The Observatory

Like Jana, I haven't discovered too many unconventional places or things, but Dartmouth's very own observatory is something that I think a lot of students overlook. Shattuck Observatory is the college's oldest science building, but of course the technology isn't. The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers free public viewing usually every Friday night. Since, Dartmouth is in a rural area the skies are so clear and beautiful at night which makes viewing the Moon, stars, and other planets so easy.

Picture Courtesy of: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/news/observing.html

Occom Pond in the Spring!

The truth is that unfortunately I haven't discovered much of the stuff outside of Hanover. My unconventional place really isn't all that unconventional but I love to run around Occom Pond when the weather gets nice outside. It's absolutely beautiful and it's so peaceful. Most Dartmouth students know about Occom Pond because in the winter it's a great place to ice skate, but in the spring and summer I never see many people enjoying the pond. I like to run a route that takes me past the pond and up through the Dartmouth golf course. (SIDE NOTE: you can always find some money on the golf course, especially after the snow thaws!!)

I always feel like I'm separated from the rest of the world when I'm over by the pond because it is so gorgeous and so isolated. Occom Pond is a lot of fun in the winter, too! Take a look!

Nathan's Garden and Mink Brook

While we are still in the throngs of winter, I am already thinking about spring. Two of my favorite places at Dartmouth are off the beaten path. A few blocks into campus one can find Nathan's Garden. It is memorial garden made for Nathan Hall, who passed away at the age of 20. His family used their backyard and made it into a beautifully landscaped garden with a small pond, a variety of flowers, and a homemade swing. There is also a beautiful wooden gazebo that over looks the whole garden. It is very quaint and relaxing there and I love going there when it is warm out.

Near Nathan's Garden is Mink Brook which is also very nice for some calm, slow moving water swimming in the summer. After hiking down a hill, students can go there during the day and enjoy another body of water besides the Connecticut River.

Image courtesy of http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-hampshire/211161-picture-thread-nh-143.html

New Question This Week: Unconventional Activity

What is your favorite unconventional thing, place, or activity at Dartmouth that a lot of students don't know about?

The posts below respond to last week's question: Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?

COLLIS CAFE

One of my favorite places to eat on campus is Collis Cafe, located in the Collis Student Activities Center. As some one who is always on the go, Collis offers great dining options that are quick and easy to order. At Collis students have some flexibility as to how their is food is made. You can order chicken, beef or tofu stir fry with your choice of sauces or omelettes with your choice of ingredients in the afternoon. At night you can get pasta made just the way you like too.

Collis also offers oatmeal in the mornings and two soups of the day in the afternoon. It has a great salad bar and tons of baked goods that are great for a mid day snack. Although Collis Cafe closes at 8pm, it reopens at 9:30pm for Late Night Collis. At Late Night, you can get pasta, chicken tenders, paninis and more. On special days there are even crepes and milk shakes available. One of the best things about Collis is the fresh sushi. You can order sushi and have it made right in front of you. With all these options at Collis alone, sometimes there's no need to go anywhere else.

Picture Courtesy of Dartmouth Dining Services

RANDOM CAMPUS EVENT!

Unrelated to our Question of the Week series, here is a Random Event from around campus to give you a better idea for what an average weekend, weekday etc could look like here at Dartmouth.

This past weekend, I was able to volunteer for the Special Olympics Winter Games for our region, held at our very own Dartmouth skiway. This was my second year volunteering, and it gets better and better every year. This Saturday we had perfect weather and a crowd of athletes ready to compete. They could compete in a number of events from varying distances of snowshoe races to slalom and giant slalom downhill skiing. This year, I worked as one of a team of timers for the downhill races. Like I said, it was a ton of fun, and Dartmouth students turned out in huge numbers to act as cheerleaders, guides, and coaches. One of my favorite parts has to be that the Games are held at the Skiway, Dartmouth's own ski mountain, and the place I learned to ski as a youngster.

All in all, a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday in January.

Click here for more information about the Special Olympics.

CoUrTyArD CaFé

You probably know that the Hopkins Center, which brings world class entertainment to the Dartmouth and greater community, is strongly committed to the arts. What you may not know is that the HOP also houses one of Dartmouth's best dining facilities: Courtyard Café.

Courtyard Café, or simply the HOP, has a great selection of pre-made salads, sandwiches & wraps, soups, chili, chowder, and an impressive grill menu including delicious breakfast items such as the infamous Billy Bob and Breakfast Bomb. The HOP is probably most known for having "the best fries on campus." In addition, the café has a nice burrito bar where students and staff can enjoy tacos, nachos, salsa and dip. Finally, it offers a wide variety of beverages including everything from coffee and tea, to juice, soda, bottled water and milk.

