ISAS NEWSLETTER
ISAS Newsletter
December 2013
Edition 2 2013-2014
Christmas Market - Victoria Square
IN THIS ISSUE
ISAS 2013-2014
Happy Christmas from the ISAS!
Christmas in the UK is a time when many
people spend time with their families and
friends. As in many countries it is a very
traditional time for many people. How do
the traditions of Christmas differ in your
home country to these British ones below?
Many families decorate their houses and
Christmas trees are traditionally set up
towards the beginning of December.
Most children and quite a few adults have
advent calendars, opening a window each
day on a countdown to Christmas day on
25th December.
Children believe that Father Christmas (also
called Santa Claus) leaves presents in
stockings and families sometimes leave out
mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas
to eat on Christmas Eve.
Most people lay their gifts for each other
under the tree to be opened on the 25th
although some families have traditions of
opening on Christmas eve depending on
their faiths and traditions.
Boxing Day is an extra day of celebration
that falls the day after Christmas. Most
people spend it quietly with their families,
watching sports or movies and playing
games, recovering from the busy holidays.
It is becoming more and more popular for
shops to have Boxing Day sales, so some
people spend the day shopping, similar to
the way many Americans go shopping on
the day after Thanksgiving.
Many people celebrate Christmas as a
Christian festival and churches hold services
across the season.
Traditional British Christmas
Foods, Page 2
British people can be very superstitious and
believe it will bring you bad luck that year if
you do not take all your decorations down
by the 6th January.
If you are staying in Birmingham over
Christmas there are plenty of activities to
do (check out the events and information in
this newsletter), but be aware that most
shops and public buildings will be closed on
Christmas Day and may have reduced
opening times.
New Year’s Eve is the final big celebration
of the year. Many people stay up late and
traditionally countdown to the last 10
seconds to midnight before wishing each
other Happy New Year! Accompanied by
fireworks and dancing and singing the song
“auld lang syne”.
The Birmingham Frankfurt
Christmas Market, Page 3
Stay Safe at Christmas, Page 4
PAGE 1
ISAS NEWSLETTER
Traditional British Christmas Foods
Turkey
A good old roast has always been the
centrepiece of a celebratory meal –
from the sacrificial days of old to the
present day Christmas.
Traditionally most people would serve
up beef, goose or rabbit on the 25th
December, but when Queen Victoria
started eating turkey it created a popular a trend amongst the middle classes.
As turkey became cheaper it spread in
popularity through the working class,
continuing the Royal trend into the
20th century. These days over 90% of
families choose to serve up the big bird
for Christmas dinner, making it by far
the most popular festive meat.
Roast Potatoes
The classic roast spud is a staple at
any modern roast dinner, especially at
Christmas. But did you know that the
humble potato originated in the Andes, in South America, and was
brought to the UK via Spain by returning sailors from Peru?
It was Queen Victoria who introduced
the potato to the Christmas menu,
although at the time they were eaten
mashed rather than roasted.
Mince Pies
.
Brussels Sprouts
The most controversial aspect of any
Christmas dinner is usually the
sprouts. But whether you love or
hate them, they seem to be a wellrooted Christmas tradition over 400
years ago.
A recipe brought back from the Middle East by the Crusaders, the mince
pie was originally made with meats,
fruits and spices. In the 17th century
puritan Oliver Cromwell decided
that the Christmas pie was too excessive and decadent, and banned
eating it on Christmas day – a law
that has never been abolished!
Christmas Services
At St Francis Hall Multifaith
Chaplaincy
Wednesday 11th December 5.15-7pm,
(service of prayers and music from 5.30
-6.00 pm)
You might be mourning someone this
Christmas….
It might be that you’re missing family
because you can’t go back home for
the vacation. Someone may be absent
from Chanukhah this year. You may
still mourn people lost in the 2004
Boxing Day Tsunami. Or things may be
difficult because of the breakdown of a
relationship. Whatever it might be that
means this time of year is tinged with
sadness the chaplaincy is holding an
event that aims to help…
During the two hours there will be quiet time, with spaces to pray, mark
your grief, light candles, listen to music, talk to someone. There will be
people present from a range of different traditions and faith communities…
and the prayers will reflect this.
