Beautiful sunshine and sizzling temperatures welcomed our latest cohort of participants to Yale, as the second session of the ORA Summer 2019 got off to a hot start.

A dedicated team of ORA staff were on duty to greet everyone, with smiles and helping hands at the ready. There were also drinks and light snacks, a welcome relief for those who had travelled on the long journey to New Haven!

All the participants had arrived by dinner time, making the most of the welcome shade at the check-in desk. A Q&A session offered the chance for anyone with queries or concerns to allay their worries, whilst there was also a reception for the parents who had accompanied their children on the journey.

After dinner, the participants headed over to the Watson Center for an induction talk from Ron, the Programme Director. They also took part in some fun icebreaker activities which helped them to learn a little about their peers and bring them out of their shells. The activities went down well, and some early friendships were made as everyone settled into the evening.

Many of the participants were very tired from their long journeys, so they went off to bed reasonably early. It was definitely a sensible idea, as they will need their batteries fully charged for the week ahead, starting with Monday’s lessons. It’s all go at Yale!