This summer, a group of Christopher Newport University students set out for two weeks of discovery and study at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University. Between historic lectures, cultural excursions, and unforgettable adventures, the trip was as much about leadership and learning as it was about embracing the unexpected or as we called it “spontaneously deliberate life-lived-together”.
The journey began at Dulles Airport with laughter, coffee, and even a round of roll-call games. Despite expectations for travel mishaps, everything went smoothly—TSA, boarding, and even the in-flight meals (a surprising 9/10, according to one student). By the time the group touched down in London, spirits were high, and the promise of adventure hung in the air.
The first major excursion was a walking tour of Oxford, where students traced the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Harry Potter himself. From ancient taverns to storied libraries, history seemed to whisper from every corner of the city.
Guest lectures added a rich academic dimension to the trip. Sir Ralph Waller, former president of Harris Manchester, brought John Wesley’s life to vivid detail with humor and warmth. Another session from the Oxford Character Project sparked deep reflection on leadership and the importance of character.
One highlight came in the form of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, performed outdoors in Oxford. The night held surprises—from an audience member falling ill to spontaneous cast-audience interactions that left students blushing and laughing. I personally had a whole interaction with a cast member during his lines. Whereas Jeremy Jordan got a similar interaction about his beard with one of the leading ladies.
The group also ventured farther afield. In Cambridge, students tested their punting skills on the river, colliding with boats and even trees along the way, and even more note-worthy nobody fell into the water. At Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, history and hilarity mingled when one student inadvertently adopted a duck, later christened “Reginald Duckington.”
A day in London brought a moving tour of the Churchill War Rooms. This alone was incredible simply because we got to learn about his entire life story in a very easy to follow museum. Now I can’t tell you what every group did on their excursions, simply because I wasn’t there, however I can tell you about my excursion. So we went to Sherlock Holmes’ Baker Street and for a thirteen year plus long wait it was so worth it and better than imagined. Between transport mishaps and souvenir hunts, the day was equal parts history lesson and comedy of errors.
For some, the most meaningful moments came at the very end. “My favorite memory from our Oxford study abroad was taking a river cruise down the Thames and getting one last look at London surrounded by my new life long friends,” shared Emmelith Kettlewell-Shiley. Another student, Mack Robinson, shares “My favorite memory was getting lunch in Cambridge at Pizza Pilgrims with some of my fellow Oxonians! We ate a big variety of top notch pizzas, appetizers, and desserts. It was probably the best pizza I’ve ever had. I miss being there!”
After two weeks of packed schedules and spontaneous fun, the group returned home with full journals, countless photos, and memories that will last a lifetime.
In the end, the trip was about more than seeing new places—it was about embracing the unexpected, building friendships, and challenging oneself to “go with the flow.” Or, as multiple students put it throughout the trip, “Who knows when I’ll ever get the chance to come back? I decided to try everything.”
And with that, CNU’s Oxford travelers came home with one more truth tucked into their suitcases: sometimes the best journeys aren’t just about the destination, but about the laughter, lessons, and little surprises along the way.