All are welcome, staff and students,
whatever your background, whatever
your loss or sadness at this time…Feel
free to drop in for as long or short a
time as you like or need…
The University Carol Service
Aston Webb Great Hall
Monday 9th December at 6.15pm.
A feast of music and readings, tradition and a bit of novelty, joy and
community. This year it will also be a
chance to hear the newly formed
University Women’s Chamber Choir
who will lead the singing.
Everyone is welcome and you don’t
even need a ticket, just turn up!
There is no need to book, just turn up
but if you have questions or want to
talk to someone about the service or
your situation please feel free to contact us:
Telephone: 0121 414 7000
[email protected]
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ISAS NEWSLETTER
Frankfurt Christmas Market 2013
Venue: Victoria Square, New Street,
Centenary Square & Chamberlain
Square
Date: 14th November – 22 December
Time: 10am – 9pm
Tel: 0121 303 3008
Traditional stalls offer the usual array of
beautiful handmade toys, Christmas
decorations, original jewellery and craft
goods as well as a carousel to keep
younger visitors entertained.
University Christmas Holidays
The University of Birmingham will
be closed for the Christmas holidays
on the following dates;
December 25th 2013
Visitors can enjoy the delights of German mulled wine (Gluhwein), grilled sau- December 26th 2013
Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas
sages, vegetarian options, pretzels, GerMarket has become a huge favourite
Tuesday 1st January 2014
with both residents and visitors to the man beer, and for those with a sweet
city from all over the UK and Europe. It tooth, gingerbread, crepes and marzipan Wednesday 2nd January 2014
sweets.
is now the largest outdoor Christmas
Market in the country.
Having run for the last 12 years, the
Frankfurt Christmas Market is now the
centrepiece of the city’s annual Christmas events calendar.
Birmingham's own traders offer an
entirely different selection of beautiful
hand-crafted items at the Christmas
Craft Market, created by local artisans,
as well as ethnic goods imported from
all over the world.
Frankfurt Christmas Market
Victoria Square, Birmingham
December 2013
Aston Webb Building
The University of Birmingham
More Birmingham Christmas Activities
Nativity Trail
City Centre Skating Rink
November 30th to December 24th
10am to 5pm Monday -Thursday
Saturday, 10.30am-5pm Friday, 12.30pm5pm Sunday
Visitors to the city this winter will be
able to get their skates on in the festive
surroundings of Centenary Square from
Saturday November 16.
International Students’ Advisory Service
ISAS
- International Students’
(ISAS)
Advisory Service
Tel:0121 414 8464
Fax:0121 414 3850
Web: www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Called Winterskate, the 600 sq metre
studentservices/international
Victoria Square, Free event
rink will be open for business from 10am
Submit an online enquiry via:
to 10pm daily until January 5.
At the top of the German market is
Birmingham’s world-famous Museum
and Art Gallery, putting the true spirit
of Christmas at the heart of celebrations with its annual Nativity Trail.
A journey through the gallery illustrates the Christmas story through the
eyes of some of the world’s greatest
artists.
www.studenthelp.bham.ac.uk
The rink can accommodate up to 220
skaters at a time. Tickets can be booked
in advance via the website
www.winterskate.co.uk with peak and
off peak rates available.
Outside the museum will be the Nativity Scene organized by the German
market.
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ISAS NEWSLETTER
Tips For Staying Safe At Christmas
West Midlands Police
The UK is generally considered to be a
very safe and enjoyable place to live. It
is important however that you spend a
moment to consider how to keep yourself and your belongings safe this
Christmas by reading the following
advice from the university campus police officer.
If carrying a bag, keep it close to your
body and closed securely when not in
use.
Avoid carrying wallets, purses or other
valuables in the back pocket of your
trousers. This is a well-known target for
pickpockets.
Don’t be flash! Keep mobile phone, music players and personal tablet computers hidden.
Keep your phone out of sight when
not in use. You can register it for FREE
on the national database
http://www.immobilise.com
Try to avoid wearing headphones –
your ability to hear traffic, strangers
or potential trouble is severely restricted.
