Welcome to the transition diary from a big, cold Brazilian city to a small, very cold American town! I fell in love with Dartmouth, and I'm sure my first term will expand my love, as there is a lot to enjoy here in the woods: majors and minors, extracurriculars and clubs, many new open doors to a curious mind like mine! This was written to lofi hip hop, which I could listen to all day if I could, so come to me if you want some nice music to study or relax to. Hope you guys like the content!
Introduction to the amazing language of Chinese, taken with Mao Lao Shi. Really got my mornings going! I think all Dartmouth students should make the most out of their language classes, as they offer unique cultural opportunities and stick with you for life. I'm grateful for all who shared that classroom with me, and I am very happy to realize how much I have progressed in a subject so new to me.
My writing seminar, themed on Asian Conflict and Cooperation. I got to discuss a topic beyond my comfort zone, and had a blast! My classmates were really giving their best, and professor Rezvani gave us an incredible learning experience and an organized debate environment. This class opened my horizons , and I am really happy I took it, having looked forward for each class! My writing style improved greatly due to this class, which makes it all the better!
The class that first got me into CS, and eventually led to me choosing my major! I believe this class should be a requirement to graduate. Most students at Dartmouth take it already, and it figures. Great class, provides you tools you can use in whatever field you choose!
I took three Chinese classes this term, so I chose the last one to show off. This was the term I had my LSA+ experience in China! Got to travel all over, and improved my Chinese a ton. I encourage every Dartmouth student to take a language, even if you start at intermediate level, so you can go on an LSA+ or FSP experience!
A blast of a class! Discussion, great readings and a lot of amazing topics to learn. Also, Professor Joe Vignone was a bright spot on my term. A perfectly quirky man, I loved being one of two people to laugh at his jokes and his novelty t-shirts. He is also superbly smart and got me interested on a class I thought I was just taking to fulfill a graduation requirement!
Great Professor, great TAs, great class. I didn't think I'd like this class: it is infamous for being a lot of work. Don't get me wrong, it is, but it is work you do with a smile on your face. The teaching team is great, there is a lot of awesome material to cover and it's great to have some smartphone programming ability. Greatly recommend to CS majors!
How's living in a small College town for you? I remember I used to take daily strolls with my dad to the supermarket back home, to shop for daily needs (we don't have CVS in Brazil!). Now, I go on regular snack runs to CVS, and it is just as amazing. Oh, the variety!
There are many reasons why I might stroll down to the pharmacy/minimarket CVS. It might be restocking my dorm's snacks, it might for some over the counter medication, it might be for office supplies. It could even be a special date, such as a birthday or secret Santa, that I need a present for. Whatever the reason is, I know the Hanover mainstay has got my back, even in situations I wouldn't have thought of. I once needed eggs for my special end of term dish (homemade bread). I couldn't find them anywhere, but low and behold, CVS had my back once again, with a special promotion on eggs -- just $1.49 for a dozen! Moreover, Dick's House staff can direct your prescriptions directly to CVS, facilitating pickup and preventing longer trips when you are ill. Can you think of a place more convenient?
Why can't I just buy ALL the oreos?
Open all day, every day, CVS is also very accessible. I've stopped in at 1 a.m. on the weekends because I needed chips for my late-night viewings of The Bachelor. CVS is just present in all my important moments! And the staff makes it even more memorable. They are always happy to help and point out the numerous coupons I would not have spotted by myself. The smiles and the interactions in the aisles are something I look forward to anytime I go on a CVS run.
Coming to a college town, you might be concerned about your convenience options. However, if you need things faster than Amazon can bring them, your options are plenty: apart from the already discussed CVS, you can visit the COOP for fresh produce, the gas station's convenience store for snacks or even take a short (free) bus ride to West Lebanon, where you can find a Walmart, Kohls, a comic book shop, a Home Depot, Best Buy, TJ Maxx, and many other stores to cater to your needs. There's no lack of options up in New Hampshire!
But at the end of the day, when people ask me what my favorite Dartmouth memories are, I'm always thinking about the place. Ice skating, pink sunsets, riverbanks, or canoeing? That's my highlight reel.
In a world where proper social distancing is so important, Novack Café has fulfilled a unique desire for current on-campus students; it's a place to study, hang out with friends, and grab a snack—all while staying COVID safe.
The last week of October was especially ~spooky~ as I was able to find more time than usual to enjoy my weekend with friends and the small-town-charm of Hanover.
While the student body at the College may be relatively small, students here recognize that their vote can hold a lot of weight in New Hampshire, a classic swing state.
After walking around campus all day in eye-catching attire, we headed to a Murder Mystery night hosted by Phi Tau (a fraternity) in one of the tents scattered around campus.
My personal visit to Dartmouth was a huge factor in my decision to apply, so in honor of Week 7, I hope this blog post can virtually illustrate some of what Dartmouth has to offer in seven images – worth 7,000 words!
As a member of multiple performance groups on campus, I thought I'd give you a bit of background info on the opportunities here and discuss what we've been up to!
How's a hedgehog plushie for a gift?
Why can't I just buy ALL the oreos?
I love you all, Prospies <3
