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!
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!
I've found there are a ton of ways to have fun here, even outside of Dartmouth's well-known Greek system. Here are some of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday!
A place that I have wanted to explore for forever is Quechee Gorge in Quechee State Park. For my friend's birthday over the summer, we planned an adventure of a day with brunch, a trip to Quechee, and dinner at her favorite restaurant.
Winter Carnival is a weekend-long event that began in 1911 to admire the beauty of the Upper Valley in the winter and to celebrate the success of Dartmouth's winter sports teams.
Now, I did my online research before coming here, but even then I am easily overwhelmed by the sheer number of weird, quirky, but undeniably fun traditions Dartmouth has to offer.
Looking back at my housing selection process, I realized there is very little information available about the LLCs. I wrote this blog post to tell you five reasons why I love the Humanities LLC.
As a southerner, my biggest concern about Dartmouth was how I was going to cope with the cold. Luckily, I have a lot of friends that are also excited to embrace the snow with me, so I wanted to share how we've been enjoying winter term so far!
I've taken to sitting and watching, treating myself to the slowness of green tea and silence of an uninterrupted morning. But that's one of the best things about college—it offers ample moments for reflection.
Being in West House means Tuk-Tuk dinners and fun house events almost every week, but this month it also means having the opportunity to join West House's Intramural (IM) basketball team.
How's a hedgehog plushie for a gift?
Why can't I just buy ALL the oreos?
I love you all, Prospies <3
