U . S . A . 2022
U . S . A . 2022
SAN FRANCISCO / LOS ANGELES
53 students and six staff landed in San Francisco back in July , kitted out with hockey sticks , rugby boots , and a huge dose of excitement . This was the first time Pocklington School has toured America in both sports and the country did not disappoint .
We kicked off our time in San Francisco with a tour of Alcatraz – a hard hitting and historical highlight , which we all very much enjoyed , jetlag aside ! The girls had their first match of the tour the same afternoon , against a tough and competitive San Fran All Stars ; a great match which gave us a flavour of the standard we would have to meet for a successful tour . The boys did us proud , too , playing rugby in different conditions to usual – firstly , on American-football pitches , and secondly , in the scorching heat of California ’ s wine region .
The Golden Gate Bridge , the San Francisco Giants baseball match , and everything else San Francisco had to offer , was a fantastic first stop for our tour . We then headed south to Santa Barbara – a beautiful place , where we were welcomed with great interest and hospitality . The players enjoyed some muchneeded R & R by the beautiful Californian beaches , before we made our way down to the long-awaited Los Angeles .
Los Angeles , and everything it had to offer , was outstanding . The ‘ field hockey ’ matches were well-matched and challenging , the rugby games were physical and pushed us to be at our best . Most importantly , this is where we undertook our charity work , which is so imperative to any worthwhile sports tour . The students focused their energy on packing food bags for the homeless . As hoped , they were thoughtful and considerate
throughout this experience and it was fulfilling to come away knowing that Pocklington School had done their bit for those less fortunate than ourselves .
The Hollywood Hills , Hollywood Boulevard , and Beverly Hills were incredibly eye-opening experiences – not to mention the surfing and white-water rafting , which they did with so much poise and skill ! As hoped , all 53 tourists did the school proud ; they were courteous and respectful , they showed great energy and consideration for others , and they were wonderful company to be around . We were on tour for two weeks , but the memories will last a lifetime !
LKH
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