Hi there!! My name is Martin, and I'm thrilled to be a '27 blogger for People Places Pines! A small rural town in Maine called Veazie is where I call home, and I can't wait to tell you about what life at Dartmouth is like! Carving the slopes in the winter, hiking through woods in autumn, or basking in the Green in spring and summer, that's where you'll find me! Stay tuned for everything Big Green!
Hanover Happenings: Family Weekend and Visits from Friends
Family Weekend!
Here at Dartmouth, there's a special event that happens near the end of October known as Family Weekend. On this occasion, families of both the incoming first-year class and the senior class are invited to campus for an entire weekend full of fun family events, talks/presentations/tours, and barbecues! Most of all, it's a chance to reconnect with family! Let me walk you through it:
My family arrived on Friday night. Since I'm from Northern Maine, it's about a four and half hour drive to get to Dartmouth. My roommate's parents, however, flew in–and many other parents flew in from other countries and continents!
When they arrived, we all went to dinner at Jewel of India, my favorite restaurant in Hanover so far (I highly recommend it!). The next day, we started our weekend by going to the Class of 1953 Commons (aka FOCO) for free breakfast (paid for by the College!).
A picture of my family and I in front of Dartmouth Hall!
From there, I gave them a quick tour of campus (and my favorite spots), before I went to the library to study for a few hours while my parents went to some informational sessions that interested them (they went to the Study Abroad info session and the open discussion with our new president, Sian Leah Beilock!). After that, my sister arrived and we all went to the Family Weekend Cookout on Tuck Mall Drive! There, we met with another student I recently met who's also from Slovakia (just like my family!). We had the chance to talk in our native language(s) and my parents were very happy to meet someone from their home region of Eastern Europe.
That evening, after my parents left, my sister and I went to the Dartmouth Men's Soccer game against Upenn (we won 2-0!). The next morning, the two of us enjoyed another breakfast—this time at the "Onion"—for South House's community brunch!
Here's a picture of my sister and I at the Dartmouth v. Upenn Men's Soccer game!
Visits from friends in Maine!
Family weekend is not all that's been happening! This last weekend, two of my friends from highschool (who now go to the University of Maine) came to visit! I got the chance to show them around Dartmouth's campus and enjoy some meals in the dining hall!
Here's a pic of me showing my friends around Dartmouth!
Overall, these last two weekends have been an exhilarating and busy time full of family and friends. Along with midterms, it's been a lot to balance! However, I love showing others around Dartmouth—especially the library and my favorite study spots. Dartmouth—despite its small campus—has a huge community, spanning across families, friends, communities, countries, and continents. I spent these past few weekends meeting people from across the country and catching up with my very own friends from Northern New England. I can't wait for more visits and to show more people all the special things about Dartmouth in the future!
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how I joined a sorority earlier this fall by going through the recruitment process. I've come a long way since then. In fact, I am living in my sorority house for my sophomore summer!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
Here is my list of the restaurants in Hanover within walking distance of Dartmouth. Whether you're touring campus for the first time or are a Dartmouth student in need of a new place to eat, feel free to reference this list!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