If you have to walk somewhere that
you feel unsafe - stride purposefully. If
you know a 'safer' way, turn around
and take it. Avoid badly-lit streets.
It is always worth letting someone
know where you are going, the route
you intend to take and when you
expect to return.
When out on the street, try and keep
expensive jewellery such as necklaces
and gold chains under wraps.
For more robbery crime prevention
advice, please take a few minutes to
visit our website.
http://www.westmidlands.police.uk/saferstreets/
Report suspicious behavior to the police. Ring 999 in case of emergency or
101 for all other enquiries.
Try to avoid walking alone at night,
and keep to well-lit main roads where
possible. You should try to avoid short
cuts like alleyways, waste ground and
wooded, bushy areas.
Always be aware of your surroundings.
Alternatively why not follow PC
Andy Smith on twitter:
@BrumUniCop
Please note that the Overseas Visitor Registration Office will be closed
to the general public from
15:30hrs on Monday 23 December
2013 until 09:00hrs on Thursday
2nd January 2014.
Birmingham Christmas Pantomimes
This distinctly English entertainment
has been a Christmas tradition since
the 19th Century; where every theatre
across the country offered this
cathartic outlet, opening on Boxing
Day, with two and a half hours of trivial
fun, complete make believe and of
course, a fairytale ending.
19th Dec - 2nd Feb 2013
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Birmingham Hippodrome
www.birminghamhippodrome.com
Pantomimes offer escapism for the
whole family with a focus on the
spectacle and romance as well as
implicit connections to more serious
issues which explains why it remains
popular today.
Charles Dickens’s Christmas classic is
a spooky theatrical treat for all the
family, starring Matthew Ashforde as
Ebenezer Scrooge.
Many pantomimes feature musicals
performances, celebratory actors and
are considered to be what the British
people often call ’tongue in cheek’
meaning something that is fun and not
to be taken too seriously .
27th Nov - 4th Jan 2013
A Christmas Carol
Birmingham Rep
3rd Dec—14th Dec 2013
Birmingham mac
Hansel & Gretel
New International Encounter present an enchanting show transforming the theatre into a magical winter
woodland for classic fairytale.
Tickets £13.50 (£10), family ticket for
4: £40. Ring 0121 446, 3232 or go to
www.macarts.co.uk
Tickets £7 - £35. Ring 0121 236 4455 or
go to www.birmingham-rep.co.uk.
A Christmas Carol - Birmingham Rep
PAGE 4
ISAS NEWSLETTER
Christmas Disruptions
Public Services are often reduced over
the Christmas period. Some of these
restrictions of service are planned in
advance and some are unplanned. You
should check company websites for
further information.
Planes
If you are planning a flight from Birmingham International you can find
information on
http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/
and there is a Twitter feed
@bhx_official
Weather
British weather can be quite unpredictable over the Christmas holidays and it
is common for ice and snow to cause
disruptions to the available services.
Again it is important to check websites
and social media for updates because
cancellations can be made at very short
notice.
BBC weather forecasts can be checked
for your local area at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
weather/2655603
All other major airports should have
live website updates also
Trains
Disruptions to rail journeys can be
found at
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
service_disruptions/61716.aspx
London Midland has announced it is
cutting cross city rail services on
Christmas Eve. Some trains will be
removed from service from 2pm on
December 24 and London Midland
will run only a half-hourly service on
the Cross City Line.
Cars, Buses and Taxis
Due to the high volume of people
travelling to see families and friends
over Christmas and the adverse
weather conditions, please expect
possible delays travelling on the
roads. On Christmas day the roads
are generally quite quiet but don’t
expect to be able to get a taxi very
easily like you would on other days
of the year. Where they are available
they will likely be a lot more expensive over various days during the
holiday so make sure you understand the potential cost before
agreeing to a journey!
