Month: December 2022

Bringing ‘home’ to Bristol…

Posted on by Roz Okatan

It’s nearly the end of term – and we hope you have had a good one!

Many of you will soon be leaving Bristol to see family and friends, but when you return will it feel like you are coming home? And if you are staying in Bristol, does that mean Bristol is already home to you, or will you be wishing you were somewhere else… maybe somewhere warmer?

We asked our student champions Josh and Lottie about what they’ve done to make Bristol feel like home. For Lottie creating a playlist was the key to comfort, and for Josh it was about making his room a place to relax in.

Josh:

To make my uni room feel more homely, I like to bring plenty of stuff from home to decorate with (and sometimes I go a bit overboard). I have photos plastered all over my walls (using blue tack alternatives to not stain the walls of course), and my shelves are chocked full of books, plants, and Lego.

 

 

Lottie:

Music really helped me transition to university at the beginning of first year. Before moving into my accommodation in September, I spent some time putting some playlists together so that I could carry a bit of home with me wherever I went.

My dad always plays music when we have a family meal together on a Saturday night and he has a very specific taste! I created a playlist with all of his favourite songs, mostly consisting of music from the 70s and 80s, and whenever I listen to it, it brings me comfort because I’m reminded of my family and all of our great memories together.

I really recommend doing this because you can listen to the playlist whenever you want: in the library, on the way to lectures or at night before bed!

 

Let us know what “home” means to you by sending in your pictures and stories to student-comms@bristol.ac.uk.

In the meantime, we hope you have a happy and healthy winter break. If you’re staying in Bristol for the holidays, remember that the Residential Life team is running daily events, open to ALL students. And while the University is officially closed between Friday 23 December and Wednesday 4 January, you can still access some services if you need them. You can also request wellbeing support during this time if you need to do so.

With the very best festive wishes from the Student Comms team. We look forward to hearing from you in 2023!

 

A bit of winter baking anyone?

Posted on by Tyesha

Mince pies are a festive favourite for many and are super simple to make.

Ingredients:

200g plain flour

100g butter or dairy free alternative

1 medium egg

1 jar of mincemeat

Icing sugar for dusting

Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C/190C Fan/Gas 6.

  2. Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture is a bit crumbly.

  3. Mix in a beaten egg yolk and until it forms soft dough. Wrap in cling film or put it into a plastic bag and chill for 20–30 minutes.

  4. Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 2–3mm and cut out about small rounds with a pastry cutter.

  5. Place in lightly greased bun tins and spoon the mincemeat evenly into the pies.

  6. Re-roll the leftover pastry and cut out round lids, stars, stripes or other festive shapes to fit on top of the mincemeat.

  7. Lightly brush the pastry tops with the beaten egg and bake in the oven for 12–15 minutes until golden.

  8. Leave to cool and then enjoy!

My experience as a ‘Disabled’ Student

Posted on by Sophie Bridgewater

by Charlotte O’Brien, Senior Resident

As it’s Disability History Month I thought it would be a good opportunity to share my experience as a ‘Disabled’ student. Why do I italicise disabled? Calling myself disabled doesn’t really suit me as I don’t have a physical disability and personally, I see myself able to do what most non-disabled people can do it’s just I may do things in a different ways or experience things differently. This means it can be very difficult for me and others in my situation to be recognised, taken seriously and get the support we need as you cannot see that we may need specialist support in some way. (more…)

Festive films to watch

Posted on by Tyesha

Winter is the perfect time to snuggle up under blankets, watch films and eat yummy snacks.

Earlier this week we asked you what your favourite films are for the festive season, here are some of your suggestions.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

A Muppet Christmas Carol lego scene

The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, complete with Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and Miss Piggy doing what she does best. Is a miserable old man capable of redemption and happiness?

Nativity! (2009)

A British schoolteacher tries to convince his ex-girlfriend, who now works in film production in LA, to come back to Coventry to film his school’s nativity play.

Love Actually (2003)

Love is all around – and so is heartbreak – as multiple couples navigate romance, family, weddings and airports at Christmastime.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

Harry Potter scene made with lego

An orphaned 11 year-old enrols in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, here he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world.

The first of the eight Harry Potter films is perhaps the most festive, with the Great Hall full of trees and treats, homemade Christmas jumpers and snowy scenes, however that isn’t to say you can’t watch the entire series over the course of winter break.

The Lighthouse (2019)

Maybe not the most traditional of Christmas films, but in the Victorian Era ghost stories were an integral part of the season, with families gathering round the fire to tell tales of terror.

In The Lighthouse, two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.

Die Hard (1988)

Not considered a Christmas film by everyone, but Die Hard has become a staple holiday viewing for many.

New York City policeman John McClane is visiting his estranged wife on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realises that there’s no one to save the hostages – but him. Yippee Ki-Yay!

Rise of the Guardians (2012)

Generation after generation, immortal Guardians like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy protect the world’s children from darkness and despair. However, Pitch Black, a bogeyman that generates fear and nightmares, plans to overthrow the Guardians. It falls to a winter sprite named Jack Frost to thwart Pitch’s plans and save the Guardians.

