Hi, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. In the winter, my favorite activities on campus are writing in Sanborn and watching hockey at Thompson Arena. I'm excited to share a bit about my favorite place with all of you!
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 my major, was super interesting! I loved learning about archaeology through hands-on projects and lectures that felt like TED Talks.
My favorite course on my Italian LSA+ in Rome is focused on Italian literature, which we are studying in a reverse-chronological order! It has been incredibly fun to see different topics and styles evolve over time and to learn from the works of the best writers.
I’m absolutely loving this hands-on introduction to paleography, and the fact that my class meets at Rauner every day! I can’t wait to hear from our guest lecturers, too, and I’ll be sure to share those experiences on the blog. All in all, Latin 10 was a great way to get back into the language after a term away in Rome.
I signed up for this Latin class after the FDOC (first day of class), and I'm so glad I added it to my sophomore summer schedule! Our class is combined with GRK 30.08 History and Structure of the Greek Language, and it has been incredibly interesting to compare the ancient languages and learn a bit of Greek.
FallIvrea, Italy
This term, I'm interning with the Olivetti Leadership Institute in Ivrea, a small town in northern Italy.
WinterHanover, NH
For my second off-term, I'm back on campus! I'm keeping myself busy by working, spending time with friends, and working on my to-be-read list.
I've loved my internship in Italy, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing friends and family during Winterim (winter break), but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ready to get back to Hanover.
Just because it's cold doesn't mean you can't go for a walk!
I'm still finalizing my plans for next term, but I know I'll be "H-terming." The clever (although definitely made-up) verb refers to spending an off-term in Hanover. I first learned about the concept last fall, and I was immediately interested.
H-terming comes highly recommended from a few of my friends, who bragged about getting to do everything they love on campus, minus late night studying or early morning classes. When I was considering the options for my winter off term, I couldn't think of a better way to transition between a term abroad and a term on campus.
Of course, I can't just spend my lecture-less days hanging out in Blobby (Baker Library lobby) or on FFB (First Floor Berry). I need to keep myself busy (and earn a little money), so I'll be working an off-campus job during the week.
There's nothing better than people-watching in the library.
In the evening and on weekends, I have a long list of outdoor activities I'm hoping to check off—I'm already calling this winter my "snow term."
Sledding nights with friends are near the top, followed closely by skating. I'm hoping to participate in the Winter Carnival polar plunge, which I missed last winter while abroad and wasn't held my first year.
During Winter Carnival 2024, one of my favorite events was the lightshow!
Buses to the Dartmouth Skiway are an amazing campus resource!
Winter term gets more hate than it deserves in my opinion. Maybe it's because I'm from Michigan, and grew up with lake-effect snow and windy winters, but nothing beats a day spent exploring in the snow or an evening enjoying the weather from behind a window.
My first-year room in French Hall had the best winter views.
One thing I've really been missing while abroad are my extracurriculars. I've been reading my emails and GroupMe notifications with a tinge of jealousy, and I can't wait to get back. There's something about the routine of a weekly meeting that snaps you back into campus rhythm faster than anything else. I'm looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting the '29s that arrived in my absence!
Ledyard Council (our Monday meeting) is one of my favorite parts of the week!
I'm hoping next term, I'll enjoy my position as half resident, half tourist. I'm planning on taking advantage of my freedom by doing things I never seem to have time for during a regular term like experimenting at the Book Arts Workshop, cheering on the Big Green at a hockey game, and checking out the newly renovated Hop.
For now, I'll be enjoying my last few days in Italy and wrapping up my internship. But I'm secretly excited to swap in espresso and cobblestone streets for an iced latte and the Green. Hanover, I'll see you soon!
