Immerse Afloat

Wednesday was a day just like any other at Immerse; jam-packed with lessons, activities and fun in the sun. With the end of Immerse in sight and deadlines for work drawing ever closer, the students are being provided with a real taste of university life in learning how to balance work and play.

After both morning and afternoon sessions of academic rigour, the students from each of the Immerse colleges were treated to an array of different activities. At St. Catharine’s, they made the short walk up King’s Parade to visit Cambridge’s most famous landmark, King’s College Chapel. Commissioned by Henry VI, the Chapel and college grounds are built on land that once made up a third of the original Medieval town, which in total took three years to clear and level. It’s huge size, however, bears no relation to what it was to be used for, for the King intended it to house only 12 boys!

Going for a Punt

Both Sidney and Christ’s took to the river Cam for their afternoon activity, with Christ’s heading through town on self-guided punts, and Sidney in a fleet of kayaks and canoes heading in the opposite direction to Grantchester. Mentors on the water made sure the students adhered to the title of the activity ‘watersports’, and some good-natured splashing softened the impact of the bright afternoon sun.

After a good shower and dinner in hall, each of the colleges was again treated to an array of activities. Sidney sat down for a talk by Paul Warburton, a man who is credited for popularising and making philosophy accessible to the many. The discussion was centred around choices, freedom and liberty, very fitting for a group of young adults on the cusp of some big decisions.

St. Catharine’s students headed to back to King’s, but this time to the fellow’s garden for a performance of Twelfth Night. The gardens truly did look wonderful in the late evening sun, and with some students having brought guitars, they enacted a performance of their own during the intermission. A delightful evening indeed!

All photos by Catarina Rodrigues