Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog, also known as my digital diary. I'm majoring in Asian Studies modified with Business, a new program here at Dartmouth, so feel free to ask me anything related to that. Beyond the classroom, I love the Dartmouth sunsets, the traditions, the classes, the merch, and the people, of course. Come along with me as I explore the ins and outs of life in the woods.
A course that definitely surprised me, I did not know what to expect and had very little philosophical knowledge before taking this course. It was a mixture of current and past readings, with the final project to make a group video, testing my technological ability. Professor Bumpus was amazing, and I got to know her more when I took her to breakfast at Pine through the Take Your Professor to Lunch Program.
I was recommended to take a history course, specifically a history course with Professor Lu, and it has not disappointed! This course is cross listed with Asian Studies, my major, but it has made me consider a history minor... We start every class off with a song relating to the topic of that class, and then we move on to discussion based activities.
So far, the Dartmouth classes I have taken have been all based around discussion and essay writing. As an Asian Studies and Government major, I expected that the rest of my time at Dartmouth would follow a similar pattern, but in fact a pre-requisite for the Government major is a Political Analysis class. This class involves coding, analyzing survey samples, and other quantitative methods. The professor is amazing—a friend and I got to know him better by taking him out to breakfast at Pine through the 'Take Your Professor to Lunch' program. The final group project involves making projections for the 2024 elections using past data. Although, obviously, this election already happened, some of our predictions were more accurate than the polls! It is super interesting to take a class that I can see the themes in real world news outlets.
My favorite class this term had to be Developing Vietnam, which is a ten-week course taken in Hanover, in preparation for three weeks in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam during the winter break. The goal of this class was to plan and carry out a research project pertaining to development in Vietnam. During our time at Dartmouth, we collaborated with Fulbright University Vietnam students to come up with a shared research topic, research brief, and agenda. The interdisciplinary nature of this class meant that we had the opportunity to explore Vietnam through different angles/themes spanning religion, history, political economy, and environmental governance.
The newly renovated Hopkins Center for the Arts has much to offer. From film festivals to music rehearsal spaces to a ceramic studio, there really is something for everyone here. And this past weekend, the wonders of the new Hop were opened to our community. Part of the programming for the opening celebration was an experience titled 'We are Water,' performed by Yo-Yo Ma, a 20205/26 Montgomery Fellow, and friends.
Yo-Yo started off his time at Dartmouth with a riverside concert at sunrise. Although I was unable to attend, the photos that I saw featured him playing his cello, wrapped in the fog of the early morning. Onlookers were sitting on the grass around him, floating in kayaks on the river.
I was fortunate enough to get tickets to his evening rendition of 'We are Water,' but not through the conventional ticket draw, which sold out very quickly. Instead, I entered a raffle through my housing community—School House. Less than a week before the concert, I was notified that I was a lucky winner and now had a ticket to the sold out show.
In front of a sold-out Spaulding Auditorium, the show was a beautiful and incredibly moving mix of audio and visuals. The songs and stories of the evening were centered around the theme of water, and how it connects us to our past, present, and future. In conjunction with the Native American and Indigenous Studies department, several Dartmouth alumni performed, sharing their Native stories with the audience. The Department of Geography and the Sustainability Office brought to the performance Andri Snaer Magnason, an Icelandic poet.
The aputamkon!
The story of aputamkon was extremely poignant. A mythical sea creature from Native American legends, aputamkon was known to scare people away from the water. The goal was to safeguard the water from all the damaging actions caused by humans. Accompanying the music and narrative telling the story, was a fifteen foot puppet of the creature, patrolling the auditorium. Following the performance, we then paraded to outside the Hop, where the performers continued singing, and we danced as one. Ultimately, the event was one of reflection—thinking about how we can make a difference going forward, and how we are all connected by music, life, and creation.
Beginning our dance outside of the Hop
What made Yo-Yo's visit that much more special was the All-House brunch with him and the other performers that I had the privilege to attend, again through the School House raffle. A more intimate setting, attendance was limited to about 70. At my table sat three students and Yo-Yo's publicist, who regaled us with stories. She was a Dartmouth graduate, so we were also able to converse about how the College has changed since her days. When Yo-Yo came up to our table, I think we all collectively gasped a little. But he was surprisingly funny. He wanted to know more about us, and then we showered him with questions that he answered with incredible candor.
Yo-Yo Ma and my good friend, Verda
All in all, the performance and brunch were amazing. I am still reflecting upon the themes that were displayed in each—how water serves as a powerful symbol of connection, resilience, and responsibility. It inspired a deeper awareness of our role in protecting the natural world and honoring the stories that shape our understanding of it, reminding us that through creativity, community, and thoughtful reflection, we can come together to envision a more harmonious future.
Someone recently reframed my thinking about "surviving" in the winter to thriving, and I have really taken that to heart. Read to find out how I (try to) thrive in a winter climate!
This winter break, I went on tour with the Dartmouth Decibelles to Charleston and Atlanta, performing throughout local communities and making lasting memories together!
