Hey there! My name is Joanna Jou, a '26 from El Paso, TX. I love Hanover sunsets, relaxing out on The Green, and Still North Matcha w/ honey + almond milk. I'm beyond stoked to have y'all follow along as I create my own version of Dartmouth!
Academic Program
History and Asian Studies, International Studies Minor
One of the best things about coming to school in the New England region is definitely the foliage. Back home in El Paso, I had never seen leaves that changed color the way I've been watching them every morning as I leave my dorm. These past two weeks of October have marked a mass influx of visitors traveling up to Dartmouth and the surrounding Upper Valley area to… you guessed it: look at leaves. I'd never considered fall to be any different than winter as I've only experienced mild winters and scalding summers, but I guess now you can say that fall might just be my favorite season as I have learned to appreciate the autumn leaf colors that come with it, and the excitement of peak foliage.
The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) runs a variety of trips all around New Hampshire and the Upper Valley to different hikes and outdoor events ranging from 2 hours or less hikes to 9-10 hour hikes, canoeing, paddleboarding, apple-picking, rock climbing, mountain biking, trail work, farming, fly fishing, and anything else outdoors related - the DOC's got you covered! Gile Mountain located in Norwich, Vermont (just around 20 minutes from Dartmouth) has been the hotspot for students to do relaxing and beginner-friendly sunrikes (Dartmouth lingo for sunrise hikes) and sunsikes (sunset hikes). It is one of my favorite hikes because of the fire tower that hikers can climb up to where you get a beautiful and extensive 360 degree view of the surrounding New England landscape - perfect for peak foliage!
The beautiful sunbeam setting through the view up on the fire tower of Gile Mountain
Just this week, in the midst of finishing midterms and now studying for the next one, my friends and I decided to rent a ZipCar, a car sharing/rental service on campus, to arrange a trip to Gile Mountain before peak foliage ends. After we finished class on Friday, we left campus at around 5:00 pm in order to make it to the top of the fire tower before sunset. While driving to Norwich, we played, of course, some Taylor Swift, the perfect choice while driving past the vibrant glory of the Vermont landscape. As we were hiking up, we encountered many other visitors as they were also trying to catch the last few days of peak foliage, and what better way to end your day than visiting Gile? My friend Paulie and I have hiked Gile before, but this was going to be the first time Keva, Lili, and Angel have been on a sunsike, so it was exciting for Paulie and I to show our friends the beautiful summit that First Years have to visit at least once. After we climbed up, we enjoyed the stunning panoramic views that extended all the way over to where Baker Tower is visible. After our hike, we enjoyed some good old McDonald's and a Target run before heading back to Hanover while jamming to some carpool karaoke. Despite being very occupied with hectic schedules, and balancing academia with social life, the Dartmouth fall term is one you don't want to miss as it's not everywhere that you get to experience the heart of foliage.
My friends and I stopping at the power lines, where we get a nice view of the sky after sunset, while on our way down.
Dartmouth is known for its outstanding graduate schools of business, engineering, and medicine, but how can undergraduates take part in that enriching environment? Read more to find out!
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.
