Hi everyone! I'm Estelle, a '23 from Seattle, WA. When not in class you can find me perusing every shelf at Left Bank Books, getting fresh bread at Umpleby's Bakery, spending time with friends, looking for a cup of coffee, and listening to music. I am a member of the Entrepreneurship LLC and a few on-campus clubs focused on service, mental health, and business. I work part-time at the Magnuson Center, most of the time on homework, and full-time at navigating this new world that is Dartmouth!
For the last two weeks I've been daily chasing sunbeams. Every single one tended my enthusiasm that winter is actually on its way out the door, shooed like some overstayed guest by my own delusion. But I've come to realize that's not quite fair. Winter is one of New Hampshire's most famous seasons; it ought to have a few months to itself.
Not only that; yesterday I looked at the weather, realized it was ten degrees outside, and caught myself thinking, "Oh good, it's warm!"
Oh good, it's warm.
I think that's the beauty of Dartmouth in the winter. We make the best of it and put aside our preconceived notions of "winter"—Seattle's grey misted paradise, Florida friends' sunshine state, and even the current summers of the Southern hemisphere. As wonderful as all those seasons are, they offer the opportunity to just go outside and lay on the grass, feel the sun, come inside only when hunger or sleepiness prompts, and never due to the weather.
Not so much here. Instead, when we're wanting some warmth, we look to those around us. Despite the chill, sudden need for hats, and conversation rendered visible white puffs in the oh good, it's warm temperature range, goodwill isn't a seasonal affair.
Warmth actually abounds on Dartmouth's campus. Take for example, Dartmouth's uncommon suitability to this weather: cozy nooks abound in libraries where students can snuggle in and watch the snowfall. Cafes emanate warmth of the literal variety, coffee mugs becoming miniature heat sources with which we brave the walk between classes. And even commoner than all of that is the warmth of companionship; as cliché as it sounds, students walking in small hat-topped flocks, laughing through brisk air, is a sport we take seriously around here. And it's one of the best ways to stay warm.
The weather is a classic conversation starter with the power to turn acquaintances into friends. People smile and laugh while stomping their boots and never seem too busy studying to say hello. As though compensating for the weather, we seek to bring warmth to others. It's the people here that make winters fun. And though I'm still learning how to balance on the snowscape and how best to warm-cut my way between classes, I'm glad to be weathering the winter with them.
Though fall was a term for adjusting and settling in, now feels like a time to put down roots. I can only imagine what spring will bring!
Because the town and school are small, they are extraordinarily interconnected and, in my experience, people in the community have been super welcoming. One long time Hanover resident even helped me pick out a good winter coat!
When I think of "old" at Dartmouth, I think of the many parts of campus that are rich in history. So this week, I went around to a couple of locations on campus to capture some of the historical parts of campus and their history.
I don't think any place exemplifies the stereotypical college town like Hanover and our dear old Dartmouth. Of the places at Dartmouth that have the best vibes, my vote — without question — goes to The Hop.
When I came to Hanover almost four years ago to start my freshman year, finding every place that serves coffee was of the utmost importance. Here's the rundown on the best places in town for coffee.
It's almost the end of my first winter here in Hanover, but that doesn't mean my friends and I didn't hop on the opportunity to go check out some ice castles an hour and a half north of us.
