Hi everyone! I'm Madison. I'm originally from Pasadena, California, but I also spent eight years living in Manila, Philippines, and one year in Gibraltar. At Dartmouth, I plan to double major in Film & Media Studies and ASCL (Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages). Dartmouth has already opened up so many doors for me and truly changed my life for the better, so I'm really excited to share my college journey and experiences with you all!
Academic Program
Majors in Film and Media Studies and Asian Societies, Languages, and Cultures
Our first day in Beijing was all about getting settled. I managed to check in at Beijing Normal University (where we're staying for the next 10 weeks) without any problems, and I tackled the essentials: VPN, student card, and getting our dorm room. Speaking of the dorm, I'm really happy with my room; it's a single, which is such a treat. I think we, Dartmouth students, are super lucky!
There are so many students from different countries studying here at BNU this summer! The Princeton program alone has about a hundred students, with around 30 actually from Princeton and the rest from other US universities. I've also met students from William and Mary (some are even my nextdoor neighbors) and other Europeans. The Dartmouth program keeps us occupied with classes and activities, but it's easy to connect with students from other programs. We often see each other around campus, and there are definitely opportunities to hang out if we want to.
Besides meeting people from other programs, we've also had the chance to get to know some local students here. In fact, Dartmouth set up this event to introduce us to several BNU students, and my friend and I ended up having a great chat with a super nice guy name Thomas.
Us and Thomas!
We really clicked with Thomas, so we took him out for dinner at this Arabic restaurant (pictured below), which was a great time.
Yummy food, wonderful company!
I truly believe there's something beautiful about learning languages. For one, they build bridges between different cultures. Second, even if you don't catch every single word when someone's speaking a different language, just the act of trying to understand shows that you care, and establishes a connection between you.
I'm really loving the people on my study abroad trip. They're inquisitive, fun to travel with, and always up for anything fun. Some of the most fun we've had outside of class so far include:
1. Lake Houhai
The first night we arrived in Beijing, my classmates and I grabbed dinner at Lake Houhai and then rented boats to cruise down the river.
All smiles on day 1!
With all the surrounding lights and enchanting vibes, it felt similar to that scene from "Tangled" when Rapunzel and Flynn are about to release the floating lanterns from the boat.
2. Karaoke
My friends and I booked a karaoke room with food, drinks, lights, and an awesome song selection. I can see why it is such a fun activity here—China really does it best!
My friends on stage performing.
3. Tian An Men
During our first excursion, we visited the iconic Tiananmen Square! We had a tour guide who shared some fascinating insights about its history.
Beyond just exploring, our classes are super engaging as well. The teachers are nice, patient, and understanding, which makes learning enjoyable. Every weekday, we have class at 8 AM for almost two hours, followed by another small group session with about four people, also for two hours. Some days we also have individual speaking sessions, Chinese culture classes, or even Tai Chi and calligraphy—how cool is that?
Since it's a 10-week term, we're already halfway through our Chinese classes by week four, so the pace is rather intense. We're constantly learning new vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures and putting them into practice. Almost every day, we have vocabulary character writing tests (also known as 听写), which are pretty challenging. But it's awesome being able to actually read text in public, whether it's from street vendors or subway signs. I think I can safely say that most of us on this study abroad program feel like our Chinese is definitely improving!
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
From a tight-knit study abroad cohort to intimate classroom moments and inspiring literary talks, French has grown far beyond a minor — becoming a thread that runs through the most meaningful parts of her Dartmouth life.
Green Key weekend at Dartmouth was filled with concerts, free food, live music, reunions, and spontaneous moments with friends. Read on to hear why this weekend reminded me what makes spring term at Dartmouth feel so special.
Amid the whirlwind of a ten-week term, the quietest moments — studying in the sun, cooking with a friend, running through Pine Park — turn out to be the ones worth savoring most.
