The reasons why Oxford rocks my socks off...

11:51 Unknown 1 Comments

"The City of Dreaming Spires"


Just imagine relaxing by the fire and sipping on a yummy hot chocolate in a warm, cosy pub on a frosty winter evening after a hard day in the library. Think how it would feel to be sitting in a beer garden with friends in the summer with the sun beaming on your face. Then,  a cold fresh pint of local ale hits your lips after a stressful day at work. Also, imagine having the choice of not only delicious Indian, Chinese and Thai food at your doorstep, but Slovakian, Lebanese and Spanish too! Head to Cowley Road.



You don’t have to imagine these things; Oxford has it all. Yummy international cuisine and an abundance of wonderful traditional little pubs nestled in and around the city, waiting for you to step inside and enjoy. Live music, local ales and scrumptious traditional English food (yes, it does exist!) are just a few of of the awesome things about life in Oxford. My favourites are The Turf Tavern and Kings Arms in the city, but also The City Arms (student pub) is lively and cheap. Head to gorgeous Cafe Tarifa for scrummy cocktails made by George and Paddy!

Picture being here in Summer 2010 when Spain won the world cup. The streets were oozing with hundreds of people from all corners of the earth; celebrating, singing, laughing, cheering. The atmosphere was absolutely electric. This is one of the most incredible things about Oxford; you're able to experience the world at your doorstep because there's a variety of cultures buzzing around. It’s impossible not to be immersed in it on a daily basis whether at Uni or in the city, you can feel a magical international vibe which makes it such a cool city to study and live in. That night Spain won the world cup was my first ever night in Oxford and that multicultural twist and vibrancy had me hooked. 

Now, think of a giant shark coming out of a roof or a bunch of crazy locals jumping in the river once a year to celebrate the 1st of May (May Day) or sleeping in a prison that's been converted into a hotel… Or think about visiting one of the oldest and biggest libraries in the world, or seeing where the magic of Harry Potter and Alice and Wonderland were made. Well, you don’t have to think - come to Oxford and see it for yourself!




I’m in love with this city and will miss it when I leave after graduation in June. It’s such a vibrant hub of exciting history, culture, education, entertainment and dining. It’s quaint cobbled streets, awe-inspiring architecture and magnificent museums attract people from far and wide. Whether you’re a tourist, student or resident I’m sure you'll agree that no day or experience is ever the same in Oxford. For such a small city the amount of experiences on offer really takes the biscuit. Oxford offers a truly wonderful international experience while retaining it's fascinating traditional, historical and cultural status; how many cities in the world can do that?



So, to round it up… here is my Oxford in Pictures (all taken by me!)


Beautiful Balliol College, only £2 for students!

















Take a stroll along the Thames, it's super pretty!


Go punting, it's traditional and fun! (My boyfriend Joan seemed to like it!)












Go check out the Malmaison Oxford a prison converted into a hotel, pretty cool!
























Explore stunning Shotover Country Park just minutes away from Brookes Uni!




















There's a Volleyball beach in Oxford! Yummy food and coffees too, at the Big Bang Oxford





















Go to Cafe Tariffa on Cowley Road to try the awesome new cocktail menu, or try the Giraffe on George street in the city, yummy cocktails too! (My sister Christina had a yummy Amaretto cheesecake flavour!)

















Thanks so much for reading guys! Hope you enjoyed it. I'll be finishing Uni in a months time so the next blog will be telling a range of weird and wonderful stories about my Brookes journey and giving you a sneak peak of student life in pictures.

Cheers!

Lola

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This is it... the lead up to Graduation

16:25 Unknown 0 Comments

This is it.
It usually only happens once in your lifetime. It's a special day where your family comes together just for you. It's a chance to say goodbye to friends and hello to new beginnings. It's what you've studied three of four years for. It's the moment when you realise no more deadlines, no more assignments, no more late night library sessions, no more dragging books around and no more running around like a headless chicken trying to get that piece of work handed in. It's also the moment you leave the city you've grown to love and the student community you've built up full of incredible people.
This is moment when you throw your cap up in the air and it's all over... Graduation.

The experiences shared and the memories made are unforgettable and this day is all about 'putting the cherry on top'. It's about tying everything together and putting a full stop on one special sector of your life.

My name is Lola (as some of you may already know) and I'm about to graduate this year and I'm going to share my journey with you.
Only 6 weeks left at university and the whole graduation is being overshadowed by the big D. Such a big chunk of work is looming over me and dominating my life, but I enjoy the challenge and have learned a lot. You guessed it- dissertation.
Nevertheless, I decided to make planning graduation my little break or 'treat' if you like, from the world of dissertation.
I really enjoy organising and planning projects, trips and events. Figuring out the best plan for transport, accommodation, times, costs and overall schedule and itinerary may seem a hassle or bore, but I love getting my hands dirty and becoming involved in this kind of thing.
What I love more is seeing all this brought together and come to life and see the smiling faces of the people I've helped; including the feeling I get myself once it's all happening. The good, bad and the ugly are all part of life and learning and reflecting on things to be more organised for the next life event.
This is where my travel planning and budgeting experience and comes into play. I want to try and share any inside info, tips and advice about the whole graduation with you.  Oxford is such an incredible city too, let's enjoy it one last time!
Just so you don't miss out, I’ve decided to write this blog about the process
to get some help sorting graduation out.
Plans of action:
1) confirm the dates and times of graduation via Brookes website Click here for dates
2) figure out who will come and if they can come
3) book tickets via pip (personal information portal) 'My graduation planner'
4) book accommodation for everyone (tips in the next blog)
5) plan transport and logistics
6) keep up to date with happenings via pip, Facebook and the Brookes website Link to Facebook page
7) sort out all the admin stuff (results, extras)
8) make sure you're there on time and have a cracking day
More to come...
This may seem like a lengthy list, but don't let it out you off. It's designed to help you make sure everything is covered and everything runs smoothly. It's worth the effort. Your graduation is a once in a lifetime event and the build up is part of the excitement.
This was just an introduction to the ins and out, ups and downs and plans of action. Follow my journey as an upcoming graduate and learn a few things along the way.
Watch out for the next blog coming soon about planning accommodation for your friends and family and also registering for graduation.


Lola

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