The Christmas Vacation 2010–2011. Your handy guide to staying in Sheffield over the Christmas vacation www.ssd.dept.shef.ac.uk/christmas 2 3 Are you staying in Sheffield over the A sense of community during vacations Christmas vacation? In the city of Sheffield there are over 8,000 International Students Research shows that people who feel The best way to stay connected is by from more than 120 different countries across the world who live connected to a sense of belonging joining the ‘Staying in Sheffield over experience greater wellbeing in all Christmas?’ Facebook group where alongside British students and local residents. During term-time areas of life, including in academic you can start conversations, join in the city buzzes with activity, however many of these students also work. This happens when people on events, and request to become stay in the city over the vacation period too. feel respected, valued and when they friends with those you meet at the can contribute in shaping the life group events. On the Facebook group This guide aims to provide information about the different of a community. This also happens you can also create your own events activities which are on offer to students who stay in Sheffield over when people are able to build such as meeting for coffee and invite the Christmas vacation. It also gives advice about how to stay healthy relationships and share others from the group to join you. connected to the University community over the holidays. their experiences. What events or activities would you like to organise this vacation? We hope that you will find this guide helpful and that you will get The project hopes to encourage a sense of community by supporting Be aware that while the group is involved in the activities on offer in order to make this vacation students in the transition from the monitored anyone may join, so be truly memorable! autumn term to the vacation period. careful about giving out personal By providing a varied programme of information or inviting people into social activities during December and your home unless you know them. January we hope to combat isolation and instead build community among Stay in touch Contents those living in Sheffield. We also On Facebook search for ‘Staying in hope to raise awareness about the Sheffield over Christmas?’ or visit Welcome and Introduction ...................2 Looking after yourself ...........................10 International Student experience www.facebook.com/group.php Connecting to a sense of community Information for Student Families ...... 11 across our Universities and encourage gid=160246847322817 ..........................................................................3 students to take ownership in building Family-friendly ideas ............................. 12 community on and off campus. Check the website for up to date What to expect ..........................................4 Volunteering during vacation ............. 14 advice and information about all our events Build your own Christmas .....................5 How to stay connected Competition .............................................. 15 www.ssd.dept.shef.ac.uk/christmas With so many students staying in Event programme ................................6–9 Sheffield over the vacation there is no Follow us on Twitter! need to spend the holidays on your http://twitter.com/stayinginshef own. As well as International Students, For all other questions email many British postgraduates will Sheffield Hallam or University of Sheffield? [email protected] be on campus during the vacation, Many of the events listed in the Events Programme are open to students of and local commuter students will both Universities. We would like to encourage students from both Universities also be nearby. If you are from one to mix and to take part in the project together! If an event is only open to of these student groups, you are also students from one University (e.g. IC World Cinema) this will be stated. invited to come along to all of the activities! 4 5 What to expect Build your own Christmas The festive period is a busy time for Remember to buy enough food before In the UK many people spend Christmas Day preparing a special meal which most people in the UK, and it is often Christmas Day as many places will be is eaten around lunchtime. Some people go to a service in the morning and a time when people spend time with closed for a few days! Also, Monday reserve opening gifts until after coming home. Others play special games and their families or close friends and 27th and Tuesday 28th December are turn on the television to hear the Queen’s Speech at 3pm! In the evening people eat specially prepared meals and public holidays in the UK. watch festive films or sit around sharing stories. This year, why not get together exchange gifts. Many people celebrate with other students and build your own Christmas Day, adding your own rituals Most Museums and art galleries Christmas as a Christian festival, and traditions from your culture! will be closed on Christmas Eve, and local churches and Sheffield’s Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Cathedrals will be holding concerts Non-alcoholic spiced punch Year’s Day. With all public buildings and services across the season. It has Make your own gifts or cards it is best to call ahead, or visit their Place 1 pint Orange juice also become a cultural festival here in in a saucepan website to find out exactly when they Save money and get creative by making with 1 pint Apple juice, the UK with lots of parties, markets half a are open over the Christmas holidays. your own gifts! If there are a few of you, teaspoon of ginger and mixed spice and carol singing. Traditionally, the . why not try organising a ‘secret Santa’? Take an orange and push a few Christmas period is a time when There are around 83 public parks cloves This is where you all get given the name into the orange and place that in the people are encouraged to consider in Sheffield and they are great of another person in the group to buy mixture with a broken how they can share what they have spaces for children and adults to cinnamon stick. or make a gift for! You can agree to only Simmer over a low heat for 5 minutes and be more generous with people enjoy the winter weather (especially spend a few pounds or to all make a and serve! who are disadvantaged. However, it if it snows). Some parks have present instead of buying one. has also become a very commercial playgrounds, cafes, lakes and ponds. festival in the UK and the shops You can find out more about facilities, can get very busy around this time opening times and your nearest park Make your own traditional Christmas cracker! (especially Meadowhall!) at www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/ Christmas crackers were first invented by a British sweet shop owner called Tom parks-woodlands--countryside/parks Be aware that public transport may Smith in the 1840’s. They are a fun way to start or end a meal together and usually be affected during this time so it is The Peak District National Park is contain paper hats, jokes or small gifts! To learn how to make yours by hand visit best to check this before you travel. located on the edge of Sheffield and is the websites below: Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for the oldest national park in Britain. www.oldenglishcrackers.com/make-your-own-crackers.htm details about UK train travel or visit or Consider taking the Sheffield City www.travelsouthyorkshire.com for www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/activity/christmas-crackers.shtml Centre Tour which runs every information about local transport Tuesday (apart from 28th January), and ideas of places to visit during the 10–11:30am, from the Winter Garden vacation. Information Desk, for free. The tour is Gingerbread Christmas decorations What is open? led by the City Centre Ambassadors and includes an introduction to and 50g caster sugar. Most shops and public buildings Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 4 (160C) then mix 75g butter notable buildings and open spaces . , half a teaspoon bicarbonate of soda and 50g golden syrup such as Museums will be open every and stories and anecdotes of Add 2 egg yolks and a teaspoon ground ginger and ground cinnamon. Mix day except Christmas Day (25th memorable city centre events. Add 250g plain flour Dec) and New Years Day (1st Dec). it all together. Divide the mixture into 2 balls, knead the dough and put it in the fridge However, many shops will have for 30 minutes. Remove the dough after this time and roll it out using a rolling pin reduced opening hours on Christmas to a thickness of 1 cm. Using a cookie cutter, (or a knife!) cut out your gingerbread Eve (24th Dec), Boxing Day (26th shapes Make a small hole at the top for a ribbon to go through. Place them on a Dec) and New Years Eve (31st Dec). greased baking tray and cook for 10 minutes. Be careful not to leave them hanging on the tree too long as they will go stale! 6 7 Events Programme For more ideas and full listings of events taking place in Sheffield visit the website! Launch Event Family-friendly trip to Sheffopoly Christmas Cinema Thursday 2nd December, Weston Park Museum Friday 10th December, 2pm, meet Monday 13th December, 5–8pm, 4–5.30pm, Sheffield Town Hall, Saturday 4th December, outside the Town Hall The Void cinema, Level 1, Owen Free 12.00–2pm, meet at Museum Building, Sheffield Hallam We are bringing Monopoly to life entrance University We will launch the Christmas Vacation so come along and get to know this Free Project with the opportunity to have wonderful city of Sheffield.