If you're ever in a hurry and in need of a snack, which is pretty much the story of my life, stop by the HOP and grab a few chocolate chip cookies, brownie cakes, apple pies, cinnamon scones, lemon poppy seed muffins, or my all time favorite dessert: CHEESECAKE!!!!

(Picture courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartmouthflickr/4104248821/)

A lil' bit of this, a lil bit of that...

Eating is a passion of mine so it is very hard for me to choose one place that is my favorite to eat on campus. Instead I have preferences depending on the meal and the time of day. The HOP is great for breakfast, and they serve certain breakfast items all day. This dining hall is actually called Courtyard Cafe but students call it the HOP because it is in the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Needless to say there is always something to see or hear while you eat: art, music, etc.

For lunch, I love Collis. There is a great salad bar and I love to eat healthy. There are delicious smoothies, sandwiches, and soups. When it's warm it's nice to sit on Collis porch and eat while watching the Green.

For dinner, I usually go for a combination of Homeplate and Pavilion. Pavilion is the kosher dining option, and it has the best cookies and the freshest fruit. Homeplate has homecooked meals, and they have a grill with salmon and steak.

As you can see there is lots of variety which makes life easier for food enthusiasts like me!

Byrne Hal

l

While most undergraduates will never sample the gourmet, made-to-order offerings at Byrne due to its location away from central campus, those who are fortunate enough to be residents of River cluster often discover the unique dining experience Byrne provides sometime during fall term.

Cloistered between the Feldberg library and the main entrance of the Tuck school of Business, Byrne is the official dining hall for Dartmouth's graduate business students. Furnished with plush leather seats and lofted ceiling, the main dining area has--save for short periods of bustle in between Tuck classes--a subdued and refined ambiance that's missing in typical undergraduate dining halls.

And the school intends to keep it that way, because undergraduate students may not charge Byrne hall food on their DDS plans--they must use DASH. Thus, while temptations of prime-rib and steak nights (not to mention omelets that make Collis's fairly good counterparts taste like cafeteria food) draw the occasional wide-eyed undergrad to its stately environs, it's a luxury most cannot afford, even if the dishes are less expensive and better than those offered at other dining halls.

As an undergraduate visitor, be prepared to feel slightly under-dressed and somewhat out of place when you find those eating around you discussing shockingly unacademic things like equity stakes, stock options, and the bulge bracket. But even if you're more at home discussing moral philosophy and can't add value to a conversation on treasury yields, you can still gain Byrne hall cred by guessing the weight of your ice cream--if you guess right, you get the ice cream for free as well as the non-quantifiable but nonetheless fulfilling glances of approval from the Tuckies standing in line behind you.

Homeplate

Along with Ben, my favorite place to eat is Homeplate. I enjoy the home cooked meal aspect of it, but I especially love its Sunday Brunch which is served buffet style. This means I can eat all the pancakes, tator tots, eggs, fruit, and so on that I want. Of course I cannot forget about the delicious waffles. Homeplate provides the batter and there would be lines of students waiting to make their own waffle (that's how good they are, but really what's better than fresh hot waffles with strawberries and whipped cream??)

Homeplate's great food is equally complimented with their wonderful sustainability efforts. It has been proven that students tend to waste more food when they use trays, so Homeplate is now trayless! I have to admit that I used to be one of those people whose eyes were bigger than their stomach, so I'm happy that Homeplate implemented this policy.

(Picture Courtesy of http://www.ghtc-kc.org/pics/logos_graphics/Pancakes_chef.gif

Pavilion

Right around the corner from Ben's choice, Homeplate, in the Thayer Dining Hall is The Pavilion. I have only started eating here regularly last term, but since then I get at least one meal there a day on average. The Pavilion focuses on kosher and halal food for Jewish and Islamic individuals who follow their religions' dietary restrictions. This food is available to anyone on campus. I think as a result of the high amount of detail and critique the food goes through to qualify as kosher or halal, the food tends to be higher quality and occasionally bit more expensive. However, I have found it to be more delicious as a result! I have had brisket, lamb, and salmon from The Pavilion, just to name a few things. Be sure to give this gem, hidden in the back of Thayer, a try if you come to visit Dartmouth!

My favorite place to eat...

... has to be Home Plate (HP for short). HP is located in the Thayer Dining Hall, which houses the majority of our dining locations. The focus of HP is on freshness and nutrition. I like to equate it to more of a home-cooked meal atmosphere and menu. They are typically low fat, cholesterol, sodium and high fiber. On top of it all, they have a great selection - an awesome the salad/soup bar, to an excellent deli and panini counter and a great grill offering everything from grilled Portobello mushroom sandwiches to buffalo burgers!

My favorite meal at Home Plate has to be my usual lunch; turkey-cheddar-lettuce-mayo on a baguette from the deli. I've probably had it twice a week for the last year or so.

