Walking through London

Today our Wimbledon delegation explored London on a walking tour.  We saw the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, White Hall and Trafalgar Square.  The end of the tour included the changing of the guards and a stroll through Kensington.  We finished the day with a visit to the Science Museum and a quick train ride back home to Wimbledon. 

 

 

Tomorrow we will have a cooking lesson and a visit to Beaumont House.  The week is quickly coming to a close L 

 

 

Day at Hampton Court

Today our delegates and their host students spent the day together visiting Hampton Court, the palace of King Henry VIII and William & Mary. Our day started with a bus ride from the Ursuline School to Kingston where we boarded a boat for a ferry ride on the Thames River to Hampton Court.

Once we arrived at Hampton Court Palace, the girls broke into groups for a tour of the grounds. We learned about the history of King Henry VIII and were able to visit the kitchen, wine cellar, and palace gardens. The Chapel Royal, at the center of the grounds, was peaceful and serene. Included on the grounds were the apartments of King Henry VIII and King William III. The girls enjoyed seeing the grand dining rooms and bedrooms in the apartments. A highlight of the tour was King Henry VIII’s crown!

After the tour, the students gathered back together for a picnic on the front lawn. After a few games and a quick visit to the gift shop, we were back on the Thames for our journey home. It was a great day for all! Tomorrow we will enjoy a walking tour of London. We can’t believe our time is already winding down, but will cherish these memories forever!

UA visits Brighton

Today we took a day trip to Brighton with our host sisters.  Brighton is known for its lovely pebble beach, pier, and amusement park rides.  The students had a blast running from ride to ride.  Many of them enjoyed the rollercoaster, bumper cars, and the high flying “booster” ride. 

Later we enjoyed a rainy fish and chips lunch on the beach while the seagulls circled our little group.  According to our hosts, a picnic lunch at Brighton is the “proper way” to enjoy fish and chips! 

After lunch, our delegation had time to shop “the lanes” in Brighton.  They loved trying all of the different types of British candy and purchased souvenirs to bring back to Dallas.  After a quick 45 minute train back to Wimbledon, the students left with their host sisters for the evening. We are excited for our day tomorrow at Hampton Court Palace! 

Day at Ursuline High School

After a wonderful weekend with our hosts, today we were able to spend the day with our sisters at The Ursuline School in Wimbledon. We attended and observed the first two periods of the day.  Our students experienced classes ranging from Maths, English, Drama, Design Technology, and PE.  After eating lunch with their Ursuline host sisters, the delegation presented on Ursuline Academy and on living in Dallas, Texas.  

At the weekly faculty meeting, our principal, Dr. Shurley, presented a gift to Ursuline High School from Ursuline Dallas.  Ms. Julia Waters, the Ursuline High School Headteacher, accepted the beautiful cross made from Texas limestone.  The cross will be placed in the school chapel for everyone to enjoy.   

 

Art Class and Wimbledon Tennis Museum

Greetings from the UK! Our first full day in England started with an art class at Ursuline High School.  The students were given a short lesson on the history of graffiti and were then given an opportunity to create their own pieces with stencils and spray paint. The girls’ art incorporated iconic London images including Big Ben, a double decker bus, teapots, and the Queen.  The girls had so much fun that even the chaperones tried their hand at designing their own pieces!

After the wonderful art lesson, we enjoyed a stroll through the village and commons to the Wimbledon Tennis Museum.  The exhibits featured the history of the sport and the evolution of the tournament.  Unfortunately we were not able to tour the grounds and courts because they were preparing for the championship.  

The girls are looking forward to spending the weekend with their host families.  Their host sisters have planned an exciting evening of bowling and barbeque for the entire group tonight!

Wimbledon bound!

Last night, our 2017 Wimbledon delegation departed for London. All were very enthusiastic and excited to experience British life and to meet their host families in just a few short hours...



 

After the flight "across the pond"..... Welcome to Wimbledon!

 

We can't wait to hear all of the news from the UK so please continue to follow our blog in the coming days!