Birmingham Bull Ring
Christmas Disruptions continued
Coach travel information can be found
at http://www.nationalexpress.com/
wherewego/townsandcities/coachtravel-to-birmingham.aspx
Local council information on public
transport services can be found at
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/
publictransport
For live internet status updates and a
twitter feed on all local transportation
issues you can visit
http://
www.networkwestmidlands.com/
ServiceAlterations/alterations.aspx
Twitter: @networkwm
Shops
Whilst many shops are open late in
the run up to Christmas day, on the
25th December very few shops will be
open for business so please make sure
you buy any stocks of food you require before Christmas Day. Many
shops will be open Christmas Eve but
may shut early so please be prepared
for this. On 26th December many retail
shops open early for Boxing day sales
but other types of stores such as grocery shops may still be closed.
Postal Services
Do you still have a Christmas card or
parcel that you are intending to send
out to friends and family to arrive in
time for Christmas Day? Make sure
you check the Royal Mail website for
information on final postage dates
and other Christmas information.
The final dates for international
postage is often much early than for
UK postage.
http://www.royalmail.com/greetings
PAGE 5
ISAS NEWSLETTER
Country of the Month - Philippines
We have been hearing in the news for
the past few weeks about Typhoon
Haiyan that occurred in the Philippines
on the 8 November 2013. Millions
have been affected, countless lives
have been lost, homes destroyed and
communities demolished.
In the period leading up to Christmas
you may wish to consider those across
the world who are experiencing
hardship, or take a moment to think
about all those who have had their
lives disrupted. For this reason ISAS
has chosen the Philippines as Country
of the Month.
If you are interested in donating to
the Philippines, please check out the
Disaster Emergency Committee
website at: http://www.dec.org.uk/
appeals/philippines-typhoon-appeal
If you are planning a holiday in the
near future please consider the
Philippines. The Philippines tourism
board is urging people to visit the
country, stressing that their visits will
have a direct effect on helping to
rebuild lives and keep locals in jobs in
the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan
Republic of the Philippines located in
South East Asia.
Full name: Republic of the Philippines
Population: 96.5 million (UN, 2012)
Capital: Manila
Major religion: Christianity
Major languages: Filipino, English
Key Phrases:
Hello
kumusta
Goodbye
paalam na
Thank you! salamat
How are you? paano ka?
Happy Christmas Maligayang Pasko!
Useful Contacts
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’
ADVISORY SERVICE (ISAS)
Online Enquiries:
www.studenthelp.bham.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 8464
In person: Enquiry Services in the Main
Library
Web: https://
intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
studentservices/international/
ISAS Newsletter
Security
Tel: Emergency 0121 414 4444
Tel: Non-emergency 0121 414 3000 (including lost
property)
Email: [email protected]
In person: Aston Webb Building
Enquiry Services
Tel: 0121 414 3091
Online Enquiry: www.studenthelp.bham.ac.uk
Web: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
studentservices/enquiries/index.aspx
In person: Main library
Counselling and Wellbeing Services
Tel: 0121 414 5130
Web: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
studentservices/counselling/index.aspx
In person: 3 Elms Road, Map Ref: G 4
English for International Students Unit
Web: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/eisu/
index.aspx
University Graduate School
Tel: 0121 414 6376
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
studentservices/graduateschool/index.aspx
December 2013
Edition 2—2013/14
https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
studentservices/international/
newsevents/newsletter.aspx
University Senior Tutor
Tel: 0121 414 7452
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
studentservices/projects/support/university-seniortutor.aspx
UK Council for International Student Affairs
(UKCISA)
UKCISA is the UK’s national advisory body for
international students.
Web: www.ukcisa.org.uk
Advice and Representation Centre (ARC)
Tel: 0121 251 2400
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.guildofstudents.com/arc
Careers Network
Tel: 0121 414 6120
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/
careers/international
Guild of Students
Tel: 0121 251 2300
Email: www.guildofstudents.com/index.php?
page=contact_us
Web: www.guildofstudents.com
In person: Map Ref: O1
Job Zone, Guild of Students
For part-time and student vacation jobs – all
promoted online.
Tel: 0121 251 2500
Web: www.guildofstudents.com/jobshop
Email: [email protected]
Multi-Faith Chaplaincy
Tel: 0121 414 7000 / 7001
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/
studentservices/chaplaincy/index.aspx
Sport and Fitness
Tel: 0121 414 4177
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.sport.bham.ac.uk
Student Groups
Web: www.guildofstudents.com/groups
Email: [email protected]
PAGE 6