My name is Yuting, a second-year PhD student at Loughborough University, and I come from China.

During my first year in the UK, I decided to stay in Loughborough over the Christmas break because of the long flight time and high travel costs. At first, I was unsure about how it would feel to spend the holidays away from home, but it turned out to be a truly wonderful and memorable experience.

Enjoying time with friends

I stayed in on-campus accommodation during the break and spent most of my time with friends from the same dormitory. One evening, we decided to make mulled wine, a traditional Christmas drink in the UK. We bought ingredients like red wine, cinnamon sticks, oranges, and cloves from the local supermarket. None of us had tried making it before, but it turned out surprisingly well! The kitchen filled with a warm aroma, and we all felt proud of our success. Everyone was cheerful, and the mulled wine became a centrepiece for a cozy and festive evening together, almost like a small family celebration.

We also visited Loughborough town centre, which looked magical during the holiday season. At the centre of the town stood a massive Christmas tree decorated with twinkling lights and ornaments, drawing the attention of everyone passing by. Shops were filled with Christmas-themed goods, from festive decorations to fun and quirky gifts. I particularly enjoyed browsing through the creative designs and picked up a few small souvenirs, like Christmas ornaments, to send to my family back home.

Christmas lunch

One of the highlights of the break was the Christmas lunch organized by the university for students staying on campus. It was a grand event, and even the Vice-Chancellor joined us in the dining hall to make everyone feel welcome. The staff wore cheerful red Santa hats, which added to the festive atmosphere. We were served traditional British Christmas dishes like roast turkey, Yorkshire puddings, and delicious desserts. It was my first time trying a Christmas cracker and pulling it with friends was both exciting and fun. Inside, I found a tiny deck of playing cards, which we later used to play games during an evening party in our dormitory.

After Christmas Day, the campus became quieter. With most students away, my friends and I took the chance to explore the campus freely. Another unexpected experience during the break was exploring different dining halls on campus. Since not all of them were open at the same time, the university arranged for one or two to serve meals for everyone staying on campus. This gave us a chance to try cafeterias we didn’t usually visit, and it became a fun mini adventure to discover new spots and menus.

Snow day

One day, it snowed, and the campus turned into a winter wonderland. We had a snowball fight, which ended up being both hilarious and chaotic. Everyone was running around clumsily, but since the campus was nearly empty, we could play without worrying about disturbing anyone. It was one of those rare moments when we could let go of all our usual worries and simply enjoy ourselves.

The snow also gave us the opportunity to admire the serene beauty of the campus. The snowy landscapes were breathtaking, and during one of our walks, we were lucky enough to spot a wild deer on campus. It felt like a magical moment that made the holiday season even more special.