As part of the 2025-2026 EDI Fellowship, the NWCDTP International Student Residential Retreat took place in Ambleside, the Lake District, from 21 to 23 September. The retreat brought PGRs together to build a supportive, friendly community, exchange cultural experiences, develop academic writing skills, and take time to look after their wellbeing in a relaxing, inclusive environment!
From a Food Journey to Teas and Snacks Around the Globe!
The retreat attracted 22 PGRs from within and beyond the NWCDTP cohorts, bringing together students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including Uganda, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Morocco, Ukraine, Palestine, Poland, China, the UK, Iran, France, India, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Our first evening kicked off with a welcome buffet dinner in a beautiful dining room overlooking the Lakes, with misty weather and light rain outside. Students and staff travelled from Lancaster, Manchester, Keele, and Liverpool to join the retreat, met and got to know one another over the course of the delicious dinner.
The buffet dinner was only a start! Next came the Food Quiz: A Taste from Home. Inspired by the dishes participants had recommended and the photos they had shared before the retreat, the quiz featured 14 questions across three rounds, progressing from easy to more challenging ones. Divided into 5 teams, participants worked together, shared their guesses, and tested their knowledge of food from around the world. After some lively discussions, Team Green was the winner!
But the fun did not stop when the answers were revealed. Participants were then invited to introduce the dishes that appeared in the quiz and share the stories, memories, and cultural traditions behind them. From ghormeh sabzi from Iran and mushroom and chicken luwombo from Uganda, to sernik from Poland, Nigerian pepper soup, makloubeh from Palestine, and broodje hagelslag from the Netherlands etc., each dish offered us a little glimpse into someone’s home and culture, letting us travelling across cultures without leaving the room.
(One of the highlights of the evening was our three Nigerian stars! They shared the beauty of traditional Nigerian clothing and introduced us to some of their cultural traditions!)
More than simply learning about unfamiliar dishes, through the food quiz, we also had the chance to share personal memories, discover things we had in common, and learn more about the places and people around us.
To round off the evening, each participant received a goody bag filled with teas and snacks from their home countries. Though small, the goodie bags carried a little taste of home, anchoring the beautiful memories we made throughout the night!
From Individual Writing to Group Consultations!
After an evening of cultural exchange, the second day turned our attention to our shared concern as PGRs: writing. Whereas the first evening gave us the chance to learn about each other’s foods and cultures, the morning workshop offered us time and space to reflect upon our own writing and explore ways to build a healthier and more sustainable writing practice.
In the morning writing workshop facilitated by Dr. Laura Premack, we worked around a timer to structure our writing chunks with regular breaks in between. Laura also shared a range of practical writing tips, including creating a writing ritual, setting goals for our future selves, freewriting, and learning how to work with our inner critics. These small but thoughtful practices encouraged us to think beyond the writing itself and consider how we approach it in our daily lives.
(We were structuring our writing during Laura’s morning workshop)
After a morning of individual writing, the afternoon brought us together for group consultations. Working in small groups of 7 to 8, guided by Laura, we reflected on our writing experiences during the morning session and wrote down our writing concerns on cards anonymously. Without the pressure of having to share our thoughts directly, these discussions offered us a relaxed and friendly space to talk honestly about the challenges we face in academic writing.
Although we came from different disciplinary backgrounds and were working on different projects, many of our concerns were surprisingly familiar. We were reminded that these struggles were not ours to face alone. Sometimes, sharing our doubts and hearing from others is just as valuable as sitting down to keep writing.
Here’s what our participants had to say about the writing day:
‘I enjoyed the writing workshop a lot – I found it extremely useful, as it helped me realise I was really in my head about the writing process, effectively preventing myself from achieving my full potential.’
‘Another helpful aspect was all the tips and strategies shared, especially those first shared by Laura, as well as the other useful advice and experiences shared by the students.’
‘The tools from Laura and the consultation I had with her addressed a specific challenge I was facing with my writing. I am grateful for the time I had at the retreat.’
‘Laura’s workshop was excellent. One of my issues with some previous workshops is that when they’re run by third parties who aren’t familiar with PhDs or haven’t done a PhD, they can get a bit redundant or patronising and don’t seem to offer much useful guidance or tips. Laura’s workshop on the other hand was well thought out, relevant, and really supportive. I got so much writing done and felt good about it for the first time in a while.’
