Hey all! I'm Batu. I'm a '26 from Istanbul, Turkey, and I am passionate about the cognitive science of design, developmental psychology, aesthetics research, postcolonial literature, and social media marketing! Be sure to reach out with questions about exploring the liberal arts, learning a new language at Dartmouth, cafes in town (one of my favorite blog series dare I say), study abroad programs, and research on campus!
I have spent a considerable portion of my life living in urban areas of Istanbul. Not to turn this article into an ode to Istanbul, but I count myself lucky to have lived in this bustling city. As much as I adore Istanbul, living in a city also meant that I never got to appreciate nature and seasonal changes.
The second leaves began changing colors, people started talking about "peak foliage," a concept I was not familiar with before coming to Dartmouth. Observing the gradual change of colors of leaves, I treated every moment as it if is peak foliage and observed every single tree in awe.
Leaves Changing Color in Front of East Wheelock!
The trees pictured above served as my litmus test for foliage. They are conveniently located on my way from my dorm to my first class in the morning. Naturally, I got to observe how leaves turned from green to yellow, then from yellow to burgundy, and finally from burgundy to brown. The surprising part was that the change was spread across approximately two weeks, which is considerably slower than how the leaves fall back home.
I know this might sound like a stretch to some folks, but I want to take a moment to appreciate how observing fall foliage grounded me. Living in the heart of a metropolitan city like Istanbul instilled a faulty sense of "living fast," wherein I felt preconditioned to look for "the next thing" without appreciating the present. The unhurried nature of fall foliage taught me how to slow down with the trees and appreciate the passing of time in the present.
Every day at Dartmouth brings about a new experience for me. To better observe fall foliage, I voluntarily went on a hike for the first time in my life by taking on a monumental hike at Gile Mountain. One of the most expansive and easily accessible sights in the area is the 360-degree panorama that can be seen from the fire tower atop Gile Mountain. Some might describe what I experienced as a "main character moment," for the lack of a better phrase. Seeing all the trees of different colors along with the fog formed on top of valleys was an unmatched experience.
View atop the Gile Mountain Fire Tower
As someone who grew up in a city, I made the bold decision to try something uncharted by choosing Dartmouth. Although seasonal observations might be a seemingly unimportant lens to viewing the college experience, it is one of the ways Dartmouth provides me with lifelong memories. I am yet to know what awaits me tomorrow as I step foot outside of my dorm, and that is exactly why I find Dartmouth to have an overarching adventurous spirit.
This winter, I'm studying abroad in Toulouse, immersing myself in French language, literature, art, and culture through place-based classes, city explorations, and firsthand experiences across southern France.
From surfing in Puerto Rico to backpacking in Joshua Tree to Norway: Break trips are a unique Dartmouth experience, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Gabe Brigham '26, a psychology and sociology double major, showed me around his dorm room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
On the final segment of The Stretch, we explored other planets, walked atop volcanoes, and went to the very bottom of the Grand Canyon (and back). Read about it here.
