Hey! I'm excited to welcome you to my blog page! I'm Andrea Agola, a '26 born in Kenya and raised just outside of D.C. As the eldest child of three, I'm the first to go off to college! I'm glad Dartmouth will enable me to explore both the sciences and humanities. Don't even get me started on the numerous extracurriculars that pique my interest, like the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact, research projects and dance groups. Follow along as I navigate this unique college experience!
Academic Program
Sociology major, International Studies Minor, Pre-Med
Favorite Thing Right Now
Studying abroad on the French LSA+ in Toulouse, France!
When I began my first term at Dartmouth, I knew I wanted to explore the French language and culture more after having been a French music and film fan for as long as I can remember. This was an accelerated course that covered French 1 and 2 in one term and offered an exciting and fast-paced atmosphere. The small nature of our class allowed us all to have more speaking time in class from partner activities to performing creative skits. One of the best assignments was a scavenger hunt! I was also able to learn and make a presentation about francophone countries. This class really prompted me to apply for the ‘24 Winter–Toulouse, France Study Abroad which I got accepted into!
This course considers the discipline and political happenings of Black Feminist Thought by highlighting interlocking issues related to gender, sexuality, race, and economics. The professor was amazing! I was always genuinely excited to do her assigned readings/viewings and remember being sad when she canceled class one day (imagine!). I reveled in the thought-provoking, warm, restorative (the list goes on & on) ambience that she fostered. I even took advantage of a cool opportunity that Dartmouth offers, the “Take a Faculty Member out To Lunch” program at Pine Restaurant across from campus. I enjoyed the lovely conversation we had over delicious food. Her class was such a great source of empowerment!
This course examines the epidemiology and social impact of past and present infectious disease epidemics. It was a great and insightful class to take for the Global Health Minor! I had the chance of hearing from many influential guest lecturers like the Former Minister of Health of Rwanda and a key member of the U.S Covid Task Force.
This course explores causes and patterns of global poverty and links this with the urgent need for care and care ethics in our lives and in society broadly. Not only did the class feel like such a caring environment but it was especially interesting because it had a Social Impact Practicum (SIP) component. A SIP is a project-based experiential learning opportunity connecting undergraduate courses at Dartmouth with community needs identified by nonprofit organizations. In other words, a SIP is a real-world project with real-world impact. My SIP was my care work as a UGA within Dartmouth's Residential Life.
Bonjour! This week I'll be taking you on a grape-fueled adventure through the heart of Bordeaux, France. My study abroad cohort and I uncorked the magic of Bordeaux, during our overnight excursion there with our Art History professors. Not only did we learn the history of the wine city, but we even sat in on a crash course on the art and science of winemaking.
We left Toulouse early Friday morning, and we arrived in Bordeaux two hours later via train. When we arrived we quickly dropped off our luggage at the nice hotel and started touring the city while our professors took us to specific architectural sites and historic churches like the Grand Théâtre and the Cathédrale Saint-André. After a lunch break, we visited the Beaux-Arts Museum which houses one of the most outstanding public collections in France. It features amazing paintings, sculptures, drawings and other art objects, ranging from the 15th century to the present day.
Admiring some portraits!
We then had some free time to explore the city which I found to be very different from Toulouse (both architecturally and vibe-wise) but reminded me of my hometown city, Washington D.C. We ended the day with a nice dinner provided by Dartmouth at a restaurant where one of the professor's son's joined us as well as four of his friends. I really enjoyed talking to French students who are around our age, and we ended up talking and dining for almost three hours!
The next day, one of the highlights of our trip was definitely a visit to the City of Wine Museum. The museum has a very modern twist because you're handed an audio headset and touch screen to walk around with that provides an audio guide of the different exhibits. They chronicled the history of winemaking in Bordeaux, from the first vineyards to the modern innovations that shape the industry today. I loved how interactive many of the exhibits were. There were many simulations for the wine making process like an exhibit where we could "stomp" on grapes and another where we could smell the scents that go into different wines.
The wine tasting exhibit!
However, our thirst for knowledge didn't end with the exhibits. Afterwards, we attended a wine class. It was led by a knowledgeable sommelier, who expanded our understanding of wine culture and had us try three different wines; dry white and red wines and a sweet white wine (my favorite). The class covered not only the basics of winemaking but also the nuances of wine etiquette. We learned the delicate art of swirling and smelling the wine, discovering how these rituals enhance the tasting experience. The sommelier even shared the interesting fact that about 20 bottles of wine from Bordeaux are drunk every second around the world!
Bordeaux is a city that effortlessly blends tradition with innovation, history with modernity. As the excursion came to an end, we left with many memories and a newfound appreciation for the artistry behind each bottle of wine. As the French say, santé!
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
Growing up in New England and transitioning to living at Dartmouth, I'm all too familiar with the unpredictability (and beauty) of New England's weather. Let me tell you about it here!
