Unwinding in front of the TV on Tuesday night, I found myself watching The Busiest Cities on ABC.TV – a revelatory picture of the life of Muscovites today.

45 minutes into the program I was gobsmacked to see before my eyes, images of the conception I had for Oasis at Flinders University some ten years ago – the same kind of images I see for an Oasis in the heart of Adelaide, with its 34,000 international students and culture of festivals that bring visitors to the city.

Please have a look! (4 minutes)

What these young people are offering is a true expression of the tradition of hospitality – making space for strangers to become friends. It’s what the world needs. And it is learnt through experience.

Some of the dialogue that I resonated with included:

• embracing the future yet drawing on the past
• it looks like a cafe, but it feels like someone’s apartment
• there’s no prices on food or drink*
• it’s difficult to explain…the whole idea of the place is big and deep
• cosy
• longing for community and wanting strangers to become friends
• you can do whatever you want…but together
• I feel like I could live here
• you learn different things from different people
• it’s like being in someone’s living room
• I feel like I’ve been allowed in
• I feel like I’ve experienced something touching
• what an amazing place!
• and why not be able to sit with strangers?
• she has a global outlook
• it will spread to the rest of the country

*At Flinders, everything, including (limited) food/drink and salaries for two staff, was provided free to students, funded from student fees via the university administration.
I think an Oasis in the city could be funded by the city and the universities, with an initial aim of bringing together those living away from home – international students and visitors, and supported by volunteers and complementary organisations.

I could write a book expanding that dialogue!