Hi everyone! I'm Oscar, a '28 from Flushing, NYC. My academic interests are a mix of the arts (studio art, graphic design), the sciences (psychology, biology, sustainability), and maybe even anthropology? All of which I'm thinking of merging with a major in Cognitive Science with a focus area on Design. Outside the classroom, I'm passionate about giving back to my community, fiber arts, and em dashes. Welcome to my blog—I'm excited to explore Dartmouth together!
The trees are putting on red, orange, and yellow hues, and the air has started to cool. Autumn has landed in the Upper Valley. One thing I was nervous about when applying to Dartmouth was its location. What am I supposed to do in the woods? Our campus is relatively detached from major cities—located in the rural town of Hanover, New Hampshire, which is three hours away from Boston and six from NYC. As someone who has lived in a city all of my life, I find it weird to be able to walk across the whole town in under 30 minutes. But this change of location offers really unique experiences. Apple picking is one of them!
Recently, the First Generation Office invited students on a trip to Patch Orchards, a family-owned apple orchard in West Lebanon, NH, less than an hour from campus. Patch Orchards also produces maple syrup, makes its own apple cider, and has a corn maze in the fall. The apples we picked and refreshments of an apple cider donut and a cup of apple cider were covered by the FGO.
The view from Patch Orchards!
We first stopped by the store to get our apple picking bags and donuts.
Patch Orchards offers a variety of apple types, like Paulared and Macoun. Recently in my Writing 5 Class, Food for Thought, I talked about biodiversity—particularly in apple varieties, so it was really cool to see them represented in local farms
Patch Orchards also makes maple syrup! I was super tempted to buy one just for the bottle.
Tons of pre-picked apples ready for sale!
A view of the orchard—each row was a different variety, including Gala, Fuji, McIntosh, Cortland, and Paulared
We first stopped by the McIntosh row.
The trees were covered in apples—I didn't know they grew so densely.
Close up shot of the apples :)
Next stop: Gala apples
Pause: apple taste test!
Our apple haul! The apple in the upper bag was weirdly shiny?
An appreciation photo for my friends who I went apple picking with :)
Dezstany (another Peoples Places Pines blogger)!
Wica and Hannah posing!
We ended our trip by trying the corn maze!
Spoiler alert: we didn't make it out :|
After a long morning of snacking, apple picking, and getting lost in the corn maze, we head back to campus.
It's been a huge change of pace from NYC to Hanover, but I'm excited to embrace the Upper Valley's unique charm.
If you're like I was—staring at your closet wondering what "essentials" actually means—here is what I packed, what I'm grateful I brought, and what I now know you can leave behind.
New England's most iconic clock tower, captured from every angle and in every season! From sunrises to snowfalls, here's Baker Tower in all its glory. A visual love letter to Dartmouth's most timeless landmark.
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.
