ORA at Balliol College, Session 3

The session has come to an end, and the students are saying goodbye to each other. Everyone at this session has been particularly friendly, so saying goodbye is very sad. From the campus staff, we want to thank you all for such a great session, and we hope to see you for ORA 2015.

The British carnival party is in full swing, and everyone is having lots of fun dancing, playing games and saying goodbye.

Our British carnival party is going well. Along with a disco, there are village fete style stalls such as hoop-la and a coconut shy, as well as a candy floss stand. Everyone is having fun, and starting to say goodbye to all their ORA friends.

Nikolas just gave an emotional (and very funny) goodbye speech to his fellow students and staff about ORA.

A few more lovely photos from graduation. Students now have their awards for effort and attainment.

A few photos from the graduation ceremony. Everyone now has their scrolls and we have speeches to go.

The graduation is about to start, and everyone is dressed up and looking wonderful. The ceremony first gives out scrolls to each students, and then gives out awards. There will also be speeches and film screenings.

Today is graduation day, and there are some very special events as a way to celebrate. At 5.30 the students have a formal dinner, which will be followed by the graduation ceremony at 7.15 where students get their scrolls and awards. After this, there is a grand finale party with the theme “British carnival.” Campus is being transformed into a fete with fairground games and rides. Follow the blog for photos.

Hanna and Alice enjoying the evening in the JCR.

The winners of the stock market challenge - they made a whopping £50,000!

Tomorrow is the last day of #ORA201. As a way to remember each other and their ORA experience, students are all leaving each other messages on their ORA tshirts.

Here’s a lovely #ORASELFIE. Upload yours to Instagram with #ORASELFIE to be in with a chance of winning an iPad Air!

We are currently participating in a the stock market challenge. Students must imitate the stock market, buying and selling shares with fake money, while the market is affected by various outside variables. Everyone is really getting into it and it's getting very competitive!

This evening there are several activities. At 7pm there will be a stock market challenge in lecture room 23, and at 7.15pm the will be karate in the JCR.

It’s a bit wet in Oxford today, but students braved the weather to go punting again. Despite the rain, it was great fun and everyone had a go at punting, feeding the ducks and enjoying the scenery this unusual perspective.

Mohammed, Saudi Arabia.

One of the perks of having such beautiful scenery on the doorstop of your classroom is the opportunity to learn outside.