From Oxford to Kyoto: Two PhDs, One Epic 10,000-Mile RT

Hello! We are Scarlett and Chris -- two freshly graduated PhDs from Oxford University, about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime: driving from Oxford all the way to Vladivostok, then taking a ferry to Kyoto, Japan. That’s nearly 10,000 miles of roads, borders, and stories.

Why are we doing this?

After years of research and writing our theses on urgent social issues, we now find ourselves in a strange position: full of ideas, but caught in the uncertainty of early academic life. Everything feels pending—like the old proverb of “punching a wall with full strength but no response.”

We’ve dreamt of this journey for years. But the world only grows more uncertain and chaotic, and we realised: if not now, when? One of our professors once said that people spent their whole lives waiting for the Berlin Wall to fall—reminding us that the world may not improve quickly, and waiting for “the perfect moment” often means waiting forever. We don’t want to wait a lifetime.

We’ve spent months preparing, researching routes, and gathering the documents and permits. The journey will be tough, but possible. The only thing holding us back is money. Like most PhD students, we finished our theses intellectually rich but financially poor.

That’s why we’re asking for your support.

What Your Donation Buys:

Every contribution helps us turn this dream into reality. Here’s what your support makes possible:

£10 → Fuels about 100 miles of the journey

£25 → Keeps us fed and sheltered for a day ️

£50 → Covers a critical border crossing or visa fee

£100 → Helps us pay for the ferry to France⛴️

£250 → Funds a full week of travel costs (fuel, food, lodging) ️

£500+ → Becomes a named sponsor of our trip—we’ll send you a personal postcard from the road and dedicate a milestone update to you ✉️✨

Our promise:

We will bring you along with us—sharing photos, stories, and updates as we drive across continents, from Europe to Asia.

This trip is about more than travel. It’s about daring to step out of waiting, to chase a dream, and to keep curiosity alive in uncertain times.

If you believe in bold journeys and living life before it slips away, please consider helping us hit the road. Every donation—big or small—will carry us another mile closer to Kyoto.

Thank you for being part of our adventure!