable is recommended.
Put it in your hand baggage so that
you may use it straight away.
12 | Sotong Guide Book Two
Printers, Scanners and Monitors
Printers, scanners and monitors can be
easily purchased in London at reasonable prices. As printing and scanning
stations are easily accessible in college,
most students do not require them. Most
departments provide free printing credits
for students to print their notes and
coursework.
Save luggage space. Buy in London.
Extension Plug and Adapters
As some of the electric sockets are located
under the desk, you may wish to buy an
extension plug for convenience. Also, buy
the cheap plastic two-pin plug adapters
in Singapore if you require them for any
of your electronics. You may also wish to
get travel adaptors if you intend to go on
holiday in Europe.
For Daily Living
Food
Kitchen
Cutlery
A
s these are often sold in sets, you
may wish buy them over in London
and split them with another friend. 16-24
piece cutlery set costs around £8, while a
12-16 piece dinner set costs around £10.
Bring your own chopsticks as they are
rarer and more expensive in London.
Saucepans, Woks and Pots
However, don’t buy the cheapest ones you
find, as you’ll soon find yourself shopping
for another one.
Make sure that you buy flat-based woks
as most halls use electric induction hobs.
Woks from Chinatown also tend to rust
easily, so be prepared to oil them after
each use.
Cooking will be part and parcel of your
life in Imperial. We recommend buying
non-stick, high quality pots that can last
you through the years, rather than scrimp
now and regret it later.
Seasonings
You might want to take some of your
favourite seasonings or foodstuffs (such
as chilli, pastes or spices) over to London.
These tend to be pricey and can only be
found in Chinatown. Note that oyster
sauce, dark sauce and light sauce can be
found in London at affordable prices, so
you could leave them in Singapore.
Don’t forget to learn to cook your favourite
Singaporean dishes – it will gain you much
popularity and fame among your friends!
Comfort Food
Bring along your supplies of Milo, kaya,
chicken essence and Singaporean snacks
because they can only be found at Chinatown and prices tend to be double of that
in Singapore.
BRAND X
Leave these heavy items in Singapore.
Rice Cooker
Decent rice cookers can be purchased in
London for around £20.
For Daily Living | 13
Medication
Bedding
Basic Medication
We recommend packing some basic medication into your luggage. These include
flu tablets, paracetamol, charcoal pills (for
diarrhoea and food poisoning), traditional
lozenges, inhaler etc.
First-Aid Kit
It might be ideal to bring along a first aid
kit containing plasters and antiseptics for
cuts and bruises.
Chinese Herbs and Medicine
Bed sheets, pillows and pillow cases can
be purchased over in London at affordable
prices. However, bolsters are impossible to
find, so put one in your luggage if you wish.
Grab bolsters in Singapore.
If necessary, buy any Chinese herbs and
medicine in Singapore. There are a few
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners
in London, but they are very expensive.
Vitamins
It would be good to have some vitamins
on hand to help you stay healthy, especially during your first winter in London.
14 | Sotong Guide Book Two
Locks
Take one or two small locks with you as
some of you will need to lock your cabinet
in the kitchen.
Everything Else
Passport-Sized Photos
Haircut
Take a few passport-sized photos with
you. These services are not cheap in
London – four photographs for £10. It
is also useful to have a scanned image
of your passport-sized photo.
You may wish to have a haircut before
going to London. A typical haircut
will cost approximately £10 to £15 in
London. A professional salon cut will
cost you anywhere from £40 to £80.
Flight Booking
It may work out cheaper and more flexible if you book a one-way
flight from Singapore to London. All subsequent flights can be
booked as a return trip from London to Singapore.
If you are thinking of booking a return trip from Singapore to
London, you may wish to book a open return ticket. Most students
should be able to leave London as soon as their examinations
and projects are over. Depending on your course schedule, this is
usually earlier than the last day of term.
Everything Else | 15
Packing Tips
S
o you have bought a lot of stuff to take
along with you to London. This section
covers some packing advice, and is based
on the assumption that you will be travelling by plane.
Checked Baggage
A number of airlines provide extra weight
allowance for students upon request. For
example, Singapore Airlines may allow
an additional 5 kg to 10 kg of checked
baggage if you call them in advance and
tell them that you are a student. Sometimes, you may need to negotiate for that
extra weight, but they may give in after a
few calls.
