Over the highly awaited long weekend, international students made the annual trip to the African-themed waterpark resort in Pennsylvania, Kalahari. Students enjoyed a variety of experiences, fun foods and activities.
The most memorable experience was the excessively sweet and heavy milkshakes from B-Lux Grill & Bar. Positioned prominently at the entrance of the lobby, B-Lux Grill & Bar tantalized guests with promises of extravagantly adorned milkshakes, towering with confections such as cakes, candies, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and more. These concoctions, brimming with an abundance of flavors and sugar, presented a formidable challenge to even the most daring of dessert enthusiasts.
B-Lux also boasted an impressive selection of burgers, each with its unique blend of toppings and cheeses, but all sharing a common feature: a double patty. However, many patrons found themselves unwittingly surprised when ordering the seemingly innocuous “double patty burger,” only to discover that this seemingly modest fare had a whopping four layers of succulent beef patties.
Double-cut, a steakhouse with an assortment of other foods, was the culinary focus of the resort. Mark Zhao ’26 described the new steak sushi as “delectable,” truly a unique fusion of flavors that excites and stimulates the taste buds in unexpected ways.
Some students traveled to a nearby ski resort where they enjoyed either snowboarding or skiing. However, the lack of visible snow anywhere led many to believe that students would be skiing on ice rather than snow. Nevertheless, undeterred by the lack of ideal conditions, determined individuals ventured forth to make the most of the remaining snow.
Fortunately, Kalahari offered more than just food and a water park but an entire underground arcade full of games designed to empty your pockets. Luckily, Dr. Vernanzi gave each student 100 credits for free. One particular event saw players grabbing onto a plastic rotating bar that lifted the individual. If the player held on for a certain amount of time, they would win plushies. One student described the experience as “painful … your hand just feels weaker and weaker, and it just slips off. It’s a scam bro. The bar is too thick. Even though my forearms aren’t tired, my fingers just slip off.” Nevertheless, Jerry Liu won a small-sized plushie after spending a remarkable amount of 48 credits, almost half of what he had.
Regrettably, not all students were afforded the luxury of leisure during the long weekend; some were forced to allocate precious time to catch up on academic commitments or arrive late due to athletic obligations. Whether it is working ahead on homework, dedicating time to extracurricular pursuits, or diligently crafting summer application essays, these sacrifices display the commitment, competitive spirit, and ambition of Peddie students.
As the long weekend drew to a close, students bid farewell to Kalahari, returning to campus once again as they prepared for the rest of the winter term. This brief respite from the rigors of academic life has no doubt aided in reinvigorating the spirits and physical energy of students.