One of my favorite things about Dartmouth has to be the food. And you can try it when you visit! All of the dining facilities accept cash, so make sure you wander over to Home Plate when you come visit us in Hanover.

Picture credit: http://thedartmouth.com/content/2009/05/06/photos/3556_dailyd.jpg

Last Week's Question of the Week: What athletic or outdoor opportunities have you taken advantage of here at Dartmouth?

The posts below answer last week's question of the week.

P.E. Classes and Cabins

I am not much of an outdoors person, but participating in the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) freshman trips as a freshman and then twice again as a leader have been some of my best experiences at Dartmouth. The campus is also in a great location for day hikes. In addition to the DOC Trips, the DOC also takes care of Dartmouth's 26,000+ acres of land. Throughout this land, there are a number of cabins that student members can rent at any time for just 5 dollars a night. My acapella group, the Dodecaphonics, and my co-educational greek house, The Tabard, rent cabins yearly and termly, respectively.

P.E. classes are also a blast as others have stated. There are unique classes like ice fishing and skeet shooting but also your more conventional sports like tennis and skiing/snowboarding. I took a snowboarding P.E. class freshman year, since I don't have much of a chance to "hit the slopes" in the Midwest. This term, I am taking a tumbling class because I have ALWAYS wanted to learn how to do a flip! Its really hard, but very rewarding.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT DARTMOUTH RIGHT NOW?

So as many of you know, Haiti was recently struck by a devastating earthquake. Before coming to Hanover, Dartmouth President Jim Kim helped co-found Partners in Health with Paul Farmer. Their first project was in Haiti. Now, Dartmouth has taken a leadership role among U.S. Colleges and Universities in mobilizing relief efforts for Haiti.

"If there were a place least able to afford devastation like this, it would be Haiti..."

- Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim 1/18/10

Click here for more information on Dartmouth's response to the earthquake in Haiti.

Click here for the Students of Dartmouth for Haiti Relief (SDHR) Facebook page.

Skiing, Cabin Outings, and Fun P.E Classes

As many people already mentioned, winter term is a great time to take advantage of a lot of outdoor activities. During my junior winter, I took beginner's cross-country skiing. I had a lot of fun trekking on the paths that weaved in and out of the woods and across the golf course, while learning how to ski.

Throughout the year, students take advantage of renting Dartmouth owned cabins. These cabins come equipped with everything you would need for the ultimate overnight event. An overnight stay in a cabin is a great way to get away from campus for a little bit while bonding with friends.

At Dartmouth, I've also taken advantage of fun physical education classes. I like to dance so I always look for P.E classes that allow me to explore movement while getting a work-out. This term I am taking a zumba class. "Zumba is an aerobic fitness program...based on salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton and other music." (wikipedia)Zumba has become a really popular work out routine and I was excited when I found out that Dartmouth offered it as a class

RANDOM EVENT: Student Conference on Global Learning

Today, here at Dartmouth, the Dickey Center will be hosting the first annual Student Conference on Global Learning. The Dickey Center for International Understanding, for those who don't know, is home to two minors, International Studies and War & Peace Studies. Additionally, the Center hosts the Great Issues Scholars and War & Peace Fellows programs, while also offering funding for students seeking to work internationally and much more.

Today Dickey is playing host to the Student Conference on Global Learning. Members of the Dartmouth Community have come together, the result being a collection of presentations, workshops, art exhibits, and discussions that question our views on the world and the interconnectedness of global issues, societal problems, and potential solutions.

I know I am going to drop by. If you are in the area, please feel free to do so as well.

More information on the Conference here.

More information on Dickey here.

Skiing, Sledding, and Snowball Fights!!

The last time I was able to do a winter activity at Dartmouth was during my sophomore year (I spent last winter in Thailand). That winter I decided to take advantage of most of the winter activities. I went skiing for the first time and although it was challenging, I had a great time. I plan to try snowboarding this year. I also went sledding on the golf course which was so much fun. My friends and I would have different competitions like who could go the furthest or who would reach the bottom of the hill first. I also tried to go skating on Occum pond, but unfortunately it didn't work out. Hopefully, I'll have better luck this year.

Although this isn't really a sport, you cannot forget about snowball fights! The first snowfall is always the most epic because the entire campus gets to partake in it. A mass email is sent out to everyone telling them to meet on the green (the main lawn in the center of campus) at midnight for the first snowball fight of the year.

Because of all the activities that I got involved in, my winter term was amazing. It is fun and exciting to be able to feel like a kid again and not have to worry about the real world (i.e. graduating in 6 months and trying to find a job, yikes!)

Picture courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartmouthflickr/4194407129/in/set-72157623024103280/

Turning Over a New Leaf...

