Welcome to the blog of an Englishman studying at Dartmouth—do take a look around! Hopefully, my blogs will provide you with an insight on life at Dartmouth, and specifically through the eyes of an international student. Dartmouth has a ton to offer from the staggering natural beauty of its surroundings and stellar academic programs to the wonderful people you meet along the way. So stay a while, I'll make us cups of tea, and take a moment to discover life at the College on the Hill.
My trip to Montreal! (All expenses paid by Dartmouth)
Dartmouth is a place where nearly anything is possible. Wanna go climb a mountain? You can do that! Wanna ski? You can do that! Wanna take a weekend trip to NYC? Entirely possible! These are all pretty cool, but this term I was able to partake in something even cooler: a Dartmouth sponsored trip to Montreal!
Allow me to explain – Dartmouth didn't simply pay for a holiday for no reason at all – but it was still pretty cool! As some of you may know, this term I am participating in a program called RGLP, which is offered by the Rockefeller Center here at Dartmouth. The Rockefeller Global Leadership Program is an amazing opportunity to learn skills concerning intercultural communication, and it expands greatly on what we currently know to be classed as a culture. We have weekly dinners with the group (all from great local restaurants and of course fully paid for), and get many guest speakers in.
The coolest part, though, is of course the trip to Montreal. We got on the bus at around 5pm on Friday, and since Hanover NH is apparently at the centre of the Earth, it only takes about 4 hours to get to Montreal by coach! Once we got there, I was able to go find a place to chill with my friends for a bit, before taking some Zs before my next busy day.
Dartmouth covered hotel views are unmatched...
The next day I woke up (missing of course breakfast), and… Well the itinerary is a secret. Honestly, I can't tell you! You'll just have to come and find out! But I can tell you we had about 8 hours of free time – and I can tell you what I did during that time! Me and some friends decided first of all to grab some food, and so we hit Chinatown! We had the BEST steamed dumplings I've had in a long time, and then we headed into Old Montreal to see the Notre Dame (Montreal edition), and then hit OldPort with the hope of grabbing a sweet dessert. We topped the experience off with some tasty Poutine, and then headed back to the hotel!
Notre Dame Mk2
Overall, the experience was one of the best I've had at Dartmouth, and it's something I'll never forget! I got to spend a great time with some even greater people, and got to experience a new country! As an international student, even just being in the States is hard to conceive, but that is only the beginning of the opportunities for travel at Dartmouth. Trust me: here in Hanover NH is a launchpad to the rest of the world
One of my greatest privileges at Dartmouth has been learning from Professor Ed. Miller of the History and Asian Studies departments. Read on to learn more about why he is my favorite professor!
The Sri Lankan New Year falls on the 13th and 14th of April, a time for plenty of celebrations and family time. At Dartmouth, I keep these traditions with my friends and celebrate a part of home every year!