‘I enjoyed the workshop and writing time with Laura. It helped to be writing together under the timer in the large room. Her guidance was caring and very much appreciated.’
‘The writing and consultation sessions led by Laura were particularly invaluable. I was able to sketch the introductory draft of the next chapter of my thesis and gained additional strategies for managing distractions during writing.’
‘Having Dr Laura Premack there to offer structure and advice was also beneficial, and the discussions she led in smaller groups helped foster a sense of the NWCDTP research community.’
Wellbeing Walk/Hike!
After spending the first two days indoors for cultural exchange and writing guidance, with the weather being rather misty and rainy, we finally got the chance to stretch our legs outdoors, enjoy the sunshine and the stunning views of the Lakes!
We headed up the hills north of Low Wood and walked through Skelghyll Woods, stopping by the viewpoint, Stagshaw Gardens, and the famous Champion Tree Trail, home to some remarkable trees, including England’s tallest Grand fir, standing at 60 metres tall. Laura also joined us along the way for informal conversations about writing practices and related concerns.
Halfway through the walk, we split into two groups: one aimed for a flatter route, while the other took on a more challenging hike.
(We set off together for a walk in the hills under beautiful sunny skies!)
Along the way, we encountered so many more-than-human friends basking in the sunshine and saying hello to us!
After the walk/hike, we returned to the hotel to have our packed lunch and departed.
This three-day retreat in the Lake District brought PGRs together to relax and recharge before the new academic year began, while providing a wonderful opportunity for us to share our cultures and traditions from around the world. Over the course of the retreat, we got to know one another beyond our name cards, forged meaningful connections and friendships, shared laughter and concerns, and enjoyed being surrounded by nature!
In such a beautiful, inclusive, and friendly environment, we realised not only how much we had in common as PGRs, but also how, standing together among the mountains and lakes, we were simply humans, despite our different backgrounds, disciplines, and research projects.
Here are some testimonials from our participants:
‘The most helpful thing was having the opportunity to have long conversations with other students from different fields. Knowing that I’m not the only one experiencing challenges reduced my anxiety, normalised what I was going through, and helped me focus on finding solutions rather than stressing about the problems.’
‘The food was delicious and the goody bags full of international teabags and treats were such a lovely thought!! I’m so excited to try them all!! […] The team made this event so welcoming and open that I had so many fascinating conversations with fascinating people from all over about everything under the sun. There was a real core to this retreat about building those connections organically and accessibly that paid off super well. I’m so thrilled about all the new friends and PhD colleagues I’ve met.’
‘I just want to say a massive thank you! It was such a beautiful retreat, all the people I met were lovely, and it has helped me to have some focused writing time before term starts back up again.’
‘Let me begin by commending the organisers of the event for an excellent job. I thoroughly enjoyed the serenity of the rural venue and the opportunity it provided to connect with nature, as well as the warm hospitality at Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa.
I also valued the chance to interact and socialise with other NWCDTP students from around the world. Learning about their cultures through conversations and traditional foods ranging from Trinidad in the Americas, to Nigeria and Uganda in Africa, and across Palestine, Iran, and China in Asia, back to Europe, was a truly memorable experience.’
‘It was an excellent and well-crafted event. I particularly appreciated the additional activities available at the hotel, especially access to the pool and sauna, which were a wonderful way to look after one’s back after hours of writing. The retreat balanced focused work with time to recharge amid the beautiful scenery of the Lake District, which made the experience all the more enjoyable […] The gift bag with a variety of teas and treats from our home countries was so thoughtful. I took them with me on my subsequent fieldwork trip, and am still enjoying them. Many thanks and congratulations on such a successful event!’
‘Everything was beautifully organised […] It was the best way to kick off the term.’
‘It was relaxing! A real residential retreat, with ample time to connect with other intl students and yet relax.’
‘I look forward to the next retreat. Well done on organising this one.’
A big thank you to the NWCDTP! Special thanks go to Nan Song, Hannah Helm, Francesca Roncoli, Carole Arrowsmith, Laura Premack and all of the staff members at Low Wood Bay Hotel!
(A view of Low Wood Bay Hotel from the cruise, photo taken in 2024 by Nan Song)
Photos credited to Nan Song, Francesca Roncoli, and Carole Arrowsmith