First let me say that I was off last term and "IT FEELS SOOOOO GOOOOD TO BE BACK!" It's also very cold though and I had forgotten what a Hanover winter was like because I was in France last winter. So, needless to say, I have a lot to get adjusted to.

In terms of outdoor activities at Dartmouth, outside of my DOC Freshman trip I haven't done much. I plan to change that though. Looking back on my Freshman year, the biggest mistake I made was not getting out and taking advantage of outdoor activities in the winter. Instead, I complained about how cold it was and stayed inside. I was miserable, but it's because I didn't do anything to make winter enjoyable. There is ice skating, intense hockey games, skiing and just being able to get away and hang out at the ski lodge, sledding on the golf course, etc.

This winter I'm turning over a new leaf. I might as well enjoy this snow since its everywhere. And as you can see in the pics that the others have posted, it is very pretty too!

DOC Trips and Rock Climbing!!!

Even before my first year at Dartmouth, I had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoors through the Dartmouth Outing Club's first-year trips. They are very popular - about 90% of admitted students go on a DOC Trip - because they are tons of fun! Wild and crazy upperclassmen with fluorescent outfits and tie-dyed hair welcome the incoming class by singing, dancing, and sharing some of the College's most cherished traditions, including the Alma Mater and the Salty Dog Rag. Trips are completely student-run, which is great because it gives freshmen an opportunity to find amazing mentors during their very first days on campus and makes their transition to college memorable.

Trip options include everything from hiking and kayaking to organic farming and nature photography. I chose to go rock climbing because I'm from a big city (Washington DC) and so I never really had a chance to do anything like it. Surprisingly enough, climbing wasn't the hard part, hiking 8 miles uphill to get to the mountain was! By the time my group made it to the climbing site, I was completely out of breath, exhausted from carrying my own backpack (because I over-packed) and shocked by the seemingly endless journey I had just survived. All in all, it remains one of the most exiting experiences I've ever had.

Photo #1 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartmouthflickr/3890797689/

Photo #2 credit: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mountain/res.shtml

Kickboxing Aerobics

Like Uthman said, we have to have at least 3 PE credits in order to graduate from Dartmouth. So for one of my PE credits I decided to take Kickboxing Aerobics with a woman who is famous on campus for her PE classes. Why is she famous? Because she is small (maybe 5' 3"), however she is buff (sort of like those professional weightlifters) , works you like a dog (literally) and she is the nicest person you will ever meet (I personally think it is because of all the endorphins she gets from working out). I had never taken an aerobics class nor a kickboxing class and so after my first day of working out with her, I was exhausted. Also, to whoever said it gets easier after the first day, it doesn't. No matter how often I went to her class, I was constantly huffing and puffing for air after the sessions. However, it was so much fun and since I was taking the class with one of my friends, we made sure to enjoy it while we were dying on the inside. Also, I must say that this class was definitely one of my highlights from sophomore summer.

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!

So if you are new to the blog, you may need a little explanation. Every week, one of us posts a new question about Dartmouth, student life, etc. that is then answered by the rest of us throughout the course of the week. Feel free to propose a new question in the comments or ask any question you might have. This is really about you so feel free to explore the blog!

This week's question: What athletic or outdoor opportunities have you taken advantage of here at Dartmouth?

Here are my top two favorite opportunities to explore the great outdoors here at Dartmouth:

1. The Dartmouth Skiway. Yup. We own our very own ski mountain. I am from the

area so this also happens to be where I learned to ski. Winter is now upon us and I love going to the Skiway as much as possible during the Winter term. There are buses running to and from the mountain all day, everyday, all the equipment you could ever need to rent, and our dining plans work there as well so you can always easily get food etc.

2. Occum Pond. This is a fairly large pond on campus that freezes solid during the winter. Just a few days ago, my friends and I grabbed our skates and sticks and played pond hockey for an entire afternoon. Again, you can rent any equipment you might need right there! And they serve hot cocoa just steps from the ice.

Picture credits:

http://www.onthesnow.com/ots/community/img_reviews/7691_2_lg.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3207637019_0510749412.jpg

Back to it!

So classes have begun again here in Hanover for the Winter term! My break was fun, touring around New England with my a cappella group the Dartmouth Cords, skiing with the family up at Stowe Mountain, and New Years in Burlington, VT. Lots of travel but a lot of fun too.

Now that we are all back on campus again, make sure you check back regularly for new Questions, Events, and the Dartmouth student perspective. As always, make sure to leave us any comment or question you might have about Dartmouth or the Admissions process. Make sure to check out older posts as well. There is a ton of information about student life right here!

Picture courtesy of the Dartmouth Flickr account and Joe Mehling '69
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2693/4245099747_b873f5c3de_b.jpg