International welcome booklet 2016

‘Josephine Butler International Freshers 2016’

@ButlerIntl

Welcome!

Bonjour! Namaste! Vanakam! Hello! 你好! Hola!

“Experienced Internationals”

Hannah Coogans Ancient, Medieval and Modern History | 2nd Year

First of all, a hearty congratulations to all of you for getting into Durham and above all into BUTLER! My name is Sudhan Raja, a third year Economist and your International Officer for the year, meaning I will be here for you to answer all your little questions and help you settle down in Durham. Being an international student myself, I know exactly how exciting it is to move to a new country to study and I had lots and lots of questions when I first arrived and I’m sure you all do too; so please do not hesitate to ask me or any of the yellow-topped ‘Freps’ (Freshers’ Reps).

My contact details are m.s.rajasundaram@durham.ac.uk | 07517069770 (however. please only use this number upon arriving in Durham as I will not be in Durham until then).

This International Freshers’ guide explains what happens from the moment you arrive in Durham along with a timetable of events and other basic information to answer your questions. Do not forget to join our Facebook group – “Josephine Butler International Freshers 2016” where I will be constantly spamming you with what’s happening in Freshers’ week. It is also a great starting point to meet new friends!

Nationality: Australian (living in Hong Kong) What do you love about Butler?

I love that there is something for everyone and everything is so inclusive! I think Butler is the most diverse, welcoming and fun college. Everybody has a say and a chance to get involved which I absolutely love. We have a great spirit and know how to have a good time!

What was your biggest challenge at university and how did you overcome it?

I found adjusting to being away from my family a bit tough but I surrounded myself with great friends and got involved in everything college had to offer and found that the more I did the less I felt homesick! There is always someone to talk to at Butler and soooo many activities to be a part of.

What new things did you try at university?

Zumba and A cappella choir Favourite restaurant in Durham?

Jumping Bean Café (amazing Vegetarian/Vegan food) Best advice for our freshers?

Get stuck in, Butler is such a welcoming and fun college so the more you get involved the more you get out of it! The people you meet when you join in and the fun you have are priceless.

“Experienced Internationals”

Timetable TIME

Wednesday th

28 MORNING

Thursday th

29 FREE BREAKFAST

Friday th

30 FREE BREAKFAST

Saturday 1st FREE BREAKFAST

College & Town tours and visa checks throughout the whole morning.

AFTERNOON

Leona Repnik

Trip to Big Tesco in Durham

Trips to MetroCentre and Ikea

Afternoon tea in college.

Meal at Lloyds followed by mini Butler Stroll potentially ending up in Klute **

Dinner at Waffly followed by the ISA Party at the DSU **

Pub Quiz in our bar with JBs promotion deals. **

BSc Natural Sciences (Biology & Geography) | 3rdYear Nationality: Austrian & German

EVENING

What do you love about Butler?

I love how close Butler is to the Botanical Garden (and the secret entrance for Butler students!), as it’s a great place to go on relaxing walks and meet up with friends. I also love the MUGA (outdoor sports court) for playing sports with friends, especially after exams when the weather is warm and everyone has lots of time!

What was your biggest challenge at university and how did you overcome it?

I think homesickness is definitely one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced during my time at uni. It wasn’t bad at all when I first arrived, probably because I was too busy meeting new people, getting to know Durham and getting involved in lots of activities, which meant I didn’t have time to think about my family. Even though I was only homesick a few times during the last two years at Durham, those times were definitely the most challenging moments I’ve had to cope with.

What new things did you try at university?

Definitely running for positions. Last year I was International Officer at Butler and this year I am president for the Durham University Basketball Club.

Best advice for our freshers?

Get involved in as much as possible and don’t be afraid to try out new things. As often said, life begins outside your comfort zone! The opportunities you have at university are once-in-a-lifetime ones and time flies extremely fast, so make the most of your time at uni. Also, get to know as many people as possible – you’ll be amazed at how many things you have in common with others and how small the world actually is.

*Chilled activities will be going on at the same time…

Welcome speech by Adrian (The Principal) and free buffet dinner! **

* We totally understand that party-ing and drinking aren’t for everyone so we have organized alternative chilled activities at college and Freps will walk you back from the events in town whenever you feel like going back to college

** Always have some form of ID (Drivers license, National ID, etc) on you if heading out for drinks. Although passports are accepted it’s advised not to bring it out as they should be kept in your safe.

Personal Induction Planner: https://www.dur.ac.uk/undergraduate/welcome/ planner/

Arriving in Durham

“Experienced Internationals”

First thing’s first! The university provides free transportation from the airport and train station. Should you wish to utilize this service, please fill in form online at: https://www.dur.ac.uk/international/ newstudents/airport_trainstation_welcomeservice/durham_autumn/ Transportation Timetable:

Benedict Tan English Literature | 3rd Year Nationality: Malaysian What do you love about Butler?

The rooms are great, the location is nice - quiet, peaceful, scenic. And the walk is good!

