2013 - Week 1 Round Up

Welcome

Studio Cambridge at the Sir Henry centre (Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire) began in earnest on the 1st July with the arrival of 124 new students from all over the globe. We had arrivals all day from the four corners of the earth; as far afield as China and Chile.

After an afternoon of introductions and a few friendly games of volleyball, the students were welcomed into their boarding houses by their hospitable house managers: Anna, Zari'aat, Tom, Cameron and David.

Activities

Arts and crafts have taken off this year with our enthusiastic Activity Officers (Sam, Dom, Brad, Cara, Emilie and Emma-Jane) heading up some fantastic sessions. So far we have created friendship bracelets, painted t-shirts and bags, decorated biscuits and cakes and also prepared for our popular disco by making carnivalesque masks and other decorations.



Evening activities such as a big quiz and movie nights have been very popular and an excellent way to wind down of an evening.

Sports

The sports schedule this year has been expanded with the introduction of badminton, athletics, dance and lots of volleyball. This is in addition to the old classics of football, ultimate Frisbee and dodgeball, which are always a big hit with our students.

Excursions

This week was full of action starting with an early half-day trip to Cambridge, taking a guided tour of King's College Chapel and the Queens' College Bridge (or "Mathematical Bridge"). There was also time to browse the market stalls of central Cambridge.



Later in the week, the group spent a whole day at Leeds Castle (fun fact: not actually in Leeds, but in Kent), and experienced the falconry displays, the two mazes, the underground grotto and the ancient castle itself.




The most exciting excursion of the week was to the capital city, London, on one of the hottest days of the year. Whilst Andy Murray was winning Wimbledon in SW19 (the first British man to do so for 77 years, since Fred Perry), our group of students were on a sightseeing extravaganza. Taking in the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Downing Street, the Horse Guards Parade, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square. Having lunched next to Nelson's Column, the students were encouraged to explore the National Gallery, containing collections by Monet, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Gogh and many others. Before heading home, we all went for a cheeky shopping trip in Covent Garden to top off a brilliant English summer's day.

And to top it all off, some of our students had a boat trip on the River Stort yesterday - and it was a success!

More next week - including a report from the talent show...!