Ei! My name is Antônio Jorge Medeiros Batista Silva (yes—four last names!) and I'm a '25 from Governador Valadares, Brazil. My journey to Dartmouth has crossed two continents, three countries, and over 10 schools—and I'm a strong believer that everyone's path to the Big Green was unique in a way. At Dartmouth, I am interested in studying Linguistics, Native American & Indigenous Studies, and Spanish. I am really passionate about social justice, learning languages, and the oxford comma!
As we started to wrap up Fall term, there was much to be planned. I didn't know who would take care of my plants; how I would handle all my final examinations; how I would cope with being far from my friends; and, most importantly, where I was going over Winter Break.
Ever since I left Brazil, every holiday is hard to plan. I could go back to my mom's house in Brazil, my father's in Angola, or just stay around and get to know the United States outside the Dartmouth bubble. The more I looked into my options, the more I knew I wanted to explore and go places I had never been.
Exploring Times Square for the first time!
I had friends who were going home - meaning, all four corners of the world - and some who would stay on campus. To conciliate all uncertainties and questions I had on the back of my mind, I decided to go for the safe choice. I spent Thanksgiving in New York with some friends from high school; am currently in Boston, where my aunt and uncle live; am going to stay for a bit in Amherst, where my cousin goes to school; and will still have the time to head up north to Montreal. When I lived in Canada, I only got the chance to explore the West coast of the country, and now I'm excited to celebrate Christmas and New Years with friends from the francophone area.
At Dartmouth, we are lucky to have a break that is long enough that I can do all of this. Because of the quarter system, our holidays merge together, and we get almost six weeks off.
I am enjoying Winter Break to the fullest, preparing myself for the next three months on campus. This means seeing friends and family who I haven't seen in a long time, without necessarily having to fly home. And Dartmouth's location is perfect for me to do so.
With a bus, I can get to Boston or New York; with just a train or a flight, I can be in Montreal.
Being away from the friends I made during my first term of college is not easy, for sure. But I am sure that we are all doing our best to enjoy this time we got off-campus, and excited to see each other again.
Dartmouth is a fantastic place that can be nearly impossible to explain to those who haven't stepped foot on its campus. This was the case with my parents, until this week!
One of the coolest groups I'm involved with on campus is the Dartmouth Rude Mechanicals, a student-run Shakespeare Company and term, we did a production of Coriolanus, one of Shakespeare's Roman tragedies.
I tend to get bored of places really easily, but I have yet to run out of different rooms in the library! Here are some of my favorite study spots at Dartmouth :)
Exploring Times Square for the first time!
The view from my drive to NYC!