What was your biggest challenge at university and how did you overcome it?

I'd say the biggest challenge is settling in, adapting. While some international students find it easier than others to feel at home, it was rough for me. I wouldn't say I’ve fully overcome it, but being willing (though quite reluctantly) to step out of my comfort zone was pretty important.

If you are arranging your own transport the address of the college is...

Josephine Butler College

What new things did you try at university?

I did Wing Chun this year and it was fantastic! I've wanted to learn it for quite a while but didn't have the opportunity until I came to uni. I also helped with the Christian Union 'Club Mission' where we gave out biscuits and water to students on a night-out.

Durham University

Favourite restaurant in Durham?

South Road

Golden Pearl

Durham

Best advice for our freshers?

DH1 3DF

It may be a cliché, but I'd say that uni is a place to try new things, the opportunities we have to expose ourselves to so many new things (both good and bad) are there at uni. Use discretion, but always seek widen our worldviews.

“Experienced Internationals”

Travel Most students have a 16-25 Railcard, which gets you 1/3 off rail fares.

You can buy it online (http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/) or at the station for £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years.

Newcastle Airport You can get to Newcastle airport with a taxi company, such as Airport Express or Airport Cars Durham. There are also other taxi companies that offer transport to Newcastle Airport – just check online! Make sure you book in advance though, especially at the start and end of term. Most companies charge you £30-£40 for a one-way trip, so students often share taxis to the airport to split the fee.

Tanja Fischer BSc Natural Sciences (Biology & Psychology) |2ndYear Nationality: German What do you love about Butler?

The people! In my time here, I’ve met some amazing friends and the general friendliness from everyone is great. Butler is a very close community and it is so easy to get involved, especially because you get a say in basically all decisions in the JCR. What was your biggest challenge at university and how did you overcome it?

I was in a very quiet flat, so socialising wasn’t that easy. Our flat frep helped us a lot by joining with the flat below and this made me realise that you are surrounded by tons of potential friends, you just have to venture out to find them.

What new things did you try at university?

Lacrosse (so much fun), A cappella choir, Yorkshire 3 Peaks, KLUTE! Favourite restaurant in Durham?

Fat Hippo or Paddy’s Best advice for our freshers?

Don’t stay in your room/flat all the time. Take part in social events and definitely join sports and societies, even if you haven’t done anything like that before. This is a great way meet new people and discover a new side of you

Alternatively, you can take the train and Metro to Newcastle Airport for about £9 (or £6 with a 16-25 Railcard). Trains to Newcastle from Durham train station run approximately every 20-30 minutes, and the Metro from Newcastle Station to the airport runs approximately every 10 minutes. The Metro station is inside Newcastle Central Station. You can check train times on the National Rail website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/). Tickets can be bought online, at a counter inside the station or at a machine on the platform. The train to Newcastle takes about 15 minutes and the Metro to the airport about 30 minutes.

Getting to the train station from Butler

Relating to your course

To get from Butler to the train station, you can walk (~35 mins), take a taxi (costs around £5) or take the PR2 bus which departs from the Butler parking lot (it only runs Mondays to Saturdays from 7am-7pm).

The PR2 stops at Milburngate, which is a 5 minute walk to the station.

College parents – each student is assigned college parents who are in their second year at Durham and who, in most cases, study the same subject as you do. You will meet them after Freshers’ Week and they can give you tips about which textbooks to buy and module choices, especially when it comes to selecting modules for second year!

Taxis

Academic advisor – you will be assigned an academic advisor in your department.

In many cases, you will meet with them on a regular basis and they will provide you feedback on your coursework and exams. They may also be a good person to ask if you need a reference letter.

Cab Taxis: 07563564365 Durham City Taxis: 01913060606 North Durham Taxis: 07790 222 000 Polly’s Taxis: 07910 179 397 BM Taxis: 07733 747 699 Paddy’s Taxis: 01913866662 M&M Taxis: 07535 600 059

Module convenor – this is the person responsible for running the module. If you have any difficulties understanding the module content, they are your first call. In some cases, the module convenor may not be giving all the lectures, so if you don’t understand the material learned in a specific lecture, you could also email the lecturer directly. They all want to help you, so don’t be shy about getting in touch with them!

Arrival tips Get involved in as many things as possible – join societies, sports and committees both at Butler and University-wide. It is easy to feel overwhelmed at first, but that’s normal and don’t let it stress you out!

Get to know as many people as possible – you’ll be surprised by how many people you share things in common with!

Decorate your room to make it feel as homely as possible.

Bring some of your favourite sweets from your home country – these can always be a great way to start conversation!

Leave you room door open when you’re in (bring a doorstop with you!) so that your flatmates can come and have a chat with you!

You can find a lot of information, such as upcoming events, on the Butler JCR website (http://butlerjcr.co.uk/)

Support If you’re ever worried about anything, no matter how big or small, there will always be someone who can give you the support you need. So don’t ever feel as though you’re alone!

