OISS is happy to organize events and activities during the summer and winter breaks. All international students and scholars, as well as their family members, are welcome to attend any and all of our activities. For more information, please see our Event Calendar.

Here is the schedule for the OISS 2022-2023 Winter Events! More information about all the events may be found below the picture. The schedule may change, so check back often!

Winter Events 2022-2023

Old Fashioned Holiday Party – Thursday, December 8, 2:00 - 4:00pm

Join us for an old fashioned American Holiday Party! Sip on hot cocoa, listen to holiday music, decorate cookies, make a tree garland out of popcorn, and take your picture with Santa! The party is come-and-go between 2 - 4pm at Brochstein Plaza (Courtyard in front of Sewall Hall, next to Lovett Hall), so come join us for a bit before the winter break. No prior registration needed.

Thursday, December 8 | 2:00 ‐ 4:00pm
Meet @ Brochstein Plaza, Courtyard in front of Sewall Hall (next to Lovett Hall) or in OISS
Cost: Free

Houston Rockets Basketball Game – Thursday, December 15, 7:00pm

This event is full!

Rex and Cynthia will cheer with you for the Houston Rockets as Houston’s own professional basketball team takes on the Miami Heat on Thursday, December 15. We will be meeting at the Lovett Hall Sallyport at 4:30pm to take the metro over to the Toyota Center downtown and participate in an exciting pre-game experience. Game starts at 7:00pm and cost is $20.00, subsidized by OISS, plus $1.25 for each ride on the Metro. Please note that backpacks are not allowed at Toyota Center. GO ROCKETS!

Register and pay at https://signup.rice.edu/oisswinter!

OISS Taco Friday – Friday, December 16, 12:00 - 1:00pm

Enjoy delicious tacos from www.tacosagogo.com with OISS staff and other internationals before the year is over. Come-and-go between 12:00 – 1:00pm in OISS on the 2nd Floor. Courtesy of OISS, no prior registration needed!!

Museum of Fine Arts Houston Guided Tour – Thursday, December 22, 1:30pm

This event is full!

Join us to visit the oldest art museum in Texas, which is also one of the largest in the U.S., and enjoy a free guided tour of either the Latin American or the European art section. We’ll meet at the Lovett Hall Sallyport at 1:30pm to walk or take the light rail (depending on the weather) to the museum together. The museum is free, but feel free to bring some money for snacks or drinks, and your Metro QCard or cash ($1.25 each way) for transportation, if needed.

Space is limited, so register soon at http://bit.ly/MFAH-OISS!!

Hermann Park Train Ride – Tuesday, January 3, 1:30 - 4:30pm

This event is full!

Come and ride the Hermann Park Train with us! Tickets are courtesy of OISS and on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you wish to join us please make sure to register!

We'll meet at the Lovett Hall Sallyport and walk together to Hermann Park on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

After the train ride you can stay and explore Hermann Park, visit the Japanese Garden or the Houston Zoo on your own. Entrance to the Zoo will be free that day but the Zoo requires reserving your free ticket: https://www.houstonzoo.org/plan-your-visit/prices-and-discounts/free-tuesdays/

Register now at https://bit.ly/OISS-train!

OISS Pizza Thursday – Thursday, January 5, 12:00 - 1:00pm

Come join us for pizza, a come-and-go event between 12:00 – 1:00pm in OISS on the 2nd Floor. Grab a slice of pizza, and chat with OISS and other internationals. Courtesy of OISS, no prior registration needed!!

OISS Cooking Class – Friday, January 6, 5:00 - 7:30pm

This event is full!

Join us for an evening of food, fun and friends! We'll meet at 5:00pm in Rice's MultiCultural Center and learn how to make a Brazilian Moqueca baiana with Pedro Brandao Dias Ferreira Pinto.

This event is free, courtesy of OISS, but space is limited, so register at https://bit.ly/OISS-cooking!!

For Summer Events in previous years, please click here.

For Winter Events in previous years, please click here.