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 study Linguistics, Native American & Indigenous Studies, and Spanish. I am passionate about social justice, language-learning, and the oxford comma!
This class is an introduction to the Spanish minor and major courses and, although I did not expect to particularly like it, it not only turned out to be my favourite but it made me start considering a degree in the department!
In this class, we analysed different productions of Latinx American theatre. Prof. Analola Santana was probably the best person I met this year at Dartmouth. Being her student was a very important experience as I try to navigate my potential majors and minors.
In this class, I was able to carve time out of my busy Dartmouth schedule to study and learn my Indigenous language: Krenak. With the help of Prof. Gokke, all students were encouraged to develop a final project that spoke to their community's needs for language learning and revitalisation. It was an extremely important class for me, not only academically, but also for my personal healing process.
I had the honour of spending my sophomore fall in Madrid, taking part in the Spanish FSP. There, Prof. Martín was not only a great professor, responsible for my favourite lecture of the program, but also an incredible company throughout our classes and in-country trips. Great way to wrap up my Spanish minor, honestly!
This was my second class in the NAIS department, and thus it took me one step closer to wrapping up my major. Nonetheless, it was Prof. Powell's genuine charisma and caring personality that made it my favourite of the term!
This course was definitely life changing! Prof. Pochedley, a visiting post-doc of the Potawatomi nation did a great job at keeping the students engaged while teaching us to see the land we inhabit as a source of knowledge and spirituality. In a majority Indigenous classroom, we got to develop individual projects related to our traditional homelands, learning to navigate the world through Native world lenses.
Prof. Gómez is one of those profs I've always wanted to take a class with. His work with the Horror genre in Modern Spanish literatures amazes me, and it was an honour to guide in-class discussions and develop my own research on the themes of science, testimony, and fear.
LING54 is an umbrella course: the actual content of the course may vary each year, but it is the common letter-number code to refer to the course taught abroad by your accompanying Dartmouth Linguistics professor. In this year's Linguistics Foreign Study Program (FSP), LING54 was a 'Language Documentation' class, wonderfully taught by Prof. David Peterson.
Before this class, I had no idea what visual and cultural studies actually encompassed. Every chat with Prof. Broner opened my eyes to a different analysis or method for interpreting literature, and for that, I feel truly lucky! We got to discuss films made by Indigenous women from all over Latin America, exposing the class to distinct ways of interacting with and stewarding the environment.
It was just another crisp morning when I embarked on a spontaneous journey to Boston. The idea had been simmering in my mind for quite some time—often, all I need is a quick break from Hanover. While I love our campus and its surrounding natural beauty, sometimes the allure of the city is all I actually need. Thankfully—and in case you didn't know: the Dartmouth Coach leaves every other hour to Boston and twice a day to NYC.
Being a Dartmouth student, I've had my fair share of exciting trips with my house and close friends. However, there's a unique thrill in planning an adventure entirely on your own; no reliance on group decisions or the familiar faces of housemates—just you, your curiosity, and the city's endless possibilities.
Upon arriving in Boston, I decided to start my exploration by strolling along the historic Freedom Trail. This famous red-brick path weaves through the city, connecting 16 significant sites, including the Massachusetts State House, Paul Revere's House, and the Old North Church. It's like taking a step back in time and immersing yourself in the nation's history.
As the day wore on, I made my way to the Boston Common and the Public Garden, where the serenity of nature provided a welcome contrast to the city's hustle and bustle. It's as if every city in New England had a little piece of Hanover in it, although no city compares to our beautiful campus.
I later ventured into museums like the Museum of Fine Arts. My solo adventure allowed me the freedom to pop into bookshops, explore quaint neighborhoods, and indulge in local coffee shops without any hurry to leave for class.
As I returned to Hanover that night, my solo trip to Boston left me with a profound sense of accomplishment. There's something so mature—almost like a rite of passage—in being able to come and go from home. It was a reminder that while Dartmouth's community is warm and inviting, there's a world of adventure waiting just beyond our campus. Whether with friends, housemates or on your own, I'd say that exploring the vibrant cities nearby is an essential part of the Dartmouth experience!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