At College Student support officer – Sandra MacDonald is our Student Support Officer who is there to make sure that all students get the most from their time at Durham. She is there to help students who are in difficulty and support students in their personal development through university and beyond.

Phone contracts There are various phone operators in Durham, including Three, Tesco Mobile, GiffGaff, O2, Orange and Vodafone. They offer two main types of phone contracts: pre-paid or contract. It is also worth mentioning that Durham’s mobile coverage isn’t the best, so keep that in mind when getting a sim-card (but don’t worry too much – there’s Wi-Fi everywhere!) We will be giving out free GiffGaff sim-cards if you wish to have one.

Pre-paid

Welfare team – the Welfare team is led by the Welfare Officer, Laura Marriot. She has four welfare assistants who are on hand to help with any student welfare issues. The team is a non-advisory and non-judgmental listening service. Also, welfare campaigns are run throughout the year to raise awareness of important issues such as mental health and disabilities.

Most international students prefer this type of sim-card, as this prevents you from having to pay during the holidays when you go home. It just means that you pay in advance and depending on the mobile operator’s fees, they will charge you based on your usage. If you run out of credit, you can either go to the store to top up your sim-card or even do it online.

Mentor – your mentor will be someone who is a member of the academic staff of the University, or an individual with a connection with the College or University.

They will meet you on a weekly basis at mentor nights, providing you with an individual point of contact for any non- academic concern, giving advice, support and friendship. College mentors can act as referees for jobs and further courses as they pay particular attention to students’ progress. You get 6 free meals a term at mentor nights, which take place in the bar and give you a chance to meet with your mentor.

Contract

Proctor – these are students who live in college, and your flat will be assigned a proctor. They will be a returning student who will be a friendly face to offer support and advice throughout your first year. You will meet them in Freshers’ Week, and they will be wearing a maroon t-shirt.

International Officer – me! Come and talk to me if you’re facing any difficulties, whether or not they be international-related. The International Officer is responsible for providing support for international students, raising multicultural awareness throughout the college and increasing integration between home and international students. The role also includes organising International Freshers' week, running weekly International Committee meetings and planning events throughout the year.

If you prefer paying a fixed amount each month, rather than paying based on your mobile usage, then you can get a sim-card with a fixed contract.

Often these run the entire year and cannot be cancelled. It is useful to check the contracts offered by different phone operators and their fees.

Bank accounts

Groceries

Opening a bank account

Deliveries

There are various bank branches in Durham. In order to open a bank account, you first need to apply for a bank letter at Butler (https:// www.dur.ac.uk/butler.college/new/banking/ ), which confirms that you are a student at Durham University. You can then pick it up from the finance office a few days later. Then you’ll have to take this letter along with a form of ID (preferably your passport) to the bank. Keep in mind bank transfer fees and money withdrawal fees! The banks will be at the international fair too, which is being held in DSU on Friday 30th Sept between 10am-1pm

Most students prefer getting their groceries delivered instead of carrying all their food up to Butler. Common stores that offer deliveries include Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Iceland. In order to get deliveries you have to create a free online account for that particular store and have a UK bank card to do the payment. Don’t worry too much about ordering food for International Freshers’ Week because we have most meals organized for you (check the timetable)! We will also do a trip to the big Tesco on the outskirts of Durham on Thursday 29th September so you can buy your groceries then. This Tesco also has a Home section where you can buy cooking utensils, home accessories and stationary etc.

Food Yes, we are self-catered but there will be days where you just don’t feel like cooking! Do not worry! Durham has an infinite amount of cafés – you will soon realise that even after finishing your first year at Durham there will still be a few hidden cafés that you haven’t been to. These are always a great place to hang out with friends (and are a perfect excuse to eat a big piece of cake)!

There are also a number of restaurants in Durham, where you can get a variety of food, including Italian, Lebanese, Mexican, Mediterranean, Spanish, Thai and Indian. You could always order online and get it delivered to our college within 45mins! Here are links to two popular websites that most students use…

JUST-EAT: www.just-eat.co.uk HUNGRY HOUSE: www.hungryhouse.co.uk Finally, if you cannot wait for 45 mins, simply take a huge step out of your room and come into our college bar where our JB’s Kitchen offers you an amazing wide range of food choices, from pizzas and burgers to macaroni and cheese for very affordable prices. Find out more at https:// butlerjcr.co.uk/JBs

Stores in town Durham has several grocery stores, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Iceland.

There are also two fruit/vegetable shops in town, which are both on North Road. If you need help finding any of these places during Freshers’ Week, just find someone in a yellow t-shirt (they’re a Frep), and they will be more than willing to walk you to town and show you around.

Market The Durham Indoor Market Hall (http://www.durhammarkets.co.uk/) has a bunch of stalls where you can buy a variety of things, from birthday cards to sweets to watches and much more. There is also a café inside that offers food and cake! There is an additional market every Saturday in Durham Market Square. The indoor and outdoor markets are often much cheaper than the main shops so worth checking out!