Hi everyone! I'm Rika, a semi-international '28 from Japan, India, and Malaysia. I'm interested in studying women, gender, and sexuality studies, as well as public policy, global health, and biology while also being on the pre med track! In my free time, I love to read books, cook and bake, play violin, spend time with animals, be sarcastic, and drink hot drinks (especially teas!) I'm so excited to share my exploration of Dartmouth with everyone :)
Academic Program
Intended WGSS on the Pre-Health track
Favorite Thing Right Now
Decorating my dorm to make it more homey! Also the FOCO ice cream bar :)
Sex, Gender, and Society is a class in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. It focuses on how gender and sexuality are represented in the media and explores different ways society shapes our perspectives. This discussion-based class features multiple group projects, which allowed me to meet and interact with many of my classmates, which was super helpful in my first term! Fun fact: this class taught me how to plan, film, and edit a podcast on campus!
As someone who grew up in the city of a tropical country, one of the things I was most excited about when arriving at Dartmouth was finally experiencing that small-town lifestyle. Wandering down a picturesque street in a long coat and boots with a warm apple cider in my hands was only a fantasy I imagined based on books and TV shows, but lucky for me, Dartmouth's main street is the perfect little lane for my romantic wanders. The street is lined with countless stores ranging from boba to furniture, and here are some of my favorite spots!
Roberts is a fantastic underground flower shop that houses plants of all sizes, as well as adorable pots that can be used for decoration. This year, they gave all 28s a free plant during orientation! Navigating Hanover Main Street to find the store for the first time is one of my favorite memories of my first year fall. These days, I go in to see if I want any plants to spruce up my room (pun intended) or just to feel a little zen.
My friends grabbing their free plant during orientation!
Still North is a bookstore that also houses the best cafe in town. They always have the newest books and the hottest seasonal drinks. You'll always find a student working on their paper, reading, or just hanging out at one of the cozy tables. In my opinion, the cafe truly makes the best drinks in Hanover, and I cannot recommend their Cloud Cookies and London Fog with Maple enough. They serve their drinks in rustic mugs that really complete the small-town vibe. Nothing cures me more than sipping on a hot drink in a cute mug surrounded by the smell of books.
This records and poster store has thousands of vintage gems that make the perfect decoration or gift. This was also somewhere I fell in love with during orientation week, and I have collected a few records as decoration in my room. They also have a lot of archival Dartmouth merch, which makes for the perfect at-home decoration or gift. This is a place I definitely recommend to my own visitors.
Umpleby's is the ultimate small-town bakery. Its bustling interior produces delicious pastries and sandwiches that sustained me during finals season. My absolute favorite thing to get here is a Bertie Wooster sandwich and a butternut squash soup with—you guessed it—a hot London Fog. Their fruit tarts are super fresh and also delicious. While it's not the most relaxing place, it certainly is the best place for a 3-hour long giggle session with my friends.
The Nugget is a quaint movie theatre that has been open since 1914. It has a classic movie theatre exterior that invites students to watch films for under $10! Some movies I'm looking forward to seeing are A Complete Unknown, Mufasa The Lion King, and Wicked, which are especially geared towards the winter to capitalize on the cozy atmosphere.
These stores are still fairly new to me, but I know they'll soon become my comfort blanket throughout my four years here! If you plan to visit Hanover, make sure to keep these spots on your list!
Entering a new environment miles away from home, knowing little to no people at first, can feel daunting. However, Dartmouth's support systems, particularly through the First Generation Office (FGO), have been nothing short of incredible.