Due to local health safety reasons in the
UK, checked luggage must not exceed 32
kg per piece.
Some airlines may also allow you to check
in two pieces of luggage. If you are travelling alone, it is advisable not to have more
than one trolley bag. There are a number
of London Underground stations which
are not equipped with lifts or escalators.
If you exceed the weight allowance by a
little, you can try checking in earlier. Most
check-in staff would close one eye if the
weight is less than 3 kg above the limit.
Tip: Checked baggage allowance for
Emirates flights is 30 kg.
Caution: Remember to weigh your
luggage before going to the airport,
unless you don’t mind repacking in front
of all your relatives and friends.
16 | Sotong Guide Book Two
Vacuum Bags
You can purchase vacuum bags of various
sizes from Daiso to maximise the luggage
space. Daiso sells them for only $2 each.
Remember to measure the internal dimensions of your luggage before buying!
Fragile Items
Music instruments and sports equipment
can be checked-in as fragile items. Check
with your respective airlines for further
information and fees.
Hand Baggage
Pack the items which you will absolutely
need on the first day in your hand baggage
or at the top of your checked baggage.
For hand baggage dimensions, most
airlines follow the guidelines set by the
International Air Transport Association
(IATA). In general, hand baggage should
have a maximum length of 56 cm, width
of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm including all
handles, side pockets, wheels etc.
The maximum weight varies from airline
to airline. Most airlines set their maximum
at 7 kg. As this is not strictly enforced,
you may be able to pass through as long
as your hand baggage looks compact.
Laptops are generally not included in the
hand baggage limit and does not count as
an additional piece of hand carry.
Tip: British Airways has a generous limit
of 23 kg for hand baggage, in addition to
23 kg of checked baggage.
Tip: If you are taking any laptops,
tablets, etc. with you, ensure that it is
easily removable and replaceable from
your hand baggage for security checks.
Any liquids, aerosols and gels must be
contained in bottles placed in a clear
sealable plastic bag. The bottle itself (not
the contents) must not exceed 100 ml in
volume.
Shipping
If you are not able to bring all your items
over with you by plane, you may wish to
consider the option of shipping. You may
wish to send your parcel around 4 to 6
weeks before you leave for London. Simply
let us know if you require an address to
ship your items to and we will try helping
you as much as possible.
WHAT’S IN BOOK THREE?
You’ve bought everything you can think of,
and you’re now ready to fly over to London.
In the upcoming book Life Begins in London,
learn more about your banking, communication and transport needs. Find out how
to negotiate your way around London’s
transport network and how to get to your
halls of residence when you arrive.
Also, read about some events we have
planned for you over in London, to help
you familiarise your with your new environment. These events will be held after
you arrive in London.
Comments or feedback?
If you have wish to provide comments or
feedback on this publication, send us an
email at sotong@ic-singsoc.net.
Packing Tips | 17
SOJOURN 2013
ODYSSEY
16 TO 18 AUGUST 2013
As the annual ICSS orientation camp,
Sojourn is an event that you should not
miss! The 3D2N stay at Sentosa will
bring freshers together, with plenty of
games, fun, sweat and late nights. You
will get to meet new friends who will
brighten up your life in London.
This camp is specially organised for
all undergraduate and postgraduate
students who are heading to Imperial
College this coming September.
For further details, visit our website
and join the freshers’ Facebook group.
See you at Sojourn 2013: Odyssey!
UKBOUND
7 SEPTEMBER 2013
UKBound is the annual beauty pageant organised by ICSS which
brings together freshmen and seniors heading to the UK. Hunks
and babes from the different universities battle against one
another in a contest of beauty, charisma, wit and charm. Don’t
wait any longer, grab your tickets now and support your friends!
Key Information
Useful Links
Upcoming Events
13.07 ICSS Pre-Departure Talk
ÔÔ Imperial College London
http://www.imperial.ac.uk
21.07 British Council Talk
ÔÔ Imperial College Singapore Society
http://www.ic-singsoc.net
16.08
17.08
18.08
Sojourn 2013: Odyssey
31.08
Warwick Summer Games
07.09
UKBound 2013
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ICSS
31ST
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
THE SINGAPOREAN FRESHER’S
ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO
LIFE IN LONDON
AND IMPERIAL COLLEGE