Dragon School Exchange
by Mark Risinger
On June 20 eleven St. Bernard’s boys arrived in London to complete the tenth year of our exchange with the Dragon School in Oxford. While Guy Schwartz and I traveled with the boys, the exchange also included eight girls from Nightingale-Bamford along with their chaperon, Lois Strell. As in years past, our first day in London followed an overnight flight, so we fought a bit of jet lag through an afternoon of sightseeing from a double-decker bus, visiting Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and finally Covent Garden. Over the next few days we also visited Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the colleges of Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Stonehenge, and Salisbury.
On June 20 eleven St. Bernard’s boys arrived in London to complete the tenth year of our exchange with the Dragon School in Oxford. While Guy Schwartz and I traveled with the boys, the exchange also included eight girls from Nightingale-Bamford along with their chaperon, Lois Strell. As in years past, our first day in London followed an overnight flight, so we fought a bit of jet lag through an afternoon of sightseeing from a double-decker bus, visiting Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and finally Covent Garden. Over the next few days we also visited Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the colleges of Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Stonehenge, and Salisbury.
The highlight of our London visit, however, was a Friday morning visit to 10 Downing Street, courtesy of Tim Luke, a St. Bernard’s father and colleague of PM David Cameron. After passing through a security gate at the entrance to the street itself, we walked up to the famous door and used the knocker to gain admittance. Mr. Luke chatted with the boys at length concerning the illustrious history of the building and its inhabitants, after which we were guided through many of the reception rooms and offices of Prime Ministers past.
Upon our departure, our hosts described our time in Oxford as “a vintage year,” and the evident sadness among the students as they engaged in one last “group hug” attested to the success of our exchange. St. Bernard’s is fortunate to have been represented by such a fine group of boys this year, and we look forward to greeting another new group of Dragons when they come to New York in October.
