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!
Snow is what you make of it. I spent last Friday night up in the mountains, jammin' in a cabin with the Cabin and Trail club, one of the many things that make Winter term the best time of the year!
CnT, as we call the club, is part of the Dartmouth Outing Club. They organize weekly meetings to discuss their planned trips for the week. Ranging from 9.7-mile hikes near the Skiway to chill sleepovers in one of Dartmouth's numerous cabins, there's something available for both seasoned and fresh hikers. I, as the freshest hiker there is, chose a Friday sleepover as my first club activity.
Playing the Bells at low light... Nothing beats it!
My adventurous spirit soared as I waited behind Robo (Robinson Hall), my Bells resting on my lap. We were encouraged to bring musical instruments to this hike, to make this a real Jamfest® in the woods. Our group of nine soon got together, and we drove to the side of the Appalachian Trail, instruments resting on our laps. Led by a student leader, we spiked up our boots and started our ~0.75 hike up the snowy mountain, heading for our cabin.
It was quite the climb: wind in our faces, darkness all around, and quite an inclination to overcome. We, however, pressed on. Past the highway, past the snow, and even past the skiway. Soon, we were at the doorstep of our home for the night: Nunnemacher cabin.
Jammin around the fire!
Built in 1957, Nunnemmacher is one of the ~20 cabins Dartmouth students may rent for personal use during the year. The cabin itself has three rooms: a kitchen, a living room, and an attic. It can house up to 20 people, and heating comes from the wood stove in the kitchen. As soon as we got in, we were treated to a beautiful view of the woods around us. Basking in it, we started the fire and soon we were jammin' our many guitars (and glockenspiel). Eating snacks and snuggling up to escape the severe cold outside, we all knew we made the best Friday night plans ever.
After a lot of fun, the night got the better of us and we went to sleep around the fire. It kept us warm, and I had an amazing night of rest. In the morning, we packed up and made our way back down the trail, through the snow, and to the parking lot. Our van was waiting for us - a little bit frozen, of course. After dealing with this minor detail, we were on our way back to campus. Our wilderness escapade went from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., allowing everyone to get on with their Saturday activities.
Walking back to Campus after an amazing night...
I came back wanting more. Few things are prettier than the New Hampshire wilderness, and having the DOC to offer everyone the chance to see it for basically free (my trip was $1!) is more than unique. I hope that soon I can have another experience with people as amazing as the ones that went up to Nunnemmacher with me. Not even the cold could keep me from it!
One of the most interesting classes I have taken so far at Dartmouth has been PBPL 5: Introduction to Public Policy, which is taught by Professor Charles Wheelan.
I have written a few posts about transitioning to the Northeast weather, but after this winter term, I thought I would talk about how I stayed active outside this year! If you're nervous about everything snow at Dartmouth, I hope this helps!
Even if I won't see my fellows NADs (our powerful Indigenous community), Questies (Questbridge ʻ23s represent!), and First-Generation Low-Income (FGLI) folks for a little while, you should all know that you make Dartmouth a wonderful place to be.
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.
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.
Pond Party is a family-friendly Winter Carnival tradition, hosted by the town of Hanover. It takes place at Occom, a pond set within a residential area south of the Dartmouth golf course and north of the main campus.
I'm currently taking my off-term (meaning not on-campus) interning at the Fogarty International Center, which is part of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Here's a glimpse into the day-to-day happenings.
Built in 1957, Nunnemmacher is one of the ~20 cabins Dartmouth students may rent for personal use during the year. The cabin itself has three rooms: a kitchen, a living room, and an attic. It can house up to 20 people, and heating comes from the wood stove in the kitchen. As soon as we got in, we were treated to a beautiful view of the woods around us. Basking in it, we started the fire and soon we were jammin' our many guitars (and glockenspiel). Eating snacks and snuggling up to escape the severe cold outside, we all knew we made the best Friday night plans ever.
