Hi, my name is Liliana (or Lili, for short) and I'm a '26 from Hawaiʻi! On campus, I can be found performing with my dance troupe, going on walks with friends, and spending an excessive amount of time in Collis. I also love collectible stickers, ultra-specific playlists, free verse poetry, and iced tea. Excited to share my Dartmouth journey with you all! :-)
Dartmouth boasts many spaces to study and do work, from the bustling floors in Baker-Berry to the hidden nooks and crannies of Fairchild - but my favorite space has to be our dining hall. The upstairs booths in the all-you-can-eat, buffet-style dining hall, known to students as "FoCo" is where you'll find me. Though busy at times, I find that there are several benefits to a "woco" (work in FoCo) session.
One: Unlimited iced coffee. If there's one thing I love, it's iced coffee. Where else in the world can I get cup after cup, each fancied up with some creamer and copious amounts of hazelnut syrup? I can definitely get my coffee fix from other campus cafes, but something about endless iced coffee speaks for itself. This comes in handy during midterms and finals, when I am in dire need of caffeine. And, pairing the iced coffee with a treat from the dessert station always lifts my spirits.
Two: it's never boring. Foco can get busy, especially around 1pm for the lunch rush. This is usually my sign to take a break, say hello to some friends, etc., then grab something for myself, too (convenient!). The dining hall is a highly social space, which is nice when you're a bit of an introvert like myself. And, when foco gets too loud, I can look forward to the lulls (3-4pm is my personal favorite), when the tables get cleaned (thank you staff!) and new food items get rolled out.
Three: Affordability. First-year students at Dartmouth are placed into the unlimited dining plan, which essentially affords them unlimited access to FoCo. However, after your first year, you can choose a different dining plan if you so wish! I am currently on a different plan that does not include unlimited FoCo access - which is not something I mind at all, but when the term comes to an end, I have to manage my swipes and dining dollars a little more carefully. Staying in foco for long periods of time is becoming my end-of-term ritual, since I can continue getting food without using a swipe or dining dollars every single time.
I'll give it to you straight: I am not the world's biggest fan of FoCo. I am often busy and on the go, eating at the à la carte, grab and go-style cafes on campus - but, I have learned to appreciate a good "woco" session. I am provided unlimited fuel, and I get to do my work in a quiet booth all to myself. In my personal opinion, the woco deserves more love — I have several woco sessions planned for the upcoming days as the term rounds out, and I'm sure there will be many more to come.
While many people might associate cold, long, snowy winters with hardship, I've found that winter at Dartmouth is full of potential to be just as fun as other seasons.
