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23 July 2024

The Museum of Oxford, Botley Park and Tower Bridge

Oxford International College, Week Three

After a long day of travelling, new students were greeted with a warm welcome at the center! If they so wished, and had the energy to do so, students were shown around the center of Oxford for some last minute essentials shopping before heading back to the accomodation. After dinner, students took part in some ice breaker activities to help them get to know each other, as well as the members of staff, who they would be spending the next two weeks of the summer with! 

A trip to the Museum of Oxford was scheduled for the students first excursion! After dressing up in replica Victorian costumes and learning about the history of the city through interactive displays, they were then led on a walking tour. There, they were able to see with their own eyes the many changes that Oxford has undergone in its lifetime, noticeably through its distinct architectural features, before finishing in Christ Church Meadows. They passed by the college whose halls were famously used in the filming of Harry Potter, before settling under a weeping willow to make the most of that afternoon’s warm weather.

Thursday evening was spent in Botley Park, where students and staff alike took part in a whole cohort game. A fusion of “Capture the Flag” and the classic game of “Tag”, students were split into two teams. For one team to win, they had to collect all 10 bibs from members of the opposing team and bring them back to their basecamp. After which, students split off into smaller groups to enjoy various other sports such as basketball, football and volleyball whilst others relaxed in the park with card games and music. 

Students first took part in a formal “Meet the Staff” activity: whilst some put their creative skills at work to sketch out portraits of each member of staff, others were tasked with figuring out which fun facts about members of the OIC Oxford team revealed themselves to be true! For the “University Challenge”, a trivia based quiz inspired by the iconic British TV Game show of the same name, students competed against each other in small groups. Not only did they have to give the correct answer, but they also had to make sure to do so before any of the other teams! Prizes were awarded to each member of the winning team. 

As the first excursion of the weekend rolled arount, the students were eager to board the coach bound for London! Starting from Tower Bridge and ending at the Tate Modern, students strolled along the Queens’ Walk and were informed of some of the most historically important sights along the Thames, such as the Monument to the Great Fire of London, the HMS Belfast and the Globe Theatre. After some time reflecting on the purpose of modern art, students crossed the river by means of the Millennium Bridge and reached St Paul’s Cathedral just in time to admire the London skyline before sundown. But that wasn’t without first climbing all 633 steps required to reach the Stone Gallery! 

The Thorpe Park excursion was most likely the highlight of the week! With great weather and even greater plans, students set out throughout the amusement park seeking their favourite adrenaline-inducing attractions. After delighting in rollercoasters and water rides to their heart’s content, students gathered in the common room for “Chill Club” where after deciding on which film they would watch, they tucked into some popcorn for a more relaxed evening. 

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