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!
REELly feeling those chilly winter winds already...
Before college, I was not an outdoors person. Which sounds strange coming from the guy who chose the most outdoorsy college ever, but that is one of the reasons why I came to Dartmouth: to find nature. And nature I found in an e-mail from the Bait and Bullet club, part of the Dartmouth Outdoor Club (DOC). It was an invitation: they were providing boats, equipment, and expertise to ten students interested in fishing. Where else but here would this kind of thing come up? I rushed to to take them up on their offer, and just a few days later we departed Dartmouth, and went fishing for adventure.
We stopped by a DOC building to hook up the boats and equipment to the van, and drove for about an hour to a nearby lake. Our guide from the Bait and Bullet Club explained that he chose this lake because it is shallower than other nearby ones: since it is cold, this increases our chances of finding fish, since they generally hang out in the bottom. After arriving at the lake, we got our boats ready. Three people, including one which knew fishing well, hopped on each one and started paddling. We were shown how to tie fishing knots, how to cast the line, how to reel it in. I couldn't help but rememorate the good times me and my Grandpa spent fishing.
My friend Linda and me WADED so long to catch some fish!
Even with the technique and expertise of a self-titled 'Rural Massachussets Kid,' we couldn't seem to catch anyFIN. After one hour, I started feeling impatient. I mechanically cast my hook in the middle of some reeds, and started reeling back in. A gentle tuck on the line succeeded. Odd. Then another one. Huh. Our guide called me to 'fight it', and so I did: fast reeling brought my opponent closer and closer to me. The rod was bending, my hands were shaking, and I was having a battle of power and wits. This was my prize catch. With splashes of water, the Pickerel finally emerged from the deeps.
I can't believe this opporTUNAty!
Pickerel, small elongated fish, are known fighters. Holding my catch on my hands, I felt accomplished. I know, I know, it is not a Bass, but for an urban guy like me it is the definition of joining the outdoors. There will be no more fishing trips this season. It is 'too cold, even for cold-hardened (Dartmouth) people', someone remarked. This just means I am even more excited for spring, when fishing comes back up. And who knows, maybe some ice hole fishing action could be on the table for this winter...
At the end of every term, without fail, Dartmouth students post memories of the past ten weeks captioned with some variation of a '20F' hashtag. Read all about 20FinalFall in this blog post!
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.
Even with the technique and expertise of a self-titled 'Rural Massachussets Kid,' we couldn't seem to catch anyFIN. After one hour, I started feeling impatient. I mechanically cast my hook in the middle of some reeds, and started reeling back in. A gentle tuck on the line succeeded. Odd. Then another one. Huh. Our guide called me to 'fight it', and so I did: fast reeling brought my opponent closer and closer to me. The rod was bending, my hands were shaking, and I was having a battle of power and wits. This was my prize catch. With splashes of water, the Pickerel finally emerged from the deeps.
