My IA attachment with BG Technology in the UK was truly an unforgettable and enriching experience. In the six months with the company, besides getting the chance to work overseas, I had the opportunity to experience the people and culture of the UK in a way that wouldn’t be possible by, say, taking a holiday there.

There were eleven of us on IA with BG Technology, and it was probably the first time any of us was spending such a long period of time away from our families and friends. Coming from different faculties (MPE, CE, ME and EEE) and backgrounds, we were relative strangers when we first left for the UK. But being in an foreign land, we got to know each other quite quickly.

For all of us this was our first time living in the UK. Even small things such as finding the way around town and shopping at the local supermarket seemed like a completely new experience. Although we had separate accommodations around town, we would meet now and then to share home-cooked meals, talk about the best bargains at the local supermarket, grumble about the high exchange rate, or to share our experiences at work. There were also regular driving trips over the weekend, when we’d rent a car and explore the country. In short, I would say that we’ve experienced quite a lot together.

After returning home from IA and coming back to regular campus life, we soon became occupied with lectures, tutorials and FYPs. Because of this, we had fewer opportunities to meet and, before long, nearly everyone was about to graduate and go our separate ways. This being the case, it would be pity if we lost contact of each other after graduation.

Taking the idea from a friend, I started the BG Technology Circle. It is actually part of the eCircles web-site (http://www.ecircles.com), which allows groups of people to stay in touch, coordinate events like outings and share information on the Web. The BG Technology Circle contains a contact list of everyone in the group and invitations to join the group are sent through email. It also contains features like a Discussion Board, Photo Albums to post and view photographs, a shared Group Calendar to co-ordinate events and outings, File Storage, Gift Registries, and Recommendation Lists. In this way, everyone in the group can keep abreast of what everyone else is doing, and update any contact information, all through the convenience of a web browser.

As the eCircles web-site is free, anyone can start a Circle to stay in touch with their fellow IA students, especially those that have experienced overseas attachments together. The friendships made during this time can prove to be invaluable in the future as each person joins the workforce. However, like any group in real life, the success of the circle depends on the members themselves. As far as the BG Technology Circle goes, only four people have joined so far, but I’m sure there will be more to come.