Welcome to the transition diary from a big, cold Brazilian city to a small, very cold American town! I fell in love with Dartmouth soon as I got to know the College, and the last three years have expanded 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! Hope you all 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!
Professor XD Yang is one of the faculty teaching this incredible course. Generally, CS classes focus on programming and Math; it was great to spend some time just designing, and thinking about the why, not the how. I recommend this class to all curious minds who are willing to come up with some creative ideas!
Full disclosure: I picked this course for the distributive requirement, SCI. And yet, I fell in love with it! Professor Osterberg gave us not only an incredible overview of the world we inhabit and of the life upon it, but also perspectives on the future of humanity.
I will just go and say it: Professor Tine is my favorite. She is so nice, and has such a strong didactic structure, that I would trust her to teach me anything, and so should you if you ever come across one of her courses. I know a lot more about humanity, development, and even about myself now.
What to Expect When You are Expecting (To Go Abroad!)
Even a seasoned traveler like myself (see picture) can feel insecure about studying abroad!
Okay, going abroad. Familiarizing with a new culture, being far away from most people you’ve gotten close to – including your family. It is not easy, but as someone who has, in a sense, been studying abroad for almost a year now, I can tell you it is worth it. The opportunities for learning, for cultural awareness, for new friends, for honing social skills, for developing a sense for the whole world, that is all unique and waiting for you in a study abroad experience. Are you sold on them yet? If so, let me tell you how Dartmouth offers you a complete platform of support on the difficult transition to another land.
Since I am going to China for a language study abroad (LSA+) next fall, I am required to attend a number of meetings before I leave. First, I'll have two meetings with Professor Zhang, the program coordinator in Beijing. In these meetings, one of which is one-on-one, Professor Zhang will clarify our itinerary in China, help us understand the inner workings of our host university, Beijing Normal, and introduce us to Beijing’s unique city culture. All these events help us feel safer and familiarized with space we will inhabit for 10 weeks, which I consider fundamental for studying abroad.
Me and Will are both going to the Beijing LSA+. You can see on our faces we are ready for it.
Another part of the foundation building is a Dick’s House consultation. Dick's House provides basic medical services to current students, and this extends to those going abroad. During my consultation, a medical provider first went over the vaccines recommended for those living in China, and I got a prescription for a couple of shots. Next, I got prescribed a basic medication kit for emergencies, and medication to help me adapt to higher terrain since my program takes a hike through Tibet (stay tuned next Fall for posts on that!).
The last part of our program preparation is a Guarini Institute (internationalization department) meeting on safety and security while abroad. We met with reps from the Student Wellness Center, Dick's House, and a current student who has gone abroad before, and the meeting covered topics from street safety to sexual safety. It also covered monetary concerns, health coverage, and all the other topics you don’t think about when planning your study abroad, but really should. It only lasted an hour and a half, but I feel like I learned a lot and feel a lot safer about arriving in Beijing and establishing myself there.
I got these sweet materials to prepare myself even better for my time abroad!
I may have an edge over someone who has not gone abroad yet, but I can say that these meetings were lifesavers. The foundation Dartmouth provides when going abroad proves that the community here travels with us wherever we may roam. I am very grateful for this since now I am not only feeling excited about going abroad, I am also feeling safe about the experience as well.
Being in DC this summer and participating in the Rockefeller Center's First Year Fellows program, I've been able to really see just how special the Dartmouth alumni network is.
Me and Will are both going to the Beijing LSA+. You can see on our faces we are ready for it.
I got these sweet materials to prepare myself even better for my time abroad!
