Hello, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. On campus, I enjoy writing sports for The Dartmouth, going on as many DOC trips as I can, and hanging out with my friends. I also love Woccoming, doing the daily NYT mini crossword, and paddling!
I took this class as part of Dartmouth's first year writing requirement. We read a pro cyclist's life narrative, discussed research papers on controversial topics in sports, and wrote our own papers on a contentious sports technology of our choice. I really enjoyed this course's emphasis on discussion, and the small class size!
This was my first class in the classics department, which was super exciting as a classical studies major! We learned about the ancient Olympics and the connections between athletics and other aspects of ancient Greek society. I loved the final project in this class, which involved creating an argument about how the ancient pentathlon was scored!
To conclude my language requirement, I took Latin 3! This class was super exciting because we began to read ancient texts and poetry. We also took a class trip to the Rauner Special Collections library so we could physically handle and read some manuscripts. And as an added bonus, Latin counts as a prerequisite for my classical studies major!
As a part of my language study abroad in Italy, I also took a class on Italian history and culture! We went on field trips to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, participated in walking tours of Rome, and watched a lot of great cinema in this class! I loved it so much that I decided to minor in Italian.
This class, in addition to being a pre-requisite for both my major and my spring study abroad, was super interesting! I loved learning about archaeology in a chronological sequence, and I feel so much more prepared for my trip to Greece after completing this class.
I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again here—I am so grateful for the opportunities Dartmouth has provided me with!
This week, I arrived in Rome for my F.I.R.E (Full Immersion in Rome Experience) language study abroad. Although I've only been here for a few days, I'm really looking forward to the rest of the summer! So far, I've moved into an apartment with 7 of my fellow students, explored various neighborhoods throughout the city, visited a few of the most famous sites, and eaten some delicious food!
Our classes start on Monday, and the schedule is a bit different than a typical term in Hanover. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we'll have a drill (a session focusing on conversation and repetition), a language master class, and then drill again in the afternoon. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we'll also have an Italian culture class after the afternoon drill. Although the course will definitely be fast-paced, I know it will be incredibly rewarding! I've noticed that my fellow students and I have already picked up on a lot of vocabulary just from walking around the city, so I know that the immersion aspect will also help our learning process. Additionally, we have an incredible DA (director's assistant) and an Italian intern who will be great resources for speaking practice and general language questions.
Instruction takes place at the Dartmouth College Rome Center, which is located across the Tiber River from our apartments. There's a tram line that cuts down the commute time, but the walk isn't too long. (And even if it was, I don't think I would mind; the city is beautiful!) At the Center, there's a classroom, some offices, and a study/hangout space. It reminds me a bit of the library on campus because it'll be an academic hub but also a social space for the duration of the summer.
Our apartments will also definitely be a great place to socialize! We have balconies to enjoy the weather on, a living room, and a kitchen that I can't wait to use. I really love the way our balcony is set up with plenty of chairs and tables, and I plan on spending a lot of time studying, eating, and hanging out with my friends there.
My favorite part of being in Rome so far has been wandering around. Just the other day, a few friends and I decided to try and find our way back to our apartment from the Pantheon without using any navigation apps. At one point, we walked around a corner and looked up to see that we had stumbled upon the Colosseum! We got lost a few times after that and definitely extended our travel time, but it was an experience that I'll never forget.
Here of two photos from that wandering walk just after sunset!
Keep looking out for my blogs throughout the summer because I'll keep you updated! Some of the activities I'm looking forward to most (and I'm sure I'll write about) are our trips to Florence, Calabria, and Orvinio, a farm-to-table cooking class, and improving my Italian skills.
When asked about my favorite term at Dartmouth, I'll enthusiastically answer, "Sophomore Summer!" Whether it's the enhanced beauty or community on campus, one aspect stands out as the highlight of my term: the start of summer dance ensembles!
