Oxford Vacation Guide

By
Esther Brazil

 

 

Image
Radcliffe Camera through a window

We probably all fantasize, at some point or another, about sending a message to our younger selves. I think the moment when I needed such a message most was when I was new to Oxford: an optimistic, doe-eyed first-year full of (mostly incorrect) ideas about England and entirely ignorant of the resources around me. Where were the pharmacies when I got sick? What time was the Bodleian open? Where could I find help if I was feeling down? Beyond my cozy college chapel, what were the “grown-up” churches like on Sunday mornings, and where could I find worship that reminded me of home? And most importantly, where could I go to spend an hour contemplating Dutch still lifes for free? 

I dreamed of having a sort of Magical Auntie or Older Sophisticated Friend who could tell me all of these things, but of course I had to figure it out for myself, slowly and, sometimes, painfully. There was no centralised encyclopedia of Oxford to help me navigate the city around me. This was a real problem when I was stuck here over the vacation. Flying home every holiday was expensive, and often I’d be in Oxford when everybody else had gone home and college had more or less shut down. Outside of that routine, I was adrift. I needed some kind of Guide to help me find my way around - and find help when I needed it. 

Such a thing did not exist - until now, dear reader. 

Tomorrow night we are having a party to launch a new website called the Oxford Vacation Guide, a University Church initiative designed to answer a very real need. The Oxford Vacation Guide contains lists of resources for wellbeing, learning, entertainment, family activities, eating out, and even a page about Christmas traditions. There are tips on how to get around by public transport, including to and from airports, and links to volunteering opportunities over the Christmas period and year-round. Over time, the website will expand to cover all three of the vacation periods: Christmas, Easter, and the summer. 

Tomorrow night, come and help us celebrate the launch of this wonderful new resource with a glass of fizz and a mince pie at 5pm in the Adam de Brome Chapel. If you’re not able to make it, you can have a peek at www.oxfordvacationguide.com. I can’t wait to raise a glass with you to helping the next generation of students find what they need, when they need it most. 

Image
Oxford Vacation Guide Screenshot