As a recreational RSO, SAMSU’s core purpose is to constantly organize social activities and gatherings to keep its members connected, and to help new Singaporean and Malaysian students to get settled into the University of Chicago, where life is 100 degrees colder.

Annually, SAMSU’s biggest event is CITYLIGHTS, a presentation we put up to showcase Singaporean culture - some of these presentations have included plays about National Service (Singapore’s mandatory military service for males) and academically competitive Singaporean school life, poker tournaments in lieu with the opening of two huge casinos in Singapore, and even a sit-down traditional wedding which involved the audience’s participation!

Additionally, SAMSU is putting up a new initiative to get our members to realize that there exists a Chicago beyond the University of Chicago, entitled ‘OUT OF THE...’, and we are looking to organize trips to popular and pretty destinations in Chicago, including Wicker Park, Boys’ Town, and Downtown Chicago.

Of course, these are only official events. SAMSU’s fun-loving members constantly spearhead their own unofficial activities such as soccer, Pub Night, poker nights, and game nights. The only way you can find out just how much fun SAMSU is is to join us!

In the meantime, enjoy browsing through the recent undertakings of SAMSU!

Our calendar of activities is regularly updated and can be checked out here. Keep checking back for more activities!

PRE-DEPARTURE BRIEFING 2011

Every year, roughly a dozen pairs of Singaporean parents worry tremendously for their children. Is Chicago safe? Are my children going into a place where they will be misunderstood? How do I pay tuition fees? Are the dorms decent? How tough is the curriculum? At the pre-departure briefing held at Booth School of Business (Singapore), we of SAMSU attempt to quell all these fears, and tell incoming freshmen everything they need to know to survive, enjoy, and love the University of Chicago. This year’s pre-departure briefing was no different, and we entertained some 50-odd people consisting of the class of 2015‘s incoming freshmen, their parents, current students, and even graduates. SAMSU bids the incoming freshmen a warm welcome!

SPRING BARBECUE 2011

It is SAMSU’s tradition to hold a barbecue every Spring out at The Promontory Point to enjoy the beautiful weather while gorging ourselves on charred meats. However, Chicago’s 2011 Spring was wet, cold and randomly hot at best. At the mercy of the whims of the weather, SAMSU was forced to hold its barbecue indoors, or rather, on a porch. While the winds and rain raged, SAMSU kept its beating heart - its members, of course! - dry, warm and happy in Keng Hoe’s cheery apartment. Additionally, to keep things fresh and new, a cooking competition was organized, with this year’s graduating seniors as the judges. Gregory Wu, Yan Shuo, Michelle, Li Chen, Hui Min, emerged as winners, with delicious delicacies such as Lotus Root Soup, Bacon Aglio Olio, Ayam Bukeluak, and Cheesecake - all homemade!

2011 CITYLIGHTS

On 30th April 2011, SAMSU put up a one-night only play entitled Those Kids. The play was directed by our very own Colin Low and Wen Qi, and starred Grace Zhang, Ethan Feng, and Yao Wen. The play follows the chronicles of Ethan, Grace and Simon, three Singaporean kids attending Singaporean Junior College who find themselves on a quest to find a legendary tutor that can help them score straight As on their ‘A’-levels, an extremely important examination in Singapore. Mayhem ensues, and the quests they embark on is nothing short of Herculean, but at the end, all is well in Singaporean Junior College.

Those Kids played to a crowd of about 220 who enjoyed themselves immensely - and we of the Mer-lion daresay that it was a roaring success. Great job directors, design team, scriptwriters, actors, stage crew, stage lighting, and everyone else who put time and effort into this!

2011 ELECTIONS

From Left to Right: Calvin Wong, Kimberly Lum, Yao Wen Yeo, Elden Elmanto, Keng Hoe Wong, Le Chern Ho, Kristie Lai

SAMSU held its annual elections during its quarterly general meeting at Stuart. The results are as follows:

President: Keng Hoe, Wong taking over Chin Yu, Oh

Vice-President: Le Chern, Ho taking over Paul, Ho

Secretary: Kristie, Lai taking over Hui Min, Chang

Treasurer: Calvin, Wong taking over Yi Xuan, Wu

External Relations: Kimberly, Lum taking over Darren, Leow

Communications: Yao Wen, Yeo taking over Francis, Sin

We thank the former committee for their good work, and hope to emulate and improve on their efforts.

FRESHMAN SEND-OFF 2011

This year’s freshmen send-off was held in Singapore, at Palm Springs (Kimberly Lum’s home - thanks Kim!), where an environment of warmth and friendliness was encouraged over much good chinese food. Graduates and freshers alike, drawn together by their roots in the University of Chicago, engaged in intellectual and social conversation. We hope there was as much of the latter as there was of the former! (it is a social event after all). Thanks to everyone who came, and thanks to OSU for funding SAMSU’s 2011 freshman send-off.

SAMSU HULLABALOO! 2011

What better way to kick-start a brand new year at the wonderful University of Chicago than with a big HULLABALOO!? This year’s version of the yearly SAMSU mixer was thus named as such, and it was held at Le Chern’s pristine place on 58th Street. There were drinks, there was a bartender, there was some food, and there were many people who came to make sure that the year gets off to a great start! Thanks to all who came, as well as Le Chern, Wen Qi, Zi Chong, and Kristie for opening up your place. We hope future generations of Phoenician Singaporeans will upkeep this boisterous tradition of HULLABALOO!

SAMSU AURORA TRIP 2011

We have a saying here in Chicago: Winter is coming. Singaporeans come from a land of endless summer, and thus are usually hard-pressed to deal with the extreme climes of Chicago – hence our yearly trip to Chicago Premium Outlets at Aurora, where one can purchase some good furry things to wrap around one’s body to preserve warmth. That being said, some of our members purchased other goodies instead of life preserving fur, such as matching shot glasses complete with engraved names, and, oh yes – schnazzy pointy shoes…

SAMSU ‘OUT OF THE PARK’ WICKER PARK TRIP 2011

Wicker Park is Chicago’s hipster neighborhood, sporting record shops, indie fashion, bong shops, etc. On top of all that, there is a massive amount of good food. A group of us visited Wicker Park, and was truly brought out of the (Hyde) park - we all enjoyed great weather, shopping, food, and company!

2012 CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

Many Singaporeans gathered together to celebrate Chinese New Year, our most beloved festival, at the Year 2’s house, and enjoyed great food and company. In a cold, wintery and foreign country, all we have is each other - and yes, judging from the noise we made at this gathering - that may just be enough!

This event was sponsored by Contact Singapore. Contact Singapore is an alliance of the Singapore Ministry of Manpower and Economic Development Board, and facilitates talent to work and live in Singapore. Contact Singapore also links employers in Singapore with global talent. If you would like to find out more about job opportunities in Singapore, please visit the job portal at www.contactsingapore.sg/jobs , or write to Area Director North America, Lim Tze Min, at newyork@contactsingapore.sg

© SAMSU Singaporean and Malaysian Society, 2011