La La Land (2016)

Sebastian and Mia are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.

Lego Santa Claus with reindeer and presents

Other notable film suggestions include:

  • The Grinch (2000)
  • A Christmas Prince (2017)
  • The Holiday (2006)
  • Polar Express (2004)
  • Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
  • Tales from the Crypt (1972)
  • Home Alone (1990)
  • Bad Santa (2003)
  • Elf (2003)

Many of these films are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime, or from Bristol Library for a £1 fee for a week’s loan.

If you are staying in Bristol over the course of Winter Break, ResiLife have events on every day for all students, whether you live in Halls of Residences or not. There is also support available throughout the entire winter period if you need it.

Images provided by student champion Josh.

You said, we listened…

Posted on by Tyesha

Back in July we asked students minority ethnic students what content they would like to see in their newsletter. Here is what they told us.

Over 85% of you said that you like seeing a list of events

So we are including more events, both on campus and in the wider city that would be of interest to students from minority ethnic groups. Because of the cost of living we are going to only be sharing free events or those with a maximum of £10.

73% of you enjoy finding out about research that is happening at the University

So we are reaching out to academics from different faculties to see if they have any research they would like to share or signpost to.

All of you said that you wanted to be made aware of paid opportunities

man with dark hair using a computer

With the continuing cost of living crisis we are going to be speaking with the Careers Service to find out what support, roles and training are available.

You had great suggestions for content contributions

There were many great suggestions for additions to the newsletter from more information about financial support, particularly for Widening Participation students, to videos of events.

We want to highlight student creativity and passion. Are you a blogger? Photographer? Aspiring filmmaker? Baker? If so, the student comms mailbox is always open, please get in touch so we can share and celebrate your talents.

Bristol Students’ Union is home to over 350 societies, clubs and networks and we’d like to use the newsletter to learn more about them. So, starting in the New Year we are going to feature a society spotlight with each newsletter focusing on a different society and what they do.

We are also going to make a conscious effort to share student and staff successes, as we all need to celebrate the wins when we get them.

We asked you if you liked the name BAME Newsletter

It was a resounding no. Now after two rounds of surveys we finally have a winning name. Going forward the BAME Newsletter will be called Horizons Newsletter.

Banner for Horizons newsletter

Thank you to all of you who took the time to fill out the surveys, it is greatly appreciated.

Festive Recipes From Around The World

Posted on by Tyesha

Words by Student Champion Lottie

The days are getting shorter and your fluffy socks have made a comeback for another winter season. You’ve just bought your first pack of mince pies since last year and all you can smell is your spiced apple scented candles. This is the perfect time to try out some traditional, cosy festive recipes from around the world. Here is a starter, main and dessert to get you into the festive spirit!

France 

Let’s start in France with an easy festive soup, made with chestnuts. This recipe also involves ‘duck confit’, which is a traditional French dish where a duck is slow cooked until completely softened. It can be stored for up to a month in preserved fat.  

You can be pretty flexible here and use any vegetables which will add to the warm, winter feel of the foamy dish. Heavy cream and stock are also required. 

  1. First of all, fry your selection of vegetables with a knob of butter in a large pot, until they are tender. 
  2. Add a handful of chestnuts, some duck confit and a stock which covers all of the ingredients. Bring the pot to a boil and then allow it to simmer for 20 mi
    nutes.     
  3. After 20 minutes, add a generous dollop of heavy cream. Allow the mixture to simmer for another 5 minutes and season to taste. 
  4. Transfer to a blender and purée the mixture until it has your desired texture.  
  5. Serve with a spoonful of maple cream and enjoy! 

Mexico 

Flying across the world to South America, it’s time for the main! Here is the recipe for the traditional dish, Bacalao Guisado, which is often served during this festive period. It consists of a salted cod, served with an assortment of vegetables in a tomato sauce. 

  1. Fry an onion, a clove of garlic and a red pepper in a deep pan until softened. 
  2. Add any desired spices, roasted tomato sauce and some water to the pan – just enough so that the vegetables are covered. 
  3. Add a diced potato to the mix and cover, allowing it to simmer for 10 minutes. 
  4. After this, the potatoes should be semi-boiled and we can add the salted cod, gently folding it into the base and then leaving it for 5 minutes. 
  5. And we’re done! Serve with white rice. 

Canada 

Finishing with a dessert, it’s time to try some classic Canadian butter tarts, often served around the time of thanksgiving. This easy recipe requires a variety of basic and accessible ingredients, such as pastry, eggs and sugar.  

  1. After pre-heating the oven to 180C, cut a sheet of pastry into the same shapes as you would for a mince pie and add the bases to a cupcake tin. 
  2. Beat 2 eggs in a bowl and add a handful of raisins, a generous amount of sugar, a dash of vanilla extract, a knob of butter and a dollop of cream.  
  3. Heat this mixture in a bowl until it thickens.  
  4. After stirring in a handful of walnuts, add the mixture to the tart bases. 
  5. Cook until golden and you can eat these cold or heated up! 

Are you feeling festive yet? If you try any of these recipes, make sure to post a photo and tag the University of Bristol on Instagram!