Half Term Fun
May half term tends to be revision-heavy for a lot students, whether it’s for end of year tests, or more significant exams like GCSEs or A-levels. But we were pleased to hear that despite their academic commitments, many students were able to enjoy the break from school with some fun outings and activities.
Many of our Area Managers also act as host families, and Area Manager for Yorkshire, Belinda, was hosting student Yvonne during her recent half term break from Queen Margaret’s School. Despite being in the middle of her GCSE exams, and having lost of revision to do, Yvonne did take some time out to try her first British pancake for breakfast. It was a definite thumbs-up!
Many of our Area Managers also act as host families, and Area Manager for Yorkshire, Belinda, was hosting student Yvonne during her recent half term break from Queen Margaret’s School. Despite being in the middle of her GCSE exams, and having lost of revision to do, Yvonne did take some time out to try her first British pancake for breakfast. It was a definite thumbs-up!
Yvonne was also treated to a Thai meal out to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday that fell on May 31st this year. At home they also ate the traditional Dragon Boat Festival food: zongzi. Zongzi are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, which can have many different fillings, but these consisted of sticky rice and pork. Tradition says you throw the dumplings into the river to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan, but Yvonne and Belinda ate theirs instead!
Yvonne was also treated to a Thai meal out to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday that fell on May 31st this year. At home they also ate the traditional Dragon Boat Festival food: zongzi. Zongzi are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, which can have many different fillings, but these consisted of sticky rice and pork. Tradition says you throw the dumplings into the river to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan, but Yvonne and Belinda ate theirs instead!
Kiki, from Padworth School, celebrated her birthday over the half term week. She was staying with her host family at the time, with another student, Aimee, from Headington School. They all enjoyed some birthday cake together and the girls made their host family a lovely Chinese meal. The highlight of their week was a trip to an indoor ski centre for a skiing lesson.
Kiki, from Padworth School, celebrated her birthday over the half term week. She was staying with her host family at the time, with another student, Aimee, from Headington School. They all enjoyed some birthday cake together and the girls made their host family a lovely Chinese meal. The highlight of their week was a trip to an indoor ski centre for a skiing lesson.
Veronica from Oundle School and Tiffany from Uppingham School were lucky enough to be staying with Area Manager Debs over half term. Debs took the girls to their house in Norfolk for a few days so that they could get a bit of a break from exams and experience a typical British seaside holiday. And we all know that an essential part of a British seaside holiday is definitely crabbing!
Veronica from Oundle School and Tiffany from Uppingham School were lucky enough to be staying with Area Manager Debs over half term. Debs took the girls to their house in Norfolk for a few days so that they could get a bit of a break from exams and experience a typical British seaside holiday. And we all know that an essential part of a British seaside holiday is definitely crabbing!
Over the half term week Gilly, who is our Area Manager covering Shropshire, met up with two of her students and their mother, Jing. Jing had come to the UK for half term to offer some moral support to daughter, Joanna, who is in the middle of her GCSEs at Shrewsbury School. Area Managers love to meet their students’ families whenever they get the chance, so they all enjoyed a lovely dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Shrewsbury.
Over the half term week Gilly, who is our Area Manager covering Shropshire, met up with two of her students and their mother, Jing. Jing had come to the UK for half term to offer some moral support to daughter, Joanna, who is in the middle of her GCSEs at Shrewsbury School. Area Managers love to meet their students’ families whenever they get the chance, so they all enjoyed a lovely dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Shrewsbury.
Host families are often kind enough to host more than just students! Over the half term week, the Riley family, who were hosting Christ’s Hospital student Marcus, was happy invite Marcus’s Area Manager, Sarah, over for a visit. As Sarah also hosts students, she took along Sora, another Christ’s Hospital student who was staying with her for the week, and they also met up with Sora’s Area Manager, and Sarah’s colleague, Anne-Marie! They all had a lovely time catching up around the dinner table with plenty of tea and cake.
Host families are often kind enough to host more than just students! Over the half term week, the Riley family, who were hosting Christ’s Hospital student Marcus, was happy invite Marcus’s Area Manager, Sarah, over for a visit. As Sarah also hosts students, she took along Sora, another Christ’s Hospital student who was staying with her for the week, and they also met up with Sora’s Area Manager, and Sarah’s colleague, Anne-Marie! They all had a lovely time catching up around the dinner table with plenty of tea and cake.
