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.
Sunset, Snow, and Snacking on Ramen: A Guide to my Freshman Winter So Far
Winter is a time for spending time with loved ones in the warm, drinking tea, and cosying up to watch a film, right?! Oh and did I mention -17 degrees celsius temperatures (1.4 F for those who use the wrong scale), eating obscene amounts of ramen, random midnight snowball fights on the Green, skiing on our skiway (seriously Dartmouth has a skiway!!!), and WINTER CARNIVAL!
My run on the first day was... eventful!
I'm not going to lie, I was rightfully terrified of the snow upon my arrival in Hanover. It doesn't just get cold here, it gets COLD; bundle up however, and you should be fine! The weather so far has been pretty brutal, but it is totally worth it for the beautiful New England winter landscape and that really satisfying crunch noise your feet make when you walk in snow (seriously can I buy a bottle of that noise?).
One activity I have enjoyed here so far is skiing! Me and some friends decided to hop on the free shuttle bus and head out to Dartmouth Skiway for a day shredding the slopes. I don't have my own ski equipment - I usually rent it - but luckily for students Dartmouth has a special pricing system for season passes and ski rentals. This is an example of how Dartmouth has made all of its activities super accessible, especially to those like me on financial aid!
The Dartmouth Skiway is an awesome resource!
A super fun thing we also did was participate in the annual snowball fight! Every year after the first snow, everyone gets an email from Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss' real name) with a Dr. Seuss style poem about snowball fights. At midnight we all go down to the Green and have the BIGGEST snowball fight you've ever seen. It is utter chaos. People (including me) try to stand on the stump of the chopped-down Christmas tree, and random people are attacking each other with snow!
I made it on the stump!!
All in all, winter term is looking as though it will be a whole new adventure at Dartmouth. The cold may be piercing, but it makes you truly appreciate the warmth that good company brings. The snow may fill your boots when you misstep, but it also lets you throw it at one another and laugh like kids again. The wind may howl, but that warm cup of tea in your common room to recover is godly to drink. Winter is cool, man.
In August, I participated in the First Year Summer Enrichment Program, a pre-orientation program designed to help FGLI students adjust to life at Dartmouth!
I'll argue why my dorm, French Hall, is not only the best in the River Cluster and West House but also the best dorm you can get as a first-year at Dartmouth.
What a wonderful summer! From joining a summer dance ensemble to regularly canoeing along the Connecticut River, I reflect on the aspects that made Sophomore Summer one of the most memorable Dartmouth traditions I've taken part in.
