The International Student Organization’s (ISO) Fall Long Weekend Trip, known as the ISO Trip, was a three-night trip during the long weekend this fall. The trip took all the international students to the beach at Wildwood, New Jersey. Everybody on the trip was able to experience a fun-filled and entertaining long weekend. From September 28 to October 1, they bonded in the hotel, ate delicious food and engaged in various memorable activities.
The trip was to the famous resort town Wildwood, located fifty minutes south of Atlantic City. Rosie Gao ’28 remembered feeling very excited about seeing the large roller coasters, expansive beachfronts and large varieties of shops and restaurants in town. “I was impressed by the amount of attractions available at Wildwood. I knew I would have an excellent time there from the start.”
The students stayed at the ICONA Diamond Beach Resort, a very comfortable and spacious hotel overlooking the water. ICONA had a pool and gym, and even offered access to a private section of the beach. “The hotel was fire,” recalled Gao. Richard Hong ’28 fondly recalled eating at the hotel restaurant, Coastal Blue. “At the hotel restaurant, I ate one of the best crab cake sandwiches of my life. The fries were also top-notch.” Later that day, Hong also went to a movie theater to see “Deadpool and Wolverine” for the first time. “It was such an excellent movie, and the comfy seats and spatial sound made it even better.”
Meanwhile, other students recalled exciting experiences on the beach and boardwalk. Some students were able to pull a serious shopping spree, although Yurika Wu ’28 remarked that “I kept my spending within three digits.” Hong also engaged in fun games on the boardwalk with his friends, even winning a giant stuffed snake, which is currently on display in his dorm room. Even though the weather was windy, numerous Instagram posts and stories reveal that all the pictures were worth it.
Overall, the ISO Trip was a very fun and memorable experience for the international students at Peddie and was a great opportunity for them to bond and have fun with each other. The three days allowed for a rest and recharge from school, and it was overall an extraordinary experience at Wildwood.