Hello, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. On campus, I enjoy writing sports for The Dartmouth, going on as many DOC trips as I can, and hanging out with my friends. I also love Woccoming, doing the daily NYT mini crossword, and paddling!
I took this class as part of Dartmouth's first year writing requirement. We read a pro cyclist's life narrative, discussed research papers on controversial topics in sports, and wrote our own papers on a contentious sports technology of our choice. I really enjoyed this course's emphasis on discussion, and the small class size!
This was my first class in the classics department, which was super exciting as a classical studies major! We learned about the ancient Olympics and the connections between athletics and other aspects of ancient Greek society. I loved the final project in this class, which involved creating an argument about how the ancient pentathlon was scored!
To conclude my language requirement, I took Latin 3! This class was super exciting because we began to read ancient texts and poetry. We also took a class trip to the Rauner Special Collections library so we could physically handle and read some manuscripts. And as an added bonus, Latin counts as a prerequisite for my classical studies major!
As a part of my language study abroad in Italy, I also took a class on Italian history and culture! We went on field trips to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, participated in walking tours of Rome, and watched a lot of great cinema in this class! I loved it so much that I decided to minor in Italian.
This class, in addition to being a pre-requisite for both my major and my spring study abroad, was super interesting! I loved learning about archaeology in a chronological sequence, and I feel so much more prepared for my trip to Greece after completing this class.
Near the end of each term, I like reflecting on the past 10 weeks and looking forward to what's up next. As I flip through my camera roll from this fall—full of photos of notes on the board in my Italian class, coffee I made using my Bialetti Moka Express, and friends I met this summer—one thing becomes increasingly clear: I will forever be indebted to the Italian department here at Dartmouth.
A mini-reunion at the Homecoming bonfire!
As cliche as it sounds, studying abroad this summer improved my life. I plan to study Italian now and try to incorporate the language into my life in every way possible. So when the chance to return to Rome this winter presented itself, I jumped on the opportunity. This time around, I'll be studying abroad on the Italian LSA+ program.
During the 10-week winter term, my cohort and I will deepen our understanding of the Italian language and culture by taking Italian 8, 10, and 12 at the Dartmouth College Rome Center.
Italian 8: Exploring Italian Culture and Language will introduce us to Italian culture, both past and present. Through student-led discussions and on-site "learning laboratories," we will begin to explore some of Italy's diverse identities.
One of my favorite aspects of Italian culture is calcio (soccer/football)!
Italian 10: Introduction to Italian Literature—Masterworks and Great Issueswill offer a survey of Italian literature from the thirteenth century to the present. I'm excited to have finally reached the level of my language study where I can begin to read materials I have always loved in their source language. I'm especially looking forward to diving into Dante and Petrarch!
Italian 12: Advanced Writing and Speaking in Italianwill help us develop our grammar and enhance our ability to express ourselves in Italian. I think that this will be the most difficult course, because of its more advanced content, but I am ready to take on the challenge!
In addition to our classes, we'll travel to Florence, Venice, Ostia Antica, and Urbino to catch a glimpse of the sites and cities that inspired the literature, culture, and history we'll be studying. One aspect of this summer that I'm excited about is the opportunity to live with an Italian family in a homestay for the duration of the program. I already know that my knowledge of current events and popular culture will be enhanced by living with real Romans!
I can't wait to experience the city again from a whole new perspective and deepen my language skills in ways that are difficult to replicate within the four walls of a classroom. I'll keep blogging during my study abroad program, and I hope you continue to follow along! And once again, I encourage you to check out the Guarini Institute website and keep your mind open.
From orientation week to your classes, you can easily find community at Dartmouth! Read on to know how I met my Dartmouth family and where you might also find yours.
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
