On October 15, many international students attended a leisurely trip to Philadelphia for Peddie’s International Student Organization’s Fall Long Weekend. This trip allowed students to enjoy various recreational activities and gave them time to rest and finish schoolwork.

Fifty-three international students, as well as multiple faculty members who helped chaperone and organize the trip arrived in Philadelphia on the evening of October 15. Students stayed at Home2 Suites, an extended-stay hotel, which had facilities perfect for relaxing with friends and was close in proximity to Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown. Students stayed at the hotel for three days and three nights.

Students dined at various restaurants and ate delicious food. They enjoyed a group lunch at a Chinese restaurant, eating Cantonese cuisine. They enjoyed various dishes, such as fried rice, dim sum, noodles and more. Students were also given the option to eat wherever they pleased at other meal times, enjoying meals such as hot pot, steak, pho and more.

On the second night, Peddie students took a trip to the bowling alley, having fun and playing each other in friendly competition. One student said, “I think the bowling alley was very fun. The food was okay, and I got to play pool and also went bowling with my friends.” Despite the students’ slight disappointment with the food at the bowling alley, they still enjoyed their time there.

The Museum of Illusions was another stop in the itinerary. Students explored the displays, which included holograms, a purportedly revolving cylinder, rooms with reality-altering mirrors and much more. One sophomore who visited the museum during the trip said, “Even though we didn’t get to see any real museums, I enjoyed solving difficult puzzles in the museum that tested my problem-solving.” 

Throughout this trip, international students were able to relax as well as catch up on homework assignments from a plethora of classes. Many students agreed that the ISO Trip was a much-needed break from their daily routine.